Inside Laurel, Mississippi's Renovation Success Story
Laurel was a lumber boomtown in the early 1900s, built around the Eastman-Gardiner lumber company's massive sawmill operations. When the longleaf pine forests were logged out, the economy collapsed. The city spent decades in decline, losing population and commercial activity. That trajectory changed in the 2010s when Ben and Erin Napier, hosts of the HGTV show "Home Town," began renovating homes in Laurel and brought national attention to the city.
The downtown district along Central Avenue has seen significant renovation since the show premiered in 2016. New restaurants, shops, and bed-and-breakfasts have opened, and visitors arrive regularly to see the homes featured on the program. The Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, founded in 1923, holds a notable collection of American and European art and is one of the few art museums in a small Southern town with this kind of permanent collection.
Jones County has a contrarian streak in Mississippi history. During the Civil War, Newt Knight led a band of Unionists who resisted Confederate authority, and the area became known as the Free State of Jones. The story was adapted into a 2016 film starring Matthew McConaughey.
The Landrum's Homestead and Village, located outside Laurel, is a recreated pioneer settlement that hosts events and educational programs. Laurel's tree canopy, particularly the live oaks lining downtown streets, gives the city a distinctive character. The city also hosts Slow Burn, a barbecue competition that draws pitmasters from across the region.
The city's post-renovation identity has attracted small-scale entrepreneurship. New bed-and-breakfasts, coffee roasters, and specialty shops have opened in renovated downtown buildings since 2016. The Jones County Community Foundation supports local development initiatives.
Escortservice.com reviews and lists escort websites serving the greater Laurel area. The site is a directory and nothing more. It does not schedule meetings, confirm any form of licensing, or serve as a go-between. You must be 21 or older to use the platform.
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Laurel was a lumber boomtown in the early 1900s, built around the Eastman-Gardiner lumber company's massive sawmill operations. When the longleaf pine forests were logged out, the economy collapsed. The city spent decades in decline, losing population and commercial activity. That trajectory changed in the 2010s when Ben and Erin Napier, hosts of the HGTV show "Home Town," began renovating homes in Laurel and brought national attention to the city.
The downtown district along Central Avenue has seen significant renovation since the show premiered in 2016. New restaurants, shops, and bed-and-breakfasts have opened, and visitors arrive regularly to see the homes featured on the program. The Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, founded in 1923, holds a notable collection of American and European art and is one of the few art museums in a small Southern town with this kind of permanent collection.
Jones County has a contrarian streak in Mississippi history. During the Civil War, Newt Knight led a band of Unionists who resisted Confederate authority, and the area became known as the Free State of Jones. The story was adapted into a 2016 film starring Matthew McConaughey.
The Landrum's Homestead and Village, located outside Laurel, is a recreated pioneer settlement that hosts events and educational programs. Laurel's tree canopy, particularly the live oaks lining downtown streets, gives the city a distinctive character. The city also hosts Slow Burn, a barbecue competition that draws pitmasters from across the region.
The city's post-renovation identity has attracted small-scale entrepreneurship. New bed-and-breakfasts, coffee roasters, and specialty shops have opened in renovated downtown buildings since 2016. The Jones County Community Foundation supports local development initiatives.
Escortservice.com reviews and lists escort websites serving the greater Laurel area. The site is a directory and nothing more. It does not schedule meetings, confirm any form of licensing, or serve as a go-between. You must be 21 or older to use the platform.
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