22-04-2025
USA Today ranks square in Mississippi college town among the best in the nation. See why
A charming Mississippi city has been named among the best public squares in the nation. The USA Today ranking looked for the best places that act like the heartbeat of American cities, serving as a gathering place for live entertainment, community events and more.
Now, one Mississippi college town has bragging rights. It's town square ranked among the Top 5 nationwide, among cities like New Orleans, Detroit, Cincinnati and Philadelphia.
An expert panel nominated the places they thought were the most significant to the people who live in, near the towns and how historically important they are. Editors reviewed the list and gave the public four weeks to vote.
One Mississippi town stood out for its phenomenal food, art, local shopping options and festivals. Here's what we know about the ranking.
"The Square in Oxford, Mississippi, features well-preserved architecture, and it hosts diverse boutiques, art galleries, and local shops, including the oldest department store in the South, and is renowned for its dining options from down-home Southern cooking to haute cuisine. The Square is also a cultural hub, hosting special events and festivals," USAT wrote.
The town's historic Square is surrounded by Square Books and restaurants including City Grocery, St. Leo, Ajax and Tico's.
The city, with a population of 27,000 is between Clarksdale and Tupelo and south of Memphis. It's known for literature, football and great food.
World-famous author William Faulkner lived there and wrote about it as Yoknapatawpha County, and best-selling author John Grisham more recently called it home.
Earlier this year, HGTV named Oxford one of the the most charming small towns in America.
And World Atlas named it among the South's 12 best towns to retire. It noted Oxford is affordable with access to college football and thriving culture, including art and dining options. It's also close to some great places to spend time outdoors, enjoying nature.
More: This Mississippi city was named best small town in the South by USA Today. See where, why
USA TODAY's 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards named these public squares the best in the United States.
Campus Martius Park, Detroit.
Jackson Square, New Orleans.
Winterset Town Square, Winterset, Iowa.
The Square, Oxford, Mississippi.
Franklin Square, Philadelphia.
Capitol Square, Madison, Wisconsin.
Fountain Square, Cincinnati.
Healdsburg Plaza, Healdsburg, California.
Centerway Square, Corning, New York.
Mission Plaza, San Luis Obispo, California.
Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with Gannett/USA Today. Email her at bbolden@
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Oxford, MS has one of the best public squares in US. How did it rank?
