Grenada, MS, United States

Capital City

With a population of just 12,700, Grenada, Mississippi offers a sleepy, small-town lifestyle, but don't expect a smooth transition. The city's segregated past still casts a shadow, as evidenced by the violent resistance to desegregating schools in the 1960s. And while recent industrial growth has brought some new jobs, the median household income sits at a meager $25,589, well below the national average.

Bureaucracy is also a persistent headache, with local officials quick to undermine civil rights progress. After a brief surge of voter registration in the 1960s, black residents found their names quickly purged from the rolls. Those willing to navigate the town's complex political landscape may find a quiet, affordable place to settle, but Grenada is hardly a welcoming destination for outsiders.

This Mississippi city is best suited for locals content with a slow pace of life and willing to overlook its troubled racial history.