TUNICA COUNTY, MS
County Offices
1508 South Court Street
St. Tunica, MS 662-363-1465
http://tunicacountyms.com/portal/
Chamber of Commerce
1301 Main Street
Tunica, MS 662-363-2865
www.tunicachamber.com
Just 11 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee, Tunica County in Mississippi is bordered on the west by the rolling Mississippi River and is one of the most northern of the Mississippi Delta counties. From its beginnings as untamed hardwood forests and later one of the world’s richest cotton producing areas, this region has matured into a hotbed for business and industry. Today, Tunica County is known as the “South’s Casino Capital.” Rapid growth of the county’s highly successful resort and tourism trade has made this area the third-largest gaming destination in America, trailing Las Vegas and Atlantic City.
County planners are committed to furthering the economic growth that is already well-anchored by agriculture and the gaming industry, bringing creativity and innovation to the support of industrial and large commercial projects. From unique business opportunities to award-winning parks and championship golf courses, Tunica provides young professionals, families, and retirees a quality community to call home.
Services
Tunica County provides a convenient location for commuters to regional employment centers. US Highway 61 serves as the major north-south thoroughfare, connecting to Interstate 40. Interstate 55 is just 18 miles east of Highway 61 for efficient commutes to regional destinations. Interstate 69, the nation’s new Canada-to-Mexico highway, traverses the county and links to Interstate 55. Tunica Medical Clinics are available near the casino district and in the town of Tunica, meeting most routine healthcare needs close to home. For expanded services, residents can access state-of-the-art healthcare at Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto near Interstate 55 in Southhaven. The 180-acre healthcare campus serves a five-county area that has seen rapid growth since its opening in 1988. The hospital began a sweeping $175 million expansion in 2004 that adds 400,000 square feet and brings the bed count to nearly 340. Advanced services offered by the hospital include the Baptist DeSoto Outpatient Diagnostic Center, the Women’s Center, a critical care unit, and a radiation/oncology center. Memphis is home to famous research and treatment centers like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center.
Nearby DeSoto County is home to a branch campus for one of Mississippi’s largest community colleges. Northwest Mississippi Community College (NWCC) features more than 60 courses of study in seven academic divisions. The DeSoto Center in Southaven provides many of the courses available on the main Senatobia campus, which is only 20 miles south. The DeSoto Center also serves as an extension for the University of Mississippi, where select courses on the junior, senior, and graduate levels are offered in the evening hours for working adults. The unique partnership with the University of Mississippi and NWCC at the DeSoto Center makes it possible for DeSoto County residents to obtain some four-year degrees and even graduate degrees without ever leaving the county. The Memphis metropolitan area greatly expands the options for a higher education in public and private colleges and universities or expert training in a dedicated career institute.
Lifestyle
Residents of Tunica County have a kaleidoscope of leisure activities and local attractions that make country living a pleasure. Golfing on world-class fairways, biking or birdwatching along the Mississippi Blues Trail, water sports on Flower Lake, or factory outlet shopping are just a few of the possibilities. Tunica Cut-off Lake is ideal for fishing and water-skiing, while the “first-rate sailing lake” of Arkabutla is only minutes from home. Hunting for duck, geese, deer, and turkeys is another popular sport in this land-rich region. Dazzling casinos not only boost the economy, they add superb dining and entertainment amenities.
Local recreational centers are crowned by the G.W. Henderson, Sr. Complex where residents can become involved in sports play, take art and computer classes, and work out in the state-of-the-art health and wellness pavilion. After-school programs and summer day camps are offered at the Henderson Recreation Center. The Henderson Aquatic Center is the state’s largest natatorium, sprawling over nearly 40,000 square feet to include a 2,000-square-foot children’s pool with spray features and a 50-meter Olympic competition diving pool. Public programs range from swim lessons to scuba and snorkeling instructions or canoeing classes. The Paul Battle Arena & Expo Center is a multi-purpose venue with two outdoor arenas, 360 horse stalls, and the largest indoor arena in the state. Seating 6,500 guests, the center is ideal for a wide variety of shows and special events. Golf and tennis enthusiasts will appreciate the world-class Tunica National golf & Tennis Center with a professionally designed 18-hole championship course that covers 212 acres. The premier tennis center features David Cup indoor clay tennis courts.
The glory of yesterday is evident in Tunica’s historic downtown district or the exhibits and displays in the Tunica County Museum. Famous barbeque festivals headline a calendar of special events that feature contests, great food, games and activities, and live entertainment. RiverPark offers a 168-acre oasis on the riverfront with a marina, nature trails, an aquarium, a river museum—and a climate-controlled observation deck for observing wildlife, barges, and the Mississippi River. The phenomenal success of the county’s magnificent casinos—the first of which opened in 1992—took the county by surprise. Recent years have seen brisk new-home construction to keep pace with this dramatic economic growth. New residential developments feature spacious homes at affordable prices in a county where the taxes are famously low and the quality of life is unrivaled.
Tunica
Municipal Offices
662-363-2432
Chamber of Commerce
662-363-2865
www.tunicachamber.com
The town of Tunica serves as the seat of county government and its active county parks and recreation department. Many of the premier regional facilities are located in this community, including the spectacular G. W. Henderson, Sr. Complex with its Recreation Center, Health and Wellness Pavilion, and state-of-the-art Aquatic Center. Residents enjoy the tranquility and open space of a county setting in a location that is convenient to Metropolitan Memphis. Just minutes from the casino resort area, Historic Downtown Tunica harmonizes a vibrant modern commercial area with the charm and hospitality of the Old South. Unique shops and factories, impressive antiques, and a picturesque park with a dramatic Veterans Memorial create a distinctive ambiance. The downtown revitalization efforts earned Tunica the title of a “Mississippi Main Street Community.” The housing selection includes a surge of new highly crafted, custom single-family homes.
