Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian is the county seat and the most populous city of Lauderdale County in the U.S. state of Mississippi. it is the eighth most populous city in the state (after Jackson, Gulfport, Southaven, Biloxi, Hattiesburg, Olive Branch and Tupelo) and the principal city of the Meridian, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area. it serves as a hub for the Eastern Mississippi region. The population was 39,968 at the 2000 census. The current population is larger than in the 2000 census. A recent annexation, in addition to seeing many displaced coastal residents after Hurricane Katrina (many of them have made Meridian their permanent residence), has put the population over 40,000.