LAMAR COUNTY — Rapid population growth in Lamar County is driving major plans for new schools, expanded infrastructure, and increased public services as officials prepare for the county’s population to surpass 71,000 by 2030. 

Fueled by job growth tied to regional institutions, the county’s population has climbed to nearly 65,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The surge is reshaping the landscape once defined by its rural character, prompting investment in housing, transportation and education to meet the needs of new residents. 

Schools feeling the pressure 

The Lamar County School District is seeking approval for three new schools — a high school in Purvis, a high school in Sumrall and a middle school in Oak Grove — to relieve crowding and keep pace with rising enrollment. 

“Every time I see like an apartment building come up in Hattiesburg, I’m like, that’s at least several more classrooms that we’re going to need to find space for those kids,” said Ashley Barefoot, a gifted teacher at Longleaf Elementary School. 

The district has held an A grade since 2017, according to the most recent data from the Mississippi Department of Education, but educators say space and supplies are becoming harder to manage. Barefoot said the need for classroom space has been ongoing. 

“All the elementary schools had no room for the gifted classes, so they housed us all at the gifted center at the middle school campus, which was an unused building,” Barefoot said. “When they built Longleaf, we all got to spread back out to the elementary schools which was awesome.” 

The relief didn’t last long. Within a year, the program was back at full capacity. 

Infrastructure and services under strain 

Beyond education, Lamar County is investing in road and service improvements to keep pace with growth, according to Brian Neuman, the county’s senior planner. The annual road improvement program includes overlays on Richburg Road, Oklahoma Avenue in Oak Grove and Beach Road in southwest Lamar County. Officials say they’ve modernized road work with automated patching trucks and an expanded fleet. 

“It’s not cheap to do that stuff anymore,” he said. “It’s very expensive to do roads.”

Maintaining fire, medical emergency and waste services has been one of the county’s biggest logistical and financial challenges, Neuman said. Planning officials recently reorganized to improve efficiency in reviewing and approving new developments. 

“We are working on those long-range plans, keeping those updated,” Neuman said. “That then turns around and helps the county administration as well as the board supervisors decide how we adjust our ordinances and our regulations and then adjust different programs.” 

Growing neighborhoods 

Among the most significant upcoming projects is the Eagle One site, 1,000-acre development off Highway 11. Neuman said the area could attract a major employer or several mid-size companies, further driving demand for housing and public services. 

More subdivisions are appearing in west and south Purvis, according to Realtor.com, which shows nearly 274 homes were recently sold across the county. Neuman said Lamar County’s growth is tied to its proximity to Hattiesburg and collaboration through the Area Development Partnership. Job opportunities connected to the medical field, universities and Camp Shelby have fueled residential construction in Sumrall, Oak Grove and Purvis. 

For residents like Alex Keys, the growth reflects the county’s appeal to families seeking space and opportunity.

“When people are buying houses or people are doing things that are going to be more of a permanent fixture for their families, this is probably an area because it’s big and it’s got things happening, but it’s not too big to where it feels overwhelming,” Keys said. 

Still, Keys said, the community feels less relaxed than in the past. 

“It’s become more difficult for it to be kind of like chill and relaxed as much as it was,” Keys said. 

Planning for the future 

To improve quality of live, the county has added walking paths, tennis and pickleball courts, basketball courts and baseball fields, and is exploring plans for a general recreation complex. 

Lamar County is also expanding broadband access through Mississippi’s fiber-to-home program. Providers such as Pearl River Valley Electric, C Spire and AT&T are extending high-speed internet to rural communities, with Lumberton being the last major area to connect. 

“It’s a rapidly growing, evolving system,” Neuman said. “It’s a delicate balance between what’s needed, what’s asked for, as well as the changing dynamics of that.” 

Neuman said the county’s goal is to manage growth responsibly — updating infrastructure, expanding schools and supporting recreation — while keeping the sense of community that has long defined Lamar County.