Ripley is the county seat and largest city of Tippah County, Mississippi, sitting in the north Mississippi hill country about an hour southeast of Memphis. It is the commercial center of the county — the courthouse square, the hospital, the largest school campus and most of the county's retail are here — and it is where RCTV19 has broadcast since 1999.
Ripley by the numbers
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Population (2020 census) | 5,462 |
| County | Tippah |
| Status | City; county seat |
| Area | 11.46 square miles |
| Elevation | 476 feet |
| ZIP code | 38663 |
| Area code | 662 |
| School district | South Tippah School District |
| Highways | Mississippi Highway 15 and Mississippi Highway 4 |
History
Ripley's best-known figure is Colonel William Clark Falkner, a prominent resident through the middle and late 19th century. He built the railroad that ran through town, wrote the popular novel The White Rose of Memphis, and was killed on the Ripley square in 1889. His great-grandson, the novelist William Faulkner, used him as the model for Colonel John Sartoris. The nearby town of Falkner carries his name.
The city's historic district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the William Faulkner Festival each November builds tours of the historic sites around that history.
First Monday Trade Days
Ripley's First Monday Trade Days is one of the oldest outdoor flea markets in the United States, held on the weekend before the first Monday of each month. Vendors fill the grounds on the south side of town with tools, produce, antiques, furniture, livestock and a great deal that defies category. It draws buyers from across north Mississippi, west Tennessee and beyond, and for many families it is a standing monthly appointment.
Schools
Ripley is served by the South Tippah School District, whose central office is at 402 Greenlee Street in Ripley (662-837-7156). Three schools sit in town:
- Ripley Elementary School
- Ripley Middle School
- Ripley High School — home of the Tigers
The district also operates Blue Mountain School and Pine Grove School elsewhere in the county. RCTV19's school coverage is collected on the Tippah County schools page, and Tiger football, volleyball and basketball are covered on the Tippah County sports page.
Downtown and the square
The square is where most of Ripley's public life happens. Ripley Main Street programs extended shopping nights, live music, family movie nights and a growing downtown mural collection, and The Cut Off has become the venue for much of it — open mic nights, markets, movie nights and food trucks.
Coverage of the square, its businesses and its events is gathered on the Downtown Ripley page and the local business page. If you are planning a visit, start with the things to do in Ripley guide.
Annual events in Ripley
- First Monday Trade Days — the weekend before the first Monday of every month
- Burnside Music Fest — hill country blues on the square each spring
- Memorial Day and Fourth of July ceremonies
- Oktoberfest — early October on the square
- Spirit of Ripley — Halloween, late October
- William Faulkner Festival — early November
- Ripley Christmas Parade — December
Everything on the calendar is tracked on the community events page.
Useful numbers in Ripley
| Office | Phone |
|---|---|
| Emergency | 911 |
| Ripley City Hall / utilities | 662-837-7154 |
| Mayor's office | 662-837-0130 |
| Ripley Police (non-emergency) | 662-837-2215 |
| Ripley Police dispatch (24 hours) | 662-837-7296 |
| Ripley Fire Department | 662-837-3666 |
| Water & sewer shop | 662-837-4541 |
| Tippah County Sheriff | 662-837-9336 |
| Tippah County Hospital | 662-837-9221 |
| South Tippah School District | 662-837-7156 |
A fuller directory of county offices is on the Tippah County guide.
Ripley news from RCTV19
RCTV19 publishes Ripley news, sports and community coverage every day. Start with the latest news, the obituaries for funeral and memorial notices, or watch RCTV19 live.
Other communities in the county are profiled on the communities index. Have something to report? Contact RCTV19.