How Many Walgreens Locations are in Mississippi? A Comprehensive Guide

As your friendly neighborhood home improvement expert, I‘m often roaming around shops hunting for the perfect accent tile or power tool. So I‘ve been in my fair share of Walgreens stores across Mississippi! While grabbing groceries or a prescription refill, I can‘t help but admire the snazzy renovations and savvy layouts many locations have.

With nearly 250 Walgreens pharmacies statewide, Mississippians have plenty of convenient options for shopping at this popular retailer. But how strong of a foothold does Walgreens really have in the Magnolia State compared to other places? And what are some of the coolest and most decked-out Walgreens locations? Let‘s take a detailed look!

How Many Walgreens are Currently Open in MS?

According to corporate records, there are 247 Walgreens pharmacies currently in operation across Mississippi as of February 2023. With 82 total counties in the state, this means Walgreens has locations in about 84% of them.

From small-town shops serving a few thousand people to massive stores in the state‘s biggest cities, Walgreens definitely has a broad reach here in Mississippi:

• 69 counties have at least one Walgreens store
• Major cities like Jackson, Gulfport, Southaven, Hattiesburg, and Biloxi all have multiple locations
• You can also find Walgreens in smaller towns like Kosciusko, Louisville, New Albany, etc.
• Nearly every corner of the state from the Gulf Coast up to Tupelo is covered

So while not quite ubiquitous, Walgreens still has a strong presence across much of Mississippi compared to other chains. Need to pick up a prescription while road tripping on a back highway? There‘s probably a Walgreens not too far off your route!

How Does MS Compare to Other States for Walgreens Stores?

With 247 total stores, Mississippi has a pretty sizable Walgreens footprint. But how does it stack up against other states in terms of store concentration?

• Texas reigns supreme with approximately 880 Walgreens statewide – almost 4x Mississippi‘s count!
• Regional powerhouses like California (587 stores), Florida (459), New York (419), and Illinois (412) also boast way more locations than MS.
• Midwestern states like Ohio (~300) and Michigan (~230) have a moderate Walgreens presence.
• Tiny states like Rhode Island (22), Delaware (24), and Wyoming (24) have way fewer locations.

So while dwarfed by regional heavyweights, Mississippi‘s 247 Walgreens stores put it safely among the top 20 states by store count. We have way more locations than similarly populated states like Kansas, Utah, and Nevada.

I‘d give Mississippi a solid B letter grade for its Walgreens presence: good, but there‘s room for improvement to catch up to the real top dogs like Texas and Cali!

Cool Facts About Walgreens History in Mississippi

Let‘s switch gears and talk about how long Walgreens has been around in the Magnolia State:

• First MS location opened in 1903 in the capital city of Jackson. This was just 2 years after the chain was founded in Chicago in 1901.
• By the 1950s, Walgreens had expanded to about a dozen stores in cities like Meridian, Hattiesburg, Greenville, etc.
• Major expansion occurred in 1960s/70s with acquisitions of other pharmacy chains. This pushed the store count into the low 100s.
• Today, there are 4x as many Walgreens in MS compared to the 1970s. Modern conveniences like 24/7 service and drive-thrus helped fuel growth.

So Walgreens and Mississippi go way back over a century! It‘s neat to think that folks have been filling prescriptions and picking up hair pomade at these stores for generations of Mississippians. A true legacy brand.

Notable/Large Walgreens Stores in Mississippi

Now let‘s chat about some of the biggest, baddest Walgreens locations in the state! While most stores are modestly sized, a few mega stores stand out:

• The Walgreens on Highway 49 in Hattiesburg is a local landmark. The exterior was updated in 2021 with a slick stone facade and extra signage. Inside it has high ceilings, wide aisles, and a bustling pharmacy counter. Definitely one of the nicest Walgreens in southern MS!

• A new 13,500+ square foot Walgreens opened recently in Ridgeland off I-55. It has a modern interior with an open layout, expansive beauty department, and spacious pharmacy. One of the largest statewide for sure!

• In downtown Jackson, Walgreens invested $7.5 million in a big renovation of its Capitol Street location in 2019. Updates included tech amenities, expanded grocery, and a trendy, urban vibe. A flagship store for central Mississippi!

While not matching the sprawling 35,000 square foot location in San Antonio, these MS stores show how Walgreens is committed to serving local communities with premier facilities. I‘m impressed by the quality of renovations and customer amenities.

How Walgreens Compares to Competitors CVS and Walmart

When it comes to pharmacy chains, Walgreens‘ biggest rival nationwide is CVS. And the competition is fierce here in Mississippi too! Let‘s compare some key stats:

• Walgreens has 247 locations in Mississippi
• CVS isn‘t far behind with 233 stores statewide
• Walgreens edges out CVS 9,277 to 9,246 in total US stores

So in Mississippi and nationally, these two chains are neck-and-neck vying for pharmacy supremacy. Fierce competition has led to nice upgrades at many locations as they try to win our business.

Now Walmart pharmacies are a different animal – with 5,000+ US locations, they dwarf both Walgreens and CVS in store count. However, Walmart also sells far more than just pharmacy items.

So when you need a prescription filled or want to browse beauty products, Walgreens and CVS are easily your best bets. But if you need groceries or home goods too, a super Walmart is the way to go for one-stop shopping. Different tools for different jobs!

Walgreens Fun Facts: Brand History and Origins

Let‘s wrap up with some quick trivia about the Walgreens brand:

• Walgreens was founded in 1901 by Charles R. Walgreen Sr. in Chicago, IL. The company entered Mississippi just 2 years later in 1903.

• Despite similar names, Walgreens and Walmart are completely separate companies with zero corporate connection. Purely coincidental naming!

• Walgreens merged with European retailer Alliance Boots in 2014 to form the Walgreens Boots Alliance corporation.

• The company‘s friendly elderly mascot "Happy Harry" debuted in the 1960s but was retired in the 1980s to modernize their brand image.

There you have it, a fully comprehensive guide to Walgreens presence in the great state of Mississippi! Let me know if you have any other pharmacy, retail, or home improvement questions. I‘m always happy to chat and share insights.