Jackson is the largest city in Mississippi, and is also the state capital.
It is a city rich in history, while planning for its future, and of course there is no shortage of good old-fashioned Southern hospitality. Jackson was at the forefront of the civil rights struggles of the 1960’s, and many museum exhibits trace the steps of that difficult time and the changes that followed. There are numerous historical sites, many cultural offerings in Jackson, and restaurants that serve the best of Southern cuisine. It is a city of warmth and friendship and a great place to call home.
Location
Mississippi’s Capital City is located at the crossroads of Interstate 55 (north-south) and Interstate 20 (east-west), with a prime location between Memphis and New Orleans, (north-south), and between Dallas and Atlanta, (east-west).
Jackson is a city predominantly in Hinds County. (The community straddles Hinds and Madison counties).
Jackson is 9 miles from Ridgeland, and 12 miles from Madison. The nearest large city is Baton Rouge (144 miles).
Airports
Jackson International is the major airport serving the Jackson metropolitan area. It is 10 miles from the city center. Eight major air carriers, including American Eagle, Continental Express, Delta, Northwest Airlink, US Airways Express, and Southwest Airlines provide service there, and also to nearby Hawkins Field.
Terrain
Jackson was founded in 1821 on high bluff on the west bank of the Pearl River that was the location of a trading post. The seat of government was to be moved from the Natchez area, to be more centrally located, and a survey of the area determined that LeFleur’s Bluff (so named for the French-Canadian operating the trading post) was ideal, because of the "beautiful and healthful surroundings, good water, abundant timber, navigable waters, and nearness to the Natchez Trace."
The present day land area of Jackson is 105 square miles, and it sits at an elevation of 294 feet.
Population
The estimated population of Jackson as of July 2004 was 179,298. The entire Jackson metropolitan area, including its suburbs in Hinds, Madison, Rankin, Copiah, and Simpson counties, has a population of approximately 510,000; however, the figures have likely increased since evacuees from Hurricane Katrina have relocated in the area.
Jobs
Because of its location equi-distant between Memphis, New Orleans, Dallas and Atlanta, Jackson is a major distribution center. It is also on the cutting edge of technology, especially in the communications field, with the Southeast’s most advanced conference center situated downtown, implementing state-of-the-art wireless data services and video conferencing.
Jackson is the headquarters for Parkway Properties, Inc., Cal Maine Foods Inc., Eastgroup Properties Inc., and System Energy Resources Inc.
Educational, health and social services provide 25% of the employment opportunities.
The average commute time for Jackson area residents is 20 minutes.
Colleges/Universities
Jackson State University is the primary public university in Jackson, with a full-time enrollment of almost 6,000, offering undergraduate degrees, advanced degrees and doctorates.
The renowned University of Mississippi Medical Center is in also in Jackson, offering doctor’s degrees, with an enrollment of 1,600.
Two private colleges offering bachelors and master’s degrees are Belhaven College and Millsaps College.
Housing
The median house value in Jackson is $103,474. There are many housing options in Jackson, from older mansions and estates to new single-family housing developments. Jackson also offers a large variety of housing choices if you are interested in the convenience of apartment or condominium living.
Historic Buildings
The Governor's Mansion, which was completed in 1842, is one of the few antebellum structures remaining in Jackson. It is the second oldest residence of its type in the nation and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
A beautiful example of Greek Revival architecture is the Old Capitol building, which served as the home of the Mississippi state legislature from 1839 to 1903. It is now open to the public as the Old Capitol Museum.
Jackson's City Hall was built in 1846 and is still the seat of municipal government more than 140 years later. The three-story building and its gardens are two of the most photographed locations in the city. Luckily, the City Hall was not burned during the Civil War, as was so much of the city of Jackson.
Parks/Sports/Recreation/Golf
The City of Jackson has many special recreational facilities including Smith Wills Stadium, Mynelle Gardens, the city’s botanical gardens, and the Jackson Zoo.
There are a total of 54 city parks and facilities covering 2,300 acres of land in Jackson. Some of the city parks include Bradley Park, College Park, Hughes Field, Jaycee Park, Lakeland Park, Livingston Park, Parham Bridge Park, and LeFleur’s Bluff State Park. There are also swimming pools, tennis courts, and jogging and walking paths.
The Country Club of Jackson has three private 27-hole golf courses including the Azalea course, the Cypress course, and the Dogwood course.
The Brookwood Country Club is a semi-private club with an 18-hole course. Live Oaks Golf Club is another 18-hole semi-private course.
Public golf courses in Jackson include the Grove Park Golf Course, the Patrick Farms Golf Club, and the Sonny Guy Golf Course.
Special Attractions/Events
Jackson is a city with a remarkable history. Today, Jackson has world-class art and science museums and a full range of cultural offerings in all the performing arts.
Southerners take pride in their “quality of life”, and there is strong support in the community for the opera, symphony, ballet, and professional theatre companies.
The Jackson Senators baseball team has a strong and loyal following.
There are many opportunities for shopping, including great malls so uniquely designed that they have become a tourist attraction.
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Eudora Welty was born in Jackson in 1909, and lived there most of her life in the Belhaven section of the city, until she died in 2001. Her book, One Writer's Beginnings, gives a charming picture of the city in the early 20th century. Today, the main Jackson public library is named in her honor.
Interesting Facts
The community was named after Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson, who later became the seventh U.S. president.
Jackson suffered heavy losses during the Civil War; Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman set the city afire in 1863.
Jackson was the filming location for "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", "Mississippi Burning", and "Ghosts of Mississippi".
Well-known residents include Eudora Welty (writer) and LeAnn Rimes (country singer).
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