Everything About Jackson, Mississippi

History

The area that is now Jackson was originally inhabited by the Choctaw Native Americans. In 1821, the Treaty of Doak’s Stand ceded the land that is now central Mississippi to the United States government.

The city of Jackson was founded in 1822 after the government purchased the land from the Choctaw. It was named after General Andrew Jackson, who would later become President.

Jackson was devastated during the Civil War. First Confederate forces burned much of the city before the Battle of Jackson in 1863. Then, after Union forces captured the city, they burned remaining buildings in retaliation for Confederate destruction of Union supplies.

During Mississippi’s Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras, Jackson was a central location in the Civil Rights Movement.

Civil rights activists challenged the state’s segregation laws in demonstrations across the city. Tragically, the NAACP leader Medgar Evers was assassinated outside his Jackson home in 1963.

Geography

Jackson is located in central Mississippi on the Pearl River. The river runs southwest through the city. Jackson has a total area of 110 square miles, of which 104 square miles is land and six square miles is water.

The city lies across hills and valleys. Its average elevation is 300 feet above sea level. Jackson is located about halfway between the state capital cities of Memphis, Tennessee and New Orleans, Louisiana.

This central geography supported Jackson’s rise as a transportation and industrial hub.

Geology

Jackson lies in the East Gulf Coastal Plain. The geology is characterized by thick layers of sand, silt, and clay sediment left by ancient oceans. These sedimentary deposits lie on top of much older metamorphic and igneous basement rock.

Jackson is in an area with a long history of seismic activity. There are several geological fault lines running southwest to northeast through the region. While major earthquakes are rare, minor tremors occur occasionally which residents can feel.

Neighborhoods

Some of Jackson’s most notable neighborhoods and areas include:

• Fondren: An artistic district known for shops, restaurants, and music venues.
• Belhaven: A historic neighborhood with stately homes, established in the early 20th century.
• Downtown Jackson: The city’s central business district with municipal buildings, hotels, and convention centers.
• Farish Street Historic District: A formerly thriving African American business district with blues heritage.
• Midtown: A recently revived district with industrial loft spaces turned modern apartments and condos.
• North Jackson: An area spanning working-class neighborhoods, industrial zones, and Jackson State University.

There are over 60 neighborhoods across Jackson. Most areas outside the city center have a suburban residential character.

Climate

Jackson has a humid subtropical climate typical of the Deep South. Summers are hot, long, and humid while winters are short and mild.

The summer season from May to September sees average highs of around 90°F with afternoon heat indexes frequently exceeding 100°F. The humid climate brings regular thunderstorms in summer afternoons that provide momentary relief.

Winters are mild, with average highs in the 50s°F. Occasional winter storms bring bursts of cooler weather. Some ice and snow occurs during the season but rarely persists.

Spring and fall are transitional seasons with comfortable weather in the 60s and 70s°F. These shoulder seasons see the most pleasant weather for getting outdoors.

Demographics

The city of Jackson had an estimated population of 154,340 as of 2021. African Americans make up around 80% of city residents. The remaining 20% is predominantly white.

Jackson experienced rapid early growth, rising from a population of 1,000 in 1820 to over 22,000 by 1870. The city’s growth leveled off in the late 20th century. Recently, Jackson’s population has begun declining over the past two decades.

The city’s average per capita income is around $20,000 per year. Nearly a quarter of Jacksonians live below the federal poverty line. Poverty rates are higher in north and west Jackson.

Economy

Jackson has long served as a regional center of banking, industry, transport, and trade. The city’s early economy relied on the slave-trade and cotton production of surrounding plantations.

Today, Jackson’s largest employers are government agencies and healthcare providers. Top employers include the state government and University of Mississippi Medical Center. Manufacturing, food production, technology, and education round out other large industries.

Jackson serves as headquarters for many major corporations and organizations that provide jobs to the region. These include Ergon, AT&T Mississippi, Clear Channel Communications, and the Mississippi Baptist Health Systems.

Culture

Jackson has a rich culture rooted in the Delta blues heritage of Mississippi. As the crossroads of Southern railroads, Jackson hosted many traveling blues musicians in its early years. The city is known as the birthplace of several blues pioneers.

Gospel music also has a strong presence and local following in Jackson. The city birthed Malaco Records, known as “The Last Soul Company,” which produces gospel, blues, and soul artists.

Other aspects of Jackson’s culture reflect its Southern roots. Home cooking, barbecue joints, sweet tea, and college football loyalties run deep across the city.

Locals enjoy spending time outdoors fishing, hunting, boating on the Rez, and attending the Mississippi State Fair held annually in Jackson.

Colleges and universities

Jackson is home to several higher education institutions:

• Jackson State University: A historically black public university founded in 1877 with over 8,500 students. Jackson State has a renowned jazz studies program and Division I athletics.
• Millsaps College: A private liberal arts college founded in 1890 with four-year undergraduate programs and select master’s degree programs.
• Belhaven University: This Christian liberal arts university has over 4,000 enrolled students in Jackson across undergraduate, graduate, and adult programs.
• Hinds Community College: The largest community college in Mississippi. Hinds has multiple campuses in cities around Jackson with academic and career tech programs.
• University of Mississippi Medical Center: Mississippi’s only academic medical center provides medical and graduate healthcare education.

Media

As Mississippi’s capital and largest city, Jackson serves as a media hub:

The Clarion-Ledger is Mississippi’s largest newspaper based in Jackson. The daily publication has won several Pulitzer Prizes for journalism.

Mississippi Public Broadcasting operates radio and TV stations headquartered in Jackson serving statewide audiences with local to national programming.

Jackson is also home to a variety of radio stations playing popular music, oldies, gospel, talk radio, and university sports broadcasting amongst other formats.

Local TV network affiliates delivering Jackson-area news include WLBT 3 (NBC), WJTV 12 (CBS), WAPT 16 (ABC), and Fox 40. These compete with other statewide media outlets also based in Jackson.

Roadways

Jackson lies at the convergence interstates 55 and 20. This has supported development as a transportation hub:

Interstate 55 provides a direct route north to Memphis and south to New Orleans. I-55 bisects Jackson and acts as an inner loop around the city center.

Interstate 20 crosses I-55 in south Jackson, allowing eastbound connections to Birmingham, Atlanta, and beyond. Westbound routes reach Vicksburg, Shreveport, and Dallas.

Other federal highways radiating from Jackson include routes 49, 51, 80, and 220. These provide added connectivity within Mississippi linking Jackson to the Gulf Coast, Alabama border, Delta region and more.

Within the city, US Route 80 forms an outer loop with an east-west orientation. Other notable thoroughfares are State Streets, Pearl Street, Robinson Road, Medgar Evers Boulevard, and Lakeland Drive.

Major Landmarks

Some landmarks synonymous with Jackson include:

• Mississippi State Capitol: The historic seat of state legislature with its distinctive dome first opened in 1903. Now fully restored, tours are available.
• Eudora Welty House: This National Historic Landmark is the former residence of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Eudora Welty preserving Mississippi’s literary heritage.
• Mississippi Civil Rights Museum: Commemorates the state’s Civil Rights Movement with exhibits, films, speakers and youth education.
• Mississippi Museum of Art: The state’s premier art institution housing rotating exhibits and a permanent collection spanning Classical to Contemporary works.
• Mississippi Children’s Museum: An interactive museum promoting creative play and educational enrichment for kids of all ages and abilities.
• Smith-Wills Stadium: The city’s iconic minor league baseball park, home to the Mississippi Braves since 2005. Also hosts concerts, festivals, and community events.

From government to culture, education to entertainment, these Jackson fixtures reflect local history and the community’s spirit. The city takes pride in its role shaping Mississippi’s trajectory yesterday and tomorrow. There will always be more to explore in this capital city.