So you’re planning to holiday in Jackson? The City with Soul” has many tourist spots, warm people, delightful lifestyle, and lively music and art scene, did you know that Jackson has some quirky facts that will surprise anyone who do not possess much knowledge about this charming city.
Image By chmeredith from Jackson, MS, USA [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Jackson Geographic and Demographic Fast Facts
- Jackson is in Hinds County, though parts of the city are also in Madison and Rankin Counties.
- It is located on the banks of the Pearl River.
- It is the capital city of Mississippi, United States.
- It is the largest city in Mississippi, U.S.
- The city lies at the crossroads of Interstates 20 (east and west) and 55 (north and south).
- The city is bordered by Byram (south), Ridgeland (north), Clinton (west) and Pearl (east).
- The city sits on the top of Jackson Volcano and the summit of the volcano is about 2,900 feet underneath the Mississippi Coliseum.
- The ethnic composition of Jackson includes- Black or African American-79.4%, White or Euro American- 18.4%, Native American- 0.1%, Asian-0.4%, Hispanic or Latino of any race-1.6%, and two or more races-0.9%.
Jackson History Fast Facts
- In 1821, Jackson was founded on the western bank of the Pearl River and replaced the initial capital of Mississippi- Natchez.
- Initially, the city was named LeFleur’s Bluff, and later was renamed to Jackson after Andrew Jackson, Major General in the Battle of New Orleans and the seventh president of the U.S.
- In 1839, the State House was established.
- Jackson was incorporated as a city in 1840.
- The Historic Governor’s Mansion was built in 1842 and is the 2nd oldest house of its kind in the United States. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- In 1863, Union troops captured the city around five times.
- In 1867, City charter was revised.
- In 1903, Mississippi State Capitol was built.
Jackson Government and Economy Fast Facts
- Jackson has a Mayor-Council form of government.
- The city was a major player in the music industry of the South.
- The city is home to many industries that include processed food, machinery and electrical equipment, and metal products.
- Trustmark Corporation, Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. and EastGroup Properties, Inc. have headquarters in Jackson, MS.
Jackson Important and Interesting Fast Facts
- Jackson is nicknamed as the “Crossroads of the South”.
- The city’s motto is “City with Soul”.
- According to AAA Southern Traveler Magazine, Jackson is best city in Mississippi, and well-known for its stunning architecture.
- Jackson was listed in the list of “Top 10 Ministry-Minded Cities” in the South by Convention South Magazine.
- According to Forbes Magazine, Jackson was at the third position in the list of the “Best Bang for your Buck” among the U.S. 100 largest metro areas on the basis of affordability in living.
- According to CN Traveler, Jackson is ranked seventh in the list of “Top Friendliest Cities in the Country”.
- The city is home of International Ballet in the United States. It hosts the International Ballet competition every 4 years.
- The city is popular for its roots in R&B and blues music.
- Some of the famous personalities from Jackson, MS are: Eudora Welty, Kathryn Stockett, Richard Ford, and many more.
- The daily newspaper is “The Clarion-Ledger”.
- Some scenes of the following movies were shot in Jackson-“The Help”, “Get on Up”, and “A Time to Kill”.
