Jackson is not only the largest city in Mississippi, but also the capital of the State of Mississippi. Though the majority of the city is located in Hinds County, parts of the city flow into Madison County and Rankin County. The city is on the Pearl River that empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Jackson is christened after General Andrew Jackson. He was not only a US. President, but also was honored for his leadership during the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812. The city's current slogan is "Jackson, Mississippi: City with Soul," as there have been many outstanding blues, jazz, and gospel musicians in Jackson. Living in Jackson MS puts you in a thriving metro area, where the Arts are all around you.

Demographics

In 2013, Jackson's population was 172, 638, with 100% of that being urban. The estimated median household income in 2013 in Jackson was $29,811, and the per capita income that year was $17,116. Of the population that is 25 years or older in Jackson, almost 83% have a high school education or higher. Twenty-five percent have a bachelor's degree or higher, and 9% have a graduate or professional degree.

 

 Jackson's population in 2013 was made up of approximately 80% black, 17% White, 2% Hispanic, and less than 1% Asian, American Indian, Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian, two or more races, and other races. The median age of Jackson residents is 31.9, while Mississippi's median resident age is 36.6. Females take the majority at 53.9%, leaving  46.1% of the population male. Of the population that is 15 years or older in Jackson, 46.7 % are never married, and 33.4% are married now. From that same group of 15 years and over: 10.5% are divorced; 5.2% are widowed; and 4.2% are separated.

Culture

You'll find so many cultural events to go to in Jackson.  Many of the events are held at the City's auditorium, Thalia Mara Hall. It's home to the MS Symphony Orchestra and also hosts many off-Broadway shows each year.

  • New Stage Theatre: This quaint theatre seats up to  364 seats patrons in 15 rows in the main Auditorium. In other words, every seat is a good seat at New Stage. Five plays are produced each year. An annual holiday show and kids-only show that features local children are other popular events.  
  • The Mississippi Blues Trails in Jackson: Blues lovers will want to make sure to follow the MS Blues Trails through Jackson. The capital city has more stops on the trail than any other city in Mississippi! Trail blazers will learn about Farish Street Sound and well known artists that got their break in Jackson.
  • Mississippi Museum of Art: The Open Gallery displays avant-garde works of art. Not only are there frequently changing exhibitions, but the Museum offers educational programs year-round for children and adults. Adults can attend regular programs each month like  “Unburied Treasures,” which highlights art, music, and literature and “Jazz, Art & Friends,” which celebrates combining the arts. 
  • Mississippi Symphony Orchestra: The Mississippi Symphony Orchestra plays for over 75,000 Mississippians annually during more than 120 concerts across the state. As the largest professional performing arts organization in the state, some of their most popular annual performance series include the Bravo and Pops series. 
  • USA International Ballet Competition (IBC): Thalia Mara Hall founded the IBC in Jackson in 1978. This international competition is held in the Jackson arts district where the Jackson Municipal Auditorium was renamed in honor of Thalia Mara Hall. The IBC was hosted in Jackson in 1979, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, and in 2014. Jackson was recognized by the United States Congress in 1982 when Jackson was designated as the official home of the USA IBC.

Quality of Life

Almost 62% of those who live in the city of Jackson, work in the city as well. The average commute time to work is 19 minutes. With easy commutes, Jackson has all the standard amenities of a modern day metropolis  – exceptional public school system, neighborhoods that are family-friendly, and lots of sidewalk cafes and coffee shops. The only difference is you can have all these modern day metropolis amenities in Jackson for a much lower price. It costs several percentage points less to live well in Jackson than in other well known Southern cities like Birmingham, AL; Memphis, TN; Atlanta, GA; or Little Rock, AR. Jackson was rated third as the best "Bang For Your Buck" of  United States' top one hundred biggest metropolitan areas, according to Forbes magazine. 

Best Known For

Jackson is known as the City with Soul. Why is Jackson, Mississippi called the city with soul? In part, it's due to the people that live and work in the capital and the drive and heart they put into everything they do. Residents and workers generally go the extra mile to make visitors feel at home - in the spirit of true Southern Hospitality. In Jackson, hospitality is not only an industry, it's an everyday practice, with people making special efforts for tourists and visitors.

Jackson is famous for its music, including Blues, R&B, and Gospel. The world-renowned Malaco Records recording studio is located in the capital city, and many artists have sung about Jackson, MS in their songs.

  • Charlie Daniels in "Uneasy Rider"
  • KId Rock in "Jackson, Mississippi" 
  • The Rolling Stones in "Country Honk" and "Let it Bleed"
  • Bob Dylan in "Outlaw Blues" and "Bringing It All Back Home" 
  • Bruno Mars in "Uptown Funk"

Jackson has also been featured on the big screen in a couple recent movies.

  • The Help in 2011, based on the best-selling novel by Kathryn Stockett 
  • Get on Up in 2014, based on the interesting life of Mr. James Brown