Jackson, MS Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in the central region of the U.S. state of Mississippi that covers seven counties: Copiah, Hinds, Holmes, Madison, Rankin, Simpson, and Yazoo. As of the 2010 census, the Jackson MSA had a population of 586,320. According to 2019 estimates, the population has slightly increased to 594,806.[2]Jackson is the principal city of the MSA.
° Jackson is the capital of and the most populous city in the State of Mississippi. It is one of the county seats of Hinds County (Raymond being the other). As of the 2020 census, Jackson's population was 153,701.
U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790–1960[6] 1900–1990[7] 1990–2000[8]
As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 497,197 people, 180,556 households, and 127,704 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 53.02% White, 45.29% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population.
Geography and climate
The Jackson metropolitan area possesses a humid subtropical climate, with very hot, humid summers and mild winters. Rain is very evenly spread throughout the year, and snow can fall in wintertime, although heavy snowfall is relatively rare. Much of the areas rainfall occurs during thunderstorms. Thunder is heard on roughly 70 days per annum. The Jackson metropolitan area lies in a region prone to severe thunderstorms which can produce large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes.
The most damaging tornado in Mississippi history occurred on March 3, 1966, when an EF-5 tornado spawned in southwest Hinds County and proceeded to move northeasterly for several hours until finally lifting in southwest Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. The storm, called the Candlestick Park tornado for a destroyed Jackson shopping center, killed 58 and injured 216.
City of Jackson Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures
The metro area is home to several major industries. These include electrical equipment and machinery, processed food, and primary and fabricated metal products. The surrounding area supports agricultural development of livestock, soybeans, cotton, and poultry.
The Mississippi Link weekly statewide general interest newspaper (home office Jackson), focusing on the African American community, at http://www.themississippilink.com
The Jackson Mississippian, circulated during the 19th century
Jackson Daily News, evening newspaper in Jackson (published 1907 to 1934; merged with The Clarion-Ledger in 1934 but editorially operated separately; discontinued publishing in 1982)
Jackson State-Times, daily newspaper in Jackson (published 1952 to 1963)
Publishing
University Press of Mississippi, the state's only not-for-profit publishing house and collective publisher for Mississippi's eight state universities, producing works on local history, culture and society
Television
All stations are licensed to Jackson unless otherwise noted:
The Jackson area is currently served by Jackson-Evers International Airport, located at Allen C. Thompson Field in Rankin County between Flowood and Pearl. Its IATA code is JAN. The airport has non-stop service to 12 cities throughout the United States and is served by four mainline carriers (American, Delta, United, and Southwest). JAN also serves as host for the State of Mississippi's and private citizens' jet aircraft.
On 22 December 2004, Jackson City Council members voted 6–0 to rename Jackson International Airport in honor of slain civil rights leader and NAACP field secretary for Mississippi, Medgar Evers. This decision took effect on 22 January 2005.
The Jackson area was formerly served by Hawkins Field, located in northwest Jackson with IATA code HKS. This airport is now used for private air traffic only.
A proposed new access from Downtown Jackson to Jackson-Evers International Airport is the Airport Parkway project. This parkway will connect High Street in Downtown Jackson to Mississippi Highway 475 at the airport. The parkway will be of interstate standards and designated Interstate 755 with access to both Flowood and Pearl. Although approved in 2008 with studies completed and right-of-way obtained, no construction has been done as of 2022.
Ground transportation
Interstate highways
Interstate 55 Runs north-south from Chicago through Jackson towards Brookhaven, McComb, and the Louisiana state line to New Orleans. Jackson is roughly halfway between New Orleans and Memphis, Tennessee. The highway maintains eight to ten lanes in northern part of city, six lanes in the center and south of I-20.
U.S. Highway 51 The predecessor route from Chicago to New Orleans, US 51 runs along with I-55 from County Line Road on the Jackson/Ridgeland border to Terry. US 51 runs separately to the north in Ridgeland and to the south from Terry. The former route of Hwy 51 is designated as State Street through Jackson and connects with I-55/I-20 south of the interstate split in South Jackson
JATRAN (Jackson Transit System) operates hourly or half-hourly during daytime hours on weekdays, and mostly hourly on Saturdays. No evening or Sunday service is operated.
