Living in Jackson, MS

Whatever you’re looking for, you’ll find it in Jackson . . .

From ballet to the Blues, from Cajun fare to haute cuisine and everything in between, it’s here for the taking in Jackson.  Recently named “One of America’s Most Livable Cities,” Jackson today continues to evolve as a dynamic melting pot, deeply rooted in art, culture, history and industry.

One of the country’s most vibrant mid-sized cities, Jackson was named for Andrew Jackson, the nation's seventh president.  From its humble beginnings as a tiny trading post along the Pearl River, in 1821 Jackson was established as the new Mississippi State Capitol, due to its ideal location in the center of the state. Decades later, Jackson was among the South’s most devastated cities during and after the Civil War, suffering severe physical damage, as well as tremendous social and economic upheaval. 

The region’s reliance on farming and agriculture continued until World War II, when workers abandoned the fields to enlist in the military or to take positions in industry. In the aftermath of the war, Jackson played a pivotal role in advancing the civil rights movement, and once again underwent significant change.

Poised for Greatness

The tumult visited on Jackson throughout its history translates into opportunity today.

The epitome of Southern charm and grace, Jackson reveals another of its many facets in a proactive and creative approach to modern issues such as job growth, the environment and technology. In the new millennium, the city has emerged as a hub for telecommunications and government, as well as a center for commerce, manufacturing and distribution. The region still maintains its strength in agriculture, raising livestock, soybeans, cotton, and poultry. More recently, the automotive and related manufacturing industry has sparked positive growth and spurred economic development in Jackson and its suburbs.

The city’s ongoing metamorphosis affects all aspects of business and community in Jackson. Its residents can boast of an enviable quality of life in a city sized large enough to provide an array of municipal services, educational institutions, affordable housing options and entertainment venues, but also small enough to remember, revere and preserve its past.

A Slice of Life in Jackson

As gentle as Southern hospitality, even the regional climate is moderate, with temperatures falling rarely lower than 48 degrees in winter and seldom rising above 65 in spring. Weather is one of the reasons Jackson is a favored destination among tourists and conventioneers. However, should you ever wish to get away, access to the world is available from Jackson International Airport. Visitors and those lucky enough to live here can sample the fare served up at over 400 restaurants and a myriad of gourmet dining establishments to appeal to any taste.

Temporary Jacksonians can share the multitude of other distractions that tempt the city’s residents, including the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, the Mississippi Opera, the Mississippi Museum of Art, the Natural Science Museum, the Agriculture and Forestry Museum and many others.  Jackson itself is home to the Municipal Art Gallery, Millsaps College, Belhaven College, Jackson State University, Jackson Zoological Park, and a range of venues including live concerts, theatre, events at the fairgrounds, and a reservoir for recreational boating, fishing and swimming. Creative, artistic souls will appreciate Jackson’s literary legacy as the home of such greats as Eudora Welty, Margaret Walker Alexander, and famed author Willie Morris, who spent his last years here. The region is famed for development of the original American musical genre, the Blues.  Jackson’s historic neighborhoods like Belhaven and Fondren welcome visitors with special events that combine walking tours, history and of course, delicious local delicacies.  And in case you didn’t know, the state is home to 22 licensed casinos, including riverboat gaming.

Sports fans can savor the crack of the bat spring through fall while they cheer on the Mississippi Braves baseball team or bask in the tradition of the Governor's Cup Game (MSU v. Ole Miss). Football enthusiasts can get a preview of things to come from the best of the NFL by attending pre-season games hosted in Jackson. Not to be missed is the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, also located in Jackson. 

If it’s nightlife you’re after, settle in for an evening of live entertainment after the day’s events during Jackson’s famous annual Jubilee Jam, featuring local music as well as a variety of popular, alternative and R&B bands from all over the country. Try your luck at one of our casinos after an elegant meal at a five-star restaurant. True night owls can dance until dawn at any of our numerous after-hours night clubs featuring a variety of live music from piano to jazz. And there’s no place anywhere like Jackson’s 930 Blues Club, rated one of the best blues clubs in the country.  No matter what you’re craving late night, you can find it here. 

 Whether your passion is history, artistic pursuits, awe-inspiring architecture, or sports of all sorts, you will find that the city of Jackson more than lives up to its motto, “The Best of the New South.”