Jackson metropolitan area

The Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan area in the central region of the U.S. state of Mississippi that covers five counties: Copiah, Hinds, Madison, Rankin, and Simpson. As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 497,197. According to July 1, 2007 estimates, the population had risen to 534,047. [cite web | url = http://www.census.gov/popest/metro/tables/2007/CBSA-EST2007-01.csv | title = Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007 (CBSA-EST2007-01) | format = CSV | work = 2007 Population Estimates | publisher = United States Census Bureau, Population Division | date = 2008-03-27 | accessdate = 2008-03-28]

The Jackson-Yazoo City combined statistical area, consisting of the Jackson metropolitan area and Yazoo City micropolitan area, had a population of 557,385, making it the 88th-largest metropolitan area in the United States. [cite web |url=http://www.census.gov/popest/metro/tables/2007/CBSA-EST2007-02.xls |title=Annual Estimates of the Population of Combined Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006 | format=Microsoft Excel |publisher=United States Census Bureau| accessdate = 2007-09-30]

Counties

*Copiah
*Hinds
*Madison
*Rankin
*Simpson

Communities

Places with more than 25,000 inhabitants

*Jackson (Principal City)
**Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the State of Mississippi. It is one of the county seats of Hinds County (Raymond being the other). As of the 2000 census Jackson's population was 184,256. According to July 1, 2006 estimates, city's population had declined to 176,614. [cite web | url = http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2006-04-28.csv | title = Annual Estimates of the Population for Incorporated Places in Mississippi: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2006 | format = CSV | work = 2006 Population Estimates | publisher = United States Census Bureau, Population Division | date = 2007-06-28 | accessdate = 2007-09-30]

Places with 10,000 to 25,000 inhabitants

*Brandon
*Canton
*Clinton
*Madison
*Pearl
*Ridgeland

Places with 1,000 to 10,000 inhabitants

*Byram CDP
*Crystal Springs
*Edwards
*Flora
*Florence
*Flowood
*Hazlehurst
*Magee
*Mendenhall
*Pelahatchie
*Raymond
*Richland
*Wesson

Places with less than 1,000 inhabitants

*Beauregard
*Bolton
*Braxton
*D'Lo
*Georgetown
*Learned
*Puckett
*Terry
*Utica

Unincorporated places

AM radio

* 620 WJDX: Fox Sports Radio
* 780 WIIN: Christian country-music
* 810 WSJC: gospel
* 850 WQST: classic country, simulcast with WZQK
* 930 WSFZ: Sporting News Radio
* 970 WZQK: classic country, simulcast with WQST
* 1120 WTWZ: bluegrass gospel
* 1150 WONG: gospel
* 1180 WJNT: news-talk
* 1240 WPBQ: ESPN Radio
* 1300 WOAD: gospel
* 1370 WMGO: gospel
* 1400 WKXI: blues
* 1590 WZRX: Headline News

Points of interest

Tourism and Culture

Jackson is a city famous for its music - including gospel, blues and R&B. Jackson is also home to the world famous Malaco Records recording studio. Many notable musicians hail from Jackson.

Jackson is home to the USA International Ballet Competition. Founded in 1978 by Thalia Mara, the first USA International Ballet Competition took place in 1979 and joined the ranks of Varna, Bulgaria (1964); Moscow, Russia (1969); and Tokyo, Japan (1976). The International Ballet Competition (IBC) originated in Varna, Bulgaria in 1964. The competition eventually expanded to rotating annual events in Varna, Moscow and Tokyo. In 1979 the event first came to the United States in Jackson, Mississippi, where it now returns every four years. The rotation is currently among Jackson, Varna, Helsinki, Finland and Shanghai, China. These first competitions were given sanction by the International Dance Committee of UNESCO’s International Theater Institute. Today, international ballet competitions flourish worldwide, and the USA IBC in Jackson remains one of the oldest and most respected competitions in the world. In 1982, the United States Congress passed a Joint Resolution designating Jackson as the official home of the USA International Ballet Competition. Jackson held subsequent competitions in 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006. The next competition is in 2010. The competitions are held at Thalia Mara Hall. [ [http://www.usaibc.com/ USA International Ballet Competition] ]

There is one miniature golf course in the metro area - "Golfworld" in Jackson. GattiTown Pizza and Games in located in Ridgeland and Chuck E. Cheese's in located in Jackson.

Downtown Jackson Renaissance

Currently, Jackson is experiencing $1.6 billion in [http://itsdowntown.com/ downtown development] . Among the projects include improvements to or construction of the following:
*Old Capital Green
*Pinnacle at Jackson Place
*Convention Center and Hotels
*Mississippi Telecom Center
*Events Center/Sports Arena
*Union Station
*Farish Street Entertainment District - The Farish Street Entertainment District is on the horizon for downtown Jackson and will have a BB King Blues Club, [http://www.wetwillies.com/happenings.cfm/ Wet Willie's Daiquiri Bar] , King Biscuit Cafe, Funny Bones Comedy Club and other attractions.
*Standard Life Building
*Electric 302
*Plaza Building
*AT&T Building
*Jackson Place Residential
*State and Tombigbee Lofts
*Library Lofts
*Towncreek Apartments at Farish
*Ceva Green
*King Edward
*Mississippi History Museum
*Festival Park
*Old Capital Museum
*Mill Street Viaduct and Market
*Cellular South
*JPD Headquarters
*New Federal Courthouse
*Mississippi Museum of Art

Downtown Jackson Attractions

*Alamo Theater (The)
*Boddie Mansion (The)
*Bronze Statue of Medgar Evers
*Mississippi State Capitol
*Municipal Art Gallery
*Dr. A. H. McCoy Federal Building
*Mississippi Supreme Court
*Russell C. Davis Planetarium/Ronald E. McNair Space Theater
*Oaks House Museum
*Sonny Guy Municipal Golf Course
*Thalia Mara Hall / City Auditorium
*War Memorial Building
*Smith Park
*Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center
*Chimneyville Crafts Gallery
*City Hall
*Mississippi Arts Center
*Mississippi Department of Archives and History
*Mississippi Fairgrounds Complex
*Mississippi Governor's Mansion
*Mississippi Museum of Art
*Jackson Zoological Park is located on the cusp of downtown Jackson and is one of the finest zoological parks in the South.

Tallest buildings

Museums

* [http://www.mdah.state.ms.us/ Eudora Welty House Museum]
* [http://www.mdah.state.ms.us/ Manship House Museum]
* [http://www.visitjackson.com/detail.php?id=316 Medgar Evers Home Museum]
* [http://www.msagmuseum.org/ Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum]
* [http://www.msmuseumart.org/ Mississippi Museum of Art]
* [http://www.mdwfp.com/museum Mississippi Museum of Natural Science]
* [http://www.msfame.com/ Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum] - The Museum was rated the 8th best Museum for American Baseball History in the United States by an ESPN writer - ranking ahead of the Negro League Museum in Kansas City and the St. Louis Cardinal's Museum in St. Louis.

* The Oaks House Museum/Boyd House
* [http://www.city.jackson.ms.us/CityHall/robertson.htm Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center]
* [http://www.city.jackson.ms.us/Fire/pfsed_museum.html The City of Jackson Fire Museum and Public Fire Safety Education Center]
* [http://www.muslimmuseum.org/ The International Museum of Muslim Cultures]

Historic sites

* [http://www.mdah.state.ms.us/museum/ Old Capitol Museum of Mississippi History]
* Mississippi Governor's Mansion
* [http://www.mdah.state.ms.us/museum/manship.html Manship House Museum]
* [http://www.theoakshousemuseum.org The Oaks House Museum/Boyd House]
* King Edward Hotel
* Standard Life Insurance Building
* Greenwood Cemetery

Fondren is a historical neighborhood located on the fringes of downtown Jackson. The district has the ambiance of art-deco style architecture and many fine restaurants and eclectic shops.

Periodic cultural events

*Mississippi State Fair (annual, held in October)
* [http://www.crossroadsfilmfest.com Crossroads Film Festival] (annual, April)
*Jubilee! Jam (annual, June)
* [http://www.CelticFestMS.org CelticFest Mississippi] (annual, September)
* [http://mshispanicassociation.org/festivallatino2006.php/ Festival Latino] (annual, September)
*OUToberfest (annual gay and lesbian festival, October)
*USA International Ballet Competition (every four years, June)
*Mals St. Pattys Day Parade (annual, on the Saturday of or after March 17, the fourth largest in the nation with over 50,000 people)

Entertainment Venues

*Hal and Mal's - Blues, R&B, Soul, variety; 200 S. Commerce St. in downtown
*Gators Downtown - 105 E. Capitol St. in downtown
*930 Blues Cafe - Blues; 930 N. Congress St. in downtown
*Fenian's Irish Pub - Irish music with live bands and DJ; 901 E. Fortification St.
*Freelon's Bar and Groove - R&B, Hip-Hop; 440 N. Mill St.
*El Jardin de las Aves - Latin music featuring live bands and DJs; 1075 South Frontage Road
*La Cotorra Taqueria Mexicana - Mexican music with live bands (often La Sonora Dinamita) and DJs; 1999 Hwy 80 W.
*Jala Jala Night Club - Latin music played by DJs; 2662 Hwy 80 W.
*Fire - Live Music, Rock, Dance Club/BBQ & Sports Bar; 209 S. Commerce St. in downtown

Parks

*LeFleur's Bluff
*Battlefield Park
*Parham Bridges Park
*Sheppard Brothers Park
*Smith Park
*Sykes Park
*Grove Park
*Laurel Park
*Poindexter Park

ports

ports teams in the Jackson Metro area

*Mississippi Braves -- minor league baseball affiliate (AA) of the Atlanta Braves. The team plays at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Mississippi

*Mississippi Brilla -- minor league soccer team. The team plays in Clinton, Mississippi

ummer Training Camp

*New Orleans Saints, Jackson's Millsaps College is the summer home for the New Orleans Saints of the NFL from 2006 - 2010

ports venues in the Jackson Metro area

*Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium -- Concerts, Football (home of Jackson State University)
*Mississippi Coliseum -- Basketball, Hockey, Track, Rodeo, Concerts
*Smith Wills Stadium -- Baseball, Softball, Football, Soccer, Concerts
*Trustmark Park -- Baseball
*Parham Bridges -- Tennis

Former professional sports teams

*Baseball
**Jackson Senators, Independent (2001-2004)
**Jackson Diamond Kats of the independent Texas-Louisiana League (2000)
**Jackson Generals, former Texas League AA affiliate of the Houston Astros (1991-1999)
**Jackson Mets, former Texas League AA affiliate of the New York Mets (1975-1990)

*Basketball
**Jackson Wildcats, United States Basketball League
**Mississippi Rage, World Basketball Association
**Mississippi Hardhats, World Basketball Association

*Hockey
**Jackson Bandits -- East Coast Hockey League

*Soccer
**Jackson Calypso -- Women's Soccer
**Jackson Rockers -- Men's Soccer
**Jackson Chargers -- Men's Soccer

*Football
**Mississippi Pride -- Regional Football League
**Las Vegas Posse -- Canadian Football League -- As a historical note, the team almost moved to Jackson, but efforts to relocate the team to Mississippi failed.

Transportation

Air travel

Jackson is served by Jackson-Evers International Airport, located at Allen C. Thompson Field, east of the city in Flowood in Rankin County. Its IATA code is JAN. The airport has non-stop service to 12 cities throughout the United States and is served by 6 mainline carriers (American, Delta, Continental, Southwest, Northwest, and US Airways)

On 22 December 2004, Jackson City Council members voted 6-0 to rename Jackson International Airport in honor of slain civil rights leader and field secretary for the Mississippi chapter of the NAACP, Medgar Evers. This decision took effect on 22 January 2005.

Formerly Jackson was served by Hawkins Field Airport, located in northwest Jackson, with IATA code HKS, which is now used for private air traffic only.

Underway is the Airport Parkway project. The environmental impact study is complete and final plans are drawn and awaiting Mississippi Department of Transportation approval. Right-of-way acquisition is underway at an estimated cost of $19 million. The Airport Parkway will connect High Street in downtown Jackson to Mississippi Highway 475 in Flowood at Jackson-Evers International Airport. The Airport Parkway Commission consists of the Mayor of Pearl, the Mayor of Flowood and the Mayor of Jackson, as the Airport Parkway will run through and have access from each of these three cities.

Ground transportation

Interstate highways

.

. The highway is six lanes from Interstate 220 to MS 468 in Pearl.

"'
Connects Interstates 55 and 20 on the north and west sides of the city and is four lanes throughout its route.

U.S. highways

western split to downtown. It multiplexes with I-55 from Pearl/Pascagoula St northward to County Line Road, where the two highways split.

"'
Roughly parallels Interstate 20.

tate highways

.

.

Other roads

In addition, Jackson is served by the Natchez Trace Parkway, which runs from Natchez to Nashville, Tennessee.

Bus service

[http://city.jackson.ms.us/JATRAN/default.htm 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.

Railroads

Jackson is served by the Canadian National Railway (formerly the Illinois Central Railroad). The Kansas City Southern Railway also serves the city. The Canadian National has a medium-sized yard downtown which Mill Street parallels and the Kansas City Southern has a large classification yard in Richland. Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Jackson. The Amtrak station is located at 300 West Capitol Street. Amtrak's southbound City of New Orleans provides service from Jackson to New Orleans and some points between. The northbound City of New Orleans provides service from Jackson to Memphis, Carbondale, Champaign-Urbana, Chicago and some points between. Efforts to establish service with another Amtrak train, the Crescent Star, an extension of the Crescent westward from Meridian, Mississippi to Dallas, Texas, failed in 2003.

ee also

*Mississippi census statistical areas
*List of metropolitan areas in Mississippi
*List of micropolitan areas in Mississippi
*List of cities in Mississippi
*List of towns and villages in Mississippi
*List of census-designated places in Mississippi
*List of United States metropolitan areas

References