Jackson is the most populous city and the capital of the southern Mississippi State within the USA. Of Hinds County, it is one of 2 county seats, whilst Raymond Town forms the other. According to the Census of the year 2000 by the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of Jackson was 184,256. It went down to around 173,500 based on the Census of the year 2010. The Jackson metropolitan area is a 5-county area that had population of around 539,000 that same year. The city of Jackson is the anchor of the Metro area.
The city was named in honor of Andrew Jackson. He was a general during the time of the naming and later on went on to become President. "City with Soul" is the slogan for the city of Jackson, Mississippi. Based on Forbes Magazine, among America's 100 biggest metro areas, it was placed 3rd for the best "Bang for Your Buck City." This study measured numerous aspects including housing rates and overall affordability, along with other things. In addition, the city is ranked as the 23rd most unsafe city in the nation based on the 14th annual "City Crime Rankings: Crime in Metropolitan America."
The community was first established during the year 1821 and referred to as "LeFleur's Bluff. The location was selected as the best site for a township that could become the state capital of Mississippi. In the year 1821, a legislative act approved the location to become the permanent seat of government for the state of Mississippi. That same year it was decided to name Jackson, in honor of Major General Andrew Jackson. Afterward, this man will become the 7th President of the country.
The community became incorporated as a city after one year. During the Civil War, the city of Jackson became a target of Union troops. Jackson was burned and destroyed a lot of times under General William T. Sherman's command. The recovery of the area post war was slow. Jackson started to experience a sharp increase in population in the turn of the 20th century. It eventually became one of the most dynamic growth areas in the Sunbelt.
During the 1930s industrial growth was spurred by the discovery of natural gas close by. The city of Jackson became a scene of racial unrest throughout the 1960's and the 1970's. This devastating behavior was epitomized by the slaying of civil rights activist and NAACP leader Medgar Evers during 1963, by a white supremacist. There have been a lot of improvements during the subsequent decades within the area of race relations. The members of the Jackson City Council voted unanimously in the year 2004 in honor of Medgar Evers by renaming the Jackson International Airport.
Jackson is a center for various recreational activities like for instance music, fine cuisine and cultural attractions. One of the best places to visit is the Smith Robertson Museum and Cultural Center. This building is located very near the State Capitol building. It features photography, art and artifacts, celebrating the rich African American experience within the Deep South. The Museum is located in the former Smith Robertson School, that first opened during the year 1894. It was the first public school to be built in the city of Jackson for African American student.
The Jackson Zoo is amongst the great landmarks within Jackson. It has operating ever since the year 1919 and proudly services hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. There are over 100 various kinds of animals on display and a lot of them are considered to be endangered. The Russell C. Davis Planetarium is another highlight in downtown Jackson. It offers the people a chance to experience stunning space scenes as well as colorful laser image projection and fantastic large scale film action.