Why Jackson, MS is a Great Place to Live
Reasons include good economy, many parks, several college campuses, nightspots.
The capital of Mississippi, Jackson is along the Pearl River and serves as the hub of commerce and culture for a five-county region in the central portion of The Magnolia State. Quality of life here includes students having access to more than a dozen college and university campuses, and the downtown district is currently undergoing a $1.5 billion renovation initiative.
Here are reasons why Jackson is such an attractive place to live:
In This Article
Positioned to Lead
A diversity of industries is helping to keep the economy robust in Jackson, with strong sectors in distribution, education, food processing, healthcare, information technology, manufacturing and retail. Another vibrant industry is agriculture, especially in cotton, livestock, poultry and soybeans.
Smother Nature
Ah, fresh air. Outdoor recreation is abundant in Jackson thanks to facilities such as LeFleur’s Bluff State Park, Sheppard Brothers Park and five other public green spaces. A number of walking trails are in place, and Natchez Trace Parkway also serves the Jackson area.
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Enroll Right Along
Students have the convenience of more than a dozen college and university campuses to attend higher education classes, including at Jackson State University and Hinds Community College. Also in the city are Antonelli College, Belhaven University, Millsaps College, Tougaloo College, Virginia College and more.
Let It Ride
Residents and distribution companies have close proximity to excellent transportation assets such as Interstates 20, 55 and 220 as well as U.S. Highways 49, 51 and 80. Also available to business and casual travelers as well as the military is Jackson-Medgar Evers International Airport, which is served by American Eagle, Delta Air Lines and United Express with nonstop flights to cities like Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and Washington, D.C.
On the Front Burner
It’s easy to find good restaurants in Jackson, and many ethnic cuisine options are represented. Some top dining destinations are Aladdin Mediterranean Grill, Barrel House, Char Restaurant, Rooster’s, Surin of Thailand, The Manship Wood Fired Kitchen. The Pig and Pint, and Tokyo Tasty Buffet.
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Nighttime is the Right Time
The current slogan for Jackson is “The City with Soul,” which recognizes its many musicians who have been strong influences in blues, folk, gospel and jazz. As a result, the city has several good nightspots that offer music, including Babe’s Showclub, Big Sleepy’s, Couples, Underground 119 and Wonderlust.
Museum Musings
Want to be curious for a couple of hours? Nearly a dozen museums are found within the city limits, including Mississippi Children’s Museum, Mississippi Museum of Art and Mississippi Museum of Natural Sciences. Also available to residents and tourists are tours of the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion as well as Russell C. Davis Planetarium.
Go Wild
About 110,000 people annually visit Jackson Zoo, including 25,000 school children and their teachers. On site are 380 animals that include endangered species like chimpanzees, pygmy hippos, Sumatran tigers and white-handed gibbons. During the summer, kids and parents can enjoy a spacious splash pad.