Exploring Jackson, Mississippi: The Capital City with a Rich History

Jackson, the capital and most populous city of Mississippi, has a long and storied history Founded in 1821, this bustling Southern city has played an important role in the state’s development, as well as the Civil War and Civil Rights Movement Here’s an in-depth look at what makes Jackson so unique.

A Strategic River Location

Jackson lies on the Pearl River, which played a key role in its founding. In 1821, the Mississippi General Assembly was looking for a new centrally located state capital. Surveyors Thomas Hinds, James Patton, and William Lattimore reported that the area near LeFleur’s Bluff on the Pearl River offered beautiful scenery, good water, abundant timber, and proximity to the Natchez Trace. The Assembly authorized the location as the new capital on November 28, 1821 and named the city after Andrew Jackson, hero of the Battle of New Orleans.

Antebellum Growth and Industry

As the new state capital, Jackson grew steadily in the antebellum period. The city was planned in 1822 with alternating park squares and city blocks. By 1839, the city had erected the Greek Revival-style Old Capitol building to house the legislature. Jackson was also an industrial hub with factories producing textiles and cottonseed oil. The city was linked by railroad to nearby towns by 1840 and to major cities like New Orleans by 1855. By 1860 Jackson’s population had swelled to over 3,600 residents.

The Siege of Jackson in the Civil War

Despite its small size, Jackson became a strategic industrial center for the Confederacy during the Civil War. Union forces captured Jackson in May 1863 after the first Battle of Jackson. General William Tecumseh Sherman then burned and looted parts of the city. After Jackson was recaptured by the Confederates, Union forces laid siege to it for a week in July 1863 before retaking the city. Most of Jackson was burned during this Second Battle of Jackson. The city earned the nickname “Chimneyville” because only chimneys were left standing in the destroyed houses.

Reconstruction and Growth

During Reconstruction, Jackson’s economy slowly recovered. The city got mule-drawn streetcars in 1871 and electric streetcars in 1899. With the arrival of railroad lines, the discovery of nearby natural gas fields in the early 1930s, and the success of illegal drinking and gambling establishments like the “Gold Coast”, Jackson experienced a boom. By 1930, Jackson’s skyline included 14 derricks and new landmarks like Union Station and the King Edward Hotel.

The Civil Rights Era

As the state capital and a Jim Crow stronghold, Jackson became a site for civil rights protests starting in the 1960s. The Freedom Riders were arrested in 1961 for integrated busing. Protest marches, sit-ins, and boycotts followed, often met by violence. After Medgar Evers’ 1963 assassination, thousands marched at his funeral. The movement brought new organizations like the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. Legislative milestones like the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act finally brought integration by the late 1960s.

Present-Day Jackson

Today, Jackson remains Mississippi’s capital and largest city, with a population of over 153,000 residents. The city faced economic decline and white flight to suburbs in the late 20th century, but downtown has undergone revitalization efforts. Home to the state’s government, Jackson is also a hub for colleges and universities, museums, music, and cuisine. The city confronts issues like crime and urban blight but remains proud of its Southern heritage.

Jackson has an eventful 200-year history. From its strategic founding, to Civil War destruction, to equal rights struggles, Mississippi’s capital has played a central role in the state’s past and present. Whether you’re interested in history, culture, or exploring the modern South, Jackson has something for you!