Jackson, MS Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in the central region of the U.S. state of Mississippi that covers seven counties: Copiah, Hinds, Holmes, Madison, Rankin, Simpson, and Yazoo. As of the 2010 census, the Jackson MSA had a population of 586,320. According to 2019 estimates, the population has slightly increased to 594,806. Jackson is the principal city of the MSA.
Counties
Copiah
Hinds
Holmes
Madison
Rankin
Simpson
Yazoo
Communities
Places with more than 25,000 inhabitants
Jackson (Principal City) Jackson is the capital of and the most populous city in the State of Mississippi. It is one of the county seats of Hinds County (Raymond being the other). As of the 2020 census, Jackson's population was 153,701. Clinton Madison Pearl Brandon
Places with 10,000 to 25,000 inhabitants
Byram
Canton
Flowood
Ridgeland
Yazoo City
Places with 1,000 to 10,000 inhabitants
Crystal Springs
Durant
Edwards
Flora
Florence
Gluckstadt
Goodman
Hazlehurst
Lexington
Magee
Mendenhall
Pelahatchie
Pickens
Raymond
Richland
Tchula
Wesson
Places with fewer than 1,000 inhabitants
Beauregard
Bentonia
Bolton
Braxton
Cruger
D'Lo
Eden
Georgetown
Learned
Puckett
Satartia
Terry
Utica
West
Unincorporated places
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 497,197 people, 180,556 households, and 127,704 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 53.02% White, 45.29% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population.
Geography and climate
The Jackson metropolitan area possesses a humid subtropical climate, with very hot, humid summers and mild winters. Rain is very evenly spread throughout the year, and snow can fall in wintertime, although heavy snowfall is relatively rare. Much of the areas rainfall occurs during thunderstorms. Thunder is heard on roughly 70 days per annum. The Jackson metropolitan area lies in a region prone to severe thunderstorms which can produce large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes.
The most damaging tornado in Mississippi history occurred on March 3, 1966, when an EF-5 tornado spawned in southwest Hinds County and proceeded to move northeasterly for several hours until finally lifting in southwest Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. The storm, called the Candlestick Park tornado for a destroyed Jackson shopping center, killed 58 and injured 216.
Industry
The metro area is home to several major industries. These include electrical equipment and machinery, processed food, and primary and fabricated metal products. The surrounding area supports agricultural development of livestock, soybeans, cotton, and poultry.
Education
Colleges and universities
Belhaven University (Jackson) Copiah-Lincoln Community College (Wesson) Delta Technical College (Ridgeland) www.deltatechnicalcollege.com Hinds Community College (Raymond with branch campuses in Jackson, Pearl, and Utica) Holmes Community College (Goodman with branch campus in Ridgeland) Jackson State University (Jackson) Millsaps College (Jackson) Mississippi College (Clinton) Mississippi College School of Law (Jackson) Reformed Theological Seminary (Jackson) Tougaloo College (Jackson) University of Mississippi Medical Center (Jackson) University Center (Jackson) - serves as branch campuses for the University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University, and University of Southern Mississippi. Wesley Biblical Seminary (Jackson) Wesley College (Florence)