Jackson, Mississippi

Jackson is the capital and largest city in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of the 2000 census, its population is 184,256. The Jackson metropolitan area, including its suburbs and Hinds, Madison, Rankin, Copiah, and Simpson counties, has a population of 510,000. Jackson is one of the county seats of Hinds County; Raymond is the other county seat. The city has self-styled itself as "The Best of the New South," and "The Bold, New City." Frank Melton is the current mayor of Jackson.

Famous Jacksonians

• Margaret Walker Alexander, writer
• David Banner, rapper
• Lerone Bennett, Jr., Editor, Ebony Magazine
• Alexander Brown, writer
• Harry A. Cole, Sr., chemist, inventor of Pine-Sol
• Vic Fleming, writer
• Richard Ford, writer
• Othella Harrington, professional basketball player
• Beth Henley, playwright
• Faith Hill, country music entertainer
• Lindsey Hunter, professional basketball player
• Fern Kinney, rhythm & blues and disco music entertainer
• Dorothy Moore, gospel singer
• Walter Payton, professional football player, member of the NFL Hall of Fame
• LeAnn Rimes, country music entertainer
• James Robinson, professional basketball player
• Otis Spann, blues musician
• Pearl Spann, educator (Spann Elementary School in Jackson is named for her)
• Eudora Welty, writer
• Cassandra Wilson, jazz singer and songwriter