History of Jackson, Mississippi, USA

1822 - Mississippi State capital moved to Jackson

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1854 - Jackson
Jackson, a thriving town of Hinds co., and capital of the state of Mississippi, is situated on the right bank of Pearl river, and on the Vicksburg and Brandon railroad, 45 miles E. from Vicksburg, and 1010 miles from Washington. Lat. 82° 23' N., Lon. 90° 8' W. The site of the town is level and the plan is regular. It contains a handsome state house, the executive mansion, the state lunatic asylum, the penitentiary, a United States land- office, several churches, and 4 newspaper offices. About 30,000 bales of cotton are annually shipped here. Jackson is one of the principal points on the New Orleans, Jackson, and Northern railroad, now in progress. Population in 1853, about 3500.
A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

1863-64 - Jackson in the U.S. Civil War
1863-05-14 - American Civil War: The Battle of Jackson, MS takes place.
1863-07-05 - Battle of Jackson, MS & Battle of Birdsong Ferry, MS
1863-07-10 - Battle of Jackson, MS - captured by federals
1864-02-05 - Federals occupy Jackson, Mississippi

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1869 - Two citizens of Jackson, Miss., went out fishing, got fifty miles away from home, and out of money, and finally, as a last resort, went to the Sheriff of the county,
told him they were escaped convicts from the Jackson Penitentiary, gave themselves up, and were taken home without the expenditure of a cent. The Sheriff's feelings, on realizing the joke, may be imagined.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
July 3, 1869

1885 - WENT THROUGH THE BRIDGE. A TRAIN WRECKED AND MANY PERSONS KILLED AND INJURED.
Jackson, Miss., Aug 27. - The following particulars were received here to-day of a frightful accident on the narrow gauge known at the Little J., which runs from Natchez to Jackson:

The mail and passenger express which left Jackson at 6:30 A.M. went through the bridge over the Pierre Bayou, which is 38 miles east of Natchez. The bridge gave way as the passenger train was on it, and the engine dropped to the bottom of the bayou, a distance of 60 feet. The mail, express, and smoking car were piled up on top of it. The ladies' coach was left on the edge of the bridge, partly off.

Three persons were killed instantly and a large number injured. The engineer, MR. POWELL, of Water Valley; the fireman, JOHN McCLUTCHY, of Natchez, and a brakeman, MR. ROBERT PERRY, of Learned, were killed. J. W. LANE, express messanger, was seriously injured. The mail agent, a colored man named OWEN ANDERSON, was seriously injured. R. W. CAMPBELL, of Fayette, received a severe and dangerous contusion... Read MORE...

1895 - Jackson
Jackson, a city of Mississippi, the capital of the state, is in Hinds co., on the W. bank of the Pearl River, 183 miles N. of New Orleans, 45 miles E. of Vicksburg, and 96 miles W. of Meridian. Lat. 32° 18' N.; lon. 90° 6' W. It is on the Illinois Central Railroad where it crosses the Wicks burg & Meridian Railroad. It is built on level ground, and is regularly planned. It contains the state-house, the penitentiary, a lunatic asylum, institutions for the blind, the deaf, and the dumb, public schools, an industrial seminary, the state law library, the third largest in the Union, 8 churches, a national and 2 other banks, 3 iron-foundries, a sash-, door-, and blind-factory, and numerous smaller industries. A semi-monthly, a quarterly, 2 daily, and 4 weekly newspapers are published here. The city is lighted by electricity. Many thousand bales of cotton are annually shipped at this place. Pop, in 1890, 5920.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott

1902 - FIRE IN AN ASYLUM. THE DEED OF A LUNATIC IMPERILS OVER SIX HUNDRED LIVES.
Jackson, Miss., Feb. 16. - The four-story main building of the State Asylum for the Insane was set on fire about 5 o'clock this morning by J. D. BROWN, an inmate of the institution. BROWN had recently escaped and was only returned yesterday. He stated to his attendants that it would be all the worse for him and them if he was again confined. His threat was soon put into execution, and he himself, unable to escape from the building, was burned to death, a victim of his insane deed.
There were 600 inmates in the building, most of whom were asleep when the flames were discovered. Through the most superhuman exertions of the Superintendent, DR. MITCHELL, and his subordinates all were saved and safety transferred to the wings disconnected from the burning pile.

After performing this extraordinary feat, Superintendent MITCHELL, just up from a sick bed, staggered and fell, and was conveyed to his home. Assistant NOLAND STEWART, after heroic and successful endeavors, also succumbed.... Read MORE...

1903 - New capitol building dedicated in Jackson

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1913 - TRAPPED BY FLAMES 35 PERISH. NEGRO CONVICTS BURNED TO DEATH IN FIRE AT THE OAKLEY CONVICT FARM. RESCUERS DRIVEN BACK. BY INTENSE HEAT AS THEY ATTEMPTED TO LIBERATE THE FRANTIC MEN - HAD NO FIRE-FIGHTING APPARATUS ON HAND.
(Associated Press Telegram)
Jackson, Miss., July 22. - Trapped by flames in the second floor in an antiquated convict cage, 35 negro prisoners were burned to death at the Oakley convict farm, 20 miles from here last night.

The flames rapidly ate away the only stairway leading to the second floor. The prisoners frantically tore at the heavy bars that covered the jail windows but to no avail. Their screams brought guards and other prison attaches but the flames drove back members of the rescue party each time they attempted to liberate the negroes who one by one fell back into the flames and perished.

Everything was in the fires favor. The building was constructed ten years ago of lumber taken from a discarded penitentiary. There was no fire fighting apparatus at the farm and the first floor of the building was filled with inflammable material.

Farmers living nearby hurried to the jail to help the fire fighters but they were of no assistance as the fire burned too... Read MORE...

1916
Jackson, a city, the capital of Mississippi, and a county-seat of Hinds co., on the Pearl River, 180 miles N. of New Orleans and 45 miles E. of Vicksburg, on the Illinois Central and other railroads. It contains the state- house, a government building, state library (about 90,000 volumes), lunatic asylum, institutions for the blind, the deaf, and the dumb, Jackson and Millsaps Colleges, Belhaven College for Young Ladies, the James Observatory, etc., iron-foundries, sash-, door- and blind-factories, cotton seed oil mills, and manufactories of agricultural implements, machinery, etc. Cotton is largely shipped here. Pop. in 1890, 5920 ; in 1900, 7816.
Lippincotts New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns, Resorts, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, Lakes, Etc., in Every Portion of the Globe, Part 1 Angelo Heilprin Louis Heilprin - January 1, 1916 J.B. Lippincott - Publisher

1961 - May 24 - 27 Freedom Riders arrested in Jackson, Mississippi

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1966 - TWISTER HITS KILLS 58
JACKSON, Miss. (UPI) - Police and volunteers began a sweep of devastated areas of central Mississippi at first light today in a search for more victims of tornadoes that killed at least 58 persons and injured 450 others in Mississippi and Alabama.

Authorities feared the toll would rise as searchers moved across rural lands where many farmhouses were flattened by the awesome storms which also spawned flash floods in portions of Alabama and Georgia.

Additional state troopers were dispatched to the Jackson area to aid in the search through a four-county area scarred by a destructive swath some 65 miles long. Other twisters Thursday wreaked damage and killed one man in three Alabama counties.

One twister hit a crowded shopping center in a Jackson residential area, killing at least a dozen persons. A family of six was wiped out when their home at Leesburg was blown apart.

AUTHORITIES feared the toll would go higher as rescue squads sifted through debris under emergency... Read MORE...

Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Jackson, Mississippi:
Mississippi Civil Rights Museum: This museum is a must-visit. It chronicles the struggle for civil rights in Mississippi and the United States. It's a powerful and educational experience.

Mississippi Museum of Art: If you appreciate art, this museum showcases a diverse collection of American art, including works by Mississippi artists.

Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum: Explore Mississippi's agricultural and forestry heritage through exhibits, historic structures, and live demonstrations.

Eudora Welty House and Garden: Visit the former home of the renowned author Eudora Welty, which is now a museum. You can tour her beautifully preserved house and garden.

Mississippi State Capitol: Take a tour of the state's historic capitol building. The architecture is stunning, and the history is fascinating.

The Old Capitol Museum: Learn about the state's political history in this historic building. The museum offers engaging exhibits and a glimpse into the... Read MORE...