Living & Nursing in Jackson, Mississippi

You may know Jackson, Miss., only as an off-the-interstate stop-gas-up-and-stretch-your-legs oasis on your way to the Gulf Coast for the family vacation or spring break. (Those sugary, dazzling white sands of the Gulf of Mexico sound particularly appealing right about now - don’t they!) If that’s all you know about this great southern city, you’re missing out on what may be the perfect place for you to settle in and start your nursing career.

If you have thought about living on the coast and were first sent into shock by the cost of living there and secondarily decided that packing up your belongings and evacuating every summer, due to a hurricane or two, might be a little much, Jackson could be the answer. It has its own charm as you’re about to learn, and it’s only about 175 miles from the coast-far enough inland to not be too concerned about a hurricane or tropical storm, but close enough that you can be there when you want to enjoy those beautiful beaches.

Okay, some of you couldn’t care less about the beach, and beach proximity may be the least of the great things Jackson has to offer. As one of the South’s greatest cities, Jackson has a long and storied history, because we’re more interested in your future than Jackson’s history we’ll keep it short. Located near the historic Natchez Trace trading route, Jackson is Mississippi’s capitol city and was named after Major General Andrew Jackson, who became the seventh president of the United States. The town was ravaged and burned three times during the Civil War. Several of the old buildings like the Mississippi State Capitol building, the Governor’s Mansion and City Hall remain to give parts of the city its Old South charm. The city was burned so often it gained the nickname “Chimneyville.” There, that was a short painless history lesson for you.

Jacksonians are justifiably proud of their famous Southern hospitality and quality of life. Today, the Greater Jackson Metro area, located at the crossroads of Interstate 55 and Interstate 20, is home to over 500,000 people. It boasts a spectacular diversity of performing arts for its size. Ballet Mississippi, Ballet Magnificat!, the Mississippi Opera, Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and the New Stage Theatre, just to name a few, are all found here, allowing Jackson to bill itself as the arts and culture capital of the state. There are libraries, parks, galleries, gardens, museums and a zoo to occupy your spare time as well. This is a very “livable” city.

Jackson has a humid, subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters. You'll experience all four seasons but not the extremes of winter. Summer gets pretty hot and humid enough that you might want to call it extreme! Normal highs in July and August are around 92 degrees. Sometimes you'll see a little snow, but seldom will it be heavy. Normal lows in January and February are around 36 degrees. Interesting tidbit: Jackson is the only major population center in America situated on top of a volcano. Shut-up! It'true! The volcano peak is 2900 feet directly beneath the Mississippi Coliseum. Not to worry! It never causes problems.

Population spread is 28.5 percent under 18, 12.4 percent from 18 to 24, 29.1 percent from 25 to 44, and 19.1 percent from 45 to 64, with 10.9 percent 65 or older. Median age is 31. Along with being the major medical center for Mississippi, Jackson is home base to some major industries, including electrical equipment and machinery, processed food, and primary and fabricated metal products. Mississippi is a farming state, so the area immediately surrounding the metro includes livestock, soybean, cotton and poultry.

As part of the Mississippi Blues Trail, Jackson’s Subway Lounge is just a part of the musical heritage of “The City with Soul.” Many notable musicians have called Jackson home. You may have heard Kid Rock’s song “Jackson, Mississippi” or the version of “Jackson” made famous by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. Maybe you’re more familiar with it from the movie “Walk the Line,” when it was sung by Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon.

Jackson is famous for Gospel, Blues and R&B. World famous Malaco Records recording studio is located in Jackson.

 Jackson’s sports arenas include Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium, home to concerts, and Jackson State University football. The Mississippi Coliseum hosts basketball, hockey, track rodeo and concerts (and has its own underground volcano remember). Smith Wills Stadium is home to baseball, softball, football, soccer and concerts. Millsaps College is the summer home of the New Orleans Saints NFL team.

 Apartments and homes are plentiful in the metro, and there’s bound to be one that’s just right for you to start your life and career in Jackson.

 Find out more by visiting www.visitjackson.com, www.clarionledger.com, or www.jacksonmississippi.com.