METRO POPULATION NOW OVER 500,000

New statistics from the Bureau of Census reflect the Jackson Metropolitan Area population at 510,060. This is an increase from the 2000 census, which officially reported 440,801 people in our metro community. While the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership would like to take the credit for this phenomenal growth, we cannot. The answer to the increased numbers came even as a surprise to us. So how did this happen? Well, using the words of Paul Harvey, “AND NOW THE REST OF THE STORY.”

While the City of Jackson has slightly lost population in the past ten years, Madison and Rankin Counties have experienced tremendous growth. They are two of the fastest growing counties in the state and at times each has been recorded as one of the fastest growing counties in the nation. While some of this increase is movement within the three-county area, it must be acknowledged that Jackson’s loss is not the only contributing factor to Madison and Rankin’s growth. New businesses in both of these counties have had a positive impact. Nissan and its supplier community have had an enormous effect on drawing families from all over the state and nation to locate in our area.

Still, all these factors would not help us jump to 517,000. The assistance we received to achieve this mark came from Simpson and Copiah Counties. Not because anyone moved, but rather because the Bureau of Census arbitrarily expanded our THREE-county metro community into a FIVE-county metro community. Regardless of what anyone else thinks, the official geographic Metro Area is now Hinds, Madison, Rankin, Copiah and Simpson Counties.

The attributes of this federal government decision, or negatives if you disagree with the change, are to be debated another day. Today we have arrived officially with a population of over a half million people. So many decisions are evaluated on categories using market criteria of less than 250,000, then 250,000-500,000,next 500,000 to 1,000,000, and finally over 1,000,000. Our new status will offer us new opportunities for business-especially in the commercial and retail sectors. However, just being “bigger,” doesn’t make us “better.” Nevertheless, it does make people outside of our local area take a different look at us. Truthfully, our market area is probably more that five counties. Corporate executives in New York, Chicago or Japan don’t see any of the city/county lines or jurisdictions that we see anyway. When deciding to place a business here, these executives base their analysis on a much larger scale than three, or even five-county demographics. Regional cooperation becomes imperative if we are to be successful in the coming years. It’s a new mindset, but definitely a necessary one.

Thanks Census Bureau, we look forward to making a “bigger” community a “BETTER” community!

Join the Chamber in welcoming visitors and new residents to the metro Jackson area by purchasing the following benefits for $595 a year on our Lobby Display Advertising.

1. 11 x 8 ½” Advertising Space

2. Business Card Display Space

3. 8 ½ x 11” Brochure Space

Contact Debi Green at (601) 948-7575, ext. 233 or e-mail djackson@metrochamber.com in order to receive more information and an advertising contract.