Page 114 - Curriculum Visions Dynamic Book

Mississippi
Jackson, the capital of Mississippi
Founded 1820 Incorporated 1840
Named for Elevation Population Metro
Andrew Jackson 85 m (279 ft) 173,514
576,382 (US: 93rd)
Jackson, which lies on the banks of the Pearl River, is the capital of, and the largest city in the largely rural state of Mississippi. The Pearl River, flows into the Gulf of Mexico, and is not part of the Mississippi River system.
Before the first European settlement, the
land that is now Jackson was home to the Native Americans of the Choctaw Nation. In 1820, the land for Jackson was bought from the Choctaw . However, this opened the way for more settlers to arrive, and many settled on Choctaw land without permission. As part of the move to clear land for European Settlers, in 1830 the Choctaw Native Americans agreed to go west of the Mississippi River, which is now Oklahoma.
The first name for Jackson was Parkerville. Its importance was that is was on an overland trail (the Natchez Trace) which had been used since ancient times. The first settlement at Jackson was by Louis LeFleur, a French Canadian trader. This small collection of cabins was called LeFleur’s Bluff because it was on top of a cliff above the river. A trading post developed here, collecting and sending goods to Tennessee via the Natchez Trace.
When the new state of Mississippi was created, the government was formed in Natchez, by the Mississippi. It was the main trading port of the area. However, they believed they needed to find a capital that was near the center of the state. Most of the center of the state turned out to be swamp, but LeFleur’s Bluff was a good place to settle, with the resources needed at the time, such as timber, and a connection to the main Natchez Trace for trading.
Old State Capitol Building.
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