Jackson Jambalaya

KF, how much of the Terry growth can be attributed to the annexation?

Doesn't matter. They are run by the county school system and its the only high school in the area.

It might be interesting to know the percentage of "black flight" black families that are living in rental houses/apartments in these school attendance zones. My guess is the availability of rentals in those areas has contributed to the shifting demographics.

What's the basis for concluding Black flight from Jackson as opposed to, for example, White flight from the listed schools, or Black folks moving from Scott County to be closer to their jobs in Jackson? I don't know the answer, just askin'.

Bill, the census numbers for Jackson and the surrounding areas seem to support the theory. I'd go so far as to say that the flight has grown almost exponentially since the 2010 census.

The "black flight" may be taking place, but they are bringing the "black thugery and attitudes" with them. Which in turn, is bringing down real estate values and social qualities to Ridgeland, Clinton, and Byram.

Really? Haven't had any problems with those in the neighborhood in NE Jackson. Been very nice.

Now those, black and white, living in the apartments.........

...."Really? Haven't had any problems with those in the neighborhood in NE Jackson. Been very nice.

Now those, black and white, living in the apartments........." .....

?????????????????????????

Old Canton and Ridgewood. Those apartments. And the Reserves on NOrthtown have been a source of crime for years.

So what are you saying then at 1:57? Are you denying crime or are you suggesting there is none in NE Jacktown or are you intimating the criminals only visit but don't live there or that if there is crime, it's the apartment dwellers? I suppose this could be a multiple choice quandry as you are most unclear in your post at 1:57.

I am curious about the financial and educational demographics of those fleeing Jackson. And very true, you will get a different "element" moving into the adjacent areas if there are apartments available.

It would make sense that anyone who can afford to would leave Jackson for greener pastures. The only people I know who say they want to stay in Jackson are "old money" folks and Yuppie mushbrains. There does seem to be an enclave in NE Jackson that is relatively safe, but relative to the rest of Jackson isn't saying much.

HA HA HA to all the racists that live in the adjacent suburbs. I also hate it soooo much for the citizens of Madison that have to "endure" the fact that JSU is expanding into their city. I will be sure to shed a tear for you tonight

The numbers for ridgeland are a combination of black flight from Jackson and white flight from ridgeland schools. We have been in the ridgeland schools for a long time and have seen lots of white folks leave.....either sending their kids to private schools or moving o Madison, gluckstadt or flowood.

Isn't Ridgeland the apartment capitol of the state? Do you realize that 80% of apartment dwellers in Ridgeland are black or Hispanic? And most of those have immigrated from Jacktown, Canton or South America.

Madison will keep apartments out, as long as they legally can, and unless Warnock can get Crosby into office. If Crosby is successful, all bets are off.

If Gluckstadt falls for the malarky pushed by developers and allows apartments, you can kiss that community goodbye.

Meanwhile the mall in Ridgeland might as well go ahead and look to becoming another 'medical mall' as Magee-ville continues to attract Jacksonians.

6:10 PM - so delusional in so many ways. First off apartments aren't subsidized housing (see apartments in ridgeland by the resevoir) Second learn who the mayor of Ridgeland is before name dropping.

6:30; I didn't mention subsidized apartments and am unsure why YOU did. I'm aware of who the mayor is. That I might misspell his name is irrelevant. I'll go with Magoo-ville if you're happier.

5:37; I'm not understanding your post. How does a Ridgeland resident moving into an apartment equal their 'escaping Ridgeland schools'. Their school options don't change if they move from a house to an apartment.

Interesting that Pearl hasn't seen similar increases. Is it because Pearl is adjacent to commercial areas of Jackson rather than more residential areas like Ridgeland, Clinton and Terry are?

Who can criticize a parent who moves out of Jackson to give their kids a better education and a better life? "White flight" may have been a correct term in the 70's and even 80's, but it's a lazy person's incorrect description of the phenomenon since then. Much, though maybe not "most," of what is termed "white flight" over the past two to three decades is rooted in the same basis for today's "black flight" or "middle class flight." There is a cultural divide between the economically immobile and the economically mobile in society. It wasn't there 60 years ago, but it's here today.

The economically immobile are overwhelmingly urban blacks but that's not always the case. In Appalachia, for instance they are rural whites. Over the past 60 years or so, there have been huge gulfs between the economically mobile and immobile in virtually every sociological measure (e.g. unwed birth rate, high school dropout rate, incarceration rate, infant mortality rate, obesity rate, percentage of single-parent households, and the list goes in and on).

Jackson is falling deeper and deeper into a cultural hole that it cannot dig its way out of. It's on the path that Detroit, Philadelphia, and Atlanta have followed where those who can escape do and they take their tax dollars with them. (BTW, there's a really interesting article about Philadelphia here: http://www.phillymag.com/articles/white-philly/)

Ultimately, there's something bigger here than just black and white and lazily shouting "Racism!" On the past, these enrollment percentages were a fair proxy for the economically mobile vs. economically immobile but that relationship has gradually weakened.

Thanks for the stats KF. This is both tragic and fascinating to watch.

the reason Ridgeland and Clinton's has grown so rapidly is simple...when you escape Jackson, you start at the top of the list of the best schools in the area and try to enroll there.

Of course there is black flight out of Jackson. The census says their population is declining and I assure you the birth rate still outpaces the death rate. And 9 out of 10 of the people living there are black, so they are the only people that could be leaving.

It's natural evolution of cities. It is happening across the country. The whites in suburbs will flee the blacks and move back to Jackson. Like having pleated pants, we are just behind the times.

I live in Clinton--our schools are top-notch. Race has nothing to do with education. Most of the black families that move to Clinton are working professionals and both dad and mom are involved with their child's education. I have black neighbors who are really great. The only 'thugs' on my block are white. African Americans with money and means are looking to buy homes in good neighborhoods with good schools. Would you want to live in a stokes ward if you could afford Ridgeland, Pearl, Byram, or Clinton?

I stay in an apartment in Ridgeland and I grew up in the County of MADISON. Every inhabitant is not from Jackson .

I continue to wonder why whites don't continually move to black neighborhoods, while blacks continue to move to white areas. Why don't black people stay in black neighborhoods and fix them, instead of moving to white areas, and bringing their "customs" to us. After all, they hate us don't they?

9:26 you are obviously black. White people "live" places. Black people "stay" places.

Is the moderator blocking answers to the question posed by 7:42, or is it that there are no answers?

The Ridgeland public schools are terrible this year. Why would anyone want to jump county lines for that? RHS went from an "A" school to a "C" school in one year. Why? lack of parental involvement? Ineffective principal?

No answers. Any answers that were blocked were pretty racist.

The purpose of the post was to show the trends more accurately than shown in the US Census. The elementary schools are more geographic specific and yield more info than the census.

Interesting conclusions given the Census data from 2010 to 2012.
Both Jackson and Madison have increased in population. Jackson's population percentage of under 18 is still larger than Madison's while Madison percentage of 65 and older is higher.
If you look at the percentage change in Hispanics and Latinos rather than blacks in Madison and the population percentage increase, I think you'll find the more likely explanation for school increases.
Continued to be overlooked is that Jackson 175000+ population is larger than Madison's 98000+ population.
In the 70s and 80's, one could buy more square footage and pay less taxes in Madison and that was key to growth. Now the average cost of housing in Madison is beginning to erase that advantage. It will be interesting to see how that affects growth in the future.
7:26 am makes a good point on the natural evolution of cities. While a few continue to point to exceptions ( Detroit being the most popular and atypical when it comes to the dependence on one industry) to the city to suburb back to city patterns.