Last week Jackson Public Schools announced a plan to close 16 schools “due to declining enrollment.”
“The school district’s student decline tracks with overall population declines in the City of Jackson,” reported Mississippi Today, adding that the capital city is “the fastest-shrinking city with at least 50,000 residents in the United States.”
Once upon a time when the late Leland Speed served as executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority, he brought Jack Schultz to Jackson to discuss rural prosperity. Schultz, a highly successful entrepreneur and economic developer, spent three years researching why some towns and areas across America prospered and others did not. He revealed his findings in his book Boomtown USA: The 7 ½ keys to Big Success in Small Towns.
He also revealed three indicators common to most prospering areas – population growth, job growth, and per capita income growth. Of these, he said in Jackson, population growth is the most indicative of prosperity because people move into areas with economic opportunity and good quality of life.
Regrettably, Jackson’s population decline is not unique in Mississippi. Towns and counties in the Delta region have suffered significant population losses for decades. More recently rural towns and counties across the state have begun losing population. Since 2010, most of our counties lost population.
Consequently, Mississippi’s overall population growth has stagnated with the most recent Census Bureau report showing total population has declined slightly since 2020.
The good news for Mississippi is that growth has occurred in the other two indicators Schultz revealed. Jobs have increased as has per capita income.
So why are we still losing population?
As Schultz noted there are other factors that matter, particularly quality of life factors. These include the status of schools, crime, infrastructure, housing, healthcare, and recreation. Commuting times and access to child care are other factors he noted.
But the biggest factor may be the lack of a booming urban center to retain our best and brightest. Brain drain reports cite the attractiveness of out-of-state urban centers to bright young people.
Back in 2003 Dr. Art Cosby, then head of the Social Science Research Center at Mississippi State University, discussed this factor. In a special presentation to the IHL Board, Cosby pointed to numerous studies showing that few students in the West, Northeast, Midwest, and other parts of the nation desired to live in the South. On the other hand, he said, most top Mississippi graduates would like to live here – if they could find jobs like they can in Atlanta, Dallas, Nashville, etc.
Hmmm.
State efforts to resolve the issues behind Jackson’s population decline can help all of Mississippi.
“A shortage of people is a ruler’s ruin” – Proverbs 14:28.
Crawford is a syndicated columnist from Jackson.
44 comments:
Jackson is lost. It cannot be saved. Too many problems without solutions.
I try to be fair with Mr. Crawford; however, with all due respect, this article contains not one thing that every reader did not already know.
I have no way of knowing if Mr. Crawford is familiar with or knows the mechanics of something called 'Root Cause Analysis'.
This article is a puff piece, unworthy of Mr. Crawford's abilities and an insult to our intelligence. Why? Because he did not spend 1/2 of 1 second addressing root cause.
8:55am Your comment is beyond ridiculous! I suspect just want that to be true.
Either your racism has adversely affected your brain or you hope your town will benefit.
I would remind you and any other idiots that a city with the following:
Three major hospitals, one of which is also a medical school
The old and current State Capitol Buildings
A state university as well as two long established colleges
The largest Country Club which hosts a PGA tournament
The two most desirable addresses in MS ( The Jackson Country Club and Eastover)
A fine Tennis Club that hosts competitions
The 3 best museums in the State
The Fairgrounds and Convention Center which hosts events all year round and like the clubs above brings in visitors
3 private school campuses and one of those is k-12.
The R&D Center
I would suggest to you that you actually travel to Jackson and ride around downtown and go up State St and travel east on Northside Dr. IF you open your eyes you will see homes on Northside and Meadowbrook have been renovated as have homes on Ridgewood. You will see if you are looking renovations in CCJ and Eastover. On State Street look at the old mansions that have been restored. The Highland Village and Fondren are is still busy and if the owner of the other shopping areas (you really will be shocked to learn ) would maintain his shopping areas as well, DeVille would be doing better.
You really ought to see what's going on in the Belhaven area, not just streets finally being addressed but it's so hopping with new restaurants and activities especially around the Manship area.
Oh I know improvements aren't everywhere yet, but you naysayers seem to think years of neglect can be fixed overnight...especially a lack of support from state government and our fellow citizens who ought to want us to succeed! And, we have had to overcome all your gossipy, over-reacting, unrealistic nincompoops who hammer us with negativity and doomsday predictions. And more than a few of you have hidden agendas. You've made several in government much,much richer but you are too lame to notice. Interesting how a heads of state government departments can write contract bids to fit only one bidder at EVERY level in this State...including at IHLs. It's legally easy here to pull that off.
Thank God for Shad and Anna Wolfe.
I'll vote for anyone who will clean house and try to get the kind of legislation on the books that will stop making political corruption so damn easy! WE don't even have to RE-INVENT THE WHEEL to do that. Other States have those laws on the books.
I thought that Chowke's Marxism was turning this around, assisted by Sista Rukia's cartel.
@10:01 Belhaven and Fondren are indeed remarkable. That's where I go to watch the carjackings.
It took that man three years to see something one drive down any Jackson street could tell anyone else? He must have been getting paid by the hour.
10:01 You are indeed a dedicated optimist. That is nice. However Jackson will not make recovery and the impact of those assets you mention will continue to shrink unless there is new confidence in the city's leadership and the direction they are taking Jackson. That is sorely missing among Jackson's citizens, both black and white, and also among those investors who might move to Jackson. Your perspective is unique, that's part of the problem.
Maybe consider if Jackson’s student enrollment dropped so precipitously, where did said students go? Then consider whether the prosperity of Jackson affects outlying communities.
10:01 - In your haste to mention a few good things, you left out hundreds of negative elements about my capital city.
You thought it was clever to say 'EAST Northside Drive'. What about WEST Northside Drive. And in mentioning "UP State Street", while no mention was made of "DOWN State Street.
It's not MY fault (and I hope not YOURS) that the first thing that comes to mind when Jackson is mentioned is hundreds of negatives and reasons to steer clear of the entire village.
How do you think if feels, when driving anywhere in Jackson, to wonder silently, "Is this a safe street or is one that is not"?
In the race for Governor regarding this statewide issue, Tate Reeves doesn't give a crap, and Brandon Presley is too focused harping on two losing topics instead of teeing up this bedrock problem that threatens Mississippi's future.
10:01 - 100's, 50 - bet you can name 10.
Jackson has serious problems but Jackson is not lost. Jackson needs leadership. When the electorate changes its mindset, Jackson can self-correct. Until then, Jackson will continue to decline. Please, Jackson business leaders, collaborate and support better leaders.
RMQ
I'm no highly successful entrepreneur or economic developer, but Mr. Shultz and Mr. Crawford left off of the list the most important factor - people. If you don't have people living in a community, regardless of size, that have intelligence, dedication, morals, enthusiasm, initiative, respect for others and the law, then that community is doomed. When a growing number of residents lack these characteristics, the ones that have them want to move away from them. This is the reason for Jackson's downfall as well as those towns in the Delta.
The political power shifted from those who have money backing their play, to those who don't. END OF STORY.
You can blame the city council and the board of supervisors for Jackson’s decline. The exit of good people started because of the decline in property values because of poor planning; crime not being properly addressed; and a poor school system.
10:01 Life starts with clean water - ever heard about that? Breathable air is right behind. Those are things everyone else in Mississippi takes for granted. Try to keep up.
If you can't depend on the availability of water and air that long laundry list of, uh, "stuff" you mentioned is meaningless.
Last week, I was listening to the Ricky Mathews' radio show.
(Yeah,yeah,yeah ...he's a Biloxi guy on Supertalk).
Long story short, he was relating a recent trip to Scotland.
When a local asked where he was from,and he replied Mississippi...
the Scottish local laughed and asked if Jackson had water yet ?
My Gawd... Antard has done such a great job of international recognition for our capitol city.
The Jackson de-population and “ brain drain” will continue unabated and worsen as long
as The Lumumba administration and those of similar ilk are in charge.
The Jackson de-population and “ brain drain” will continue unabated and worsen as long
as The Lumumba administration and those of similar ilk are in charge.
@10:01
The majority of the institutions and organizations you mention are operated or utilized by individuals who
Do NOT reside within the City of Jackson.
The article is about de- population, not organizations and buildings.
Nice try, tho.
@10:01 - The current mayor of our capital city has given new meaning to 'how to destroy a major city'.
Of the things you listed, Chokwe inherited them all. In other words, he has nothing to do with any of them - They were in place before he inherited the baton from his daddy.
If he had one damned thing to do with running or influencing the running of any of them, they would, today, be utter disasters. And you know that.
Can you provide a list of things created, nurtured, rebuilt or improved in the past 12-15 years that have made our capital city a better place?
10:01 must live at THE CCJ or in Eastover. My friends who once lived in both locations thanked the good Lord for sending them someone to purchase their properties so they could get the hell out.
Do the Republicans have a solution?
Shad?
Hey guys, I am the typical poster on here, and I have some confessions to make:
I live in either a mediocre suburb or some depressing small town with fewer than five red lights that will have the same or lower population fifty years from now than today. Because my little bubble is filled with people exactly like me, I’m not challenged to broaden my horizons (such as, say, by reading a damn book ever). So, I love it here, and I think it’s better than Jackson and won’t leave any opportunity on the table to gloat about it.
But more than just loving it here in my mediocre strip mall or swamp (or where ever it is that I post these idiotic posts from), I hate places that are filled with people who are different from me. This can include liberals, college educated people (with the wrong majors), immigrants, etc. I hate, hate, hate, hate them all because Fox and Truth Social told me I should. They just don’t have the Christian spirit like I do. This includes Jackson. So I throw things and scream and yell at the tv/computer screen each time Jackson is mentioned in anything other than a negative manner.
Although the point of the article (that MS is better off with a healthy Jackson than without one), I take some basic truths, like that Jackson has a crime problem, and I blow them up into the most outrageous claims that even a seven year old would know is not true (saying that it’s the murder Capitol of the world—which is just plain idiotic). I cheer it’s demise and I try to cancel people that say anything good about the city (like what y’all are doing with 10:01). Basically, I try to steam roll everyone who tries to say that Jackson isn’t a bad town because I’m trying to push down and hide the fact that I’m a bad person.
-typical jj poster
@ 10:01 - Since the thread is about de-population, I would like to address your post with THAT in mind.
You mentioned:
Three major hospitals, one of which is also a medical school.
The old and current State Capitol Buildings
A state university as well as two long established colleges
The largest Country Club which hosts a PGA tournament
The two most desirable addresses in MS ( The Jackson Country Club and Eastover)
A fine Tennis Club that hosts competitions
The 3 best museums in the State
The Fairgrounds and Convention Center which hosts events all year round and like the clubs above brings in visitors
3 private school campuses and one of those is k-12.
------------------------
I'm willing to bet you (pick a dollar amount) that 100% of those continuing to live in Jackson could not tell you where all of those things are. Will they 'de-populate'? Of course not.
Per 10:01, Gossip and bad mouthing Jackson is significant contributing cause to Jackson's failure.
And that is the level of denial that made me leave.
I have no issue with optimism, but these people will never address the root of the failures because they are too scared to admit what the real failures are.
I wish some adults could come in and really clean COJ upp. But the hippy-dippy-love crowd is convinced that sunshine, puppies and rainbows are the only thing that they need to make it safe to live there.
@4:37 AM,
How old are you? 13? Either that or you have not paid attention to current events for the past 30 years or so.
By all means, blame those in surrounding areas for the total sht show that is Jackson, Mississippi, rather than those who are responsible for it.
Give us a break, 9:48. Even on this site, the average bear isn’t near stupid enough to buy your idiotic pitch that 10:01 (and like people) made you move out because he/she is all about puppies/rainbows/sunshine/whatever else it is that you are griping about.
Go outside, read a book, or do literally anything else. It’s absolutely apparent that you’ve been spending too much time online and that it’s rotting your brain.
As stated @3:23 Jackson's old money would not abide Jackson's new leadership and there simply was not enough new money coming into Jackson or anywhere else in Mississippi to make up the difference.
I'll say it again. I left Jackson and lived for 26 years split between Atlanta, GA and Toledo, OH. I've spent years travelling the country, working with some of the largest investment firms in the country. At every opportunity, I've extolled the virtues of Mississippi and it's people. Our creativity, intelligence and generosity are remarkable. It frequently caught my audience of guard. Not often, but occasionally I had to deal with mockery.
Yes, the problems of Jackson and it's miserably failed leadership have gained us widespread attention.
It is stupefying to see how much pleasure some of you take in slamming Jackson. Does it make you feel better about yourself? Do you think it accomplishes something? Anything? Do you think that most people outside of our state consider you any better than or different from the people of Jackson? No, many of them hold you in the same contempt that you possess for the city of Jackson. And you are only feeding that contempt.
Many of my neighbors and friends in Jackson are more industrious and conservative than people that consider themselves to be so. We are working hard to make this a better place. I've lived here for four years and delight in living in Jackson. I live and work in the Fondren/Belhaven area. I play sports with JSU, Callaway and Belhaven people. I pray with South Jackson, 1st Pres and 1st Baptist people. There are many of us that choose to stay, vote and make a difference. The last 10 years have seen not "white flight" but "black flight". Many that are left are people that have absolutely no option.
If you cant help, at least stop spitting on those who are.
To 10:51 - I admire your honesty and desire to blend in with all of Jackson, however belittling those who you refer to as "slamming Jackson" makes you no better than them. But the difference is they are simply stating facts and are only asking for what the rest of us consider the basics of modern day life - hot and cold running water, a toilet that flushes, decent roads, decent schools, a safe place to live - you get the idea.
Who is “belittling” who, 1:10? All I see is comment after comment from your side trashing anyone who dares speak a positive word about Jackson. Cut the shit and admit that you want to cancel all points of view that aren’t your own (which are often idiotic in the first place).
Why you think continually trashing and bashing us over the head will lead to anything productive is beyond me.
No way Jackson can be saved. Crawford article is child like and just repeats what everyone in the world already knows. Worst city in America.
Jacksonians vote for corrupt piss poor leaders every election. Jackson becomes a shit hole. People and businesses move out of Jackson to escape their misery. Rinse and repeat.
4:32 PM,
Don't forget , you have those who get pissed at the ones who notice this and point it out .
The reason this city is remarkable is because it is one of the very worst in the country. It's gotten so bad that not much can fix it, short of a total takeover by someone competent who has hundreds of also competent staff. God knows we don't want that.
2:32 is the same person who is clutching his pearls over mean words about Jackson on every post lately.
Sounds like you are the one that needs to go outside and log off.
Words (aka: factual rational discussion) are just too scary for you.
So, 4:37...You are denying that Jackson is the homicide leader, per capita, in the United States? Make yourself clear, for once.
Yeah, the so-called “just the facts” crowd from yesterday at 4:00 pm to this morning at 4:00 am, are very low on facts compared to wrong and idiotic conclusions, exaggerations, and hyperbole—all in an effort to tear others (indeed, an entire community) down. Terrible look.
If you want to look for problems, I suggest looking inward. I expect that you’ll find an abundance of things that are in drastic need of improvement (that is, once you get done crying over not everyone sharing your irrational hate of Jackson and the people who live there).
7:58 AM, ET AL,
Here's a simplistic way to think about this:
Let's say you have a family member or friend who has made a total wreck of his life, become an addict, lost all their money and job, trashed their home, caused family discord, and treated their family wrong. Do you think it's best to look at the bright sunny side, stay in denial, and let them keep doing it, enable them, or look objectively at everything, list the problems, and try to help them or get them somewhere to get professional help?
What works best?
Oh, is that what they are doing, 10:02? Because what I’m seeing is a bunch of “no hope” comments. Does it work best to tell this fictional loved one that there’s no hope, as these trolls (who you are defending, by the way) are doing?
Here's a simplistic way to think about this:
Let's say you have a family member or friend who has made a total wreck of his life, become an addict, lost all their money and job, trashed their home, caused family discord, and treated their family wrong. Do you think it's best to look at the bright sunny side, stay in denial, and let them keep doing it, enable them, or look objectively at everything, list the problems, and try to help them or get them somewhere to get professional help? What works best?
In the normal world, the family would send that loved one to rehab and the rehab facility would put that person on a treatment plan.
But of course, this is Mississippi and we don't do normal.
Jackson is lost. It cannot be saved. Too many problems without solutions.
Mississippians are the MOST APATHETIC people in the country.
Anything difficult or challenging, people around here are quick to say 'nothing can be done'.
Mississippians are their own worst enemy.
10:02, you cannot help people that dont see they have a problem.
11:09 does not see the issues in Jackson as problems so its not worth trying to convince them they need help.
And I for one hope 11:09 spends as much time actually helping the blight in Jackson as they spend online defending it. And I mean that. No snark.
I wish you all the luck and hope you and the folks like you find a way to make your city safe and inviting again. We all deserve to live in a place that we love and I am glad you have found yours.
Lil choke has added so many cool murals tho.
G.
Post a Comment