Jackson is a nexus for talented people who want to work together, whether they are looking for the next big thing or for an opportunity to contribute. The metro area has a population of 539,000 people. With over 35,000 college students, Jackson has been named one of the country’s best communities for young people. Socially networked, dynamic, and affordable, it’s a great place to go to college and launch a career. Jackson is a city on the move—a place of opportunity that’s always getting better.

Just outside the campus of Millsaps College, there’s plenty to see and do in Jackson, whether you choose the creative Fondren business and entertainment district to the north, the resurgent Midtown community to the west, the charming, historic Belhaven neighborhood to the east, or the city’s vibrant downtown south of campus.

Getting here is easy. Jackson is served by five major airlines and is just down the road from Birmingham, Memphis, and New Orleans. For Millsaps students—who inevitably fall in love with the place—it’s leaving that’s hard.

From food to music, art and recreation, Jackson has a lot to offer!

Into history and culture? Jackson is steeped in history, much of which can be found at the Museum of Mississippi History and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. While downtown, check out the nearby Old Capitol Museum and the Smith Robertson Museum, or visit the homes of civil rights icon Medgar Evers and the prolific literary mastermind Eudora Welty. The city is also home to the state’s largest art museum, the Mississippi Museum of Art, and the large LeFleur Museum District, which includes Lefleur’s-Bluff State Park, the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.

Want to experience the great outdoors in Jackson? Just a quick walk or ride from campus, you’ll find the Museum Trail perfect for biking or running. A few miles up the road and close to the historic Natchez Trace Parkway, the Ridgeland Multi-Use Trail offers over 14 miles of paved pathways for biking and running.  The shores of the Ross Barnett Reservoir provide an ideal place for swimming, fishing and a game of frisbee before having an afternoon picnic (just ask any student about the Overlook). During baseball season, you can grab a hot dog and catch a Mississippi Braves game at the awesome Trustmark Park arena in nearby Rankin County.

Annual events such as Hal’s St. Paddy’s Day Parade, Belhaven’s Bright Lights, Belhaven Nights, Cathead Jam, CelticFest and the Mississippi State Fair keep the festivities going year-round. You’ll find many of Jackson’s events are free or low cost.

Shopping is abundant, too. Boutiques and art galleries line the historic strip of Fondren, while big name retailers such as American Eagle, Anthropologie and the Apple Store are a short drive from campus at Renaissance at Colony Park. At Highland Village, you’ll find national retailers like Lululemon, Vineyard Vines and Whole Foods.