WSJ: Why is Mississippi Falling Behind Rest of South? (Jackson: low income, crime rate)

[ion475]

The whole premise is that MS is falling behind.

Except that it's not so much that other southern state are getting ahead, more like their bigger metro area. MS has Jackson (which is ehh...a mess) and the gulf coast (i.e. Gulfport). Even just talking about Jackson, it's a lot smaller than the likes of Birmingham.

Last I check Montgomery AL isn't exactly booming, either. Nor Little Rock AR. Arkansas is the closest comparison to MS, and if not for the likes of Walmart, it wouldn't have a booming region (NW Arkansas) either, and its metric would be just as bad as Mississippi.

Last note - Tupelo is even THAT bad lol.

[Listener2307]

Originally Posted by ion475

The whole premise is that MS is falling behind.

Except that it's not so much that other southern state are getting ahead, more like their bigger metro area. MS has Jackson (which is ehh...a mess) and the gulf coast (i.e. Gulfport). Even just talking about Jackson, it's a lot smaller than the likes of Birmingham.

Last I check Montgomery AL isn't exactly booming, either. Nor Little Rock AR. Arkansas is the closest comparison to MS, and if not for the likes of Walmart, it wouldn't have a booming region (NW Arkansas) either, and its metric would be just as bad as Mississippi.

Last note - Tupelo is even THAT bad lol.

Yeah, I don't find anything wrong with Tupelo at all. Just a place where some 35,000 folks pretty much get along. Most neighborhoods are diversified. Some of our neighbors are Black, some are Toyota employed Japanese, and some White. People are a little boring, but that's true in most places.


The delta will never recover. It has been left behind just like all the other Mississippi River areas, from Natchez on north. The river used to be used for commerce and travel, and while it still is used for commerce, the need for labor to make it happen has decreased to almost nothing.

[Sharif662]

Let me get my nitpicking first from this paywall known as WSJ:
* Mississippi isn't the least populous southern state that's West Virginia ( or Deleware if you go by Census Bureau).

* Tupelo losing residents recently, if accurate*, yet overlook that the city population grewed consistently for 20+ years. Along with the micropolitan area still growing.

* The country's population growth was predominately in tge south and MS still gain residents. So technically it didn't miss out on the growth.

* Jackson city is shrinking yet it's metro like Atlanta, Nashville & Charlotte is still growing albeit not at similar % wise.

* Golden Triangle Area ( Columbus) is getting the $5 Billion development. Is there anyone employed at WSJ from Mississippi or well versed at reading maps?

The major theme at play is economics in which that large urban areas provide the anchor(s) of their state and subregion of the country. Major shifts could occur if half the residents of my state relocate to Jackson & Coast, Modest migration to Jackson & Coast to accelerate economic growth, or future major commerce developments centered in Jackson & Coast.

A percentage of people in poverty here have been in the same position for the past decades. Then you have another portion that goes through the ebbs and flow of successes/failures and the rest are propably elderly citizens that aren't going anywhere.

[Jardine8]

Originally Posted by Listener2307

Yeah, I don't find anything wrong with Tupelo at all. Just a place where some 35,000 folks pretty much get along. Most neighborhoods are diversified. Some of our neighbors are Black, some are Toyota employed Japanese, and some White. People are a little boring, but that's true in most places.


The delta will never recover. It has been left behind just like all the other Mississippi River areas, from Natchez on north. The river used to be used for commerce and travel, and while it still is used for commerce, the need for labor to make it happen has decreased to almost nothing.

Yes, I agree on Tupelo. I actually do like Tupelo quite a bit as a small city in MS and it would be one of the most desirable places in Mississippi to live, IMO.

[Suesbal]

Furniture manufacturers were common in northeast Mississippi but that has largely moved out of the country. Casinos boosted Tunica County’s economy for a few years but much of that money was squandered and casinos in other states have taken away a lot of that business. Of course, casinos impoverish more people than they enrich.

[ion475]

Originally Posted by Listener2307

Yeah, I don't find anything wrong with Tupelo at all. Just a place where some 35,000 folks pretty much get along. Most neighborhoods are diversified. Some of our neighbors are Black, some are Toyota employed Japanese, and some White. People are a little boring, but that's true in most places.


The delta will never recover. It has been left behind just like all the other Mississippi River areas, from Natchez on north. The river used to be used for commerce and travel, and while it still is used for commerce, the need for labor to make it happen has decreased to almost nothing.

Yeah...if they use Tupelo as the "not booming" south, have they look at how bad Gadsden or Anniston or even Fort Payne in Alabama are? Just b/c Huntsville area is growing doesn't mean Alabama doesn't have areas that are struggling also.

For the delta - yeah, it's not like Pine Bluff or Forrest City in Arkansas are really that much better. Also lots of poverty.

[ocnjgirl]

Originally Posted by Craziaskowboi

Then why is South Carolina growing so fast?

Lots of northerners with money move there/retire there. Mississippi not nearly as much.

[eddie gein]

Seems like every other state in the south had at least one city that caught that runaway "sun belt" economy thing. Mississippi didn't... despite the fact that Jackson might have had the bones to get it done at one point.

As a result there is no place in Mississippi to absorb the rural populations as they run out of jobs out in the country.

[Sharif662]

Originally Posted by eddie gein

Seems like every other state in the south had at least one city that caught that runaway "sun belt" economy thing. Mississippi didn't... despite the fact that Jackson might have had the bones to get it done at one point.

As a result there is no place in Mississippi to absorb the rural populations as they run out of jobs out in the country.

I think Jackson did in the early beginning hence it's peak in 1980.

[Rock Climber]

Originally Posted by eddie gein

Seems like every other state in the south had at least one city that caught that runaway "sun belt" economy thing. Mississippi didn't... despite the fact that Jackson might have had the bones to get it done at one point.

As a result there is no place in Mississippi to absorb the rural populations as they run out of jobs out in the country.

Yeah, a lot of the metro growth everywhere is the continuing movement of rural people into metropolitan areas. There has to be something in the metros to attract people.