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Revision as of 12:33, 28 September 2007
Place in Mississippi, United States
| Pearl, Mississippi | |
|---|---|
| Pearl City HallPearl City Hall | |
| Official seal of Pearl, MississippiSeal | |
| Nickname: Crossroads of the South | |
| Motto: A City Creating Its Own Future | |
 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Mississippi |
| County | Rankin |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Jimmy Foster |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Website | http://www.cityofpearl.com |
Pearl is a city in Rankin County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 21,961 at the 2000 census.
Today, Pearl is a growing community across the Pearl River from Jackson. It is Mississippi's 13th largest city and the largest city in Rankin County.
Beginning in the 1860's a small influx of people migrated into the Pearl area. It was during these later years of the 1800's that Pearl had its origin as a rural farming area adjacent to the Pearl River and, until the middle 1900's, the Pearl area was primarily a farming community that was sparsely populated. But in the mid 1900's the influx of industry and people working in Jackson, in neighboring Hinds county, but residing in Pearl. Pearl's expansion, consequently originated as an extension of urban growth and development in the State's capital city. Subsequent reasons that contributed to the continued development of Pearl include the completion of levees and flood control works which protect the city form the Pearl River, close proximity of the Jackson International Airport, and direct access to Interstate 20 and Interstate 55.
Pearl is a rarity in Mississippi cities in that it does not have a downtown square. Over the years the city has developed the old Pearl High School into a city administration building that houses city hall, Pearl Police Department, public works departments and city courts. A large auditorium-style community center was built next door. The city is in the process of turning this whole area into its downtown.
Geography
Pearl is located at 32°16′19″N 90°6′19″W / 32.27194°N 90.10528°W / 32.27194; -90.10528Invalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (32.271979, -90.105266)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 57.1 km² (22.0 mi²). 56.5 km² (21.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (1.00%) is water. Neighbors include Flowood, Brandon, Richland and the state capital Jackson.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 21,961 people, 8,608 households, and 6,025 families residing in the city. The population density was 388.4/km² (1,005.9/mi²). There were 9,128 housing units at an average density of 161.4/km² (418.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.18% White, 16.24% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.79% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.03% of the population.
There were 8,608 households out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.4% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,617, and the median income for a family was $42,013. Males had a median income of $30,860 versus $24,610 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,136. About 9.2% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over.
History
Becoming a city
The city was officially incorporated in 1973 but the first meeting to incorporate Pearl was held on September 16, 1968. The 1968 meeting attracted 657 residents with 651 voting in favor of incorporation.
The "Boundary Committee" presented 3 suggested boundaries on October 28, 1968.
On January 6, 1969, a majority voted to approve the boundaries which consisted of the area from the Pearl River to the Airport Road, excluding East Jackson, with only Cunningham Heights and Grandview Heights being including South of Interstate 20.
Two other big questions were settled at that January 6 meeting. The first was the name of the city. A majority in attendance selected the name Pearl. Other names submitted and considered were Riverview and Brightsville.
The second was who would be the first mayor and council members. After a report from the nomination committee, Harris Harvey was selected to be the first Mayor of the new city. The alderman selected were Jimmy Joe Thompson for District 1, W.D. McAlpin for District 2, James Netherland for District 3, Mrs. Ophelia Byrd for District 4, Mack Morgan for District 5, W. L. Maddox for District 6, and Bobby Joe Davis for At-Large.
On June 5, 1973, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled in favor of Pearl’s incorporation. The charter was issued on June 12, 1973. Governor William Winter presented the charter and city officials were sworn in on June 29, 1973, which was the first annual Pearl Day celebration. The new mayor and city officials held their first organizational meeting on July 3, 1973.
At the official incorporation in 1973, it included approximately 11 square miles of area. It has expanded over the years to now include 23.8 square miles.
Odds and Ends
- The Pearl Municipal Separate School District is created on May 18, 1976 by an Ordinance of the City of Pearl Mayor and Board of Alderman.
- The first franchise by the City of Pearl for cable television to be installed was granted on July 6, 1976.
- The Pearl Chamber of Commerce was formed on August 24, 1978.
- Pearl voters approved a $1.5 million bond issue to construct a new junior high school on December 1, 1981.
- The Rankin County Branch of Hinds Community College opened in Pearl on July 1, 1983.
- Pearl voters approved a $ 7.5 million bond issue to construct a new high school on May 19, 1987.
- An Open House was held to commemorate the official opening of Pearl's new City Hall in a renovated portion of old Pearl High School on January 15, 1992.
- A new, modern equipped Community Room, next door to City Hall, is officially opened and the adjoining new Alumni Clock Tower is dedicated on June 23, 2003. The clock tower includes inscriptions of the names of graduates of Pearl High School for the period 1949 through 1989 while the high school occupied this site.
- A standing room only crowd welcomes the Mississippi Braves to their new home in Pearl, Trustmark Park, a new $28 million ball park, on April 18, 2005.
- A new 25,000 sq. ft. state-of-art library opened near City Hall on July 18, 2005.
Educational institutions
Colleges and universities
Public high schools
Main article: Pearl Public School District- Pearl High School - Grades 9 through 12
- Pearl Junior High School - Grades 6 through 8
Private high schools
- Faith Academy - Grades Pre-kindergarten though 8
Public elementary schools
Main article: Pearl Public School District- Pearl Lower Elementary - Kindergarten through 1st grade
- Northside Elementary - Grades 2 and 3
- Pearl Upper Elementary - Grades 4 and 5
Pearl High School is currently rated a 5, which is the highest education level a school can reach in our Nation's Standard as set down by the No Child Left Behind Act, signed by President George W. Bush. Schools ratings are based on the Mississippi Curriculum Tests, which are issued every year to determine a school's effectiveness on its students.
Recreation
Pearl is home to many parks and recreational facilities.
- Center City Complex - softball, baseball, soccer, and offices of the Parks and Recreation Department (has been the site of several United States Specialty Sports Association Regional and National Tournaments)
- Pearl Activity Center (Old Boys Club) - baseball, meeting room, and gymnasium
- Bright Park - A 2/3 mile physical fitness walking trail through nature and picnic areas
- City Park - A family recreation area which includes, picnic areas, reserveable pavilion, children's playground, tennis courts, basketball court, and covered stage
- Jenkins Park - A family recreation facility, children’s playground, picnic areas, pavilion, 1/2 mile walking trail, and softball field
- Old Library Walking Trail - A 1/4 mile walking trail
- Henry F. Shepherd Field Walking Trail - A 1/4 mile walking track around the old Pearl High School football field
- Center City Walking Trail - A 1 mile walking trail winding through the scenic wooded terrain
- Pearl Municipal Golf Course - An 18 hole public golf course with a Club House and short order restaurant
Newsworthy
On October 1, 1997, 16-year old Luke Woodham stabbed his mother to death. He then took a rifle to his school, Pearl High School. He shot and killed his ex-girlfriend and another student while maiming another seven. Six other boys were later arrested for allegedly conspiring with Luke in the school shooting, although all save one were cleared of all charges. The assistant principal of Pearl High, Joel Myrick, pulled a gun from his truck, intercepted Woodham and held him until police arrived.
The Mississippi Braves or M-Braves, a Class AA minor league baseball affiliate of the Atlanta Braves moved from Greenville, South Carolina to Pearl before the 2005 season. The M-Braves play in the Southern League. The team had their first game in the brand new Trustmark Park on April 18, 2005, losing to the Montgomery Biscuits.
Pearl has opened a new Bass Pro Shop off of I-20, next to the baseball stadium Trustmark Park. It is also situated next to a 17 acre (69,000 m²) lake. Further development of surrounding land is on-going.
External links
City of Pearl official web site
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