The capital and largest city in Mississippi is Jackson, which has a metropolitan area population of over 500,000. It is located on the Pearl River. Jackson is the home of machinery and other manufacturing plants, as well as food processing. It is located in a region that produces soybeans, cotton, poultry and eggs. The Museum of Mississippi History is in the Old Capitol Building in Jackson. It is currently undergoing restoration following damage from Hurricane Katrina. Much of the Museum will be moved into a new building. Perhaps your idea for your Mississippi Incorporation is involvement in various reconstruction projects. There is a lot of work going on along Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, after extensive hurricane damage. Reconstruction work has been the center of many projects. A highway is being reconstructed and all four lanes of the bridge are expected to be open in November. The first of two Mississippi bridges destroyed by Hurricane Katrina will reopen next week, an event drawing national attention for its importance to the Coast’s recovery. Two lanes of the U.S. 90 Bay St. Louis Bridge linking Harrison and Hancock counties will open May 17. Katrina’s storm surge reduced the bridge to rubble in August 2005. Also suffering severe damage is the neighboring city of Gulfport. Reconstruction crews from all over the United States were paid Federal Emergency Disaster money to reconstruct roads and bridges in the area.

The $266.8 million St. Louis Bridge was built by companies from California and Georgia. Crews began demolishing remnants of the old bridge in March 2006, and the first piling was installed in June. This was all paid with Federal Disaster relief money, and there will be a great deal of celebration when the bridge is rebuilt and can be used again.

Katrina also destroyed the Biloxi Bay Bridge. It connected the cities of Biloxi and Ocean Springs, and two lanes are scheduled to open in November. Construction of the $336 million structure was postponed because several local companies wanted a taller bridge for larger vessels, where local officials settled on 95 feet.

Despite extensive damage to the Gulf Coast of Mississippi by the hurricanes Rita and Katrina in August and September 2005, there has been significant recovery of the Gulf Coast region. In Biloxi, Mississippi, the casino is humming away again. The Beau Rivage casino in Biloxi is housed in the largest building in town, and is the largest employer there. It is also the home of the Casino’s exclusive golf course, Fallen Oaks. Now, the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is opening is Biloxi, and it has 1,500 slot machines and 52 gaming tables. There is also gambling in the Mississippi River towns of Tunica, Natchez, Vicksburg and Greenville. Mississippi has become the second biggest gambling casino state after Nevada.

Other interesting sites in the Jackson area are the Mississippi Petrified Forest, which exposes huge petrified trees that were by a prehistoric river. There is a nature trail and a place to picnic, as well as a museum explaining the site. Jackson is also next to the Ross Barnett Reservoir, which covers over 60 square miles and creates lots of opportunities for water recreation in the area.

Posted on September 19th, 2007 by Messi
Filed under: Travel and Transportation