Brandon is a city in and the
county seat
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...
of
Rankin County,
Mississippi
Mississippi () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the north by Tennessee; to the east by Alabama; to the south by the Gulf of Mexico; to the southwest by Louisiana; and to the northwest by Arkansas. Miss ...
, United States.
It was incorporated on December 19, 1831. The population was 21,705 at the 2010 census. Brandon is part of the
Jackson
Jackson may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Jackson (name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the surname or given name
Places
Australia
* Jackson, Queensland, a town in the Maranoa Region
* Jackson North, Qu ...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally Incorporated town, incorporate ...
, and is located east of the state capital.
History
The city is named for
Gerard Brandon
Gerard Chittocque Brandon (September 15, 1788March 28, 1850) was an American politician leader who twice served as Governor of Mississippi during its early years of statehood. He was the first native-born governor of Mississippi.
Early life and ...
, Governor of Mississippi during the early 1800s. A newspaper, ''The News'', was established in 1892. The Brandon Bank was established in 1900, and The Rankin County Bank was established in 1906. In 1900, Brandon had a school, a telephone and telegraph office, a saw mill, two livery stables, two cotton gins, two hotels, six churches, and fifteen or twenty stores. The population was 775.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the city has a total area of 21.3 square miles (55.3 km), of which 21.3 square miles (55.1 km) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.2 km) (0.37%) is water.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the
2020 United States census
The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...
, there were 25,138 people, 8,780 households, and 6,593 families residing in the city.
2000 census
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...
of 2000, there were 16,436 people, 6,295 households, and 4,595 families residing in the city. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...
was 773.2 people per square mile (298.5/km). There were 6,540 housing units at an average density of 307.7 per square mile (118.8/km). The racial makeup of the city was 86.61%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...
, 11.89%
Black
Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ...
, 0.10%
Native American, 0.58%
Asian
Asian may refer to:
* Items from or related to the continent of Asia:
** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia
** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia
** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, 0.06%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...
, 0.30% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 0.47% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...
or
Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
people of any race were 1.30% of the population.
There were 6,295 households, out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% were
married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 23.4% 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 2.53 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $53,246, and the median income for a family was $63,098. Males had a median income of $42,414 versus $28,128 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the city was $24,020. About 4.1% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 7.7% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
The
Mississippi Department of Corrections
The Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) is a state agency of Mississippi that operates prisons. It has its headquarters in Jackson. Burl Cain is the commissioner.
History
In 1843 a penitentiary in four city squares in central Jackson ...
operates the Brandon Probation & Parole Office in Brandon. The
Central Mississippi Correctional Facility
The Central Mississippi Correctional Facility for Women (CMCF) is a Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) prison for men and women located in an unincorporated area in Rankin County, Mississippi, near the city of Pearl.[unincorporated Unincorporated may refer to:
* Unincorporated area, land not governed by a local municipality
* Unincorporated entity, a type of organization
* Unincorporated territories of the United States, territories under U.S. jurisdiction, to which Congress ...]
Rankin County, is in proximity to Brandon.
Arts and culture
The
Downtown Brandon Historic District
The Downtown Brandon Historic District is a ten-acre district consisting of the downtown square of Brandon, Mississippi, United States, mainly located along a section of East and West Government Street. The district also includes the 100th block ...
is located within the city. Brandon is the location of the
Black Rose Theatre Company
Black Rose Theatre Company is non-profit community theater located at 103 Black Street in Brandon, Mississippi. The theatre company was founded in 1991 with their first production, ''The Night of January 16th'', by Ayn Rand. In 1992 Black Rose ...
.
Buildings on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
, including:
* Cocke-Martin-Jackson House
*
Hebron Academy
Hebron Academy, founded in 1804, is a small, independent, college preparatory boarding and day school for boys and girls in grades six through postgraduate in Hebron, Maine.
History
Hebron Academy is one of the nation's oldest endowed preparatory ...
* Rankin County Courthouse
* Stevens-Buchanan House
* Turcotte House
Government
The city of Brandon has a city mayor as the chief executive officer and a board of aldermen, with six elected from
single-member districts
A single-member district is an electoral district represented by a single officeholder. It contrasts with a multi-member district, which is represented by multiple officeholders. Single-member districts are also sometimes called single-winner vo ...
and one elected
at-large. The current city officials are Mayor Jeremy Ryan; Alderman, At-Large member Sharon Womack; Alderman, Ward 1 Jarrad Craine; Alderman, Ward 2 Cris Vinson; Alderman, Ward 3 Harry Williams; Alderman, Ward 4 Lu Coker; Alderman, Ward 5 Dwight Middleton; and Alderman, Ward 6 David Farris. The city's attorney is Mark C. Baker.
Education
The City of Brandon is served by the
Rankin County School District.
Public schools
*
Brandon High School (grades 9-12)
* Brandon Middle School (grades 6-8)
* Brandon Elementary School (grades 4-5)
* Stonebridge Elementary School (grades 2-3)
* Rouse Elementary School (grades K-1)
Infrastructure
The city of Brandon is served by five fire stations and one administrative central station under the direction of Fire Chief Terry Wages. In 2015, the city established an independent EMS district that provides ambulance services through a private provider, Pafford EMS. The city has one police station under the direction of Police Chief Wayne Dearman.
Notable people
*
Devin Britton
Devin Britton (born March 17, 1991) is an American professional tennis player. He is a native of Brandon, Mississippi. He is currently an assistant coach for the Ole Miss Rebels men's tennis team.
Tennis career
Juniors
Britton's most notable ...
, professional tennis player
*
J. W. Buchanan, Arizona State Senator
*
Demario Davis
Demario Davis (born January 11, 1989) is an American football linebacker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the New York Jets in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He played college football a ...
, professional football player
*
Jenna Edwards Jenna Edwards (born July 29, 1981) is an American beauty queen from Brandon, Mississippi who has held the titles Miss Florida and Miss Florida USA. Edwards represented Florida at the Miss America 2005 pageant and the Miss USA 2007 pageant.
Edwar ...
, former Miss Florida and Miss Florida USA
*
Aiden Flowers
Aiden James Flowers (born December 13, 2004) is an American actor. He is best known for portraying a young Klaus Mikaelson in the CW network series ''The Originals''. He also appeared in the films ''The Big Short'', ''Miss Peregrine's Home for ...
, actor
*
Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry (May 29, 1736June 6, 1799) was an American attorney, planter, politician and orator known for declaring to the Second Virginia Convention (1775): " Give me liberty, or give me death!" A Founding Father, he served as the first an ...
, (1843–1930), U.S. representative
*
Volney Howard
Volney Erskine Howard (October 22, 1809 – May 14, 1889) was an American lawyer, statesman, and jurist.
Career
Volney Erskine Howard was born in Oxford County, Maine on October 22, 1809, to Richard Howard, a prosperous farmer. At the age of ...
, Attorney General and U.S. Representative for Texas
*
Skylar Laine, country singer; placed fifth on the
eleventh season of ''
American Idol
''American Idol'' is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to Ap ...
''
*
Mamie Locke, political scientist, Virginia state senator
*
Justin Mapp, professional soccer player
*
Anselm Joseph McLaurin
Anselm Joseph McLaurin (March 26, 1848December 22, 1909) was the 34th Governor of Mississippi, serving from 1896 to 1900.
Life and career
McLaurin was born on March 26, 1848, in Brandon, Mississippi, the son of Ellen Caroline (Tullus) and Lauchl ...
, Governor of Mississippi 1896–1900
*
John C. McLaurin
John Campbell McLaurin was an American soldier, lawyer, and politician from Mississippi. He served in the Mississippi Senate.
McLaurin was born on September 2, 1926, in Brandon, Mississippi to Robert Sylvester and Mildred Hannah McLaurin. He att ...
, mayor of Brandon and state senator
*
Gardner Minshew
Gardner Flint Minshew II (born May 16, 1996) is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He began his college football career at Northwest Mississippi, winning the NJCAA National Footba ...
,
Quarterback
The quarterback (commonly abbreviated "QB"), colloquially known as the "signal caller", is a position in gridiron football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive platoon and mostly line up directly behind the offensive line. In modern Ame ...
for the
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. The team plays ...
*
Mary Ann Mobley
Mary Ann Mobley (February 17, 1937 – December 9, 2014) was an American actress, television personality, and Miss America 1959.
Career
Mobley was born in 1937 in Biloxi, Mississippi. After her reign as Miss America 1959, Mobley embarked on a c ...
, American actress, television personality, and first
Miss America
Miss America is an annual competition that is open to women from the United States between the ages of 17 and 25. Originating in 1921 as a "bathing beauty revue", the contest is now judged on competitors' talent performances and interviews. As ...
from Mississippi
*
Tyler Moore, professional baseball player for the
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...
*
Jerious Norwood
Jerious Montreal Norwood (born July 29, 1983) is a former American football running back. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Mississippi State and is the schools second a ...
, professional football player
*
Jonathan Randolph
Jonathan Randolph (born August 10, 1988) is an American professional golfer.
Randolph was an All-American at the University of Mississippi.
After turning pro in 2011, he played on the NGA Pro Golf Tour until earning a 2014 Web.com Tour card th ...
, professional golfer
*
Sarah Thomas, first female NFL official
*
Joe M. Turner
Joe M. Turner (born November 23, 1969) is an American corporate magician, mentalist, and a frequent keynote speaker at conferences and other meetings. Based in Atlanta, he is in the field of corporate magic as well as customizing magic perform ...
, professional magician, mentalist, speaker
*
Louis H. Wilson, Jr., 26th
Commandant of the Marine Corps and member of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) is the body of the most senior uniformed leaders within the United States Department of Defense, that advises the president of the United States, the secretary of defense, the Homeland Security Council and the ...
References
External links
*
{{authority control
Cities in Mississippi
Cities in Rankin County, Mississippi
County seats in Mississippi
Cities in Jackson metropolitan area, Mississippi
1831 establishments in Mississippi
Populated places established in 1831