Pearl, Mississippi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pearl, Mississippi
City
City of Pearl
Riverwind Drive
Flag Seal Logo
Nickname(s):  "The Pearl of the South"
Motto(s):  "The City Creating Its Own Future"
Location of Pearl in Rankin County, Mississippi
Location of Mississippi in the United States
Pearl, Mississippi Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Mississippi
County	Rankin
Founded	1865
Incorporation	June 29, 1973
Government
• Type	Weak Mayor-Council
Area
• Total	25.61 sq mi (66.33 km2)
• Land	25.49 sq mi (66.01 km2)
• Water	0.12 sq mi (0.32 km2)
Elevation	276 ft (84.1 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	27,115
• Density	1,063.92/sq mi (410.78/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Zip Code(s); physical locations	39208
Zip Code(s); U.S. P.O. boxes	39288
Area code(s)	601, 769
FIPS code	28-55760
GNIS feature ID	0675537
Website	http://www.cityofpearl.com
For additional city data see: City-Data

Pearl is a city in Rankin County, Mississippi, United States. It's on the east side of the Pearl River, right across from Jackson, the state capital. In 2020, about 27,115 people lived there. Pearl is part of the larger Jackson area.

Pearl is the biggest city in Rankin County by population. It is also the 12th most populated city in the entire state of Mississippi.

History of Pearl, Mississippi

After the American Civil War, the flat areas near the Pearl River were used for farming. Not many people lived there until the mid-1900s. At that time, the state capital, Jackson, grew a lot. Its growth started to spread into Rankin County.

New people and businesses moved into the area. Pearl grew because Jackson expanded, and because of better ways to control floods from the Pearl River. Also, new highways and the Jackson-Evers International Airport made transportation easier.

Becoming a City: Pearl's Incorporation

On September 16, 1968, people in the community met to talk about making Pearl an official city. Most of the 657 people who came wanted it to become a city. A group then suggested different possible city borders.

In January, the community voted for a border that covered about 11 square miles (28 km²). This area included the Pearl River up to Airport Road. They also voted to name the city "Pearl." Other names suggested were "Riverview" or "Brightsville."

In the 1970s, Pearl began to become more diverse. By 2010, about 23% of the people living in Pearl were Black.

First Leaders and City Growth

The first mayor, Harris Harvey, was elected along with several council members. On June 5, 1973, the Mississippi Supreme Court said Pearl could officially become a city. A week later, the state government gave Pearl its official charter.

On June 29, 1973, Governor William Winter helped celebrate the first "Pearl Day." New city officials were sworn in, and they had their first meeting on July 3, 1973.

The Pearl Municipal Separate School District was created on May 18, 1976. This meant Pearl had its own school system. The city also allowed the first cable television company to set up service on July 6, 1976. The Pearl Chamber of Commerce, a group for local businesses, started on August 24, 1978.

Over the years, the old Pearl High School building was changed into City Hall. This building now holds the Pearl Police Department, public works offices, and city courts. A large Community Center was built next door. It has a clock tower with the names of Pearl High School graduates from 1949 to 1989. A large library, about 25,000 sq ft (2,300 m²), opened near City Hall on July 18, 2005.

Geography of Pearl

Pearl is located in Rankin County. The city covers about 22.0 square miles (57 km²) of land. A small part, about 0.2 square miles (0.52 km²), is water.

Cities near Pearl include Flowood, Brandon, Richland, and the state capital, Jackson.

Pearl gets its drinking water from the Sparta Sand Aquifer. This is an underground layer of rock that holds water. Nine wells draw water from this aquifer for the city.

Population and People

Pearl's Population in 2020

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 27,115 people living in Pearl. There were 10,463 households and 6,662 families.

Sports in Pearl

Trustmark Park, home of the Mississippi Braves

Pearl was home to the Mississippi Braves, also known as the "M-Braves." This baseball team was part of the Double-A Minor League Baseball. They were connected to the Atlanta Braves team.

The M-Braves played in the Southern League from 2005 to 2024. Their first game at the new Trustmark Park was on April 18, 2005. They lost that game to the Montgomery Biscuits. After the 2024 season, the team moved from Pearl to Columbus, Georgia. They are now called the Columbus Clingstones.

Parks and Recreation

Pearl has many parks and places for fun activities.

• Center City Complex – This park has fields for softball, baseball, and soccer. It also has the offices for the Parks and Recreation Department. Many regional and national sports tournaments have been held here.
• Pearl Activity Center (Old Boys Club) – This center has a baseball field, a meeting room, and a gym.
• Bright Park – This park has a walking trail that is about 2/3 of a mile long. It goes through nature areas and has picnic spots.
• City Park – This is a family park with picnic areas and a pavilion you can reserve. It also has a children's playground, tennis courts, a basketball court, and a covered stage.
• Jenkins Park – This family park has a children's playground, picnic areas, a pavilion, and a 1/2 mile walking trail. It also has a softball field.
• Old Library Walking Trail – A 1/4 mile long walking trail.
• Henry F. Shepherd Field Walking Trail – A 1/4 mile long walking track around the old Pearl High School football field.
• Center City Walking Trail – This is a 1-mile (1.6 km) walking trail that goes through pretty wooded areas.
• Pearl Municipal Golf Course – An 18-hole public golf course. It has a Club House and a restaurant that serves quick meals.

Education in Pearl

Pearl has several schools and a college campus for students of all ages.

Colleges and Universities

• Hinds Community College Rankin Campus – This is a two-year college that is part of the state system. The Rankin County campus of Hinds Community College opened in Pearl on July 1, 1983.

Public Schools

The public schools in Pearl are managed by the Pearl Public School District. The city's Board of Aldermen appoints the district's board members.

• Pearl High School
• Pearl Junior High School
• Pearl Upper Elementary
• Pearl Lower Elementary
• Northside Elementary

Private Schools

• Faith Academy – This school teaches students from Pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. It is part of the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools.
• Park Place Christian Academy – This school teaches students from Pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Its first senior class graduated in May 2012.

Media and Broadcasting

Pearl Municipal Broadcasting is a local media outlet owned by the city. It broadcasts government, educational, and local programs. You can find their content on television and on radio station WPBP 104.3 FM.

Transportation in Pearl

Pearl has several ways for people to travel in and out of the city.

Air Travel

Pearl is served by Jackson-Evers International Airport. This airport is located in Rankin County and is also known as Allen C. Thompson Field.

Roads and Highways

Many major roads run through or near Pearl, making it easy to get around.

• Interstate 55
• Interstate 20
• U.S. Highway 49
• U.S. Highway 80 – This is the main road that goes through Pearl.
• Mississippi Highway 25 – Also known as Lakeland Drive.
• Mississippi Highway 475

Notable People

Some famous people have connections to Pearl:

• Ty Tabor – A singer and guitarist, known for the band King's X.
• LeAnn Rimes – A well-known singer.

See also

In Spanish: Pearl (Misisipi) para niños