Brandonis a city in and thecounty seatofRankin County, Mississippi,United States.[2]It was incorporated on December 19, 1831. The population was 25,138 as of the2020 census.A suburb ofJackson,Brandon is part of theJackson Metropolitan Statistical Area,and is located east of the state capital.

Brandon, Mississippi
City of Brandon
Rankin County Courthouse and Rankin County Confederate Monument
Rankin County Courthouse andRankin County Confederate Monument
Flag of Brandon, Mississippi
Official seal of Brandon, Mississippi
Nickname:
"City of Red Hills Laden with Golden Opportunities"
Motto(s):
"Growth and Stability"
Location of Brandon, Mississippi
Location of Brandon, Mississippi
Brandon, Mississippi is located in Mississippi
Brandon, Mississippi
Brandon, Mississippi
Location in the United States
Brandon, Mississippi is located in the United States
Brandon, Mississippi
Brandon, Mississippi
Brandon, Mississippi (the United States)
Coordinates:32°16′49″N89°59′54″W/ 32.28028°N 89.99833°W/32.28028; -89.99833
CountryUnited States
StateMississippi
CountyRankin
Named forGerard Chittocque Brandon
Government
• TypeMayor-Council
MayorButch Lee (R)
Board of AldermenAlderman at Large- James Morris
Ward 1- Monica Corley
Ward 2- Cris Vinson
Ward 3- Harry Williams
Ward 4- Lu Coker
Ward 5- Dwight Middleton
Ward 6- Tahya Dobbs
Area
• Total
25.75 sq mi (66.70 km2)
• Land25.66 sq mi (66.47 km2)
• Water0.09 sq mi (0.23 km2)
Elevation
482 ft (147 m)
Population
• Total
25,138
• Density979.54/sq mi (378.20/km2)
DemonymBrandonite
Time zoneUTC−6(Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)UTC−5(CDT)
ZIP codes
39042, 39043, 39047
Area code(s)601,769
FIPS code28-08300
GNISfeature ID0667519
WebsiteOfficial website

History

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The city is named forGerard Brandon,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.[3]

Geography

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According to theUnited States Census Bureau,the city has a total area of 21.3 square miles (55.3 km2), of which 21.3 square miles (55.1 km2) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.2 km2) (0.37%) is water.

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1860867
1870756−12.8%
188086414.3%
1890835−3.4%
1900775−7.2%
1910720−7.1%
1920691−4.0%
19306920.1%
19401,18471.1%
19501,82754.3%
19602,13917.1%
19702,68525.5%
19809,626258.5%
199011,07715.1%
200016,43648.4%
201021,70532.1%
202025,13815.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]

2020 census

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Brandon racial composition[5]
Race Num. Perc.
White(non-Hispanic) 18,552 73.8%
Black or African American(non-Hispanic) 5,034 20.03%
Native American 51 0.2%
Asian 235 0.93%
Pacific Islander 2 0.01%
Other/Mixed 729 2.9%
HispanicorLatino 535 2.13%

As of the2020 United States census,there were 25,138 people, 8,780 households, and 6,593 families residing in the city.

2000 census

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As of thecensus[6]of 2000, there were 16,436 people, 6,295 households, and 4,595 families residing in the city. The population density was 773.2 inhabitants per square mile (298.5/km2). There were 6,540 housing units at an average density of 307.7 per square mile (118.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 86.61%White,11.89%Black,0.10%Native American,0.58%Asian,0.06%Pacific Islander,0.30% fromother races,and 0.47% from two or more races.HispanicorLatinopeople 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% weremarried couplesliving 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. Theper capita incomefor the city was $24,020. About 4.1% of families and 6.0% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 7.7% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

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TheMississippi Department of Correctionsoperates the Brandon Probation & Parole Office in Brandon.[7]TheCentral Mississippi Correctional Facility,located inunincorporatedRankin County,[8]is in proximity to Brandon.[9]

Arts and culture

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TheDowntown Brandon Historic Districtis located within the city. Brandon is the location of theBlack Rose Theatre Company.

Buildings on theNational Register of Historic Places,including:[10]

  • Cocke-Martin-Jackson House
  • Hebron Academy
  • Rankin County Courthouse
  • Stevens-Buchanan House
  • Turcotte House

Government

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The City of Brandon has a city mayor as the chief executive officer and a board of aldermen, with six elected fromsingle-member districtsand one electedat-large.[11]The current city officials are Mayor Butch Lee; 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

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The City of Brandon is served by theRankin County School District.

Public schools

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  • 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

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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.[12][13]

Notable people

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The town was mentioned in the 1986 filmPlatoonby Chris Taylor, a character played byCharlie Sheen.[16]

References

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  1. ^"2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJuly 24,2022.
  2. ^"Find a County".National Association of Counties. Archived fromthe originalon May 31, 2011.RetrievedJune 7,2011.
  3. ^Rowland, Dunbar (1907).Mississippi: Comprising Sketches of Counties, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form.Vol. 1. Southern Historical Publishing Association. p. 286, 287.
  4. ^"Census of Population and Housing".Census.gov.RetrievedJune 4,2015.
  5. ^"Explore Census Data".data.census.gov.RetrievedDecember 16,2021.
  6. ^"U.S. Census website".United States Census Bureau.RetrievedJanuary 31,2008.
  7. ^"Rankin County."Mississippi Department of Corrections.Retrieved on September 15, 2010.
  8. ^"MDOC QUICK REFERENCE."Mississippi Department of Corrections.Retrieved on May 21, 2010. "3794 Hwy 468 - Pearl, MS 39208"
  9. ^"GARRISON COULD BE BACK IN JAIL SOON."Biloxi Sun-Herald.February 15, 1995. C2 Coast and State. Retrieved on September 24, 2011. "[...]days for her return to the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility in Brandon."
  10. ^National Register of Historic Places: Mississippi—Rankin County
  11. ^"City of Brandon websiteArchivedOctober 26, 2010, at theWayback Machine."Retrieved on October 26, 2010.
  12. ^"Brandon Fire DepartmentArchivedOctober 27, 2010, at theWayback Machine."Retrieved on October 26, 2010.
  13. ^"Brandon Police DepartmentArchivedOctober 27, 2010, at theWayback Machine."Retrieved on October 26, 2010.
  14. ^"HOWARD, Volney Erskine (1809 - 1889)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.RetrievedOctober 2,2021.
  15. ^"McLAURIN, Anselm Joseph, (1848 - 1909)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.RetrievedOctober 2,2021.
  16. ^"Platoon Quotes".quotes.net.RetrievedMay 18,2023.
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