Friendly Southern charm oozes everywhere in Jackson, the capital of Mississippi, which calls itself a “City With Soul.” Jackson has been named one of the best values in urban living in the U.S. (Forbes). Affordable housing, historic buildings and homes, and thriving music and arts scene are among Jackson’s draws. Primary industries are food, metal and electrical products. Jackson is named for U.S. President Andrew Jackson. Local scenes reminiscent of the fiction of Southern writer William Faulkner are never hard to come by. Catfish, cornbread, barbecue and pie are popular local fare. Live bands at Hal & Mal’s, the Natchez Reservoir, and the model railroads at the Mississippi Ag and Forestry Museum are not to be missed.