Byram, Mississippi: A Good Quality of Life

If you have never heard of Byram, Mississippi, you are not alone. But this small city in Hinds County is one of the more interesting communities in the Jackson metro area. It has a railroad depot history, a famous swinging bridge, a dramatic fight for independence, and a growing population that now tops 12,000 people. Whether you are thinking about visiting, moving, or just curious about the Magnolia State, Byram is worth knowing about.

Where Is Byram, Mississippi?

Byram sits in Hinds County, right on the southern edge of Jackson, Mississippi's state capital. If you are driving on Interstate 55, you can reach Byram from Exits 81 or 85. Head north on I-55 for about 10 miles and you are in the heart of Jackson. Head south for 177 miles and you will reach New Orleans. The city covers just over 18 square miles, with the Pearl River flowing along its eastern border. It is a suburban community, but it has its own distinct identity and a story that separates it from every other suburb in the state.

How Byram Got Its Name

The story of Byram starts with a man named A.M. Byram. He was an early settler in the area who donated land for the location of a railroad depot. That act of generosity put his name on the map, literally. The town that grew up around that depot took his name, and it stuck. Communities along rail lines often grew quickly in the post-Civil War South, and Byram was no different. By 1870, the town had grown enough to officially incorporate as a municipality.

A Town That Lost and Found Itself

Here is where Byram's history gets really interesting. The town incorporated in 1870, but it could not hold on to that status forever. When the Great Depression hit in the late 1920s and 1930s, it hit hard across all of Mississippi. Towns that once had enough tax revenue to run basic services suddenly had nothing left. Byram was one of them. The town surrendered its incorporation during the Great Depression when it could no longer fund municipal services. For decades after that, Byram existed as an unincorporated community, a place without its own government, police force, or fire department.

That changed because of a long legal battle that residents are still proud of today. Starting in 1991, the neighboring city of Jackson began trying to annex Byram. Many residents were not happy about the idea. They worried about higher property taxes and slower city services. Lawsuits began in 2004. In 2006 a judge ruled that Byram could incorporate on its own terms, and after an appeal that went all the way to the Mississippi Supreme Court, the ruling was upheld. On June 15, 2009, Byram officially became Mississippi's 297th municipality. The mayor and Board of Aldermen were sworn in the following week at the State Capitol in Jackson.

The Swinging Bridge: Byram's Most Famous Landmark

If Byram has one thing that everyone talks about, it is the Swinging Bridge. Built in 1905, this suspension bridge made of wood and steel stretches across the Pearl River and connects Hinds County with Rankin County. When it was first built, it was the only way to cross the Pearl River at Byram. Merchants on both sides of the river worked together to fund its construction, and for decades it carried vehicles back and forth across the water.

The bridge is nearly 360 feet long in total, with a central span of about 200 feet. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, which tells you something about its architectural and historical significance. It is one of the few remaining examples of its type of short-span vehicular suspension bridge in Mississippi.

The bridge closed to vehicle traffic in 1987 after a five-ton weight limit was exceeded by an 18-wheeler that weighed 37 tons. After that, it fell into disrepair for years. By the time restoration efforts began in 2013, the wooden boards were rotting and the steel was rusting. Workers replaced the boards, added safety rails, installed lighting, and put up interpretive signage. The bridge was converted for pedestrian use in 2015, and today you can walk across it and look down at the Pearl River below. It is a genuinely striking experience and one of the coolest free things you can do in the Jackson area.

The city celebrates the bridge every year with the Swinging Bridge Festival, which draws thousands of visitors and is held at the Byram Dragway.

The Byram Dragway

Speaking of the dragway, it is another landmark that locals take pride in. The Byram Dragway, formerly known as the Jackson Dragway, is a 500-foot drag strip that was built in 2002. It hosts racing events regularly and is an important part of the community's social life. The Swinging Bridge Festival calls it home each spring, making it a multi-use venue that sees action all year long.

Beverly J. Brown Library

Byram may be a small city, but it has its own library. The Beverly J. Brown Library operates behind Byram City Hall and is part of the Jackson/Hinds Library System. It serves residents across the city and is a key community resource for students, families, and anyone who needs access to books, digital services, and public programs.

Schools in Byram

Families in Byram are served by the Hinds County School District. Children attend Gary Road Elementary School, Gary Road Intermediate School, and Byram Middle School before moving on to Terry High School in the nearby town of Terry. The school system is an important part of daily life in the community and a factor that many families consider when deciding whether to move to the area.

A Growing Community

Byram's population has grown steadily since it was re-incorporated in 2009. The 2010 census counted 11,489 residents, and by the 2020 census that number had grown to 12,666. That growth is not a coincidence. The city has worked to build its own police department, fire department, and infrastructure from the ground up since 2009. The first police chief was appointed in 2010, the first fire chief in 2011, and the first fire station was dedicated in 2014. For a city that had to start from scratch, that is a remarkable amount of progress in a short period of time.

Getting to Byram

Byram is easy to reach. Interstate 55 runs through the eastern side of the city, with two exits providing access. If you are coming from Jackson, it is less than 15 minutes south on the interstate. The city's ZIP code is 39272, and its area codes are 601 and 769.

Why Byram Matters

Byram is not just another suburb. It is a place that fought for its own identity, preserved a 120-year-old bridge on the National Register of Historic Places, built a city government from nothing, and continues to grow. Its history reaches back to the railroad era of the 1870s, runs through the hardships of the Great Depression, and extends into the legal battles of the 2000s. The result is a community that knows exactly who it is and where it comes from. That is something worth paying attention to.

If you are ever heading south from Jackson on I-55, take Exit 85 and spend some time in Byram. Walk across the Swinging Bridge. Watch a race at the dragway. You will understand pretty quickly why the people here fought so hard to keep their city their own.

Don’t drink and drive in Byram, but if you get a DUI, call Attorney Joey Franks at Big Man Law in Jackson. (601) 357-7777