Byram, Mississippi: A Small City With a Big Story

Getting to Know Byram

If you drive south on Interstate 55 out of Jackson, Mississippi, it does not take long before you cross into Byram. Byram is a city in Hinds County, Mississippi, and is part of the greater Jackson metropolitan area. Interstate 55 passes through the east side of the city, with access from Exits 81 and 85. Despite sitting right on Jackson's doorstep, Byram has carved out its own identity as a community that knows exactly who it is and where it wants to go.

As of the 2020 census, Byram had a population of 12,666 residents, and that number tells only part of the story. This is a city that fought hard to exist on its own terms, and the people who live there will be quick to tell you about it.

A History Built on Independence

Byram's roots go back to the late 1800s. The city was founded in 1870 but gave up its city status during the Great Depression. For decades, it existed as an unincorporated community, but that changed in a big way in the 2000s.

The path back to cityhood was not easy. In 2006, a judge ruled that Byram could incorporate with about 20 square miles of land, and that Jackson could annex 4 square miles. The ruling was appealed to the Mississippi Supreme Court. On April 2, 2009, the Mississippi Supreme Court unanimously upheld the lower court's ruling.

On June 15, 2009, Byram officially became Mississippi's 297th municipality. Its Mayor and Board of Aldermen were sworn in on June 22, 2009, at the State Capitol.

Mayor Richard White summed up the feeling of many locals at the time. We wanted to be our own city. We want to make our own future, he said. That spirit of self-determination runs deep here, and it shows in how the city has grown since incorporation.

In June 2010, Byram selected Gulfport Police Sgt. Luke Thompson, who grew up in Byram, as the city's first police chief. Thompson was given an operating budget of $1.8 million and charged with hiring 25 sworn police officers and 10 to 15 civilian employees. Building a city from the ground up is no small task, but Byram did exactly that.

The Famous Swinging Bridge

Ask anyone in the Jackson area about Byram, and the first thing they will mention is the Swinging Bridge. This structure is more than just a landmark. It is the symbol of the city.

The Byram Bridge spans the Pearl River between Hinds County and Rankin County. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, having earned that designation in 1979. The bridge was built in 1905 as a collaboration between merchants in Byram and Rankin County. It was designed by Schuster and Jacob of Fayette, Mississippi.

The bridge is a swinging suspension bridge type, with two towers and nearly 360 feet in total length. The central span is about 200 feet. For the early 1900s, that was an impressive piece of engineering, and it served a very practical purpose. The Swinging Bridge was the only access across the Pearl River at Byram.

Mayor White explained what the bridge meant to the area historically. The Swinging Bridge was a private bridge. It was built by farmers to get their goods across Pearl River. Over the decades, it became much more than a farming route. It became part of the local culture and identity.

The bridge was closed to vehicle traffic in 1987 but is still used today as a footbridge. In 2013, efforts were made to restore the bridge with the addition of safety rails, replacement of wooden boards, the addition of lights and interpretive signage, and new paint. Today it draws curious visitors from across the region who want to walk its wooden planks above the Pearl River.

The Swinging Bridge Festival

The bridge is so beloved that it inspired its own annual celebration. The Swinging Bridge Festival attracts thousands of people to Byram every year. It is one of the city's biggest annual events and brings the community together each spring.

The Byram Dragway

Not everyone who comes to Byram is there for history. Some come for speed. The Byram Dragway is a 500-foot drag strip that was built in 2002. It attracts racers from Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida. The track opens up around Mardi Gras every year and stays open until around Thanksgiving. On Tuesday nights, the sound of engines fills the air. It is the kind of experience you can only find in a place like this.

Local Flavor: Monte's Steak and Seafood

No article about Byram would be complete without mentioning the food. Monte's Steak and Seafood is a local institution. Monte Agho is a native of Nigeria who moved to the United States more than 30 years ago. Monte's Steak and Seafood opened in Byram in 2013, though the restaurant was established in 1991. It offers a blend of French and Cajun cuisine. The restaurant is widely praised by locals and visitors alike and stands as a great example of the diverse community that Byram has become.

Getting a DUI in Byram, Mississippi

Byram has its own police department, and like every city in Mississippi, it takes impaired driving seriously. If you are caught driving under the influence in Byram, you will be subject to Mississippi state DUI law, and the consequences are not light.

Mississippi DUI laws define driving under the influence as operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or other substances that reduce a person's ability to drive safely. The legal blood alcohol concentration limit is 0.08% for drivers over 21 and 0.02% for drivers under 21.

A first-time DUI offender faces the lightest penalties. A first offense is considered a misdemeanor. You could be facing up to 48 hours in jail and fines between $250 and $1,000. You can also lose your driver's license for 90 days. On top of that, drivers are often required to complete the Mississippi Alcohol Safety Education Program, known as MASEP.

Things get considerably more serious from there. Second offenses carry fines up to $1,500 and six months in jail, while third or subsequent offenses within five years become felonies with prison sentences of one to five years and fines up to $5,000.

Mississippi also has an implied consent law that many drivers are not aware of until it is too late. Refusing to take a chemical test can lead to automatic license suspension, even if you are not convicted of a DUI. In other words, saying no to the breathalyzer does not protect you. It can actually make things worse.

A DUI conviction can seriously impact your future. A felony DUI can strip you of your right to vote, own a firearm, or hold certain professional licenses. The stigma of a felony record can follow you long after you have served your sentence, making it harder to obtain housing or employment.

If you are ever in this situation in Byram or anywhere in Mississippi, the smartest move you can make is to contact a Attorney Joey Franks, The big Man at Big Man Law in Jackson.

Why Byram Is Worth Knowing

Byram, Mississippi is not a city that makes national headlines very often. But it is a city with real character. It has a landmark bridge that has stood for over 120 years. It has a founding story built on a legal fight for self-determination. It has drag racing, good food, and a growing community that continues to build something worth being proud of.

Whether you are passing through on I-55 or looking for a place to put down roots near Jackson, Byram deserves more than a glance. Stop and walk the Swinging Bridge. Grab a meal. Stay a while. You might just understand why the people who live there fought so hard to make it their own city.