For almost 12,000 years, Native Americans have lived in what is now Madison County. Located in the Jackson Prairie, the area’s grasslands supported a variety of plants and animals to sustain pre-agricultural, nomadic populations. Remains of prehistoric hunting camps can be found in archaeological sites containing stone tools.
U.S. Highway 51, which runs through Ridgeland, was one of the original roads in the numbered U.S. highway system established in 1926. As part of the Federal Highway Act, construction of Interstate 55 between Jackson and Canton began in 1960. These roadways were integral to Ridgeland’s growth.
While modern-day Ridgeland has numerous retail outlets, office complexes, and industries, the early economy was based on agriculture. The area around the Village of Ridgeland grew to be one of the most successful commercial farming sections in the state. Ridgeland was primarily known for producing strawberries, peaches, pears, and pecans.
Today, the majestic remnants of the old pecan groves and orchards planted by the first settlers of Ridgeland and the Highland Colony are scattered throughout the city. Many pecan trees would have been planted circa 1896, making them over 125 years old today. In 2024, in honor of the historical significance of the pecan tree …
