Opinion ID: 1564070
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 15

Heading: Factor 8: Whether a community has a separate identity.

Text: ¶ 43. Jackson argues that many transportation routes connect the PIA with Jackson, and many people in the PIA work in Jackson. While Byram has an interstate exit, Jackson contends the exit functions as a connector between local and state roads. Jackson further asserts that it provides numerous municipal services to the PIA, such as waterworks, wastewater treatment, water lines, water supply, fire hydrants, and fire protection. ¶ 44. The chancellor found the revised PIA has a separate identity as evidenced by road signs, road maps, official maps, telephone listings, the United States Postal Service, the United States Bureau of Census, schools, churches, fire departments, civic clubs, libraries, businesses, real estate segmentation, and other. The chancellor also found a sense of Byram pride when he toured the area. However, the chancellor found that the flood-plain area east of Interstate 55, the Industrial Center, and the southernmost area sought to be incorporated do not share the separate and distinct identity of the general Byram area. The chancellor also concluded the northernmost area is an extension of the City of Jackson that has yet to be annexed. ¶ 45. We find that Jackson's provision of utility services and limited fire protection to the PIA does not detract from the area's separate identity. Furthermore, the record shows that a majority of people and businesses are concentrated in the revised PIA. We find substantial evidence supports the chancellor's ruling that the revised PIA has a separate identity.