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Fondren
From http://www.fondren.org/ :
The Historic Fondren District, Jackson’s hippest, coolest, most avant-garde, most diverse and progressive neighborhood . . . right smack dab in the middle of the metro area. With boundaries extending from Northside Drive on the north to Woodrow Wilson on the south, and from I-55 on the east to the ICRR tracks on the west, the greater Fondren community is truly a microcosm of urban Jackson. Greater Fondren is fortunate to have two distinct commercial centers, one on the south end that is traditionally known as “downtown Fondren”, and the other on the north end, commonly referred to as the Meadowbrook business district, which are connected by North State Street and the many vibrant residential neighborhoods along the way. Whether it’s shopping at one of our many interesting boutiques, thrift stores or art galleries, dining at one of our famous eateries, attending a cultural event at the historic Cedars, listening to some contemporary music at the Pix/Capri or simply dwelling in one of the many extraordinary homes, apartments and condominiums in our community, life in Fondren today is energetic, exciting and truly . . . urban living at its best!
History
The Fondren neighborhood began in 1833 as part of a large 5,000 acre plantation located three miles north of Jackson, Mississippi. Owned by the Garland family, it was broken up during the Reconstruction Era following the Civil War. A small settlement had formed at the extreme southwest part of the area, nestled in the fork between Canton Road and the old Tougaloo Plantation Road, now called North State Street. The fork was also the location of a state asylum which later became the area for construction of four Fondren area hospitals. The initial inhabitants of the community worked in the hospital, and the only store at the fork was David Fondren’s General Merchandise and Fancy Grocery. In 1894 a government post office located in the store adopted the Fondren name for the community. The Fondren Post Office continues today, located about one-hundred yards to the north of the original store site.
