Jones County is located in southeast Mississippi in the center of the N.A.S.A. Sunbelt Crescent, an area that encompasses 500 miles and 50,000,000 people. Laurel and Jones County are located on Interstate 59, 145 miles northeast of New Orleans, LA and 323 miles southwest of Atlanta, GA. I-59 intersects with I-10 and I-12 near New Orleans and intersects with I-20 about 45 miles north of Laurel/Jones County. Mississippi's four lane Highways 84, 15, and 49 are also easily accessible to the area. Jones County's largest city, Laurel, is located on I-59. State Highways 84 and 15 intersect Laurel's business district. Located south of Laurel on I-59 is the city of Ellisville, home to Jones County Junior College and Howard Technology Park. Two other municipalities located in Jones County are: Soso, located west of town on Highway 28; and Sandersville, located north of town just off I-59 on Highway 11.