Jackson is a city in and the
county seat
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...
of
Madison County, Tennessee, United States. Located east of
Memphis
Memphis most commonly refers to:
* Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt
* Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city
Memphis may also refer to:
Places United States
* Memphis, Alabama
* Memphis, Florida
* Memphis, Indiana
* Memp ...
, it is a regional center of trade for
West Tennessee. Its total population was 68,205 as of the
2020 United States census
The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...
.
Jackson is the primary city of the
Jackson, Tennessee metropolitan area, which is included in the Jackson-
Humboldt, Tennessee combined statistical area
Combined statistical area (CSA) is a United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) term for a combination of adjacent metropolitan (MSA) and micropolitan statistical areas (µSA) across the 50 US states and the territory of Puerto Ric ...
. Jackson is
Madison County's largest city, and the second-largest city in West Tennessee next to Memphis.
It is home to the
Tennessee Supreme Court
The Tennessee Supreme Court is the ultimate judicial tribunal of the state of Tennessee. Roger A. Page is the Chief Justice.
Unlike other states, in which the state attorney general is directly elected or appointed by the governor or state leg ...
's courthouse for
West Tennessee, as Jackson was the major city in the west when the court was established in 1834.
In the antebellum era, Jackson was the market city for an agricultural area based on cultivation of cotton, the major commodity crop. Beginning in 1851, the city became a hub of railroad systems ultimately connecting to major markets in the north and south, as well as east and west. This was key to its development, attracting trade and many workers on the railroads in the late 19th century with the construction of railroads after the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...
. Through the 1960s, the city was served by 15 passenger trains daily, but industry restructuring reduced such service and caused the loss of jobs. The economy has adjusted to new businesses, with major manufacturing in the area.
History
Early settlement
This area was occupied by the historic
Chickasaw people
The Chickasaw ( ) are an indigenous people of the Southeastern Woodlands. Their traditional territory was in the Southeastern United States of Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee as well in southwestern Kentucky. Their language is classified as ...
at the time of European encounter. They were pushed out by European-American settlers under various treaties with the United States, in actions authorized by the
Indian Removal Act
The Indian Removal Act was signed into law on May 28, 1830, by United States President Andrew Jackson. The law, as described by Congress, provided "for an exchange of lands with the Indians residing in any of the states or territories, and for ...
of 1830 and ratified by the US Senate.
European-American settlement of Jackson began along the
Forked Deer River
The Forked Deer River system is the main drainage of the central portion of West Tennessee. Locals pronounce the first word of the river's name with two syllables, as in “Forkéd” ().
The Forked Deer consists of various streams designated ...
before 1820, primarily by migrants from eastern areas of the Upper South, such as Virginia and Kentucky. Originally named Alexandria, the city was renamed in 1822 to honor General
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson (March 15, 1767 – June 8, 1845) was an American lawyer, planter, general, and statesman who served as the seventh president of the United States from 1829 to 1837. Before being elected to the presidency, he gained fame as ...
, a hero of the
War of 1812
The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States, United States of America and its Indigenous peoples of the Americas, indigenous allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom ...
. He was later elected as
President of the United States
The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States ...
.
The City of Jackson was founded by an act of the
Tennessee General Assembly, passed in 1821, entitled an "act to establish a seat of justice for Henry, Carroll, Henderson and Madison Counties." The act required of land to be deeded to the commissioners. The commissioners chosen by the Legislature were Sterling Brewer and James Fentress. The places considered for the seat of justice were Alexandria, Golden's Station, and Jackson. The larger portion of the settlers at that time were living on Cotton Grove Road, and as Jackson was closer to them than either of the other settlements, this settlement was determined to be the more suitable site for the seat of justice.
At the time of the second
Tennessee State Constitution in 1834, when the
Tennessee Supreme Court
The Tennessee Supreme Court is the ultimate judicial tribunal of the state of Tennessee. Roger A. Page is the Chief Justice.
Unlike other states, in which the state attorney general is directly elected or appointed by the governor or state leg ...
was established,
Memphis
Memphis most commonly refers to:
* Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt
* Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city
Memphis may also refer to:
Places United States
* Memphis, Alabama
* Memphis, Florida
* Memphis, Indiana
* Memp ...
had not yet been developed. The county seat of Jackson was the most significant city in
West Tennessee and this was designated as a site for the State Supreme Court in this part of the state.
The city of Jackson did not establish public elections until 1837, with a Board of Aldermen elected
at-large. From 1854 to 1915, Jackson had a Board of Aldermen of eight members elected from four districts, each with two members elected
at-large.
Free people of color and freedmen were not allowed to vote in the state until after passage of federal constitutional amendments following the Civil War that granted them citizenship and suffrage.
This area was initially developed for agricultural purposes, especially cotton plantations for producing the chief commodity crop of the Mississippi Valley and Deep South. Cotton plantations were dependent on the labor of African-American
slaves and thousands were brought into the area as it was developed. As county seat, Jackson was a trading town and retail center for surrounding agricultural areas.
But developing as a railroad hub of several lines was most important to Jackson's industrial and population growth, from 1852 on for the next hundred years.
Civil War through 19th century
In 1862 Tennessee came under the control of Union forces and was occupied until General
Ulysses S. Grant decided to concentrate his efforts to the South. Between December 11, 1862 and January 1, 1863, an engagement at Jackson occurred during
Confederate Brigadier General
Nathan Bedford Forrest's expedition into West Tennessee. Forrest wanted to disrupt the rail supply line to Grant's army, which was campaigning along the route of the
Mississippi Central Railroad
Mississippi Central Railroad (reporting mark MSCI) is a short line railroad operating over 51 miles from Oxford, Mississippi, to Grand Junction, Tennessee, owned by Pioneer Railcorp. The railroad's principal commodities are wood products and ...
. If Forrest destroyed the
Mobile & Ohio Railroad running south from
Columbus, Kentucky
Columbus is a home rule-class city in Hickman County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 170 at the 2010 census, a decline from 229 in 2000. The city lies at the western end of the state, less than a mile from the Mississippi Ri ...
through Jackson, Grant would have to curtail or halt his operations altogether.
Forrest's 2,100-man cavalry brigade crossed the
Tennessee River
The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley. The river was once popularly known as the Cherokee River, among other name ...
on December 17. Grant ordered a soldier concentration at Jackson under Brigadier General
Jeremiah C. Sullivan and sent a cavalry force under Colonel
Robert G. Ingersoll. Forrest's command defeated the Union cavalry in
Lexington, Tennessee on December 18. As Forrest continued his advance the following day, Sullivan ordered Colonel Adolph Englemann to take a small force northeast of Jackson.
At Old Salem Cemetery, acting on the defensive, Englemann's two infantry regiments repulsed a Confederate mounted attack, then withdrew a mile closer to the city. The fight amounted to no more than a feint and show of force intended to hold Jackson's Union defenders in position, while two mounted Confederate columns destroyed railroad track to both the north and south of the town, then returned. Forrest withdrew from the Jackson area to attack Trenton and Humboldt after this mission was accomplished.
As a result of the destruction of the railroad, Grant abandoned his plans to invade Mississippi from Tennessee in favor of an attack on
Vicksburg, Mississippi, for control of the river. Federal troops left Jackson and moved to Memphis, which became a major center for Union troops for the duration of the war. Forrest returned to Jackson in early 1864 and used the city as his headquarters as his forces attacked Federal positions in northern West Tennessee and
Fort Pillow, a Union position on the Mississippi north of Memphis. Forrest returned to Jackson again later that year in preparation for an attack on Federal river traffic on the Tennessee River east of Paris and the supply base at Johnsonville.
With the emancipation of slaves and passage of US constitutional amendments granting suffrage to African-American males, Jackson's
freedmen and formerly
free people of color began to participate in the political system. But secret vigilante groups, such as the
Ku Klux Klan, developed chapters in Tennessee and throughout the South that intimidated and attacked freedmen in order to exercise
white supremacy
White supremacy or white supremacism is the belief that white people are superior to those of other races and thus should dominate them. The belief favors the maintenance and defense of any power and privilege held by white people. White s ...
. As Reconstruction continued, they worked to suppress the black Republican vote.
In the late 19th century, the white-dominated state legislature passed several laws that made voter registration and voting more difficult, including payment of a
poll tax, and resulted in reducing voting by many blacks and poor whites.
After Reconstruction, white violence increased against blacks. In 1886,
Eliza Woods, an African-American woman, was
lynched
Lynching is an extrajudicial killing by a group. It is most often used to characterize informal public executions by a mob in order to punish an alleged transgressor, punish a convicted transgressor, or intimidate people. It can also be an ex ...
in Jackson after being accused of poisoning and killing her employer, Jessie Woolen. Woolen's husband later confessed to the crime. Two other African Americans were known to have been lynched by whites in Madison County in this period that extended into the early 20th century.
20th century
In 1915, Jackson was one of several cities in the state to adopt a commission form of government, changing its electoral scheme to
at-large voting citywide for three designated positions: a mayor and two commissioners. This resulted in a government dominated by the majority, with no representatives elected from minority populations. (Other cities to make this change included
Clarksville,
Chattanooga,
Knoxville
Knoxville is a city in and the county seat of Knox County in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 United States census, Knoxville's population was 190,740, making it the largest city in the East Tennessee Grand Division and the state' ...
and
Nashville.) Although the state in 1913 enacted a law enabling cities to adopt the commission form of government independently, Jackson was chartered by the state for this change.
The commissioners each were allocated specific responsibilities, for instance, for the school system and city departments.
In the late 19th century, the state of Tennessee had already adopted residency requirements, voting process, and
poll taxes
A poll tax, also known as head tax or capitation, is a tax levied as a fixed sum on every liable individual (typically every adult), without reference to income or resources.
Head taxes were important sources of revenue for many governments f ...
that sharply reduced the ability of African Americans to register and vote. The City Charter was amended to include run-off elections within two weeks in cases of one candidate not receiving a majority of votes. This created an extra burden on campaigns by less wealthy candidates. In Jackson, the total effect of these changes to the city electoral system was to reduce the ability of African Americans in the 20th century to elect candidates of their choice and to participate in the political system.
In 1977, the former
company town of
Bemis just south of Jackson was
annexed by the city of Jackson.
In 1977 three city residents filed suit against the city in US District Court, in ''Buchanan v. City of Jackson'' (1988), (683 F.Supp. 1515), challenging the structure and electoral system of the city government because the
at-large voting had diluted the voting power of the city's significant minority of
African-American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ensl ...
residents. (According to the 1980 Census, the city population was 49,074, of which 16,847, or 34.3%, were black.)
Since 1915, no black person had ever been elected to, or served on, the Board of Commissioners.
The court found this commission electoral system was found to be discriminatory in effect. Over the decades, the African-American minority was effectively closed out of city government. The case was appealed and affirmed; the defendants ultimately proposed a new system approved in 1988 by the court. By a new city charter, in 1989 the city created a Board of Commission based on nine
single-member districts for broader representation.
[''BUCHANAN v. CITY OF JACKSON,'' 683 F. Supp. 1515 (W.D. Tenn. 1988)](_blank)
Case Text website The mayor is elected at-large.
Similar legal challenges to the electoral and city systems in Clarksville and Chattanooga led to changes in their city charters to establish more numerous members of a city council or board of commission, to be elected from single-member districts. As a result, more African-American and women candidates have been elected as representatives from those jurisdictions.
The dissolution of the former government in Jackson resulted in the need for an elected city school board, since one of the commissioners had previously managed education. The city commissioners chose to consolidate their school system with that of the
Madison County, Tennessee school system in 1990, creating the Jackson-Madison County School Board. This was also done to achieve desegregation goals. The nine-member board is elected from six districts across the county; three districts elect two members each and the other three each elect one member. All members are elected for four-year terms, with elections held on a staggered basis every two years. The demographics of the county in 2012 for major ethnic groups were 60.3% white and 37% African American. In 2008 the school system was still under a court order supervising its desegregation progress.
[Tennessee Advisory Committee, ''School Desegregation in Tennessee''](_blank)
to the US Commission on Civil Rights, April 2008
In the post-World War II era, the railroad industry went through restructuring and mergers. (See section below). By the end of 1960s, it sharply reduced passenger service to Jackson; there were related losses of associated industrial jobs supporting the railroads, causing economic problems in the region.
1999 to present
Between 1999 and 2008, several violent
tornadoes struck large portions of the city. The McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport was severely damaged in
January 1999, a storm that resulted in eleven fatalities. The 1999 tornado also damaged the
Riverside Cemetery, where 40 known Confederate soldiers, 140 unknowns, and many families of the founders of Jackson are buried. The cemetery's acres of old trees and many of the statues, monuments, and graves were damaged during the tornado.
Parts of the
Union University
Union University is a private Baptist Christian university in Jackson, Tennessee, with additional campuses in Germantown and Hendersonville. The university is affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention (Southern Baptist Convention). It is ...
campus were damaged in
November 2002. The downtown area was devastated in
May 2003 by an F4 tornado, and there were eight deaths. Many dormitories at the Union campus were demolished in a storm in
February 2008.
On May 1, 2010 a severe thunderstorm hit Jackson, dropping
13 inches of rain in a short period of time.
Flash floods destroyed many homes and streets.
Railroad history
Jackson developed rapidly just prior to the Civil War as a
railroad
Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a pre ...
junction and maintenance shop for several early railroads, including the
Mississippi Central, the
Tennessee Central and the
Mobile and Ohio lines. Located over seventy miles east of Memphis, Jackson lies along the shortest rail route between
Cairo, IL;
Jackson, MS
Jackson, officially the City of Jackson, is the capital of and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Mississippi. The city is also one of two county seats of Hinds County, along with Raymond. The city had a population of 153,701 at th ...
(Mississippi's capital); and
, Louisiana. As the railroad was extended from the
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes, also called the Great Lakes of North America, are a series of large interconnected freshwater lakes in the mid-east region of North America that connect to the Atlantic Ocean via the Saint Lawrence River. There are five lak ...
to the
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico ( es, Golfo de México) is an ocean basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, largely surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United ...
, Jackson, Tennessee was perfectly situated as a station along the north-south line; and, to serve as a junction between the north-south line, and lines east and west between Memphis and
Nashville, the major cities of West and
Middle Tennessee.
The first was the
Mobile and Ohio Railroad, which began in October 1849 in
Mobile, Alabama. The line first entered Jackson in 1851. These tracks were completely destroyed during the Civil War. The line merged with the
Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad in 1940 to become the
Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad
The Gulf, Mobile and Ohio was a Class I railroad in the central United States whose primary routes extended from Mobile, Alabama, and New Orleans, Louisiana, to St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri, as well as Chicago, Illinois.
From its two ...
.
The second railroad to enter Jackson was the Mississippi Central & Tennessee. In 1873, the line was contracted and later controlled by the
Illinois Central Railroad.
On December 29, 1886, the Tennessee Midland Railway received a charter to build a railroad from
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the seat of Shelby County in the southwest part of the state; it is situated along the Mississippi River. With a population of 633,104 at the 2020 U.S. census, Memphis is the second-mos ...
to the Virginia state line. The line from Memphis to Jackson was completed on June 1, 1888. In 1893, the Tennessee Midland went into receivership and was sold at foreclosure to the L&N Railroad. Around 1968 the remainder of the Tennessee Midland was abandoned east of Cordova with the exception of some track in Jackson, Tennessee. That track is now used to deliver goods to Jackson's east and west industrial parks.
The Tennessee Midland Railway Company line from
Memphis
Memphis most commonly refers to:
* Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt
* Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city
Memphis may also refer to:
Places United States
* Memphis, Alabama
* Memphis, Florida
* Memphis, Indiana
* Memp ...
to Jackson was the forerunner of the
Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway. This line was often referred to as the "NC" by locals. Like all other railroads to enter Jackson, it was built with funds subscribed by citizens and investors of Jackson. The first passenger train entered Jackson from Memphis on June 1, 1888. The highly profitable railroad was merged into the
Louisville and Nashville Railroad following WWII. Eventually the L&N was merged into and is now part of
CSX Transportation.
A charter was granted by the State of Tennessee on August 16, 1910, and construction began on July l, 1911. The first sector extended from Jackson to the station of Tigrett, and by April 20, 1912, of the line were ready for operations. On June 16 the remaining sector was set into service, connecting
Dyersburg, Tennessee with Jackson. When the line began operations in 1912, its president was Isaac B. Tigrett, a prominent young banker of Jackson. The railroad became an important local thoroughfare, used to transport much of the produce of the region to market in Jackson and Dyersburg. The Birmingham and Northwestern Railway Company had 4 locomotives, 5 passenger cars, and 92 freight cars. When Isaac B. Tigrett became President of the GM&N in 1920, he ceased to direct the affairs of the Birmingham and Northwestern Railroad Company. After he became president of the GM&O, the railroad was purchased and merged to become the Dyersburg branch.
Passenger trains in the 20th century
Jackson had been a west Tennessee hub for passenger train service. Passengers had direct service to Memphis, Nashville, Meridian, Montgomery, Mobile, Birmingham, Jacksonville, Daytona, Miami, Centralia, Champaign-Urbana, Springfield, Chicago, St. Louis, and New Orleans.
From the 1930s to the 1960s, multiple regularly scheduled passenger trains of the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio and the Illinois Central made stops at Union Station.
Gulf, Mobile and Ohio trains included:
*''
Gulf Coast Rebel
The ''Gulf Coast Rebel'' was a streamlined passenger train operated by the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad (GM&O) between St. Louis, Missouri and Mobile, Alabama. It operated from 1940 to 1958. Unlike the similarly named ''Rebels'', the ''Gulf Co ...
'' (
St. Louis, Missouri –
Mobile, Alabama)
*''The Rebel'' (Chicago –
)
Illinois Central trains included:
*''
The City of Miami'' (
Chicago, Illinois
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name ...
–
Miami, Florida
Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...
)
*''The Floridan'' (Chicago – Miami)
*''
The Seminole'' (Chicago –
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the List of United States cities by area, largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the co ...
)
*''Sunchaser'' (Chicago and St. Louis – Miami)
Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis served at its own depot. Its trains included:
*''
The City of Memphis'' (
Memphis
Memphis most commonly refers to:
* Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt
* Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city
Memphis may also refer to:
Places United States
* Memphis, Alabama
* Memphis, Florida
* Memphis, Indiana
* Memp ...
–
Nashville)
Most passenger trains were discontinued by 1959. The ''Seminole'' ended service in 1969. ''The City of Miami'' was the last train stopping in the city, on April 30, 1971.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of t ...
, the city has a total area of , all land.
Climate
According to the
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...
system, Jackson has a
humid subtropical climate (''Cfa''), with hot, humid summers and cool winters.
Demographics
Jackson is the larger principal city of the
Jackson-Humboldt CSA, a
Combined Statistical Area
Combined statistical area (CSA) is a United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) term for a combination of adjacent metropolitan (MSA) and micropolitan statistical areas (µSA) across the 50 US states and the territory of Puerto Ric ...
that includes the
Jackson metropolitan area (
Chester and Madison counties) and the
Humboldt micropolitan area (
Gibson County), which had a combined population of 165,108 at the
2010 census.
2020 census
As of the
2020 United States census
The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...
, there were 68,205 people, 25,925 households, and 16,075 families residing in the city.
2010 census
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...
of 2010, there were 65,211 people, 25,191 households, and 15,951 families residing in the city. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...
was 1,317 people per square mile (423.4/km
2). There were 28,052 housing units at an average density of 566.3 per square mile (218.9/km
2). Since the 2010 Census, the city has added 9.4459 (24.5/km
2). The racial makeup of the city was 49.2%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White o ...
, 45.07%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.2%
Native American, 1.2%
Asian, 0.02%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...
, 2.3% from
other races
Other often refers to:
* Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy
Other or The Other may also refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack
* ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...
, and 1.5% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...
or
Latino of any race were 4.0% of the population.
There were 25,191 households, out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.6% were
married couples living together, 21.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.59% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 13.4% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,169, and the median income for a family was $45,938. Males had a median income of $41,085 versus $30,436 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the city was $23,762. About 15.6% of families and 21.6% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 36% of those under age 18 and 8.24% of those age 65 or over.
Crime
According to Morgan Quitno's 2010 Metropolitan Crime Rate Rankings the Jackson metropolitan area had the 13th-highest crime rate in the United States.
The
Morgan Quitno
Morgan Quitno Press is a research and publishing company founded in 1989 and based in Lawrence, Kansas. The company compiled annual reference books of US state and city statistics. Its primary volumes included State Rankings, Health Care State Ra ...
list of the "Top 25 Most Dangerous Cities of 2007", ranked Jackson's as the 9th most dangerous metropolitan area in the United States. In 2006, it had been listed as the 18th most dangerous.
Arts and culture
Jackson was the site of the now permanently closed International
Rock-A-Billy Hall of Fame Museum, which recognized the contributions of Tennessee musicians to this genre.
Sports
Minor League Baseball
The
Jackson Generals
The Jackson Generals were a professional baseball team located in Jackson, Tennessee. From 1998 to 2020, they were a part of Minor League Baseball's Southern League (SL) as the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs (1998–2006), Seattle Mari ...
, a
Double-A Minor League Baseball team of the
Southern League played at
The Ballpark at Jackson
The Ballpark at Jackson is a 6,000-seat minor league baseball stadium in Jackson, Tennessee, United States. It opened in 1998.
The Ballpark at Jackson was built by the municipal government of Jackson, Tennessee, and was the home of the Jacks ...
from 1998 to 2020.
In conjunction with
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
's reorganization of the minor leagues after the 2020 season, the Generals were not invited to serve as any team's affiliate, effectively ending their run in affiliated baseball.
The future of the team is uncertain. While, Major League Baseball has stated its intentions to assist cities like Jackson in joining independent baseball leagues, the team's lease requires them to maintain an affiliation with Major League Baseball to remain at their ballpark.
Originally known as the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, the team changed its name to the Generals in 2011.
The new name was in reference to the
Jackson Generals
The Jackson Generals were a professional baseball team located in Jackson, Tennessee. From 1998 to 2020, they were a part of Minor League Baseball's Southern League (SL) as the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs (1998–2006), Seattle Mari ...
who played in the
Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League from 1935 to 1942 and 1950 to 1954.
The original Generals were preceded by teams called the
Jackson Jays (1926),
Jackson Giants (1925),
Jackson Blue Jays (1924),
Jackson Climbers (1911), and
Jackson Railroaders (1903).
With the Generals gone in 2021, the
Winnipeg Goldeyes of the independent
American Association temporarily moved their operations to Jackson due to
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quickly ...
restrictions shutting down the
US-Canada border, preventing them from playing in their normal home,
Shaw Park in
Winnipeg
Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749, ...
. The Goldeyes played 33 games in Jackson before being given permission by the Canadian government to return across the border on August 3.
Other sports
The
Hub City Hurricanes of the
IBL played in Jackson for one season in 2007.
In 1974, a little league team from Jackson played in the
Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA — to date, the only team from West Tennessee to qualify.
From 1990 to 2011, Jackson hosted the
NAIA Women's Division I National Championship basketball tournament in the
Oman Arena.
Parks and recreation
*Jackson hosts the Miss Tennessee Volunteer Pageant.
*West Tennessee Healthcare Sportsplex is a travel baseball and softball complex completed in 2007..
*A tennis complex in northern Jackson hosts the City Closed tennis tournament.
Education
Colleges and universities
*
Jackson State Community College
*
Lane College
Lane College is a private historically black college associated with the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and located in Jackson, Tennessee. It offers associate and baccalaureate degrees in the arts and sciences.
History
Lane College was f ...
*
Union University
Union University is a private Baptist Christian university in Jackson, Tennessee, with additional campuses in Germantown and Hendersonville. The university is affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention (Southern Baptist Convention). It is ...
*
University of Memphis at Lambuth
*
University of Tennessee at Martin – Jackson Center
The following is near the city but in an
unincorporated area
An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...
:
*
Tennessee College of Applied Technology at Jackson
Primary and secondary schools
K-12 public schools in the city and county are operated by the consolidated
Jackson-Madison County School System Jackson-Madison County School System (JMCSS) or Jackson-Madison County School District is a school district headquartered in Jackson, Tennessee
Jackson is a city in and the county seat of Madison County, Tennessee, United States. Located east ...
. High schools include:
*
Jackson Central-Merry Early College High School
*
Liberty Technology Magnet High School
Liberty Technology Magnet High School is a public magnet high school located in Jackson, Tennessee. It opened to students in August 2003. It is a part of the Jackson-Madison County School System.
History
Liberty Technology Magnet High School is ...
*
Madison Academic Magnet High School
*
North Side High School
*
South Side High School
Specialist schools operated by the State of Tennessee include:
*
West Tennessee School for the Deaf
Private schools include:
*
Jackson Christian School
*
Sacred Heart of Jesus High School
Founded in 2004, Sacred Heart is a vibrant Catholic liberal arts academy with a strong college preparatory curriculum, located in Jackson, Tennessee. Based on the philosophy of St. John Bosco and welcoming students of all faiths, our mission is to ...
*
Trinity Christian Academy
*
University School of Jackson
Media
Newspaper
Jackson is served by one daily, ''
The Jackson Sun
''The Jackson Sun'' is a daily newspaper published in Jackson, Tennessee, and is one of western Tennessee's major newspapers, delivered to 13 counties. The newspaper is owned by Gannett
Gannett Co., Inc. () is an American mass media holding ...
''. The ''Sun'' is delivered to 13 counties in total and is considered one of western Tennessee's major newspapers.
Television
As of the 2015–2016 television season, the Jackson television market is the smallest market in Tennessee and 176th overall by
Nielsen Media Research
Nielsen Media Research (NMR) is an American firm that measures media audiences, including television, radio, theatre, films (via the AMC Theatres MAP program), and newspapers. Headquartered in New York City, it is best known for the Nielsen rati ...
. The market is served by three major commercial stations:
WBBJ-TV
WBBJ-TV (channel 7) is a television station in Jackson, Tennessee, United States, affiliated with ABC and CBS. Owned by Bahakel Communications, the station maintains studios on Muse Street in Jackson, and its transmitter is located on Potts Ch ...
7 (
ABC, with
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...
/
MeTV
MeTV, an acronym for Memorable Entertainment Television, is an American broadcast television network owned by Weigel Broadcasting. Marketed as "The Definitive Destination for Classic TV", the network airs a variety of classic television program ...
on
DT3),
WJKT 16 (
Fox), and
WNBJ-LD
WNBJ-LD (channel 39) is a low-power television station in Jackson, Tennessee, United States, affiliated with NBC and The CW Plus. The station is owned by Coastal Television Holdings, and maintains studios on North Highland Avenue and a transmitte ...
39 (
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...
). Jackson is also served by a
PBS
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an American public broadcaster and non-commercial, free-to-air television network based in Arlington, Virginia. PBS is a publicly funded nonprofit organization and the most prominent provider of educat ...
member station,
WLJT-DT 11, as well as several other low-power stations (among them
Antenna TV
Antenna TV is an American digital television network owned by Nexstar Media Group. The network's programming consists of classic television series, primarily sitcoms, from the 1950s to the 1990s. Antenna TV's programming and advertising operati ...
/
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV (unofficially abbreviated MyTV, MyNet, MNT or MNTV, and sometimes referred to as My Network) is an American commercial broadcast television syndication service and former television network owned by Fox Corporation, operated by its ...
affiliate
WYJJ-LD 27).
Radio
Jackson is serviced by 28
FM and 8
AM radio stations.
Infrastructure
Transportation
Ground transportation
Interstate 40
Interstate 40 (I-40) is a major east–west Interstate Highway running through the south-central portion of the United States. At a length of , it is the third-longest Interstate Highway in the country, after I-90 and I-80. From west to ea ...
runs through the city in an east-west direction, connecting the city with
Memphis
Memphis most commonly refers to:
* Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt
* Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city
Memphis may also refer to:
Places United States
* Memphis, Alabama
* Memphis, Florida
* Memphis, Indiana
* Memp ...
to the west and
Nashville to the east. I-40 has six exits in the city.
U.S. Route 45
U.S. Route 45 (US 45) is a major north-south United States highway and a border-to-border route, from Lake Superior to the Gulf of Mexico. A sign at the highway's northern terminus notes the total distance as .
US 45 is notable for incorporatin ...
runs in a north-south direction.
The Jackson Transit Authority line provides intra-city bus service, while the
Greyhound Bus line provides inter-city service.
U.S. Route 45
U.S. Route 45 (US 45) is a major north-south United States highway and a border-to-border route, from Lake Superior to the Gulf of Mexico. A sign at the highway's northern terminus notes the total distance as .
US 45 is notable for incorporatin ...
, locally known as Highland Avenue, runs north to south to Gibson County and Chester County. A bypass route of US 45 (known as the
Keith Short Bypass) goes through the western part of the city.
U.S. Route 412 runs east from Lexington in Henderson County northwest to Dyersburg, Tennessee, and
I-55
Interstate 55 (I-55) is a major Interstate Highway in the central United States. As with most primary Interstates that end in a five, it is a major cross-country, north–south route, connecting the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes. The h ...
reaches westward to
St. Louis
St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...
.
U.S. Route 70 or State Route 1 runs east to west between Huntingdon and Brownsville.
Air service
McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport (MKL) serves the city.
Train service
Historically the city was the junction of north-south trains, such as the
Illinois Central's ''
City of Miami'' and east-west trains such as the
Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway's the ''
City of Memphis.''
Healthcare
West Tennessee Healthcare
West or Occident is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sunset, Sun sets on the Earth.
Etymology
The word "west" is a Germanic languages, German ...
(Jackson-Madison County General Hospital District), created by a law passed by the
Tennessee General Assembly in 1949, serves as the public hospital system of the city of Jackson. The city appoints some of the members of the board of directors.
Notable people
*
Allison Alderson, former Miss Tennessee
*
Monroe Dunaway Anderson, born in Jackson, was a cotton trader and
capitalist, whose
financial endowment helped found the Anderson, Clayton & Company in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1904, the M. D. Anderson Foundation in
Houston, Texas and the
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (colloquially MD Anderson Cancer Center) is a comprehensive cancer center in Houston, Texas. It is the largest cancer center in the U.S. and one of the original three comprehensive cancer centers ...
in Houston.
*
Micajah Autry, hero of
The Alamo, practiced law in Jackson from 1831 to 1835
*
Big Maybelle, R & B singer
*
Dick Davis,
football player
*
Gene Evans
Eugene Barton Evans (July 11, 1922 – April 1, 1998) was an American actor who appeared in numerous television series, television films, and feature films between 1947 and 1989.
Background
Evans was born in Holbrook, Arizona and raised i ...
, actor, relocated to Jackson after appearing in the film ''
Walking Tall''
*
Steve Fossett
James Stephen Fossett (April 22, 1944 – September 3, 2007) was an American businessman and a record-setting aviator, sailor, and adventurer. He was the first person to fly solo nonstop around the world in a balloon and in a fixed-wing aircraf ...
, aviator and the first man to fly solo non-stop around the world in a hot air balloon, was born in Jackson.
*
Greg Goff, head baseball coach at
Purdue
*
Jabari Greer,
football player
*
Hayes Nance
Hayes Nance (August 14, 1893 - April 3, 1964) was an American orthodontist known for his contributions to topics related to mixed dentition. Nance is known for developing serial extraction in United States, as well as pioneering the development ...
, orthodontist
*
Thomas Harris
William Thomas Harris III (born 1940/1941) is an American writer, best known for a series of suspense novels about his most famous character, Hannibal Lecter. The majority of his works have been adapted into films and television, the most notab ...
, author noted for his bestseller ''
The Silence of the Lambs'', was born in Jackson.
*
Sylvester Hicks, NFL player
*
Joe Hunter, pianist, one of
The Funk Brothers studio band who played on many
Motown hits in the 1960s
*
Adam Huntsman, lawyer and politician who defeated
David Crockett for Congress in 1835
*
Luther Ingram, singer
*
Casey Jones
John Luther "Casey" Jones (March 14, 1863 – April 30, 1900) was an American railroader who was killed when his passenger train collided with a stalled freight train at Vaughan, Mississippi.
Jones was a locomotive engineer for the Illinois C ...
,
Illinois Central Railroad engineer who, before colliding with a stalled freight train near
Vaughan, Mississippi
Vaughan (also Vaughans or Vaughn) is an unincorporated area, unincorporated community in Yazoo County, Mississippi.
The settlement is east of Yazoo City, Mississippi, Yazoo City.
History
Vaughan was founded in 1830 and named for Henry Vaughan, ...
, told his fireman to jump to safety. Jones died at the throttle and saved the lives of all the passengers.
*
Christopher Jones, actor, was born in Jackson.
*
Ed "Too Tall" Jones,
football player
*
Jacoby Jones
Jacoby Rashi'd Jones (born July 11, 1984) is a former American football wide receiver and return specialist. He played college football at Lane College, and was drafted by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played ...
,
football player attended
Lane College
Lane College is a private historically black college associated with the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and located in Jackson, Tennessee. It offers associate and baccalaureate degrees in the arts and sciences.
History
Lane College was f ...
in Jackson.
*
Van Jones
Anthony Kapel "Van" Jones (born September 20, 1968) is an American news and political commentator, author, and lawyer. He is the co-founder of several non-profit organizations, a three-time ''New York Times'' bestselling author, a CNN host and c ...
,
environmental advocate,
civil rights activist, and
lawyer, was born in Jackson.
*
Fred Lane,
football player attended
Lane College
Lane College is a private historically black college associated with the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and located in Jackson, Tennessee. It offers associate and baccalaureate degrees in the arts and sciences.
History
Lane College was f ...
in Jackson.
*
Denise LaSalle,
blues singer, known as “Queen of the Blues,” was a resident and business owner in Jackson for many years.
*
Ron Lollar, Tennessee state representative
*
Wink Martindale
Winston Conrad "Wink" Martindale (born December 4, 1933) is an American disc jockey, radio personality, game show host, and television producer. In his six-decade career, he is best known for hosting '' Gambit'' from 1972 to 1976 (and again fro ...
, game show host
*
JR Payne
Ali-Marie "JR" Payne (born May 27, 1977) is an American college basketball coach who is currently head women's coach at Colorado.
Early life and education
Ali-Marie Payne was born in the American city of Jackson, Tennessee and raised in the Cana ...
, women's basketball head coach,
University of Colorado
The University of Colorado (CU) is a system of public universities in Colorado. It consists of four institutions: University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, University of Colorado Denver, and the University o ...
*
Carl Perkins, singer, lived for years in Jackson; the Civic Center is named for him.
*
Casey Prather (born 1991), basketball player in the
Israeli Basketball Premier League
*
Lauren Pritchard, soul singer, songwriter and actress, known by her stage name Lolo; was born and spent her childhood in Jackson.
*
Ron Reynolds, Texas politician, born in Jackson in 1973
*
Joe Rogers, Sr. co-founder of Waffle House, born in Jackson in 1919.
*
Josh Robbins,
HIV/AIDS
Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. Following initial infection an individual ...
activist, blogger,
social media marketer and
talent agent
A talent agent, or booking agent, is a person who finds jobs for actors, authors, broadcast journalists, film directors, musicians, models, professional athletes, screenwriters, writers, and other professionals in various entertainment or sp ...
, grew up in Jackson.
*
Gil Scott-Heron, musician born in
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name ...
,
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rockf ...
, spent his early childhood in Jackson, at the home of his maternal grandmother.
*
Charles Alexander Shaw, United States District Court judge
*
Trey Teague,
football player
*
Isaac Burton Tigrett, co-founder of the
Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe, Inc. is a British-based multinational chain of theme restaurants, memorabilia shops, casinos and museums founded in 1971 by Isaac Tigrett and Peter Morton in London. In 1979, the cafe began covering its walls with rock and r ...
chain of themed restaurants.
*
Al Wilson,
football player
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Cities in Tennessee
Cities in Madison County, Tennessee
County seats in Tennessee
Jackson metropolitan area, Tennessee
1821 establishments in Tennessee
Majority-minority cities and towns in Tennessee