Jackson County is a

county A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposes Chambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...

located in the northeastern part of the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

. As of the 2010 census, the population was 60,485. 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 ...

Jefferson Jefferson may refer to: Names * Jefferson (surname) * Jefferson (given name) People * Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), third president of the United States * Jefferson (footballer, born 1970), full name Jefferson Tomaz de Souza, Brazilian foo ...

. Jackson County comprises the Jefferson, GA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...

- Athens-Clarke County-

Sandy Springs Sandy Springs is a city in northern Fulton County, Georgia and an inner ring suburb of Atlanta. The city's population was 108,080 at the 2020 census, making it Georgia's seventh-largest city. It is the site of several corporate headquarters, i ...

, GA

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 ...

History

Most of the first non-Native American settlers came from Effingham County in 1786. On February 11, 1796, Jackson County was split off from part of Franklin County,

. The new county was named in honor of Revolutionary War Lieutenant Colonel, Congressman, Senator and Governor James Jackson. The county originally covered an area of approximately , with Clarksboro as its first county seat. In 1801, the Georgia General Assembly granted of land in Jackson County for a state college. Franklin College (now

University of Georgia , mottoeng = "To teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things.""To serve" was later added to the motto without changing the seal; the Latin motto directly translates as "To teach and to inquire into the nature of things." , establ ...

) began classes the same year, and the city of

Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...

was developed around the school. Also the same year, a new county was developed around the new college town, and Jackson lost territory to the new

Clarke Clarke is a surname which means "clerk". The surname is of English and Irish origin and comes from the Latin . Variants include Clerk and Clark. Clarke is also uncommonly chosen as a given name. Irish surname origin Clarke is a popular surname i ...

. The county seat was moved to an old Indian village called Thomocoggan, a location with ample water supply from Curry Creek and four large springs. In 1804, the city was renamed

, after

Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 – July 4, 1826) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He was previously the natio ...

. Jackson lost more territory in 1811 in the creation of Madison County, in 1818 in the creation of

Walton Walton may refer to: People * Walton (given name) * Walton (surname) * Susana, Lady Walton (1926–2010), Argentine writer Places Canada * Walton, Nova Scotia, a community ** Walton River (Nova Scotia) *Walton, Ontario, a hamlet United Kingdo ...

Gwinnett Gwinnett County ( ) is located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. It forms part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. In 2020, the population was 957,062, making it the second-most populous county in Georgia (after Fulton ...

, and Hall counties, in 1858 in the creation of Banks County, and in 1914 in the creation of

Barrow County Barrow County is a county located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 83,505. The county seat is Winder. Barrow County is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA Metr ...

. The first county courthouse, a log and wooden frame building with an attached jail, was built on south side of the public square; a second, larger, two-story brick courthouse with a separate jailhouse was built in 1817. In 1880, a third was built on a hill north of the square. This courthouse was the oldest continuously operating courthouse in the United States until 2004, when the current courthouse was constructed north of Jefferson.

Law and government

Geography

According to the

U.S. 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 the ...

, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.0%) is water. The vast majority of Jackson County is located in the Upper

Oconee River The Oconee River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map Accessed April 21, 2011 river in the U.S. state of Georgia. Its origin is in Hall County and it terminates where it joins ...

sub-basin of the

Altamaha River The Altamaha River is a major river in the U.S. state of Georgia. It flows generally eastward for 137 miles (220 km) from its origin at the confluence of the Oconee River and Ocmulgee River towards the Atlantic Ocean, where it empt ...

basin, with just a small portion of the county's northern edge, between Maysville to just east of

Commerce Commerce is the large-scale organized system of activities, functions, procedures and institutions directly and indirectly related to the exchange (buying and selling) of goods and services among two or more parties within local, regional, nation ...

, located in the Broad River sub-basin of the Savannah River basin.

Rivers and creeks

* North Oconee River ** Sandy Creek (Georgia) ** Curry Creek *

Middle Oconee River The Oconee River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map Accessed April 21, 2011 river in the U.S. state of Georgia. Its origin is in Hall County and it terminates where it joins ...

Pond Fork Pond Fork (also called Pondfork Creek) is a stream in western Ozark County, Missouri. Pond Fork has its source in the northwest corner of Ozark County and flows south-southeast passing under Missouri Route 95 between Thornfield and Longrun to it ...

** Allen Creek (Holders Creek) * Mulberry River

Adjacent counties

* Banks County - north * Madison County - east *

Clarke County Clarke County may refer to: ;Places *One of five counties in the United States: **Clarke County, Alabama **Clarke County, Georgia **Clarke County, Iowa **Clarke County, Mississippi **Clarke County, Virginia Clarke County is a county in the Com ...

- southeast *

Gwinnett County Gwinnett County ( ) is located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. It forms part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. In 2020, the population was 957,062, making it the second-most populous county in Georgia (after Fulton ...

- southwest *

- west * Hall County - northwest

Transportation

Major highways

Interstate 85 Interstate 85 (I-85) is a major Interstate Highway in the Southeastern United States. Its southern terminus is at an interchange with I-65 in Montgomery, Alabama; its northern terminus is an interchange with I-95 in Petersburg, Virginia, ...

U.S. Route 129 U.S. Route 129 (US 129) is an auxiliary route of US 29, which it intersects in Athens, Georgia. US 129 currently runs for from an intersection with US 19/ US 27 ALT/ US 98 in Chiefland, Florida, to an interchang ...

U.S. Route 129 Business * US 441

U.S. Route 441 * Business plate

U.S. Route 441 Business * Georgia 11

State Route 11 * Georgia 11 Business

State Route 11 Business * Georgia 11 Connector

State Route 11 Connector * Georgia 15

State Route 15 * Georgia 15 Alternate

State Route 15 Alternate * Georgia 53

State Route 53 * Georgia 59

State Route 59 * Georgia 60

State Route 60 * Georgia 82

State Route 82 * Georgia 82 Connector

State Route 82 Connector * Georgia 98

State Route 98 * Georgia 124

State Route 124 * Georgia 330

State Route 330 * Georgia 332

State Route 332 * Georgia 334

State Route 334 * Georgia 335

State Route 335 * Georgia 346

State Route 346 (former) * Georgia 403

State Route 403 (unsigned designation for I-85)

Pedestrians and cycling

* Fox Smallwood Dr Trail * American Veterans Memorial Park Trail * Commerce Middle School Track * Curry Creek Reservoir Trail * Jefferson Memorial Stadium Track * East Jackson Park Walking Trail * South Jackson Elementary Nature Trail & Walking Track * Hurricane Shoals Nature Trail * Sells Mill Nature Trail * Sandy Creek Park Walking Trail * Braselton Riverwalk Trail * East Jackson High School Track * W Jackson Middle School Track * West Jackson Park Walking Track

Demographics

2000 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 2000, there were 41,589 people, 15,057 households, and 11,488 families living in the county. 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 122 people per square mile (47/km²). There were 16,226 housing units at an average density of 47 per square mile (18/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 89.00%

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 ...

, 7.78%

Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ...

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 ...

, 0.18% Native American, 0.96%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 1.07% 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 1.01% from two or more races. 3.00% of the population were

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 ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race. There were 15,057 households, out of which 36.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.50% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.70% were non-families. 19.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.10. In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.60% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 31.80% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 10.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 women there were 100.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.80 males. The median income for a household in the county was $40,349, and the median income for a family was $46,211. Males had a median income of $34,063 versus $22,774 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 county was $17,808. About 9.90% of families and 12.00% 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 13.30% of those under age 18 and 17.90% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the

2010 United States Census The United States census of 2010 was the twenty-third United States national census. National Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2010. The census was taken via mail-in citizen self-reporting, with enumerators servi ...

, there were 60,485 people, 21,343 households, and 16,479 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 23,752 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 86.8% white, 6.8% black or African American, 1.7% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 2.7% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, Of the 21,343 households, 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 22.8% were non-families, and 18.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.18. The median age was 37.1 years. The median income for a household in the county was $51,506 and the median income for a family was $58,239. Males had a median income of $43,906 versus $33,248 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,473. About 11.7% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the

, including 19.7% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.

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 75,907 people, 25,180 households, and 19,467 families residing in the county.

Education

Commerce City School District The Commerce City School District is a public school district in Jackson County, Georgia, based in the city of Commerce Commerce is the large-scale organized system of activities, functions, procedures and institutions directly and indirectl ...

* Jackson County School District * Jefferson City School District

Attractions

* Chateau Elan (Braselton) * La Vaquita Flea Market (Pendergrass) * Mayfield Dairy Visitors Center (Braselton) * Sandy Creek Golf Course (Commerce) * Tanger Outlet Center (Commerce)

National Historic Places

* Braselton Historic District * Commerce Commercial Historic District * Governor L. G. Hardman House (Commerce) * Hillcrest-Allen Clinic and Hospital (Hoschton) *

Holder Plantation The Holder Plantation, located in Jackson County, Georgia near its county seat, Jefferson, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. The plantation's main house, an I-house mainly built around 1867, and numerous outbuildings ...

(Jefferson) * Hoschton Depot * Old Jackson County Courthouse (Jefferson) * Jefferson Historic District * Oak Avenue Historic District(Jefferson) * Paradise Cemetery (Jefferson) * Seaborn M. Shankle House (Commerce) * Shields-Etheridge Farm * Talmo Historic District * Williamson-Maley-Turner Farm (Jefferson)

Parks and cultural institutions

* Crawford W. Long Museum (Jefferson) * Hurricane Shoals Park

Events

* Daisy Festival - May (first full weekend) (Nicholson) * Mule Days - May (Shields-Etheridge Farm) * Annual City Lights Festival - mid-June (Commerce) * Celebrate Braselton - July 4 (Braselton) * Art in the Park - mid-September (Hurricane Shoals) * Annual Fall Festival - September (last weekend) (Hoschton) * Jefferson High School and Jefferson Middle School Band Concerts - throughout the year (Jefferson) * Jackson County Comprehensive High School, East Jackson Comprehensive High School, East Jackson Middle, and West Jackson Middle School Band Concerts - throughout the year

Communities

Cities

Arcade Arcade most often refers to: * Arcade game, a coin-operated game machine ** Arcade cabinet, housing which holds an arcade game's hardware ** Arcade system board, a standardized printed circuit board * Amusement arcade, a place with arcade games * ...

* Braselton (partly in Gwinnett, Barrow and Hall) *

* Hoschton *

* Maysville (partly in Banks) *

Nicholson Nicholson may refer to: People *Nicholson (name), a surname, and a list of people with the name Places Australia * Nicholson, Victoria * Nicholson, Queensland * Nicholson County, New South Wales * Nicholson River (disambiguation) * Nicholson ...

* Pendergrass * Talmo

Unincorporated communities

* Apple Valley *

Attica Attica ( el, Αττική, Ancient Greek ''Attikḗ'' or , or ), or the Attic Peninsula, is a historical region that encompasses the city of Athens, the capital of Greece and its countryside. It is a peninsula projecting into the Aegean S ...

* Brockton *

Center Center or centre may refer to: Mathematics *Center (geometry), the middle of an object * Center (algebra), used in various contexts ** Center (group theory) ** Center (ring theory) * Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentrici ...

* Clarksboro

History

Law and government

Geography

Rivers and creeks

Adjacent counties

Transportation

Major highways

Pedestrians and cycling

Demographics

2000 census

2010 census

2020 census

Education

Attractions

National Historic Places

Parks and cultural institutions

Events

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

External links