Jackson County, Georgia

Jackson County, Georgia
Jackson County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 75,907. The county seat is Jefferson.
Jackson County comprises the Jefferson, GA Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA Combined Statistical Area.
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, Georgia. 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) began classes the same year, and the city of Athens 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. 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 Jefferson, after Thomas Jefferson.
Jackson lost more territory in 1811 in the creation of Madison County, in 1818 in the creation of Walton, Gwinnett, and Hall counties, in 1858 in the creation of Banks County, and in 1914 in the creation of Barrow County.
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 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 sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin, with just a small portion of the county's northern edge, between Maysville to just east of Commerce, 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
Pond Fork
Allen Creek (Holders Creek)
Mulberry River
Adjacent counties
Banks County - north
Madison County - east
Clarke County - southeast
Barrow County - west
Hall County - northwest
Transportation
Major highways
Interstate 85
U.S. Route 129
U.S. Route 129 Business
U.S. Route 441
U.S. Route 441 Business
State Route 11
State Route 11 Business
State Route 11 Connector
State Route 15
State Route 15 Alternate
State Route 53
State Route 59
State Route 60
State Route 82
State Route 82 Connector
State Route 98
State Route 124
State Route 330
State Route 332
State Route 334
State Route 335
State Route 346 (former)
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
Jackson County High School Track & Nature Trail
Demographics
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 41,589 people, 15,057 households, and 11,488 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 16,226 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 89.00% White, 7.78% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.96% Asian, 1.07% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. 3.00% of the population were Hispanic or Latino 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 for the county was $17,808. About 9.90% of families and 12.00% of the population were below the poverty line, 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, 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 poverty line, 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, there were 75,907 people, 25,180 households, and 19,467 families residing in the county.
Education
Most of the county is in the Jackson County School District. Portions in Commerce and Jefferson are in, respectively, Commerce City School District and 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 (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 School, West Jackson Middle School, and Legacy Knoll Middle School Band Concerts - throughout the year
Communities
Cities
Arcade
Braselton (partly in Gwinnett, Barrow and Hall)
Commerce
Hoschton
Jefferson
Maysville (partly in Banks)
Nicholson
Pendergrass
Talmo
Unincorporated communities
Apple Valley
Attica
Brockton
Center
Clarksboro
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Jackson County, Georgia
List of counties in Georgia
References
External links
Jackson County government website
Jackson County historical marker
Atlanta Dragway
Mayfield Dairy
Chateau Elan
Sandy Creek Golf Course
Tanger Outlet Center
Traditions of Braselton
Crawford W. Long Museum
Hurricane Shoals Park
Georgia (U.S. state) counties
1796 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)
Counties of Appalachia
Populated places established in 1796