The Quality if Life in Jackson County Jackson County offers a low-cost of living, low crime rate and friendly communities. There is a variety of excellent dining and shopping in Jackson County and surrounding areas, including many upscale restaurants and specialty stores. The metropolitan areas of Cincinnati and Columbus are within a two-hour drive.
Cultural activities abound in Jackson County.
For instance, three historical museums are located here, including the Markay Cultural Arts Center and the only Welsh-American heritage museum in the United States. Nearby colleges and universities, such as Ohio University in Athens and regional campuses in Chillicothe and Ironton, the University of Rio Grande , Ohio State University in Columbus, Shawnee State University in Portsmouth and Hocking Technical College in Nelsonville, provide a wealth of cultural and educational activities. In addition, the rural landscape of Jackson County and nearby counties is a natural backdrop for outdoor recreation that includes hiking, biking, cave exploration, boating, rock climbing, hunting, fishing and a score of other activities. Jackson County also has many subdivisions with large 3,000 to 5,000 square-foot homes under construction at the present time. Our communities are served by three excellent school systems, which emphasize academics, athletics and music.