Jackson County, Georgia

County in Georgia, United States

Not to be confused with Jackson, Georgia or Jacksonville, Georgia.

County in Georgia

Jackson County

County

Jackson County courthouse in Jefferson

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Georgia

Georgia's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 34°08′N 83°34′W﻿ / ﻿34.13°N 83.56°W﻿ / 34.13; -83.56
Country|  United States
State|  Georgia
Founded| 1796; 229 years ago (1796)
Named after| James Jackson
Seat| Jefferson
Largest city| Jefferson
Area

• Total

| 343 sq mi (890 km2)
• Land| 340 sq mi (900 km2)
• Water| 3.4 sq mi (9 km2)  1.0%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 75,907

• Estimate

(2023)

| 88,615
• Density| 220/sq mi (85/km2)
Time zone| UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district| 9th
Website| jacksoncountygov.com

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.[1] The county seat is Jefferson.[2] 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

[edit]

Most of the first non-Native American settlers came from Effingham County in 1786.[3] 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.[4] The county originally covered an area of approximately 1,800 square miles (4,662.0 km2), with Clarksboro as its first county seat.

In 1801, the Georgia General Assembly granted 40,000 acres (160 km2) 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,[5] 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.

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 343 square miles (890 km2), of which 340 square miles (880 km2) is land and 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2) (1.0%) is water.[6]

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.[7]

### Rivers and creeks

[edit]

* North Oconee River
* Sandy Creek (Georgia)
* Curry Creek
* Middle Oconee River
* Pond Fork
* Allen Creek (Holders Creek)
* Mulberry River

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Banks County \- north
* Madison County \- east
* Clarke County \- southeast
* Barrow County \- west
* Hall County \- northwest

## Communities

[edit]

### Cities

[edit]

* Arcade
* Commerce
* Hoschton
* Jefferson
* Nicholson
* Pendergrass

### Towns

[edit]

* Braselton (partly in Gwinnett, Barrow and Hall)
* Maysville (partly in Banks)
* Talmo

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Apple Valley
* Attica
* Brockton
* Center
* Clarksboro

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1800| 7,736| | —
1810| 10,569| | 36.6%
1820| 8,355| | −20.9%
1830| 9,004| | 7.8%
1840| 8,522| | −5.4%
1850| 9,768| | 14.6%
1860| 10,605| | 8.6%
1870| 11,181| | 5.4%
1880| 16,297| | 45.8%
1890| 19,176| | 17.7%
1900| 24,039| | 25.4%
1910| 30,169| | 25.5%
1920| 24,654| | −18.3%
1930| 21,609| | −12.4%
1940| 20,089| | −7.0%
1950| 18,997| | −5.4%
1960| 18,499| | −2.6%
1970| 21,093| | 14.0%
1980| 25,343| | 20.1%
1990| 30,005| | 18.4%
2000| 41,589| | 38.6%
2010| 60,485| | 45.4%
2020| 75,907| | 25.5%
2023 (est.)| 88,615| [8]| 16.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1880[10] 1890-1910[11]
1920-1930[12] 1930-1940[13]
1940-1950[14] 1960-1980[15]
1980-2000[16] 2010[17]
Jackson County racial composition as of 2020[18] Race  | Num.  | Perc.

|
|

White (non-Hispanic)  | 59,064  | 77.81%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)  | 5,136  | 6.77%
Native American | 127  | 0.17%
Asian | 1,744  | 2.3%
Pacific Islander | 30  | 0.04%
Other/Mixed | 3,094  | 4.08%
Hispanic or Latino | 6,712  | 8.84%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 75,907 people, 25,180 households, and 19,467 families residing in the county.

## Law and government

[edit]

Jackson County Board of Commissioners[19] Commission post | Office holder

|

Chairman  | Marty Clark (Jackson County, Georgia)
District 1 - Central Jackson  | Jim Hix
District 2 - North Jackson  | Chas Hardy
District 3 - West Jackson  | Ralph Richardson Jr.
District 4 - East Jackson  | Marty Seagraves
United States presidential election results for Jackson County, Georgia[20] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 36,497  | 77.04% | 10,472  | 22.10%  | 406  | 0.86%
2020 | 29,502  | 78.29% | 7,642  | 20.28%  | 541  | 1.44%
2016 | 21,784  | 79.44% | 4,491  | 16.38%  | 1,146  | 4.18%
2012 | 19,135  | 80.59% | 4,238  | 17.85%  | 372  | 1.57%
2008 | 17,776  | 77.23% | 4,950  | 21.51%  | 290  | 1.26%
2004 | 12,611  | 77.84% | 3,468  | 21.40%  | 123  | 0.76%
2000 | 7,878  | 67.71% | 3,420  | 29.39%  | 337  | 2.90%
1996 | 4,782  | 50.38% | 3,746  | 39.46%  | 964  | 10.16%
1992 | 3,976  | 43.38% | 3,792  | 41.37%  | 1,397  | 15.24%
1988 | 4,407  | 62.56% | 2,607  | 37.00%  | 31  | 0.44%
1984 | 4,202  | 60.73% | 2,717  | 39.27%  | 0  | 0.00%
1980 | 2,209  | 31.79%  | 4,591  | 66.07% | 149  | 2.14%
1976 | 1,239  | 17.28%  | 5,931  | 82.72% | 0  | 0.00%
1972 | 4,124  | 79.63% | 1,055  | 20.37%  | 0  | 0.00%
1968 | 1,139  | 18.52%  | 1,537  | 25.00%  | 3,473  | 56.48%
1964 | 1,664  | 29.62%  | 3,953  | 70.38% | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 472  | 11.44%  | 3,653  | 88.56% | 0  | 0.00%
1956 | 438  | 12.38%  | 3,100  | 87.62% | 0  | 0.00%
1952 | 409  | 10.91%  | 3,341  | 89.09% | 0  | 0.00%
1948 | 145  | 6.53%  | 1,866  | 83.98% | 211  | 9.50%
1944 | 221  | 11.19%  | 1,754  | 88.81% | 0  | 0.00%
1940 | 166  | 9.37%  | 1,599  | 90.29% | 6  | 0.34%
1936 | 187  | 7.09%  | 2,447  | 92.76% | 4  | 0.15%
1932 | 80  | 5.39%  | 1,389  | 93.54% | 16  | 1.08%
1928 | 818  | 48.78%  | 859  | 51.22% | 0  | 0.00%
1924 | 142  | 11.70%  | 993  | 81.80% | 79  | 6.51%
1920 | 334  | 23.81%  | 1,069  | 76.19% | 0  | 0.00%
1916 | 71  | 5.23%  | 1,185  | 87.26% | 102  | 7.51%
1912 | 46  | 2.65%  | 1,123  | 64.65% | 568  | 32.70%

## Education

[edit]

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.[21]

## Attractions

[edit]

* 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

[edit]

* 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

[edit]

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

### Events

[edit]

* 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

## Transportation

[edit]

### Major highways

[edit]

* 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

[edit]

* Fox Smallwood Dr Trail[22]
* 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

## See also

[edit]

* State of Georgia portal

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Jackson County, Georgia
* List of counties in Georgia

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Jackson County, Georgia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Nash, Gustavus James Nash (1914). The Early History of Jackson County, Georgia. Atlanta: W. E. White. p. 51. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 167.
5. ^ Green, James A. "Map of the County of Jackson by James A. Green". County Maps, Surveyor General, RG 3-9-66. Georgia Archives. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
7. ^ "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
8. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
9. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". United States Census Bureau.
10. ^ "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790-1800" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1880.
11. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1910.
12. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1930.
13. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1940.
14. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Georgia -" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1950.
15. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
16. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Georgia" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000.
17. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 3, 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
18. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
19. ^ "Board of Commissioners".
20. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
21. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Jackson County, GA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 7, 2023. \- Text list
22. ^ "Walking Trails - Tourism - Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce". Archived from the original on April 19, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2018.

## External links

[edit]

* 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

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Jackson County, Georgia

| Hall County | Banks County |

|
|

|  |
Gwinnett County |

Jackson County, Georgia

| Madison County
|  |
Barrow County |  | Clarke County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Jackson County, Georgia, United States

County seat: Jefferson

Cities|

* Arcade
* Commerce
* Hoschton
* Jefferson
* Nicholson
* Pendergrass

Map of Georgia highlighting Jackson County

Towns|

* Braselton‡
* Maysville‡
* Talmo

Unincorporated communities|

* Apple Valley
* Attica
* Brockton
* Center
* Clarksboro

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

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34°08′N 83°34′W﻿ / ﻿34.13°N 83.56°W﻿ / 34.13; -83.56
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