Jackson is a city in and the county seat of Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. It is a principal city of the Cape Girardeau-Jackson metropolitan area Area. The population of Jackson was 15,481 at the 2020 census. The name was changed to Jackson on August 31, 1819, named for Andrew Jackson, a general popular for his role in the War of 1812. It was the first town to be named after Andrew Jackson. The town was platted in 1815. The Missouri Herald, the third newspaper in state, was established here on June 25, 1819.
Although its initial growth was rapid, the economy of the City of Jackson developed conservatively. The town suffered a setback in June, 1833, when Cholera spread killing 128. Cholera struck again on June 10, 1852, causing all abled bodies to flee the town until the epidemic had run its course. In 1841, a bank was established. A flour mill was constructed in 1855 and another in 1873. But the community could not escape the impact of the American Civil War; on June 24, 1861, a military skirmish took place near Jackson between units of the Union Army and the Confederate Army.
In 1877, Jackson was linked to Cape Girardeau by the first long-distance railway service line in Missouri. By 1884, the population of the City of Jackson had grown to 2,105, and the town supported 50 businesses. In 1884, by popular vote, it was decided to incorporate Jackson as a city of the fourth class. The courthouse built in 1818 burned down in 1870. The current courthouse was built in 1908 and is “on the square” in the center of Uptown Jackson where Jones Drug Store still runs and serves the community since 1871.
The Big Hill Farmstead Historic District, Abraham Byrd House, Frizel-Welling House, Jackson Uptown Commercial Historic District, and McKendree Chapel are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Geography
Jackson is located on US Route 61 approximately seven miles northwest of Cape Girardeau. Hubble Creek and its tributary Goose Creek flow through the city.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.
Climate
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Jackson had a population of 15,481. The median age was 37.8 years. 23.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.6 males age 18 and over.
There were 6,081 households in Jackson, of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.7% were married-couple households, 14.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| White || 13,903 || 89.8%
|-
| Black or African American || 401 || 2.6%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native || 32 || 0.2%
|-
| Asian || 154 || 1.0%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 1 || 0.0%
|-
| Some other race || 127 || 0.8%
|-
| Two or more races || 863 || 5.6%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 298 || 1.9%
|}
Income and poverty
The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $63,152 (with a margin of error of +/- $9,713) and the median family income was $74,970 (+/- $2,492). Males had a median income of $43,687 (+/- $1,796) versus $25,955 (+/- $3,289) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $34,452 (+/- $2,905). Approximately, 7.2% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under the age of 18 and 6.0% of those ages 65 or over.
2010 census
At the 2010 census there were 13,758 people, 5,496 households, and 3,827 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 5,835 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.81% White, 1.65% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.01% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.24%.
Of the 5,496 households 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.4% were non-families. 26.4% of households were one person and 11.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.96.
The median age was 37.3 years. 25.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.1% were from 25 to 44; 24.8% were from 45 to 64; and 15.2% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.0% male and 53.0% female.
2000 census
At the 2000 census there were 11,947 people, 4,708 households, and 3,385 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 4,962 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 96.57% White, 1.36% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.76%.
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! Year
! Democratic
! Republican
! Third Parties
|-
|align="center" |2020
|align="center" |22.70% 1,742
|align="center" |75.20% 5,765
|align="center" |2.10% 158
|-
|-
|align="center" |2016
|align="center" |18.50% 1,364
|align="center" |77.60% 5,719
|align="center" |3.90% 290
|-
|align="center" |2012
|align="center" |21.46% 1,827
|align="center" |76.57% 6,518
|align="center" |1.97% 168
|-
|align="center" |2008
|align="center" |27.02% 2,281
|align="center" |71.88% 6,069
|align="center" |1.10% 93
|-
|align="center" |2004
|align="center" |25.82% 2,028
|align="center" |73.69% 5,787
|align="center" |0.48% 38
|-
|align="center" |2000
|align="center" |27.58% 1,871
|align="center" |70.13% 4,757
|align="center" |2.29% 155
|-
|align="center" |1996
|align="center" |33.73% 2,061
|align="center" |58.56% 3,578
|align="center" |7.71% 471
|}
Education
Most of Jackson is in Jackson R-2 School District. A small portion is in the Cape Girardeau School District. Jackson R-2 operates Jackson High School. The Cape Girardeau district operates Central High School.
Jackson has a public library, a branch of the Riverside Regional Library.
Media
The local newspaper is The Cash-Book Journal
Notable people
- Linda M. Godwin, NASA astronaut
- Gary Friedrich, writer of the comic book Ghost Rider
- Roy Thomas, writer (Marvel and DC Comics) and editor (Marvel). Writer of various movie scripts
- Louis C. Wagner Jr., United States Army four-star general
- Marie Elizabeth Watkins Oliver, "the Betsy Ross of Missouri" was the designer and creator of the Missouri State Flag
- Edwin C. Horrell, American football player and coach
References
External links
- The City of Jackson website
- Cape Girardeau
- Historic maps of Jackson in the Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection at the University of Missouri