Jackson, Alabama

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jackson is a city in Clarke County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 5,419.

[edit] Geography

Jackson is located at 31°31'18.066" North, 87°53'28.007" West (31.521685, -87.891113)^GR1.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 39.3 km² (15.2 mi²). 39.1 km² (15.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.53%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 5,419 people, 2,094 households, and 1,507 families residing in the city. The population density was 138.5/km² (358.7/mi²). There were 2,341 housing units at an average density of 59.8/km² (155.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 60.42% White, 38.49% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.20% from other races, and 0.26% from two or more races. 0.65% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,094 households out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 85.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,806, and the median income for a family was $45,516. Males had a median income of $43,558 versus $21,125 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,346. About 15.3% of families and 21.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.9% of those under age 18 and 20.1% of those age 65 or over.

Jackson is a quaint Southern town in Clarke County, Alabama. The Jackson Volunteer Fire Department observes Fire Prevention Week each October with a Fire Prevention Queen and Court, Fireman's Ball, and Fire Prevention Parade. In November, the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce presents the Fall Festival, an outdoor extravaganza with live local entertainment and street vendors. The woodlands surrounding Jackson are an outdoorsman's paradise with woods full of game and the Tombigbee and Alabama rivers full of fish.

Jackson is also known as the Pine City. Its economy is sustained greatly through the paper wood industry. Schools in the area are the Joe M. Gillmore Elementary, Jackson Intermediate, Jackson High School, and Jackson Academy. Higher Education classes are also offered at the Alabama Southern Community College.

During the Civil War, a Confederate fort was established on the banks of the Tombigbee River. The fort was named Fort Carney and was positioned on Carney's Bluff just south of Jackson. The cannon that was on the bluff now sits in front of City Hall.

Jackson, founded in 1816, is named after President Andrew Jackson. Former names for the city include Pine Level and Republicville.