Jackson, Kentucky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jackson, Kentucky
|
|
|---|---|
|
City
|
|
Breathitt County Courthouse in Jackson
|
|
Location of Jackson in Breathitt County, Kentucky.
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Kentucky |
| County | Breathitt |
| Established | 1839 |
| Incorporated | 1845 |
| Reïncorporated | 1890 |
| Named for | Pres. Andrew Jackson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.67 sq mi (6.92 km2) |
| • Land | 2.51 sq mi (6.50 km2) |
| • Water | 0.16 sq mi (0.42 km2) |
| Elevation | 774 ft (236 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 2,237 |
| • Estimate
(2022)
|
2,157 |
| • Density | 891.95/sq mi (344.32/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
41307, 41339
|
| Area code(s) | 606 |
| FIPS code | 21-39952 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0495097 |
Jackson is a city in Kentucky, United States. It is the main town and government center for Breathitt County. In 2020, about 2,237 people lived there.
Jackson was once home to the Jackson Academy, which later became Lees College.
Contents
History of Jackson, Kentucky
How Jackson Got Its Name
Breathitt County was created in 1839. A local landowner, Simon Cockrell Sr., gave 10 acres of land for the county's main town. At first, the community was called Breathitt, Breathitt Town, or Breathitt Court House.
In 1843, the state government officially made it a city. They renamed it Jackson to honor Andrew Jackson, who used to be the president of the United States.
Challenges and Growth
In the past, there were some disagreements between families in the area. This led to stories in national newspapers about Jackson and "Bloody Breathitt." State troops were sent to the city a few times to help keep order.
In 1891, the Kentucky Union Railroad reached Jackson. This helped the city grow a lot. However, when the railroad line was extended to Hazard in 1912, Jackson's growth slowed down. A big fire on Halloween in 1913 destroyed much of the town.
Geography and Landscape
Jackson is located at 37°33′11″N 83°23′18″W / 37.55306°N 83.38833°W. It is in the middle of the Cumberland Plateau, which is part of the Appalachian Mountains. The downtown area of Jackson is on the north side of the North Fork of the Kentucky River.
Panbowl Lake: A River's New Path
To help prevent floods, the Kentucky River was moved in 1963. A new path was cut through a mountain. The old winding path of the river was left behind and became Panbowl Lake. This lake is now a popular spot for fishing.
Jackson covers about 6.9 square kilometers (2.67 square miles). Most of this area is land, and a small part is water.
What's the Weather Like?
Jackson has a mild climate with rain spread out throughout the year. The weather is called "humid subtropical." This means it has warm, humid summers and mild winters.
- Temperatures: The average temperature in January is about 34.9°F (1.6°C). In July, it's about 75.4°F (24.1°C).
- Hot and Cold Days: On average, there are about 17 days a year when temperatures stay at or below freezing. There are about 15 days when temperatures reach 90°F (32°C) or higher.
- Rain and Snow: Jackson gets about 48.3 inches (122.7 cm) of rain each year. May is usually the wettest month. The city also gets about 23.5 inches (59.7 cm) of snow in winter. However, snow usually doesn't stay on the ground for long.
| Climate data for Jackson, Kentucky (Julian Carroll Airport, 1,381 ft or 421 m AMSL, 37°35′29″N 83°18′52″W / 37.59139°N 83.31444°W), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1981–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 78 (26) |
80 (27) |
87 (31) |
92 (33) |
91 (33) |
104 (40) |
101 (38) |
101 (38) |
98 (37) |
97 (36) |
84 (29) |
79 (26) |
104 (40) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 44.2 (6.8) |
48.8 (9.3) |
58.0 (14.4) |
69.2 (20.7) |
75.7 (24.3) |
82.2 (27.9) |
85.0 (29.4) |
84.4 (29.1) |
79.0 (26.1) |
68.8 (20.4) |
57.4 (14.1) |
47.6 (8.7) |
66.7 (19.3) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 35.8 (2.1) |
39.7 (4.3) |
47.8 (8.8) |
58.2 (14.6) |
65.6 (18.7) |
72.6 (22.6) |
75.7 (24.3) |
74.9 (23.8) |
69.1 (20.6) |
58.7 (14.8) |
48.1 (8.9) |
39.7 (4.3) |
57.2 (14.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 27.4 (−2.6) |
30.5 (−0.8) |
37.6 (3.1) |
47.3 (8.5) |
55.6 (13.1) |
62.9 (17.2) |
66.5 (19.2) |
65.3 (18.5) |
59.1 (15.1) |
48.5 (9.2) |
38.8 (3.8) |
31.8 (−0.1) |
47.6 (8.7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −18 (−28) |
−8 (−22) |
7 (−14) |
20 (−7) |
30 (−1) |
44 (7) |
52 (11) |
45 (7) |
34 (1) |
26 (−3) |
13 (−11) |
−13 (−25) |
−18 (−28) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.96 (101) |
4.06 (103) |
4.71 (120) |
4.54 (115) |
5.17 (131) |
5.25 (133) |
5.10 (130) |
4.26 (108) |
3.42 (87) |
3.45 (88) |
3.50 (89) |
4.47 (114) |
51.89 (1,318) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 7.4 (19) |
6.7 (17) |
4.0 (10) |
0.4 (1.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.7 (1.8) |
4.1 (10) |
23.4 (59) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 14.4 | 13.8 | 14.4 | 13.2 | 13.8 | 12.7 | 12.6 | 10.5 | 8.2 | 9.5 | 11.0 | 13.9 | 148.0 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 6.3 | 5.6 | 3.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 4.7 | 21.6 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People of Jackson
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 54 | — | |
| 1880 | 88 | 63.0% | |
| 1900 | 941 | — | |
| 1910 | 1,346 | 43.0% | |
| 1920 | 1,503 | 11.7% | |
| 1930 | 2,109 | 40.3% | |
| 1940 | 2,099 | −0.5% | |
| 1950 | 1,978 | −5.8% | |
| 1960 | 1,852 | −6.4% | |
| 1970 | 1,887 | 1.9% | |
| 1980 | 2,651 | 40.5% | |
| 1990 | 2,466 | −7.0% | |
| 2000 | 2,490 | 1.0% | |
| 2010 | 2,231 | −10.4% | |
| 2020 | 2,237 | 0.3% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 2,157 | −3.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, Jackson, Kentucky, had about 2,200 people. Most of the people living in Jackson are White (Non-Hispanic).
Getting Around Jackson
Roads and Highways
Several important roads run through Jackson:
KY 15: This highway is the main way to get into the city. It goes north to Campton and south to Hazard. It is being updated to have four lanes in and around the city.
KY 30: This highway goes east to Salyersville and west to Booneville. It joins with KY 15 for part of its path through the city.
KY 52: This highway starts in Jackson and heads west towards Beattyville.
KY 205: This highway goes north towards the Mountain Parkway. Its southern end is at the intersection of KY 15.
KY 1812: This road was once part of the original KY 15. It is a winding road with many turns. It connects to different parts of Jackson and is known by several local names.
Air and Rail Travel
- Julian Carroll Airport (JKL): This is a public airport located off KY 30. It is home to the National Weather Service Forecast Office for eastern Kentucky.
- CSX Transportation: This is a freight-only train line. It goes north to Winchester and south to Hazard. In the past, it was a passenger and freight line owned by other railway companies.
Education in Jackson
Schools for All Ages
Most of Jackson is served by the Jackson Independent Schools district. This district has Jackson City School, which combines elementary, middle, and high school levels.
Other parts of the city are in the Breathitt County School District. Schools in this district that serve Jackson include:
- Breathitt Elementary School
- Eugene Sebastian Elementary School
- Breathitt County High School (located in Jackson)
There is also a private school called Oakdale Christian Academy.
Vocational and Higher Education
- Breathitt County Area Technology Center: This vocational school is on the campus of Breathitt County High School. It helps students from both Breathitt County Schools and Jackson Independent Schools learn job skills.
- Hazard Community and Technical College, Lees College Campus: This college offers higher education programs.
- Morehead State University at Jackson: This campus is located at the Breathitt County Skills Center.
- Kentucky Mountain Bible College: This college is located nearby in Vancleve.
Learning Centers
- Breathitt County Museum: This museum is currently located on the second floor of the Senior Citizens Center. It is working to move to the old Breathitt County Jail building.
- Breathitt County Public Library: This library is located on College Avenue in Jackson.
Fun Festivals in Jackson
Jackson and Breathitt County host many local festivals throughout the year:
- Breathitt County Honey Festival: This festival happens every year during Labor Day Weekend. It starts on the Thursday before Labor Day and lasts until Labor Day.
- Breathitt County Heritage Festival: This festival started in 2005. It now takes place with the July 4th celebration, called "Pig Out in the Park."
- Pig Out in the Park/Independence Day Celebration: This celebration is held at Douthitt Park on July 4th.
- Downtown Christmas: This event includes a parade and other fun activities around the first weekend of December.
Other festivals happen outside the city but still in Breathitt County:
- Morris Fork Crafts Fair: This is one of the oldest craft fairs in the area.
- The Crockettsville Charity Concert and Ride: This event was hosted by the band Halfway to Hazard.
Famous People From Jackson
Many notable people have connections to Jackson:
- Jay Huguely: A television producer known for shows like Magnum PI.
- Daniel Noble: A Medal of Honor winner for his bravery during the American Civil War.
- Jeffrey Reddick: A screenwriter who wrote Final Destination.
- Marea Stamper: A DJ, producer, and musician known as The Blessed Madonna.
- Willie Sandlin: A Medal of Honor winner for his service during World War I.
- Sturgill Simpson: A well-known country music singer.
- Chad Warrix: A country singer from the band Halfway to Hazard.
- The family of J. D. Vance: The current vice president-elect of the United States and author of Hillbilly Elegy. His family is from Jackson, and he spent summers there.
See also
In Spanish: Jackson (Kentucky) para niños
