Jackson, Tennessee
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Jackson, Tennessee | |
 |
|
| County | Madison |
|---|---|
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Charles Farmer |
| Area | |
| - City | 128.2 km² (49.5 sq mi) |
| Population (2006) | |
| - City | 59,643 |
| Time zone | Central (UTC-6) |
| Website: City of Jackson Official Website | |
Jackson is a city in Madison County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 59,643 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of and is included in the Jackson, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area, which in included in the Jackson-Humboldt, Tennessee Combined Statistical Area. It is the county seat of Madison CountyGR6.
Contents |
[edit] History
Jackson was originally named Alexandria, but was later renamed Jackson for President Andrew Jackson.[1] The Tennessee Supreme Court is required to meet in Jackson because when the second state constitution was written in 1834 Memphis had not yet developed, and Jackson was the most significant city in West Tennessee[2].
Jackson developed rapidly just prior to the Civil War as a railroad junction and maintenance shop for several early railroads, including the Mississippi Central, the Tennessee Central and the Mobile and Ohio lines. Although the Civil War temporarily stalled rail development, Jackson continued to develop as an important rail center.
Jackson was the original home of Tennessee's only native automaker, Marathon Motor Works. The Tigrett Toy Factory, founded by Issac Burton Tigrett, in years past, was an employer of many in Jackson. Also, Jackson is the home of Issac Burton Tigrett, Jr., the founder of the Hard Rock Cafe chain of themed restaurants. One of the first Hard Rock Cafes was located in Jackson's Old Hickory Mall.
Jackson was home to Casey Jones, the Illinois Central engineer who, before colliding with a stalled freight train near Vaughn, Mississippi, told his fireman to jump to safety but himself died at the throttle, saving the lives of his passengers. Jackson was also the home of singers Carl Perkins and Luther Ingram, game show host Wink Martindale, and football players Ed "Too Tall" Jones and Al Wilson.
A Little League team from Jackson participated in the 1974 Little League World Series at Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
[edit] Geography
Jackson is located at (35.633132, -88.820805)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 128.2 km² (49.5 mi²), all land.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 59,643 people, 23,503 households, and 15,135 families residing in the city. The population density was 465.3/km² (1,205.2/mi²). There were 25,501 housing units at an average density of 198.9/km² (515.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 55.13% White, 42.07% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.79% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.88% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.16% of the population.
There were 23,503 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 19.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 12.8% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,194, and the median income for a family was $40,922. Males had a median income of $32,777 versus $23,229 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,495. About 14.0% of families and 17.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.0% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Education
Jackson is home to several colleges and universities:
- Jackson State Community College
- Lambuth University
- Lane College
- Union University
- West Tennessee Business College
K-12 public schools in the city are operated by the Jackson-Madison County School System. Other educational institutions in Jackson include the state-operated West Tennessee School for the Deaf and Tennessee Technology Center at Jackson, the independent University School of Jackson, and the church-related St. Mary's Catholic School and Trinity Christian Academy.
[edit] Recreation, sports, and entertainment
Casey Jones Village in Jackson is one of top ten tourist attractions in Tennessee. It celebrates the “Steam Age” of railroading. The exhibits include a Railroad Museum with steam locomotives and the restored home of Casey Jones.
The West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, a Class AA minor league baseball team in the Southern League, an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners play in Jackson, and the Hub City Hurricanes of the IBL also call Jackson home.
Jackson hosts the annual Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant at the Carl Perkins Civic Center.
Since 1990, Jackson has hosted the NAIA Women's Division I National Championship basketball tournament in the Oman Arena
[edit] External links
[edit] Notes
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
