Jackson, Kentucky

Jackson is a home rule-class city[3] in and the county seat of Breathitt County, Kentucky, in the United States. The population was 2,231 according to the 2010 U.S. census.[4]

For the former community of Jacksonville, see Jamestown, Kentucky.
Not to be confused with Jackson County, Kentucky.

Jackson, Kentucky
City
Breathitt County Courthouse in Jackson
Breathitt County Courthouse in Jackson
Seal
Location of Jackson in Breathitt County, Kentucky.
Location of Jackson in Breathitt County, Kentucky.
Coordinates: 37°33′11″N 83°23′18″W
CountryUnited States
StateKentucky
CountyBreathitt
Established1839
Incorporated1845
Reïncorporated1890
Named forPres. Andrew Jackson
Area
[1]
 • Total2.67 sq mi (6.92 km2)
 • Land2.51 sq mi (6.50 km2)
 • Water0.16 sq mi (0.42 km2)
Elevation
774 ft (236 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total2,237
 • Estimate 
(2022)[2]
2,157
 • Density891.95/sq mi (344.32/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
41307, 41339
Area code606
FIPS code21-39952
GNIS feature ID0495097

It was the home of the Jackson Academy, which became Lees College.

History

Upon the creation of Breathitt County in 1839, local landowner Simon Cockrell Sr. donated 10 acres (4.0 ha) to serve as its seat of government. The community was originally known as Breathitt, Breathitt Town, or Breathitt Court House after the county, but upon its incorporation as a city by the state legislature in 1843,[5] it was renamed Jackson to honor former president Andrew Jackson.[6][7]

Local feuds led the national press to publish stories about Jackson and "Bloody Breathitt": state troops were dispatched twice in the 1870s and again in 1903 – after the assassination of U.S. Commissioner James B. Marcum on the courthouse steps[8] – to restore order.[7]

The Kentucky Union Railroad reached the city in 1891, and Jackson boomed until the L&N continued the line on to Hazard in 1912. A fire on Halloween, 1913, burned down much of the town.[7]

Geography

Jackson is located at 37°33′11″N 83°23′18″W (37.553012, −83.388249).[9] The city is nestled in the heart of the Cumberland Plateau of the Appalachian Mountains, with the downtown located on the north bank of the North Fork of the Kentucky River. To limit flooding, the Kentucky River was redirected in 1963 by way of a small cut-through through the mountain, and its former channel, a river meander, was left behind as Panbowl Lake, now a prime attraction for fishermen.[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, Jackson has a total area of 2.7 square miles (6.9 km2), of which 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2) is land and 0.15 square miles (0.4 km2), or 6.11%, is water.[4]

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by relatively moderate temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. The Köppen climate classification places the city in the humid subtropical zone, which is abbreviated as Cfa.[10] The normal monthly mean temperature ranges from 34.9 °F (1.6 °C) in January to 75.4 °F (24.1 °C) in July. On average, there are 17 days where temperatures remain at or below freezing and 15 days with highs at or above 90 °F (32 °C) per year. In addition, although the area falls under USDA hardiness zone 6b,[11] the record longest streak without 0 °F (−18 °C) lows occurred from February 6, 1996, to January 15, 2009 (12 years, 344 days).[12] The highest recorded temperature was 104 °F (40 °C) on June 29, 2012, and the lowest recorded temperature was −18 °F (−28 °C) on January 19, 1994, and January 20 and 21, 1985.[12]

Precipitation averages 48.3 inches (1,230 mm) annually, falling on an average 144 days, and the wettest month by normal rainfall is May.[13] Normal winter snowfall is 23.5 inches (60 cm),[13] though, as is typical in areas in the humid subtropical zone, snow cover does not remain for long, as there is an average of only 18 days with at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) of snow cover.[13]

Climate data for Jackson, Kentucky (Julian Carroll Airport, 1,381 ft or 421 m AMSL, 37°35′29″N 83°18′52″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)
Average high °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)
Average low °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[12][13]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
187054—
18808863.0%
1900941—
19101,34643.0%
19201,50311.7%
19302,10940.3%
19402,099−0.5%
19501,978−5.8%
19601,852−6.4%
19701,8871.9%
19802,65140.5%
19902,466−7.0%
20002,4901.0%
20102,231−10.4%
20202,2370.3%
2022 (est.)2,157[14]−3.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]

As of 2020, Jackson, KY had a population of 2.2k people with a median age of 42 and a median household income of $32,644. Between 2019 and 2020 the population of Jackson, KY grew from 2,106 to 2,201, a 4.51% increase and its median household income grew from $30,898 to $32,644, a 5.65% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Jackson, KY are White (Non-Hispanic) (98.9%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (1.04%), White (Hispanic) (0.0454%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (0%), and Black or African American (Hispanic) (0%).[16]

Transportation

Kentucky Routes within the city
  • KY 15 The highway goes north to Campton and the Bert T. Combs Mountain Parkway and south to Hazard and the Hal Rogers Parkway. It is the main artery into the city and, currently, it is being relocated and changed to four lanes around and inside the city. It has been locally named (within the county) as the Breathitt County Veterans Highway.
  • KY 30 The highway goes east to Salyersville and west to Booneville. It merges with KY 15 (at the present time) throughout most of the city. The west end is known, locally, as Booneville Road.
  • KY 52 The highway's eastern terminus starts in the city of Jackson at the intersection with KY 30 and heads west towards Beattyville. It is locally known as Beattyville Road.
  • KY 205 The highway goes north to Mountain Parkway by way of Lee City in Wolfe County and eventually to West Liberty in Morgan County. The highway's southern terminus starts at the intersection of KY 15. Recently, an old section of KY 15 was annexed to the highway, and it is possible, once more of the re-routed KY 15 is finished, that it could annex more of the old KY 15 sections.
  • KY 1812 -Not a Primary State Highway – The highway goes north to Campton and south to intersect and end near the KY 15 and KY 30 junction in Jackson. In the north, it connects with KY 205 and follows it until it intersects with the new section of KY 15; it follows KY 15 for a mile and then splits only to intersects KY 15 in Jackson once more; it then breaks away only to connect (partially) with Main Street and then heads south. It is part of what was once the original KY 15 when it was built in 1925. It can be a winding and curvy road in many places with a few hairpin turns as well. It is known locally by different names depending on which road it intersects or what section. i.e. Old Quicksand Rd., Broadway, College Ave, Brown St., Main Street, Washington Ave., Panbowl Rd., and so on.

Airports

Railroads
  • CSX is a freight and minerals only line that goes north to Beattyville and eventually to Winchester and south to Hazard. Before CSX owned the line, it was part of the L& N Railway as a passenger and freight line. Before that, it was owned by the defunct Lexington and Eastern Railway Company as a passenger and freight line. The old Jackson Depot and Freight Station located in the South Jackson section on Armory Drive was torn down in the late 1980s.

Education

Oakdale Christian Academy

https://oakdalechristian.org/

Jackson Independent Schools

Breathitt County Schools
  • Lyndon B. Johnson Elementary (LBJ) – Closed after the 2018 school year. Later demolished in November 2020 to make way for Breathitt Elementary School
  • Rousseau Elementary – Closed in 2013 was located in Rousseau
  • Marie Roberts – Caney Elementary – Located in Lost Creek
  • Highland – Turner Elementary – Located in Canoe
  • Eugene Sebastian Middle School – Closed after the '17-18 school year all students relocated to the High School.- located in Jackson
  • Breathitt County High School – Located in Jackson

Vocational
  • Breathitt County Area Technology Center – On the campus of Breathitt County High School; the vocational school serves both Breathitt County Schools and Jackson Independent Schools.

Post-secondary

Educational Centers
  • Breathitt County Museum – currently located in the Senior Citizens Center on the second floor. Through the use of grant money the defunct Breathitt County Jail has been partially renovated to host the museum, but is yet to be completed.
  • Breathitt County Public Library – located on College Avenue in Jackson.[17]

Festivals

The city of Jackson and Breathitt County are host to many local festivals.

In Jackson:

  • Breathitt County Honey Festival – takes place annually (since 1978) during the Labor Day Weekend. It begins on the Thursday before Labor Day and runs through Labor Day.
  • Breathitt County Heritage Festival – A recently formed (2005) festival that originally occurred annually on the first weekend of October, and now takes place in conjunction with the July 4th celebration with "Pig Out in the Park."[18]
  • Pig Out in the Park/Independence Day Celebration – Held at Douthitt Park; July 4 celebration
  • Downtown Christmas – Parade and festivities held around the first weekend of December.

Other festivals that occur outside the city but in Breathitt County:

  • Morris Fork Crafts Fair, one of the oldest fairs in the area
  • The Crockettsville Charity Concert and Ride, hosted by the band Halfway to Hazard (Unfortunately, this event has not occurred the last couple years and the hosts announced in 2016 they will secure a new venue for this concert and trail ride in the future.)[19]

Notable people
  • Jay Huguely, television producer of Magnum PI
  • Daniel Noble, Medal of Honor recipient for his service during American Civil War
  • Jeffrey Reddick, screenwriter of Final Destination
  • Marea Stamper, DJ, Producer, Musician under the stage name The Blessed Madonna
  • Willie Sandlin, Medal of Honor recipient for his service during World War I
  • Sturgill Simpson, country singer
  • Chad Warrix, country singer of Halfway to Hazard
  • The family of J. D. Vance, author of Hillbilly Elegy, was from Jackson, "the spiritual mountain home of the Vances,"[20] and Vance spent summers there growing up.[21]

References
  1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  2. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Kentucky: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  3. "Summary and Reference Guide to House Bill 331 City Classification Reform" (PDF). Kentucky League of Cities. Retrieved December 30, 2014.
  4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Jackson city, Kentucky". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  5. Commonwealth of Kentucky. Office of the Secretary of State. Land Office. "Jackson, Kentucky". Accessed 1 August 2013.
  6. Rennick, Robert. Kentucky Place Names, p. 151. University Press of Kentucky (Lexington), 1987. Accessed 1 August 2013.
  7. The Kentucky Encyclopedia, p. 459. "Jackson". University Press of Kentucky (Lexington), 1992. Accessed 1 August 2013.
  8. "ShotDown". breathittcounty.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2019. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  9. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  10. "Jackson, Kentucky Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". weatherbase.com. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  11. United States Department of Agriculture. "USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map". United States National Arboretum. Archived from the original on March 3, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
  12. "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  13. "Station: Jackson, KY". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  14. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Kentucky: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  15. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  16. https://datausa.io/profile/geo/jackson-ky
  17. "Kentucky Public Library Directory". Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Archived from the original on January 11, 2019. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  18. "Festivals and Fairs". breathittcounty.org. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  19. Hesterberg, Tanner. "Vandalism partly to blame for cancellation of Crockettsville concert, trail ride". WYMT. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  20. Shawn Donnan, "Lunch with the FT," Financial Times, 3-4 Feb. 2018, Life and Arts p. 3
  21. Brandon Kiser, "Author Too Removed from Culture He Criticizes," Lexington Herald-Leader, Aug. 21, 2016, http://www.kentucky.com/opinion/op-ed/article96779312.html (accessed 10 Feb. 2018)
    • The paternal grandfather of Marie Guion-Johnson, PhD, founder of AUM Cardiovascular and serial medical device inventor was from Breathitt
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