Jackson, Michigan | |
|---|---|
 Downtown Jackson from the 12th floor of One Energy Plaza (CMS Energy headquarters) | |
.svg) Flag  Logo | |
| Nickname: The Rose City[1] | |
 Location withinJackson County | |
  Jackson Location within the state of Michigan Show map of Michigan Jackson Location within the United States Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:42°14′39″N84°24′26″W / 42.24417°N 84.40722°W /42.24417; -84.40722 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Jackson |
| Founded | 1829 |
| Incorporated |
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| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council |
| • Mayor | Daniel Mahoney |
| • Manager | Jonathan Greene |
| • Clerk | Andrea Muray |
| Area | |
• City | 10.96 sq mi (28.38 km2) |
| • Land | 10.84 sq mi (28.07 km2) |
| • Water | 0.12 sq mi (0.30 km2) |
| Elevation | 932 ft (284 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• City | 31,309 |
| • Density | 2,889/sq mi (1,115.4/km2) |
| • Metro | 160,366 (US:264th) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 49201–49204 |
| Area code | 517 |
| FIPS code | 26-41420 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0629165[3] |
| Website | www |
Jackson is a city inJackson County, Michigan, United States, and itscounty seat.[4] The population was 31,309 at the2020 census. It is served byInterstate 94 andU.S. Route 127. It is approximately 65 miles (105 km) east ofKalamazoo, 35 miles (56 km) west ofAnn Arbor, 75 miles (121 km) west ofDetroit and 35 miles (56 km) south ofLansing. Jackson is the core city of the Jacksonmetropolitan area, which includes all of Jackson County and has a population of 160,248.[5]
The city was founded in 1829 and named after PresidentAndrew Jackson. Michigan's first prison,Michigan State Prison (or Jackson State Prison), opened in 1838 and remains in operation.
Jackson was historically regarded as the "birthplace of the (state)Republican Party" due to a meeting held there in 1854, during which political figures gathered to oppose the expansion of slavery. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Jackson became an early automotive manufacturing center that attracted southerners and immigrants to the city's numerous factories; this resulted in a rapid, marked population increase.
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On July 3, 1829, Horace Blackman, accompanied by Alexander Laverty, a land surveyor, andPewytum, an Indian guide, forded the Grand River and made camp for the night at a site now marked as Trail and N. Jackson Street. They arrived there along a well-traveled Native American trail leading west fromAnn Arbor. Blackman had hired Laverty and Pewytum to guide him west. Returning to Ann Arbor andMonroe, Blackman registered his claim for 160 acres (65 ha) at two dollars an acre.
He returned to the Jackson area in August 1829 with his brother Russell. Together they cleared land and built a cabin at what would become the corner of Ingham and Trail streets. The town was first called Jacksonopolis. Later, it was renamed Jacksonburgh. Finally in 1838, the town's name was changed to simply Jackson.
Jackson is one of the birthplaces of theRepublican Party. The first official meeting of the group that called itself "Republican" was held in Jackson on July 6, 1854.[6] A Michigan historical marker at what is now the northwest corner of Second and Franklin streets in Jackson commemorates an anti-slavery county convention held that day. Meeting outside to avoid a hot, overcrowded hall, the group ultimately selected a slate of candidates for state elections. The marker identifies this as the birth of the Republican Party.[7][8] The site, an oak grove on "Morgan's Forty", then on the outskirts of town, became known as "Under the Oaks".[9]
The political party formally recognizes its birthplace as beingRipon, Wisconsin, where the name "Republican" was first suggested in March 1854.[10] But, Republican presidents have visited Jackson and this marker.[11]
Crawfordsville, Iowa also has a claim as the birthplace of the party: the first private meeting of what would become the Republican Party occurred when Whig Party defectors met privately in Crawfordsville in February 1854. The meeting was to lay the groundwork for the creation of a new political party.[12]
Before Detroit began building cars on assembly lines in 1910, Jackson factories were making parts for cars and assembling them. By 1910, the auto industry had become Jackson's main industry. More than 20 different brands of cars were once made in Jackson, including:Reeves,Jaxon, Jackson,CarterCar,Orlo, Whiting, Butcher and Gage;Buick, Janney, Globe, Steel Swallow, C.V.I.,Imperial, Ames-Dean,Cutting, Standard Electric, Duck, Briscoe, Argo, Hollier, Hackett, Marion-Handly, Gem, Earl, Wolverine, and Kaiser-Darrin.[13] Ye Ole Carriage Shop in Spring Arbor displays more than 60 antique and classic cars, including five one-and-onlys and 16 made in Jackson. One of these is a 1902 JAXON. Today the auto parts industry remains one of the largest employers of skilled machine operators in Jackson County. The city was also an early site for themoped parts industry.
In 1914Macedonian immigrantGeorge Todoroff founded the first"Coney Island restaurant" and created his famousConey Island hot dog topping. His Coney Island restaurant was located directly in front of the railroad station on East Michigan Avenue and was open 24 hours. The restaurant proved to be a popular dining option for rail passengers. Over the course of 31 years, Todoroff sold more than 17 million Coney Island hot dogs.
Today two "Coney Island" restaurants unaffiliated with Todoroff's are located in a building near the train station on East Michigan Avenue: Virginia Coney Island and Jackson Coney Island. In addition, several area restaurants throughout the Jackson area offer their own version of the Coney Island hot dog, or just "coney", as it is referred to by local residents. Jackson's version of the coney dog is distinctly different from those featured in Detroit-area Coney Island restaurants or other Coney Island restaurants throughout Michigan and the Midwest. In 2014 Todoroff's Coney Island celebrated its centenary.[14]
The legislature authorized Michigan's first state prison in 1838. A temporary wooden prison, enclosed by a fence oftamarack poles, was built on 60 acres donated for that purpose inside the city limits of Jackson. In 1839 the first 35 prisoners were received.A permanent prison was built three years later.[15]
Beginning in the 1850s, WardenH.F. Hatch placed more emphasis on the education and rehabilitation of prisoners. By 1882, Michigan's First State Prison (1838–1934) had developed as the largest walled prison in the world. Within its walls, the factories and surrounding farms, manned by cheap inmate labor, made Jackson one of the leading industrial cities in the nation. In 1934 a new prison was completed just north of Jackson's city limit in Blackman Township; it took all of the state prisoners.
The historic building is now used as an artists' resident community, known as the Armory Arts Village. Tours of the original prison site on Cooper Street are available through theOriginal Jackson Historic Prison Tours. A closed, fully intact cell block at the modern prison in Blackman Township was operated as theCell Block 7 Prison Museum from 2014-2019. Independently operated by the accreditedElla Sharp Museum, this was the only museum where visitors could enter a closed cell block on the grounds of an active prison for a self-guided tour.[16]
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Numerous railroad connections were constructed to Jackson, linking it to many markets. The local invention of the duplexcorset by Bortree helped make Jackson a center of corset manufacturing. By the early 20th century, as many as 16 manufacturers of women's corsets operated here; the majority were located on Cortland and Pearl streets.
As elastics were adopted in manufacturing and fashions changed, the corset industry quickly declined. The majority of the corset manufacturers in Jackson closed their doors by 1920. Only three of the original corset companies survived past the 1920s, by changing their production to therapeutic and prosthetic support garments and devices.
"The First"Moses Bortree founded the Bortree Corset Company, the first corset manufacturer outside of New York, in 1868 at 112 W. Cortland. Founded to make crinoline skirts and bustles (hoop skirts!), they began manufacturing Bortree's newest creation, the Duplex Corset, in 1875. Within five years, production rose from 50,000 to 300,000 corsets per year.
"The Biggest"Founded in 1884, the Jackson Corset Co. became the largest manufacturer of corset and waist garments in the US. Located at 209-215 W. Cortland St., they employed almost 300 people by 1895.
"Woman-Owned"The Coronet Corset Manufactory opened in 1880 at 146 W. Main St. and later moved to 131-133 W. Pearl St. Coronet had the distinction of being run by the first and only female president, Mrs. C.A. McGee, who invented and patented the Coronet Corset.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.98 square miles (28.44 km2), of which 10.86 square miles (28.13 km2) is land and 0.12 square miles (0.31 km2) (1.09%) is water.[17]
This climate region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to theKöppen climate classification system, Jackson has ahumid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.[18]
| Climate data forJackson Reynolds Field, Michigan (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1944–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 71 (22) | 69 (21) | 85 (29) | 88 (31) | 95 (35) | 101 (38) | 103 (39) | 102 (39) | 100 (38) | 90 (32) | 79 (26) | 69 (21) | 103 (39) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 53.0 (11.7) | 54.3 (12.4) | 69.0 (20.6) | 78.2 (25.7) | 85.3 (29.6) | 91.1 (32.8) | 91.7 (33.2) | 90.2 (32.3) | 87.3 (30.7) | 79.4 (26.3) | 65.8 (18.8) | 55.1 (12.8) | 93.6 (34.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 31.3 (−0.4) | 34.5 (1.4) | 45.3 (7.4) | 58.5 (14.7) | 69.8 (21.0) | 78.9 (26.1) | 82.5 (28.1) | 80.4 (26.9) | 73.6 (23.1) | 61.1 (16.2) | 47.7 (8.7) | 36.2 (2.3) | 58.3 (14.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 24.4 (−4.2) | 26.6 (−3.0) | 36.0 (2.2) | 47.8 (8.8) | 58.8 (14.9) | 68.0 (20.0) | 71.6 (22.0) | 69.9 (21.1) | 62.6 (17.0) | 51.2 (10.7) | 39.9 (4.4) | 29.9 (−1.2) | 48.9 (9.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 17.5 (−8.1) | 18.6 (−7.4) | 26.7 (−2.9) | 37.1 (2.8) | 47.7 (8.7) | 57.1 (13.9) | 60.7 (15.9) | 59.4 (15.2) | 51.7 (10.9) | 41.4 (5.2) | 32.1 (0.1) | 23.6 (−4.7) | 39.5 (4.2) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −5.0 (−20.6) | −1.3 (−18.5) | 7.2 (−13.8) | 21.7 (−5.7) | 32.3 (0.2) | 42.1 (5.6) | 48.2 (9.0) | 46.8 (8.2) | 36.7 (2.6) | 26.8 (−2.9) | 17.0 (−8.3) | 4.7 (−15.2) | −8.3 (−22.4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −20 (−29) | −19 (−28) | −7 (−22) | 3 (−16) | 21 (−6) | 34 (1) | 37 (3) | 37 (3) | 27 (−3) | 16 (−9) | −5 (−21) | −14 (−26) | −20 (−29) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 1.67 (42) | 1.52 (39) | 1.93 (49) | 2.94 (75) | 3.40 (86) | 3.58 (91) | 3.35 (85) | 3.81 (97) | 2.98 (76) | 2.92 (74) | 2.33 (59) | 1.76 (45) | 32.19 (818) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 10.8 (27) | 7.3 (19) | 6.2 (16) | 1.5 (3.8) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 2.9 (7.4) | 8.5 (22) | 37.3 (95.45) |
| Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) | 7.2 (18) | 7.3 (19) | 4.6 (12) | 1.1 (2.8) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0. (0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 1.9 (4.8) | 5.0 (13) | 10.1 (26) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 12.7 | 10.3 | 10.9 | 12.9 | 12.4 | 10.6 | 9.3 | 9.9 | 9.5 | 11.3 | 11.4 | 11.9 | 133.1 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 8.9 | 6.6 | 4.3 | 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 2.4 | 7.2 | 30.6 |
| Source:NOAA (snow, snow days, snow depth 1944–2000)[19][20] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 2,363 | — | |
| 1860 | 4,799 | 103.1% | |
| 1870 | 11,447 | 138.5% | |
| 1880 | 16,105 | 40.7% | |
| 1890 | 20,798 | 29.1% | |
| 1900 | 25,180 | 21.1% | |
| 1910 | 31,433 | 24.8% | |
| 1920 | 48,374 | 53.9% | |
| 1930 | 55,187 | 14.1% | |
| 1940 | 49,656 | −10.0% | |
| 1950 | 51,088 | 2.9% | |
| 1960 | 50,720 | −0.7% | |
| 1970 | 45,484 | −10.3% | |
| 1980 | 39,739 | −12.6% | |
| 1990 | 38,303 | −3.6% | |
| 2000 | 36,316 | −5.2% | |
| 2010 | 33,534 | −7.7% | |
| 2020 | 31,309 | −6.6% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 30,854 | −1.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2018 Estimate[21][22] | |||
As of the census[23] of 2010, there were 33,534 people, 13,294 households, and 7,872 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,085.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,191.1/km2). There were 15,457 housing units at an average density of 1,422.0 per square mile (549.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 71.4%White, 20.4%African American, 0.4%Native American, 0.7%Asian, 1.6% fromother races, and 5.5% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino residents of any race were 5.3% of the population.
There were 13,294 households, of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.7% were married couples living together, 22.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.8% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.14.
The median age in the city was 32.2 years. 28.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.7% were from 25 to 44; 23.1% were from 45 to 64; and 10.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.
As of the census of 2000, there were 36,316 people, 14,210 households, and 8,668 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,274.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,264.4/km2). There were 15,241 housing units at an average density of 1,374.4 per square mile (530.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 73.87%White, 19.70%Black orAfrican American, 0.56%Native American, 0.51%Asian, 0.04%Pacific Islander, 1.65% fromother races, and 3.67% from two or more races. 4.05% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 14,210 households, out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.8% were married couples living together, 19.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the city, 29.7% of the population was under the age of 18, 9.8% was from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,294, and the median income for a family was $39,072. Males had a median income of $31,957 versus $23,817 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,230. About 15.2% of families and 19.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.9% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.
Jackson has a number of notable historic churches, several of which were established prior to theAmerican Civil War. TheFirst Baptist Church was established in 1839; the present building, aRomanesque Revival structure, was dedicated in March 1872. TheFirst Congregational Church is housed in a monumental Romanesque Revival building constructed in 1859. A basement was added after the structure had been in operation for several years. In 1871 the building was raised eight feet to accommodate lower-level classrooms.[24] Its congregation has actively participated in local social reform efforts, becoming part of theantislavery movement in the 1840s and later supporting thetemperance and thecivil rights movement.St. Paul's Episcopal Church was also founded in 1839. The congregation's first church building, constructed in 1840, was replaced by a Romanesque Revival building in 1853; it is one of the oldestEpiscopal Church structures in southern Michigan.
Constructed in 1857,St. John's the Evangelist Church is the oldest Roman Catholic church in the city. It was established as a mission in 1836 to serve a congregation that was originally predominately Irish immigrants. Given the following waves of Catholic immigrants from other countries, its congregation today is more diverse.St. Mary Star of the Sea was established in 1881 as Jackson's second Catholic church. The present building, a limestone Romanesque structure built between 1923 and 1926, incorporates elements of the parish's first church as well as stained glass windows, marble altars and communion rails imported from Italy and Austria.[25] The first and onlyEastern Orthodox Church is St. Demetrius Orthodox Church, founded in 1958. Among the modern churches in the town isWestwinds Community Church, a non-denominational, evangelical Christian church. Founded in 1865 in a blacksmith shop, Community Jackson African Methodist Episcopal Church became the first place of worship for African Americans in Jackson County.[citation needed]
Late 19th-century immigrants included Jews from Germany and eastern Europe. Jackson is home toTemple Beth Israel, aReform synagogue founded in 1862 byGerman Jewish immigrants.
Restructuring in heavy industry in the mid-20th century caused a decline in jobs and population in many industrial cities, including Jackson. There are three major private employers in the city.CMS Energy provides natural gas andelectrical services to much of Michigan and has its international headquarters in the city. The next two major employers areHenry Ford Health (formerlyFoote Hospital) and theEaton Corporation.
Michigan Automotive Compressor, Inc. (MACI) is the largest manufacturer in Jackson County and its fourth-largest individual employer. In February 2009, due to theGreat Recession, it began offering voluntary buyouts to employees.[26]
Family-owned food manufacturer and distributorDawn Foods has been based in Jackson since 1920.
Jackson Flexible Products, just outside the city, has been one of North America's premier custom-molded rubber specialists since 1969.[27] The company employs over 35 people, providing components for the aerospace, automotive and defense industries.[27]
Jackson's state prison complex includes the first state prison building, which was expanded and became known as the largest walled prison in the world. Portions of the prison complex closed in 2007, including the Annex of the Charles Egeler Reception and Guidance Center Annex (RGC)[28][29] and the Southern Michigan Correctional Facility (JMF).[30] One of the closed cell blocks at JMF has been adapted and re-opened as theCell Block 7 Prison Museum.
The other facilities in the complex, including two in the old walled building, remain open: theG. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility (JCF),[31] theCooper Street Correctional Facility (JCS),[32] theCharles Egeler Reception and Guidance Center (RGC),[33] and theParnall Correctional Facility (SMT).[34]
Jackson's parks and recreation department includes a golf course, swimming pool, sporting fields, and 26 parks, totaling 645 acres.[35]
JAX 60 Lanes in Jackson has hosted multipleprofessional ten-pin bowling events for thePBA Tour and PBA50 Tour. On July 16–23, 2023, the center hosted the inaugural PBA50 World Series of Bowling.[36]
The city levies an income tax of 1 percent on residents and 0.5 percent on nonresidents.[37] Federally, Jackson is located inMichigan's 5th congressional district, represented byRepublicanTim Walberg.
Jackson is served byJackson Public Schools. The Jackson urbanized area is home to approximately 16 elementary public schools, as well as about 16 private or parochial schools. It also has a large public middle school (The Middle School at Parkside). It has nine high schools: the publicJackson High School,East Jackson Secondary School (Public),ParmaWestern High School, andNorthwest High School, T. A. Wilson Academy, Napoleon High School, and Vandercook Lake High School; and the private DaVinci Institute (Charter), Jackson Preparatory and Early College (Charter), and Jackson Christian School (Non-Denom), andLumen Christi Catholic School (Catholic).
The city is also home to institutions of adult and higher education:Jackson College (formerly Jackson Community College),Baker College,Career Quest Learning Centers, andSpring Arbor University. An additional 15 higher education institutions are within a one-hour drive of Jackson County.[38]
From the late nineteenth century into the mid-twentieth century, Jackson was a major railway hub and for over a century has been known as the crossroads of Michigan. Today theMichigan Central Railroad Jackson Depot on East Michigan Avenue is the nation's oldest train station in continuous active use. It was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 2002.
Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Jackson, operating itsWolverine three times daily in each direction between Chicago andPontiac, Michigan, via Detroit.
Jackson and Lansing Railroad (JAIL) owns a line from Jackson toLansing, Michigan. Norfolk Southern (NS) owns a yard in Jackson as well.
The junction of I-94 and US 127 was built at Jackson.
I-94
BL I-94
US 127 is a north–south highway providing access northerly toward Lansing andClare and southerly intoOhio. In the Jackson area, US 127 runs concurrently with I-94 for approximately four miles (6.4 km). It is freeway from Jackson northerly past Lansing, while the freeway south of Jackson quickly transitions to a two-lane, uncontrolled access highway.
Bus. US 127 is a loop route running through downtown, connecting with US 127 at either end.
M-50 enters Jackson from the northwest, and exits southeast of town.
M-60 approaches Jackson from the southwest, ending at I-94 west of the city.
M-106 enters Jackson from the northeast and ends downtown.Reynolds Field atJackson County Airport is the main airport for the city. It hosted commercial service, primarily under theNorth Central Airlines banner, until 1984. With the "Blue Goose" aircraft now gone, the airport today operates as a general aviation facility. The 700-acre airport, equipped with an ILS system, is located just south of I-94 ( Airport Road exit #137). More than 100 general aviation aircraft are housed here, ranging from single-engine planes to business/corporate jet aircraft.
The Airport is home to many related businesses, including the Jackson College Flight School, a restaurant, bar, and car rental. The Jackson Blues Festival is held here annually in June.
Jackson Area Transportation Authority operates ten routes Monday through Saturday out of a central station located downtown.Indian Trails andGreyhound Lines offer intercity service from the JATA station. In addition to the publicly funded JATA, there are four private taxicab companies operating in town.
Places adjacent to Jackson, Michigan | |
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Municipalities and communities ofJackson County, Michigan,United States | ||
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| City |  | |
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| Other communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Great Lakes megalopolis as defined by theRPA | ||
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Includes all metropolitan areas that have a population of 150,000 or greater according to the most recent national census. | ||
| Great Lakes region cities |  | |
| Surrounding cities |
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| Cities of states south of region | ||
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