Jackson County Information
Jackson County Data
Latitude: 39° 03' 09"
Longitude: 82° 38' 17"
Square miles in county: 415
2000 County Population: 32,641
County Seat: Jackson (pop. 6184)
Other Municipalities:
Wellston (pop. 6078)
Oak Hill (pop. 1685)
Coalton (pop. 545)
Latitude: 39° 03' 09"
Longitude: 82° 38' 17"
Square miles in county: 415
2000 County Population: 32,641
County Seat: Jackson (pop. 6184)
Other Municipalities:
Wellston (pop. 6078)
Oak Hill (pop. 1685)
Coalton (pop. 545)
A Brief History of Jackson County
Jackson County, named for General Andrew Jackson, lies in the beautiful hills of southeastern Ohio. At its nearest point (the southwest corner), the county is only eleven miles from the Ohio River at Sciotoville. While most of the terrain is hilly, with the elevation ranging from under 600 to over 1000 feet, a small area along the western edge of the county is quite flat. This location is part of the ancient Teays River valley.
Some of the state's earliest settlers came to this area because of the salt licks discovered here. In 1796, Congress reserved the salt springs due to the great importance of this valuable mineral. The Scioto salt springs of Jackson County were the most important of the states salt reservations. A thriving settlement soon grew up around the salt springs. In 1816, Congress authorized the sale of 640 acres of this salt reservation to become the seat of the newly created county. The remaining salt lands were sold in 1824, after greater strength salt brine was discovered elsewhere.
As part of the "hanging rock" iron region, an area abundant in iron ore, Jackson county had a thriving iron industry in the mid-to-late 1800's. The restored "Buckeye Furnace" is a fine example of the charcoal fired furnaces that were used in this industry. The Jefferson Furnace (the remains are still visible) at the present day site of Lake Jackson was responsible for producing the iron used in the making of the famous civil war Union ironclad ship "Monitor". A busy iron industry was still present into the 1950's with the "Star", "Globe" and "Jisco" (Jackson Iron and Steel Co.) furnaces producing "silvery pig iron".
Coal mining was also extensive in the county during this period. Underground mines were prevalent, particularly in the northeast quardrant of the county. Surface mining was also important in the economy of the county after World War II, but has become practically non-existent in recent years due to the high sulfur content of the coal. Limestone deposits uncovered during surface mining for coal have provided an excellent source of material (when crushed) for road surfacing, stream bank protection, etc.
The apple industry was once thriving here as well, as Jackson County was one of the leading apple growing areas in the state. Orchards, both large and small, seemed to be everywhere in the county.
Unfortunately, there are only two commercial orchards remaining.
The economy of the county is presently balanced between manufacturing and agriculture. Manufactured products include foods, clay products, plastics, wood products and castings, as well as chemicals used in the firebrick industry.
Jackson County has a good network of highways, including 2 major four lane highways; U.S. Route 35, which carries a tremendous amount of commercial truck traffic, and State Route 32, which crosses the state from Cincinnati to Marietta, Ohio. The county is growing and prospering, as evidenced by new home construction, new businesses, new medical facilities, and new schools.
Jackson County, named for General Andrew Jackson, lies in the beautiful hills of southeastern Ohio. At its nearest point (the southwest corner), the county is only eleven miles from the Ohio River at Sciotoville. While most of the terrain is hilly, with the elevation ranging from under 600 to over 1000 feet, a small area along the western edge of the county is quite flat. This location is part of the ancient Teays River valley.
Some of the state's earliest settlers came to this area because of the salt licks discovered here. In 1796, Congress reserved the salt springs due to the great importance of this valuable mineral. The Scioto salt springs of Jackson County were the most important of the states salt reservations. A thriving settlement soon grew up around the salt springs. In 1816, Congress authorized the sale of 640 acres of this salt reservation to become the seat of the newly created county. The remaining salt lands were sold in 1824, after greater strength salt brine was discovered elsewhere.
As part of the "hanging rock" iron region, an area abundant in iron ore, Jackson county had a thriving iron industry in the mid-to-late 1800's. The restored "Buckeye Furnace" is a fine example of the charcoal fired furnaces that were used in this industry. The Jefferson Furnace (the remains are still visible) at the present day site of Lake Jackson was responsible for producing the iron used in the making of the famous civil war Union ironclad ship "Monitor". A busy iron industry was still present into the 1950's with the "Star", "Globe" and "Jisco" (Jackson Iron and Steel Co.) furnaces producing "silvery pig iron".
Coal mining was also extensive in the county during this period. Underground mines were prevalent, particularly in the northeast quardrant of the county. Surface mining was also important in the economy of the county after World War II, but has become practically non-existent in recent years due to the high sulfur content of the coal. Limestone deposits uncovered during surface mining for coal have provided an excellent source of material (when crushed) for road surfacing, stream bank protection, etc.
The apple industry was once thriving here as well, as Jackson County was one of the leading apple growing areas in the state. Orchards, both large and small, seemed to be everywhere in the county.
Unfortunately, there are only two commercial orchards remaining.
The economy of the county is presently balanced between manufacturing and agriculture. Manufactured products include foods, clay products, plastics, wood products and castings, as well as chemicals used in the firebrick industry.
Jackson County has a good network of highways, including 2 major four lane highways; U.S. Route 35, which carries a tremendous amount of commercial truck traffic, and State Route 32, which crosses the state from Cincinnati to Marietta, Ohio. The county is growing and prospering, as evidenced by new home construction, new businesses, new medical facilities, and new schools.
Notable Jackson Countians
Major John Wesley Powell
Led first expedition to survey the Grand Canyon
-lived in Jackson as child
Isham Jones
Famous 20's & 30's bandleader
and songwriter
-from Coalton
James A. Rhodes
Four term Ohio Governor
-from Coalton
Admiral Stanley R. Arthur
Commander of 7th Fleet during Persian Gulf war
-from Jackson
Jeff Montgomery
Major League Baseball pitcher
for Kansas City Royals
-from Wellston
Major John Wesley Powell
Led first expedition to survey the Grand Canyon
-lived in Jackson as child
Isham Jones
Famous 20's & 30's bandleader
and songwriter
-from Coalton
James A. Rhodes
Four term Ohio Governor
-from Coalton
Admiral Stanley R. Arthur
Commander of 7th Fleet during Persian Gulf war
-from Jackson
Jeff Montgomery
Major League Baseball pitcher
for Kansas City Royals
-from Wellston
Jackson County Sites of Interest
Buckeye Furnace State Memorial
Restored 19th century charcoal iron furnace
Buckeye Park Rd. (Milton Twp. Rd. 187)
Leo Petroglyph State Memorial
Prehistoric Native American rock carvings
Park Rd. (Jackson Twp. Rd. 224)
Lillian Jones Museum
Jackson County history
Broadway St., Jackson
Welsh Heritage Museum
Local area Welsh history
E. Main St., Oak Hill
Jackson Lake State Park
Camping, fishing, boating, swimming
State Route 279 W., Oak Hill
Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve
Nature trails, boat fishing by reservation
Lake Katharine Rd., Jackson
Buckeye Furnace State Memorial
Restored 19th century charcoal iron furnace
Buckeye Park Rd. (Milton Twp. Rd. 187)
Leo Petroglyph State Memorial
Prehistoric Native American rock carvings
Park Rd. (Jackson Twp. Rd. 224)
Lillian Jones Museum
Jackson County history
Broadway St., Jackson
Welsh Heritage Museum
Local area Welsh history
E. Main St., Oak Hill
Jackson Lake State Park
Camping, fishing, boating, swimming
State Route 279 W., Oak Hill
Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve
Nature trails, boat fishing by reservation
Lake Katharine Rd., Jackson
Restored Covered Bridges
Buckeye Furnace, Milton Township
Johnson Road, Scioto Township
Byer, Washington Township
Buckeye Furnace, Milton Township
Johnson Road, Scioto Township
Byer, Washington Township
home | engr's office | hwy. dept. | projects | road/bridge data | map office | g.i.s. | all counties
Leo Petroglyph
State Memorial
State Memorial
Buckeye Furnace State Memorial
Lake Katharine
State Nature Preserve
State Nature Preserve
home | engr's office | hwy. dept. | projects | road/bridge data | map office | g.i.s. | all counties