Jackson, California
Encyclopedia
Jackson is the county seat
of Amador County, California
. The population was 4,651 at the 2010 census, up from 3,989 at the 2000 census. The city is accessible by both State Route 49
and State Route 88
.
, the city has a total area of 3.7 square miles (9.6 km²), all of it land. Jackson Creek
traverses the city. Alluvial soils such as Pardee Cobbly Loam is found throughout the Jackson area.
s are considered likely locations for prehistoric cultural resources. Permanent village
s were usually placed on elevations above seasonal flood
levels. Surrounding areas were used for hunting and seed, acorn
, and grass gathering.
Jackson, named after Colonel Alden Jackson, was founded in 1848 around a year-round spring
. Settlement of the region by American pioneers
was stimulated by the discovery of gold in the Sierra foothills around 1848. The settlement was named for a local lawyer who was liked by miners named Alden Appola Moore Jackson. Although Amador County was an important mining center, its County seat of Jackson was not typical of the early gold camps. The camp grew quickly, as besides being a popular mining
spot, it was also a convenient stopping place on the road from Sacramento
to the Southern Mines. The camp became an important supply and transportation center for the neighboring towns, and by 1850 the population had reached an estimated 1,500. Jackson grew first as a watering hole for cattle
, then as one of the earliest and most durable of the Mother Lode
's hardrock mining areas.
In 1853, Jackson became the county seat of newly formed Amador County, California. Previously, from 1851–1852, it had been the county seat of Calaveras County
. Jackson may therefore be the only city to have ever been county seat of two different counties at different times.
Placer mining
gave out by the 1860s, replaced by hard rock mining. One of the town's most prominent historical landmarks, the Kennedy Mine
, began operation in 1860; at the time of its closure during World War II
in 1942, it was the deepest gold mine in North America
, at 1802 meters; (5912 ft). On August 27, 1922 47 miners became trapped when a fire broke out in the Argonaut mine. All 47 men died in the fire but it wasn't until over a year later that the last body was recovered. The Argonaut mine incident was the worst gold mine disaster in US history.
In Oct, 1942 the US government passed the War Production Board Limitation Order which signaled the demise of gold mining in California. The government needed men for the war and gold was not considered a strategic war metal.
.
was 1,246.9 people per square mile (481.4/km²). The racial makeup of Jackson was 4,090 (87.9%) White, 32 (0.7%) African American, 94 (2.0%) Native American, 60 (1.3%) Asian, 4 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 185 (4.0%) from other races
, and 186 (4.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 520 persons (11.2%).
The Census reported that 4,423 people (95.1% of the population) lived in households, 12 (0.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 216 (4.6%) were institutionalized.
There were 2,065 households, out of which 537 (26.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 822 (39.8%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 294 (14.2%) had a female householder with no husband present, 98 (4.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 120 (5.8%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 5 (0.2%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 747 households (36.2%) were made up of individuals and 438 (21.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14. There were 1,214 families
(58.8% of all households); the average family size was 2.75.
The population was spread out with 945 people (20.3%) under the age of 18, 306 people (6.6%) aged 18 to 24, 1,030 people (22.1%) aged 25 to 44, 1,197 people (25.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,173 people (25.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.0 years. For every 100 females there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.4 males.
There were 2,309 housing units at an average density of 619.0 per square mile (239.0/km²), of which 1,122 (54.3%) were owner-occupied, and 943 (45.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.8%. 2,305 people (49.6% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,118 people (45.5%) lived in rental housing units.
of 2000, there were 3,989 people, 1,746 households, and 1,023 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,135.8 people per square mile (438.8/km²). There were 1,859 housing units at an average density of 529.3 per square mile (204.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.5% White
, 0.5% Black
or African American
, 1.4% Native American
, 0.6% Asian
, 0.1% Pacific Islander
, 1.9% from other races
, and 2.1% from two or more races. 6.5% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 1,746 households out of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples
living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.4% were non-families. 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.74.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.0% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 21.9% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 28.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 80.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,944, and the median income for a family was $45,887. Males had a median income of $40,444 versus $35,083 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $21,399. About 4.1% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
home of the mustangs. The school's namesake is the Argonaut Mine located in town
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Amador County, California
Amador County, California
Amador County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 38,091. The county seat is Jackson.Amador County bills itself as "The Heart of the Mother Lode" and lies within the Gold Country...
. The population was 4,651 at the 2010 census, up from 3,989 at the 2000 census. The city is accessible by both State Route 49
California State Route 49
State Route 49 is a north–south state highway in the U.S. state of California that passes through many historic mining communities of the 1849 California gold rush. Highway 49 is numbered after the "49ers", the waves of immigrants who swept into the area looking for gold, and a portion of it...
and State Route 88
California State Route 88
State Route 88 , also known as the Carson Pass Highway, is a California State Highway that travels in an east–west direction, from Stockton, crossing the Sierra Nevada at Carson Pass, and ending at the border with Nevada, whereupon it becomes Nevada State Route 88, eventually terminating at U.S...
.
Geography and geology
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 3.7 square miles (9.6 km²), all of it land. Jackson Creek
Jackson Creek
Jackson Creek is a stream in Amador County, California, which feeds into Dry Creek southwest of Ione. It was linked to gold mining during the California Gold Rush era....
traverses the city. Alluvial soils such as Pardee Cobbly Loam is found throughout the Jackson area.
History
The area was inhabited by the Northern Sierra Indians, who occupied areas along creeks, spring and seep areas, including permanent and seasonal drainages, flat ridges and terraces. Therefore, areas along watercourseWatercourse
A watercourse is any flowing body of water. These include rivers, streams, anabranches, and so forth.-See also:* physical geography* Environmental flow* Waterway* Hydrology* Wadi-External links:...
s are considered likely locations for prehistoric cultural resources. Permanent village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
s were usually placed on elevations above seasonal flood
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
levels. Surrounding areas were used for hunting and seed, acorn
Acorn
The acorn, or oak nut, is the nut of the oaks and their close relatives . It usually contains a single seed , enclosed in a tough, leathery shell, and borne in a cup-shaped cupule. Acorns vary from 1–6 cm long and 0.8–4 cm broad...
, and grass gathering.
Jackson, named after Colonel Alden Jackson, was founded in 1848 around a year-round spring
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
. Settlement of the region by American pioneers
Settler
A settler is a person who has migrated to an area and established permanent residence there, often to colonize the area. Settlers are generally people who take up residence on land and cultivate it, as opposed to nomads...
was stimulated by the discovery of gold in the Sierra foothills around 1848. The settlement was named for a local lawyer who was liked by miners named Alden Appola Moore Jackson. Although Amador County was an important mining center, its County seat of Jackson was not typical of the early gold camps. The camp grew quickly, as besides being a popular mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
spot, it was also a convenient stopping place on the road from Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
to the Southern Mines. The camp became an important supply and transportation center for the neighboring towns, and by 1850 the population had reached an estimated 1,500. Jackson grew first as a watering hole for cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
, then as one of the earliest and most durable of the Mother Lode
Mother Lode
Mother lode is a principal vein or zone of veins of gold or silver ore. The term probably came from a literal translation of the Spanish veta madre, a term common in old Mexican mining...
's hardrock mining areas.
In 1853, Jackson became the county seat of newly formed Amador County, California. Previously, from 1851–1852, it had been the county seat of Calaveras County
Calaveras County, California
Calaveras County is a county located in the Gold Country of the U.S. state of California. Calaveras is the Spanish word for skulls; the county was reportedly named for the remains of Native Americans discovered by the Spanish explorer Captain Gabriel Moraga. As of the 2010 census, the county had a...
. Jackson may therefore be the only city to have ever been county seat of two different counties at different times.
Placer mining
Placer mining
Placer mining is the mining of alluvial deposits for minerals. This may be done by open-pit or by various surface excavating equipment or tunneling equipment....
gave out by the 1860s, replaced by hard rock mining. One of the town's most prominent historical landmarks, the Kennedy Mine
Kennedy Mine
The Kennedy Gold Mine is a gold mine in Jackson, California, one of the deepest mines in the world. It closed in 1942 and together with nearby Argonaut Mine, is registered as California Historical Landmark #786...
, began operation in 1860; at the time of its closure during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1942, it was the deepest gold mine in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, at 1802 meters; (5912 ft). On August 27, 1922 47 miners became trapped when a fire broke out in the Argonaut mine. All 47 men died in the fire but it wasn't until over a year later that the last body was recovered. The Argonaut mine incident was the worst gold mine disaster in US history.
In Oct, 1942 the US government passed the War Production Board Limitation Order which signaled the demise of gold mining in California. The government needed men for the war and gold was not considered a strategic war metal.
Landmarks
- ArgonautArgonaut MineThe Argonaut Mine is a gold mine in Jackson, California, United States. It was discovered in 1850 and was the site of the worst gold-mining disaster in the state's history. The mine closed in 1942 and, along with the nearby Kennedy Mine, is registered as California Historical Landmark #786.It was...
and Kennedy MineKennedy MineThe Kennedy Gold Mine is a gold mine in Jackson, California, one of the deepest mines in the world. It closed in 1942 and together with nearby Argonaut Mine, is registered as California Historical Landmark #786...
s, California Historical LandmarkCalifornia Historical LandmarkCalifornia Historical Landmarks are buildings, structures, sites, or places in the state of California that have been determined to have statewide historical significance by meeting at least one of the criteria listed below:...
#786 - Butte Store (CHL #39)—The only structure remaining of Butte City, prosperous mining town of the 1850s
- Jackson Gate (CHL #118)—Jackson Gate, on the north fork of Jackson Creek, takes its name from a fissureFissureIn anatomy, a fissure is a groove, natural division, deep furrow, elongated cleft, or tear in various parts of the body.-Brain:...
in a reef of rock that crosses the creek. In 1850 about 500 miners worked here and the first mining ditch in the county was dug here; its water sold for $1 per inch. - Site of Jackson's Pioneer JewishJudaismJudaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
SynagogueSynagogueA synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
(CHL #865—On September 18, 1857, Congregation B'nai IsraelB'nai IsraelB'nai Israel may refer to:in the United States*Congregation B'nai Israel *Congregation B'nai Israel...
of Jackson dedicated on this site the first synagogue in the Mother LodeGold CountryGold Country is a region in the central and northeastern part of California, United States. It is famed for the mineral deposits and gold mines that attracted waves of immigrants, known as the 49ers, during the 1849 California Gold Rush.-Geography:State Route 49 was built through the Gold Country,...
. High holy day worship continued until 1869 when the larger Masonic Hall was used to accommodate the congregation. The wooden structure then served as a schoolhouse until 1888. Relocated onto a nearby lot, it became a private dwelling, and was razed in 1948. - Pioneer Hall (CHL #34)—The Order of Native Daughters of the Golden West was organized on these premises, the site of the Pioneer Hall, on September 11, 1886.
National Register of Historic Places gallery
Jackson has several buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places; several are noted below.Points of interest
The City of Jackson in California is the center of trade and industry in Amador County. The majority of the shopping centers, government offices, and many businesses are located in Jackson and its neighbor town MartellMartell, California
Martell is a census-designated place in Amador County, California, United States. It is located northwest of Jackson, at an elevation of 1486 feet . The population was 282 at the 2010 census....
.
- Jackson Main Street - antique shops
- Jackson Rancheria - casino and hotel
- Underground caves with tours
- Outdoor Activities - camping, picnicking, etc.
Demographics
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Jackson had a population of 4,651. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,246.9 people per square mile (481.4/km²). The racial makeup of Jackson was 4,090 (87.9%) White, 32 (0.7%) African American, 94 (2.0%) Native American, 60 (1.3%) Asian, 4 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 185 (4.0%) from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 186 (4.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 520 persons (11.2%).
The Census reported that 4,423 people (95.1% of the population) lived in households, 12 (0.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 216 (4.6%) were institutionalized.
There were 2,065 households, out of which 537 (26.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 822 (39.8%) were opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 294 (14.2%) had a female householder with no husband present, 98 (4.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 120 (5.8%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 5 (0.2%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 747 households (36.2%) were made up of individuals and 438 (21.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14. There were 1,214 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(58.8% of all households); the average family size was 2.75.
The population was spread out with 945 people (20.3%) under the age of 18, 306 people (6.6%) aged 18 to 24, 1,030 people (22.1%) aged 25 to 44, 1,197 people (25.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,173 people (25.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.0 years. For every 100 females there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.4 males.
There were 2,309 housing units at an average density of 619.0 per square mile (239.0/km²), of which 1,122 (54.3%) were owner-occupied, and 943 (45.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 4.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.8%. 2,305 people (49.6% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,118 people (45.5%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,989 people, 1,746 households, and 1,023 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,135.8 people per square mile (438.8/km²). There were 1,859 housing units at an average density of 529.3 per square mile (204.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.5% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.5% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.4% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.6% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.1% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.9% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.1% from two or more races. 6.5% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 1,746 households out of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.4% were non-families. 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.74.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,944, and the median income for a family was $45,887. Males had a median income of $40,444 versus $35,083 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $21,399. About 4.1% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
High school
Jackson has only one high school, Argonaut High SchoolArgonaut High School
Argonaut High School is located in Jackson, CA and is one of two high schools in Amador County the other being Amador High School. It is a public school with about 700 students in grades 9–12...
home of the mustangs. The school's namesake is the Argonaut Mine located in town