Jackson Purchase

The Jackson Purchase is a region in the state of Kentucky bounded by the Mississippi River to the west, the Ohio River to the north, and Tennessee River to the east. [cite book |title="Encyclopedia of Kentucky" |chapter=Geographical Configuration |publisher=Somerset Publishers |location=New York, New York |year=1987 |isbn=0403099811] Although technically part of Kentucky at its statehood in 1792, the land did not come under definitive U.S. control until President Andrew Jackson purchased it in 1818 from the Chickasaw Indians. Kentuckians generally call this region "the Purchase".

Jackson's purchase also included all of Tennessee west of the Tennessee River. In modern usage the term "Jackson Purchase" refers only to the Kentucky portion of the acquisition. The Tennessee region directly to the south is typically called West Tennessee.

The Purchase, which is primarily alluvial and is geologically part of the Mississippi Delta, has chiefly an agricultural economy. The largest city and main economic center, Paducah, has fewer than 30,000 residents. Only two other towns in the region, Murray and Mayfield, have more than 10,000 residents each. The region's main educational institution is Murray State University.

Tourism is an important industry in the Purchase, focused chiefly on water-related activities at the TVA-created Kentucky Lake. Together with Lake Barkley a few miles to the east, it forms most of the eastern border of the Purchase.

The Purchase is in a zone of high earthquake risk. It lies near the New Madrid Seismic Zone, which in 1811 and 1812 experienced three of the largest quakes ever recorded. In 1895 another major earthquake was recorded there.

Politics

Historically with an agricultural economy tied to cotton plantations and the use of enslaved labor before the Civil War, the Purchase was the most staunchly Democratic region in Kentucky. For well over a century, it provided such overwhelming margins for Democratic candidates that Kentucky Democrats routinely called it the "Gibraltar of Democracy". The most widely circulated newspaper and media outlet in the Purchase, "The Paducah Sun", was once named the "Paducah Sun-Democrat" (see WPSD-TV).

In recent elections, The Purchase has voted for Republicans in national elections while giving higher percentages to Democrats in state elections. This trend is similar to realignment among white conservatives in other parts of the South. As of 2004, however, the majority of the region's delegation in the Kentucky General Assembly have been elected from the Republican Party. For the first time in history, the region's two state senators are both Republicans.

The Purchase is within Kentucky's 1st congressional district. As of March 15, 2007, 74% of all Purchase voters are registered Democrats and 22% of Purchase voters are registered Republicans. In keeping with the South generally, Purchase Democrats are more conservative than many in the national party. (see also Blue Dog Democrats).

The Purchase comprises seven counties with a combined land area of 6,202.496 km² (2,394.797 sq mi), or about 6.03 percent of the state's land area. Its 2000 census population was 193,495 inhabitants, or about 4.787 percent of the state's population. Its three largest cities are Paducah, Murray, and Mayfield.

Counties in the Purchase

* Ballard County
* Calloway County
* Carlisle County
* Fulton County
* Graves County
* Hickman County
* Marshall County
* McCracken County

Cities, towns, and census-designated places

* Almo
*Arlington
*Bardwell
*Barlow
*Benton
*Blandville
*Calvert City
*Clinton
*Columbus
*Fulton

*Hardin
*Hazel
*Hendron
*Hickman
*Kevil
*La Center
*Lone Oak
*Massac

*Mayfield
*Murray
*Paducah
*Reidland
*Water Valley
*Wickliffe
*Wingo
*Woodlawn-Oakdale

References

ee also

* New Madrid Seismic Zone