Jackson, California

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Jackson, California
other_name =
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settlement_type = City
motto = "Preserving our past, enriching our present, building our future"


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = California
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Amador
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Drew Stidger
leader_title1 = Vice Mayor
leader_name1 = Andy Rodriguez
leader_title2 = State Senate
leader_name2 = Dave Cox (R)
leader_title3 = State Assembly
leader_name3 = Alan Nakanishi (R)
leader_title4 = U. S. Congress
leader_name4 = Dan Lungren (R)
established_title = Settled
established_date = 1848
established_title2 = County Seat, Amador County
established_date2 = 1854
established_title3 = Incorporated
established_date3 = 1905
established_title4 =
established_date4 =
area_magnitude =
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area_footnotes =
area_total_km2 = 9.1
area_land_km2 = 9.1
area_water_km2 = 0
area_total_sq_mi = 3.5
area_land_sq_mi = 3.5
area_water_sq_mi = 0
area_water_percent = 0
population_as_of = 2007
population_footnotes = cite web |url=http://www.dof.ca.gov/HTML/DEMOGRAP/ReportsPapers/Estimates/E4/E4-01-06/HistE-4.asp
title=E-4 Population Estimates for Cities, Counties and the State, 2001-2007, with 2000 Benchmark. Sacramento, California, May 2007
publisher=State of California, Department of Finance
accessdate=2007-05-07]
population_note =
population_total = 4,317
population_density_km2 = 474.4
population_density_sq_mi = 1,233.4
timezone = PST
utc_offset = -8
timezone_DST = PDT
utc_offset_DST = -7
latd = 38 |latm = 20 |lats = 56 |latNS = N
longd = 120 |longm = 46 |longs = 27 |longEW = W
elevation_footnotes = cite web |url=Gnis3|1658849
title=USGS—Jackson, California |accessdate=2007-05-24 ]
elevation_m = 371
elevation_ft = 1217
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 95642
area_code = 209
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 06-36980
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1658849
website = [http://www.ci.jackson.ca.us/ www.ci.jackson.ca.us]
footnotes =

Jackson is the county seat of Amador County, California. The population was 3,989 at the 2000 census. The town is accessible by both State Route 49 and State Route 88.

Geography and geology

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²), all of it land. Jackson Creek 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 watercourses are considered likely locations for prehistoric cultural resources. Permanent villages 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. [ [http://www.co.amador.ca.us/about_amador.htm Amador County] History.]

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.

Landmarks

*Argonaut and Kennedy Mines, California Historical Landmark #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 fissure 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 Jewish Synagogue (CHL #865—On September 18, 1857, Congregation B'nai Israel of Jackson dedicated on this site the first synagogue in the Mother Lode. 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.

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 Martell.

* Jackson Main Street - antique shops
* Jackson Rancheria - casino and hotel
* Underground caves with tours
* Outdoor Activities - camping, picnicking, etc

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 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/sq mi (204.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.53% White, 0.50% Black or African American, 1.38% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.86% from other races, and 2.08% from two or more races. 6.47% 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.

References

*C. Michael Hogan, Gary Deghi et al., "Scottsville Project Environmental Impact Report, Jackson California", Earth Metrics Inc., Report 7562, Sept., 1989
*cite web | url=http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=21390 | title=Amador| work=California Historical Landmarks | publisher=Office of Historic Preservation | accessdate=2005-09-16

External links

* [http://www.ci.jackson.ca.us/ City of Jackson web site]