Jackson, Michigan

File:71jackson tower.jpg

File:Michigan - Escanaba through Jackson - NARA - 23941581 (cropped).jpg

On July 3, 1829, Horace Blackman, accompanied by Alexander Laverty, a land surveyor, and Pewytum, 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 from Ann Arbor. Blackman had hired Laverty and Pewytum to guide him west. Returning to Ann Arbor and Monroe, Blackman registered his claim for {{convert|160|acre|ha|0}} 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.

{{See also|History of the United States Republican Party}}

Jackson is one of the birthplaces of the Republican Party. The first official meeting of the group that called itself "Republican" was held in Jackson on July 6, 1854.[http://www.experiencejackson.com/business/316 "Under the Oaks"], Experience Jackson website 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. The site, an oak grove on "Morgan's Forty", then on the outskirts of town, became known as "Under the Oaks".{{cite web |url=http://www.jacksonmich.com/markers/mark1.htm |title=Jackson Michigan Historical Markers Under the Oaks |publisher=Albion Design}}

Before Detroit began building cars on assembly lines in 1910, Jackson factories were making parts for cars and putting them together. 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.{{Cite web|url = http://yeolecarriageshop.com/id15.html|title = Ye Ole Carriage Shop|access-date = 2015-02-20|website = Jackson Cars|publisher = Y Ole Carriage Shop|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150403191346/http://yeolecarriageshop.com/id15.html|archive-date = April 3, 2015|df = mdy-all}}

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 the moped parts industry.

In 1914 Macedonian immigrant George Todoroff founded the first "Coney Island restaurant" and created his famous Coney 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 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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.todoroffs.com/toci/Our_History/our_history_index.htm |title=Todoroff's® Original Coney Island — Treasure the Taste ! |access-date=2011-03-28 |archive-date=2011-07-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717065536/http://www.todoroffs.com/toci/Our_History/our_history_index.htm |url-status=dead }}

The legislature authorized Michigan's first state prison in 1838. A temporary wooden prison, enclosed by a fence of tamarack 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.michmarkers.com/startup.asp?startpage=S0178.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140107165208/http://www.michmarkers.com/startup.asp?startpage=S0178.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 7, 2014|title=Michigan Historical Markers|work=Michigan Markers}} Beginning in the 1850s, Warden H.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 the [http://historicprisontours.com/ Original Jackson Historic Prison Tours]. A closed, fully intact cell block at the modern prison in Blackman Township was operated as the [http://www.cellblock7.org/ Cell Block 7 Prison Museum] from 2014-2019. Independently operated by the accredited [http://www.ellasharp.org/ Ella 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.{{Cite web|url = http://www.experiencejackson.com/prison|title = Jackson's Prison History|access-date = 2015-02-20|website = Experience Jackson}}

{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2024}}

Numerous railroad connections were constructed to Jackson, connecting it to many markets. The local invention of the duplex corset 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 of which 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 the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|10.98|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|10.86|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.12|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (1.09%) is water.{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=November 25, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 12, 2012 |df=mdy }}

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 the Köppen climate classification system, Jackson has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=31037&cityname=Jackson%2C+Michigan%2C+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Jackson, Michigan Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|work=Weatherbase}}

{{Weather box

|location = Jackson Reynolds Field, Michigan (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1944–present)

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 71

|Feb record high F = 69

|Mar record high F = 85

|Apr record high F = 88

|May record high F = 95

|Jun record high F = 101

|Jul record high F = 103

|Aug record high F = 102

|Sep record high F = 100

|Oct record high F = 90

|Nov record high F = 79

|Dec record high F = 69

|year record high F = 103

|Jan avg record high F = 53.0

|Feb avg record high F = 54.3

|Mar avg record high F = 69.0

|Apr avg record high F = 78.2

|May avg record high F = 85.3

|Jun avg record high F = 91.1

|Jul avg record high F = 91.7

|Aug avg record high F = 90.2

|Sep avg record high F = 87.3

|Oct avg record high F = 79.4

|Nov avg record high F = 65.8

|Dec avg record high F = 55.1

|year avg record high F = 93.6

|Jan high F = 31.3

|Feb high F = 34.5

|Mar high F = 45.3

|Apr high F = 58.5

|May high F = 69.8

|Jun high F = 78.9

|Jul high F = 82.5

|Aug high F = 80.4

|Sep high F = 73.6

|Oct high F = 61.1

|Nov high F = 47.7

|Dec high F = 36.2

|year high F = 58.3

|Jan mean F = 24.4

|Feb mean F = 26.6

|Mar mean F = 36.0

|Apr mean F = 47.8

|May mean F = 58.8

|Jun mean F = 68.0

|Jul mean F = 71.6

|Aug mean F = 69.9

|Sep mean F = 62.6

|Oct mean F = 51.2

|Nov mean F = 39.9

|Dec mean F = 29.9

|year mean F = 48.9

|Jan low F = 17.5

|Feb low F = 18.6

|Mar low F = 26.7

|Apr low F = 37.1

|May low F = 47.7

|Jun low F = 57.1

|Jul low F = 60.7

|Aug low F = 59.4

|Sep low F = 51.7

|Oct low F = 41.4

|Nov low F = 32.1

|Dec low F = 23.6

|year low F = 39.5

|Jan avg record low F = -5.0

|Feb avg record low F = -1.3

|Mar avg record low F = 7.2

|Apr avg record low F = 21.7

|May avg record low F = 32.3

|Jun avg record low F = 42.1

|Jul avg record low F = 48.2

|Aug avg record low F = 46.8

|Sep avg record low F = 36.7

|Oct avg record low F = 26.8

|Nov avg record low F = 17.0

|Dec avg record low F = 4.7

|year avg record low F = -8.3

|Jan record low F = −20

|Feb record low F = −19

|Mar record low F = −7

|Apr record low F = 3

|May record low F = 21

|Jun record low F = 34

|Jul record low F = 37

|Aug record low F = 37

|Sep record low F = 27

|Oct record low F = 16

|Nov record low F = −5

|Dec record low F = −14

|year record low F = −20

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 1.67

|Feb precipitation inch = 1.52

|Mar precipitation inch = 1.93

|Apr precipitation inch = 2.94

|May precipitation inch = 3.40

|Jun precipitation inch = 3.58

|Jul precipitation inch = 3.35

|Aug precipitation inch = 3.81

|Sep precipitation inch = 2.98

|Oct precipitation inch = 2.92

|Nov precipitation inch = 2.33

|Dec precipitation inch = 1.76

|year precipitation inch = 32.19

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 12.7

|Feb precipitation days = 10.3

|Mar precipitation days = 10.9

|Apr precipitation days = 12.9

|May precipitation days = 12.4

|Jun precipitation days = 10.6

|Jul precipitation days = 9.3

|Aug precipitation days = 9.9

|Sep precipitation days = 9.5

|Oct precipitation days = 11.3

|Nov precipitation days = 11.4

|Dec precipitation days = 11.9

|year precipitation days = 133.1

|Jan snow inch = 10.8

|Feb snow inch = 7.3

|Mar snow inch = 6.2

|Apr snow inch = 1.5

|May snow inch = 0.0

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.0

|Oct snow inch = 0.1

|Nov snow inch = 2.9

|Dec snow inch = 8.5

|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 8.9

|Feb snow days = 6.6

|Mar snow days = 4.3

|Apr snow days = 1.1

|May snow days = 0.0

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.1

|Nov snow days = 2.4

|Dec snow days = 7.2

|Jan snow depth inch = 7.2

|Feb snow depth inch = 7.3

|Mar snow depth inch = 4.6

|Apr snow depth inch = 1.1

|May snow depth inch = 0.0

|Jun snow depth inch = 0.0

|Jul snow depth inch = 0.0

|Aug snow depth inch = 0.0

|Sep snow depth inch = 0.

|Oct snow depth inch = 0.1

|Nov snow depth inch = 1.9

|Dec snow depth inch = 5.0

|year snow depth inch = 10.1

|source 1 = NOAA (snow, snow days, snow depth 1944–2000)

{{cite web

| url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=grr

| title = NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = September 4, 2021}}

{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00014833&format=pdf

| title = Station: Jackson Reynolds FLD, MI

| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = September 4, 2021}}

}}

{{US Census population

|1850= 2363

|1860= 4799

|1870= 11447

|1880= 16105

|1890= 20798

|1900= 25180

|1910= 31433

|1920= 48374

|1930= 55187

|1940= 49656

|1950= 51088

|1960= 50720

|1970= 45484

|1980= 39739

|1990= 38303

|2000= 36316

|2010= 33534

|2020= 31309

|estyear= 2023

|estimate= 30854

|estref=

|align-fn=center

|footnote=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060208103743/http://www.census.gov:80/prod/www/abs/decennial/ U.S. Decennial Census]
2018 Estimate{{cite web|title=Population Estimates|url=https://census.gov/data/tables/2018/demo/popest/total-cities-and-towns.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 8, 2018}}

}}

As of the census{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=November 25, 2012}} of 2010, there were 33,534 people, 13,294 households, and 7,872 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|3085.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 15,457 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1422.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 71.4% White, 20.4% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 1.6% from other races, and 5.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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 {{convert|3274.9|PD/sqmi|PD/sqkm}}. There were 15,241 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1374.4|/sqmi|/sqkm}}. The racial makeup of the city was 73.87% White, 19.70% Black or African American, 0.56% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.65% from other races, and 3.67% from two or more races. 4.05% of the population were Hispanic or Latino 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 the American Civil War. The First Baptist Church was established in 1839; the present building, a Romanesque Revival structure, was dedicated in March 1872. The First 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.{{Cite web|url = http://jacksonucc.com/|title = First Congregational Church|access-date = 2015-02-20|website = First Congregational Church}} Its congregation has actively participated in local social reform efforts, becoming part of the antislavery movement in the 1840s and later supporting the temperance and the civil 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 oldest Episcopal 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.Ashlee, Laura R. Traveling through Time: A Guide to Michigan's Historical Markers, pp. 202–205. University of Michigan Press, 2005. {{ISBN|0-472-03066-3}} The first and only Eastern Orthodox Church is St. Demetrius Orthodox Church, founded in 1958. Among the modern churches in the town is Westwinds 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|date=October 2020}}

Late 19th-century immigrants included Jews from Germany and eastern Europe. Jackson is home to Temple Beth Israel, a Reform synagogue founded in 1862 by German Jewish immigrants.

File:Consumers Energy Headquarters, Jackson, Michigan.jpg

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 and electrical services to much of Michigan and has its international headquarters in the city. The next two major employers are Henry Ford Health (formerly Foote Hospital) and the Eaton Corporation.

Michigan Automotive Compressor, Inc. (MACI) is the largest manufacturer in Jackson County and its fourth-largest individual employer. In February 2009 it began offering voluntary buyouts to its workers, in reaction to the slowing economy during the financial crisis.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/Jackson/2009/02/jacksonbased_michigan_automoti.html|title=Jackson-based Michigan Automotive Compressor, Inc. offers voluntary buyouts|last=Scott|first=Sara|date=February 4, 2009|work=Michigan Live for Jackson Citizen Patriot|access-date=June 3, 2022}}

Family-owned food manufacturer and distributor Dawn 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. The company employs over 35 people, providing components for the aerospace, automotive and defense industries.{{cite web|url=http://www.jacksonflex.com/about.html|title=About Us|work=Jackson Flexible|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115223912/http://jacksonflex.com/about.html|archive-date=November 15, 2014|df=mdy-all}}

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)[http://www.michigan.gov/corrections/0,1607,7-119-1381_1385-19490--,00.html "Charles Egeler Reception and Guidance Center Annex (RGC) Closed November 2, 2007"][http://www.michigan.gov/documents/corrections/2008_MDOC_STATISTICAL_REPORT_287713_7.pdf Michigan Department of Corrections 2008 Statistical Report], pg. F-18 and the Southern Michigan Correctional Facility (JMF).[http://www.michigan.gov/corrections/0,1607,7-119-1381_1388-5357--,00.html "Southern Michigan Correctional Facility (JMF) Closed November 17, 2007"] One of the closed cell blocks at JMF has been adapted and re-opened as the [http://www.cellblock7.org/ Cell Block 7 Prison Museum].

The other facilities in the complex, including two in the old walled building, remain open: the G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility (JCF),{{cite web|url=http://www.michigan.gov/corrections/1,1607,7-119-1381_1388-5333--,00.html|title=CORRECTIONS – G. Robert Cotton Correctional Facility (JCF)|work=michigan.gov}} the Cooper Street Correctional Facility (JCS),{{cite web|url=http://www.michigan.gov/corrections/1,1607,7-119-1381_1388-5332--,00.html|title=CORRECTIONS – Cooper Street Correctional Facility (JCS)|work=michigan.gov}} the Charles Egeler Reception and Guidance Center (RGC),{{cite web|url=http://www.michigan.gov/corrections/1,1607,7-119-1381_1388-5338--,00.html|title=CORRECTIONS – Charles Egeler Reception & Guidance Center (RGC)|work=michigan.gov}} and the Parnall Correctional Facility (SMT).{{cite web|url=http://www.michigan.gov/corrections/1,1607,7-119-1381_1388-5339--,00.html|title=CORRECTIONS – Parnall Correctional Facility (SMT)|work=michigan.gov}}

File:Entrance to Loomis Park, Jackson, Mich - Front.png

Jackson's parks and recreation department includes a golf course, swimming pool, sporting fields, and 26 parks, totaling 645 acres.{{Cite web|url = http://www.cityofjackson.org/129/Parks-Recreation-Grounds|title = City of Jackson Parks and Recreation|website = City of Jackson}}

JAX 60 Lanes in Jackson has hosted multiple professional ten-pin bowling events for the PBA Tour and PBA50 Tour. On July 16–23, 2023, the center hosted the inaugural PBA50 World Series of Bowling.{{cite web|url=https://www.pba.com/2023/july/pba50-world-series-bowling-preview|title=PBA50 World Series of Bowling Preview |website=PBA |last=Hughes |first=Nolan |date=July 15, 2023 |access-date=July 20, 2023}}

File:Jackson, Michigan City Hall, 2025.jpg

The city levies an income tax of 1 percent on residents and 0.5 percent on nonresidents.{{cite news|last1=Gibbons|first1=Lauren|title=Michigan State University, city of East Lansing at odds over proposed income tax |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/2017/08/michigan_state_university_city.html|access-date=June 3, 2022|work=Michigan Live Lansing |date=August 16, 2017}} Federally, Jackson is located in Michigan's 5th congressional district, represented by Republican Tim Walberg.

Jackson is served by Jackson 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 public Jackson High School, East Jackson Secondary School (Public), Parma Western High School, and Northwest 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), and Lumen Christi Catholic School (Catholic).

The city is also home to institutions of adult and higher education: Jackson College (formerly Jackson Community College), Baker College, [https://web.archive.org/web/20130407095906/http://www.cqlc.edu/ Career Quest Learning Centers], and Spring Arbor University. An additional 15 higher education institutions are within a one-hour drive of Jackson County{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}.

{{See also|Jackson station (Michigan)}}

File:JATA Michigan bus.jpg buses at the JATA Transfer Center]]

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 the Michigan Central Railroad Jackson Depot on East Michigan Avenue is the nation's oldest train station in continuous active use. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Jackson, operating its Wolverine three times daily in each direction between Chicago and Pontiac, Michigan, via Detroit.

Jackson and Lansing Railroad (JAIL) owns a line from Jackson to Lansing, Michigan. Norfolk Southern (NS) owns a yard in Jackson as well.

The junction of I-94 and US 127 was built at Jackson.

• {{jct|state=MI|I|94}}
• {{jct|state=MI|BL|94|dab1=Jackson}}
• {{jct|state=MI|US|127}} is a north–south highway providing access northerly toward Lansing and Clare and southerly into Ohio. In the Jackson area, US 127 runs concurrently with I-94 for approximately {{convert|4|mi|km|spell=in}}. It is freeway from Jackson northerly past Lansing, while the freeway south of Jackson quickly transitions to a two-lane, uncontrolled access highway.
• {{jct|state=MI|US-Bus|127|dab1=Jackson}} is a loop route running through downtown, connecting with US 127 at either end.
• {{jct|state=MI|M|50}} enters Jackson from the northwest, and exits southeast of town.
• {{jct|state=MI|M|60}} approaches Jackson from the southwest, ending at I-94 west of the city.
• {{jct|state=MI|M|106}} enters Jackson from the northeast and ends downtown.

Reynolds Field at Jackson County Airport is the main airport for the city. It hosted commercial service, primarily under the North 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 and Greyhound Lines offer intercity service from the JATA station. In addition to the publicly funded JATA, there are four private taxicab companies operating in town.

{{div col}}

• Claire Allen — architect
• Fairuza Balk — actress, musician, and visual artist; lived here until the age of two with her mother, Cathryn Balk
• Austin Blair — governor of Michigan during Civil War
• Kara Braxton — WNBA basketball player
• Carl Christensen — soccer player and coach{{cite web |title=NASL–Carl Christensen |url=https://www.nasljerseys.com/Players/C/Christensen.Carl.htm |website=(NASL) jerseys |access-date=April 5, 2025}}
• Dan Coats — U.S. congressman and senator, representing Indiana, and Director of National Intelligence in the Presidency of Donald Trump.
• Tim Crabtree — Major League Baseball pitcher
• Philip Campbell Curtis — artist
• Tony Dungy — National Football League player and coach, won Super Bowl XLI, 2016 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee
• Paula Faris — television correspondent for ABC News and The View
• Idabelle Smith Firestone — songwriter, wife of tire mogul Harvey Samuel Firestone
• Louise V. Gustin — ragtime composer, born in Jackson
• Raymond Salvatore Harmon — artist
• Jack Harris — National Football League player
• Dave Hill — professional golfer
• Mike Hill — professional golfer
• Fred Janke — football player and mayor of Jackson
• David Johnson — jurist, lawyer, legislator[http://www.micourthistory.org/justices/david-johnson/ Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society-David Johnson]
• James Earl Jones — stage and screen actor; lived here from the age of five with his maternal grandparents
• Ruth Ward Kahn — writer
• Steven Kampfer — National Hockey League player, Stanley Cup champion 2011 with Boston Bruins
• Vivian Kellogg — All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
• Karch Kiraly — Olympic gold medalist and pro volleyball player
• Cheslie Kryst — Miss USA 2019
• Mary Torrans Lathrap — poet, preacher, suffragist, social reformer
• Rick Lenz — actor
• Clarence Love — NFL player, Super Bowl champion with Baltimore Ravens
• Alfred Lucking — U.S. congressman{{cite dictionary|url= http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=L000500|title= LUCKING, Alfred, (1856–1929) |dictionary = Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date= March 21, 2014}}
• Anna Theresa Berger Lynch — cornetist and trumpeter; lived and died in Jackson
• Gene Markey — decorated naval officer, screenwriter; married to Hedy Lamarr and Myrna Loy
• Carter Mazur — American ice hockey player for the Detroit Red Wings
• Tim McClelland — Major League Baseball umpire
• James McDivitt — NASA astronaut
• Harry Melling — NASCAR team owner, won two Daytona 500s
• Charles W. Misner — physicist, author of Gravitation
• Marcus Norris — basketball player
• Tyler Oakley — YouTuber and LGBT activist
• Rasmea Odeh — convicted of immigration fraud, for concealing her arrest, conviction, and imprisonment for fatal terrorist bombing{{cite web|url=https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/wayne/2015/03/12/ramieh-odeh-sentencing/70198650/|title=Palestinian activist Rasmieh Odeh sentenced to prison for immigration lies|author=Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press|date=March 12, 2015|work=Detroit Free Press}}
• Jack Paar — television personality, host of Tonight Starring Jack Paar, predecessor of Johnny Carson
• Dominic Pangborn — Korean-American artist and graphic designer
• U.E. Patrick — IndyCar team owner and three-time Indy 500 champion owner
• Alonzo Sargent — locomotive engineer
• Potter Stewart — associate justice of the United States Supreme Court (1958-1981)
• Wilbur F. Storey – publisher and editor, founder of Jackson Patriot, owned Detroit Free Press
• Brian Stuard — professional golfer
• Tyler Thomas — former Canadian Football League player and current Indoor Football League player
• Brian VanGorder — football coach, defensive coordinator for Auburn, Notre Dame, NFL's Atlanta Falcons
• Rick Wise — Major League Baseball pitcher
• Alfred Worden — NASA astronaut and one of 24 people to have travelled to the Moon
• Wendy Wyland — diver, Olympic bronze medalist

{{div col end}}

• {{flagicon|Germany}} Varel, Germany[http://www.jacksonchamber.org/files/varel-germany-pr.pdf Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726200924/http://www.jacksonchamber.org/files/varel-germany-pr.pdf |date=July 26, 2011 }} June 5, 2002. Retrieved on September 11, 2009.
• {{flagicon|NIR|union}} Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland, United KingdomFessel, Lynn (May 9, 2006). [http://www.cityofjackson.org/departments/cityclerk/Workflow/readnew.asp?id=301 "Jackson City Council Meeting: Minutes, May 9, 2006"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071121095828/http://www.cityofjackson.org/departments/cityclerk/workflow/readnew.asp?id=301 |date=November 21, 2007 }}. City of Jackson, Michigan.

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

{{EB1911 poster|Jackson (Michigan)|Jackson, Michigan}}

• {{Official website}}
• [https://books.google.com/books?id=7-EDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA214 "Lights on Man-Made Cascade Colored Like Rainbow" Popular Mechanics, August 1932]

{{Geographic location

|North=Lansing, Mason, Holt, East Lansing

|West=Battle Creek, Marshall, Portage, Kalamazoo

|Center=Jackson

|East=Chelsea, Ann Arbor, Detroit

|South=Hudson, Hillsdale

|Northwest=Charlotte, Hastings, Eaton Rapids

|Northeast=Howell, Pontiac

|Southwest=Coldwater

|Southeast=Tecumseh, Adrian, Toledo

}}

{{Jackson County, Michigan}}

{{Michigan county seats}}

{{Great Lakes Megalopolis}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in Jackson County, Michigan

Category:County seats in Michigan

Category:Populated places established in 1829

Category:1829 establishments in Michigan Territory