Jackson County, Ohio

Founding: March 1, 1816
Parent counties: Athens, Gallia, Ross, and Scioto

Namesake: Andrew Jackson (1767–1845), War of 1812 hero
Seat: Jackson (1816–)

Land area: 420 square miles

Population (2010): 33,225

Population (historic): 3,746 (1820); 17,941 (1860); 34,248 (1900); 25,040 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1820–1870; 1880–1900; 1930s; 1970s; 1990s

Subdivisions: Two cities; two villages; 12 townships

National Register listings: 13

Income (per capita): $18,775

Income (median household): $34,044
Business establishments: 583 (57 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 2,950 (20.2%)
Vacant houses: 1,370 (9.4%)
Sources of settlement: Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Wales

Jackson

Namesake: Andrew Jackson

Founding: 1817 (platting); 1816 (post office)

Population (2010): 6,397

Population (historic): 136 (1830); 1,067 (1860); 4,672 (1900); 5,922 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1830–1890; 1900–1920; 1950s
Typology: Grid

Courthouse Prehistory

- Before construction of the first courthouse, the county government met at the homes of William Givens, N.W. Andrews, Andrew Donnally, and others.

First Courthouse

Location: Jackson

Construction: 1819–1820s

Years of service: 1820s–1860

Typology: Cubic; brick; two-story

Style: Federal (?)

Builders: Elisha Fitch et al.

Cost: $4,061 ($65,973 in 2017 dollars)

Status: Razed (burned in 1860)

Features of note: Octagonal cupola.

Second Courthouse

Photo by Nyttend.

Location: 226 East Main Street (Jackson)

Construction: 1868 / 1954

Years of service: 1868–1951 / 1954–

Typology: Front-gabled; brick; three-story

Style: Italianate

Builder: R.C. Saunders

Cost: $30,000 ($561,027 in 2017 dollars)

Status: Extant; functional; renovated after 1951 fire

Features of note: Three-bay facade; round-arched windows; round-arched recesses; ill-proportioned portico with square piers, bulging Ionic columns, modillions, dentils, and a curious parapet design. When built, the structure featured cornice brackets and a well-ornamented bell tower. A 1951 fire destroyed the roof and third floor.


Sources: Wikipedia; Courthouse History; United States Census Bureau; Jackson City Guide website; A History of Jackson County, Ohio (Williams, 1900).