COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

JACKSON AT A GLANCE

The City of Jackson is located at the crossroads of south central Michigan, accessible from Interstate 94, US 127, Highway 50, Highway 106 and Highway 60, making Jackson an easy stop for most travelers. Lansing, the capital of Michigan, is located less than a hour's drive north, Detroit approximately 70 miles to the east, and Chicago is 200 miles to the west.

City of Jackson Information
Economy
Education
Quality of Life
Jackson Summary

City of Jackson Information
County: Jackson County
Area: Eleven Sq Miles
City Population: 36,316 (Source: 2000 US Census)
County Population: 163,629 (Source: 2000 US Census)

City and County Awards

• Cool City Designation, June 2004
• Jackson County named 4th best golf value in America by Golf Digest Magazine in 2004
• 1997 Golf Digest rated Jackson County as #14 in its national ranking of best places to play golf
• Ella Sharp Museum ranked first in Small Museums and second in the Art Gallery category by Michigan’s Best Treasure Awards 2000, Reader’s Choice Award
• Dahlem Environmental Center ranked third among Michigan’s nature centers
• Cascades Falls Park ranked as number one Sledding Hill in Michigan
• Phyllis Haehnle Memorial Sanctuary rated fourth best bird watching site in Michigan
• The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association. City of Jackson has received this award annually since 1991
• City of Jackson Police Department received the Weber-Seavey award in 1995 for their Resident-Officer Program. Only the top ten in the nation receive this award
• Jackson County ISD received an Award of Excellence for the Manufacturing Technologies Laboratory 1999.

Downtown Marketing Study Completed in 2003, this awarding winning evaluation of the retail and residential market in Downtown Jackson can provide potential developers with needed information that may assist with planning and financing. For a copy of the Executive Summary or to request the complete study click here.

Economy
Community Labor Force (Source: Office of Labor, Feb 07)

• Civilian Labor Force: 77,800
• Employed: 71,600
• Unemployed: 6,200

Jackson Income Statistics

• Median Household Income: $31,294
• Median Family Income: $39,072

Recent Private Investments:

• Nearly $4.5 million invested in the new headquarters for Anesthesia Business Consultants bringing over 200 new jobs across the street from this property
• Approximately $600,000 invested in the expansion of Daryl’s Downtown
• Development of City View Lofts, which is converting a warehouse into 26 high-end lofts
• Rehabilitation of the County Senior Center into multiple unit retail space including Swan Creek Candle Co. and Lenny’s Sub Shop
• Multi million dollar Armory Park Arts Project– Acquisition, interior and exterior rehabilitation of the Armory
• Over $113 million invested in construction for the new Consumers Energy Headquarters
• New construction of Miller Office Building

Recent Public Investments:

• Designated by Governor Granholm as one of the first “Cool Cities” recipients, resulting in over $3 million funding through various State Departments
• Over $2.8 million investment in streetscape enhancements for Michigan Avenue, Blackstone, Pearl, Mechanic, Cortland and Jackson Streets
• At least $500,000 to be invested in the Riverwalk Trail connecting Central Downtown with the Armory Arts Park Project
• $10 million for City Hall renovation funded by a City-wide millage
• Since 1994, over $1.5 million invested in exterior renovations through the Façade Improvement
• Over $250,000 invested in the MSHDA Residential Rental Rehabilitation Program turning underutilized space into residential units

Top 10 Largest Community Employers
 (Source: Jackson County Enterprise Group)
 

Education
Jackson County schools participate in the School of Choice program. This allows students living in one school district toattend a school outside of their home district for a broader range of educational opportunities. There are 16 public school districts in the county in addition to 16 private or parochial schools. The county's K-12 school districts consist of: Columbia, Concord, East Jackson, Grass Lake, Hanover Horton, Jackson County Intermediate School District, Educational Service Center, Jackson Area Career Center, Lyle A. Torrant Center, Jackson Public Schools, Michigan Center, Napoleon, Northwest, Springport, Vandercook Lake and Western.

The community, opposing a national trend of building new multi-acre schools, decided to renovate the historic Jackson High School at a cost of $24.9 million. Students enjoy their ‘almost’ downtown location in a historic building that could never be replaced.

Colleges and Universities Near Jackson:

• Baker College—4 miles
• Jackson Community College—9 miles
• Spring Arbor University—9 miles
• Albion College—20 miles
• Hillsdale College—36 miles
• University of Michigan—37 miles
• Michigan State University—37 miles
• Adrian College—37 miles
• Siena Heights University—42 miles
• Eastern Michigan University—46 miles

Quality of Life
Known for rich history and heritage, Jackson was instrumental the Underground Railroad, the Civil War, and as well as being the birthplace of the Republic Party. Community members also enjoy cultural activities from symphony concerts to the Shakespeare festival and have over 250 churches of various denominations within the County to choose from. Jackson is also known throughout the region as a community committed to recreation with hundreds of lakes and 16 parks throughout the County, not including any of the 36 parks within the city. With one of the highest concentrations of golf courses in the nation, it is no wonder that Jackson has been rated one of the best golf values by Golf Digest.