Jackson County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 9,989. Its county seat is Jackson.
History
The county was created on May 23, 1857. It was named for Henry Jackson, the first merchant in St. Paul.
Geography
Jackson County lies on the south side of Minnesota. Its south border abuts the north border of the state of Iowa. The Des Moines River flows south-southeasterly through the central part of the county, thence into Iowa. The county terrain is hilly and carved with drainages and gullies. The area is devoted to agriculture. The terrain generally slopes to the south and east; its highest point is on the lower west border, at ASL. The county has a total area of , of which is land and (2.3%) is water.
Lakes
Andersons Marsh
Bennett Slough (Partially Drained) Boot Lake Chandler Lake Clear Lake (part) Clear Lake (Des Moines Township and Hunter Township) Fish Lake (part) Grovers Lake (part) Heron Lake (4 basins: Duck, North Marsh, North Lake, South Lake, connected by streams) Illinois Lake Independence Lake Iowa Lake (part) Lake Flaherty Laurs Lake Little Spirit Lake (part) Long Lake (Drained CD13) Loon Lake Pearl Lake Quevli and Goose Slough (Drained JD3) Quelvis Lake (Drained) Round Lake Rush Lake (Sioux Valley Township) Rush Lake (Minneota Township) Skunk Lake Spirit Lake String Lake (part) Swenson Lake (Drained) Teal Lake Timber Lake
Protected areas
Anderson County Park
Artz WMA
Belmont County Park
Bootleg Lake State Wildlife Management Area
Brown County Park
Caraway State Wildlife Management Area
Christiana WPA
Clear Lake Recreation Area
Community Point County Park
Cotton-Jack WMA
Dead Horse WMA
Des Moines River Scientific and Natural Area
Fish Lake WPA
Graham Creek WMA
Heron Lake WMA
Heron Meadows WMA
Holthe Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
Holy Trinity WPA
Husen Wildlife Management Area
Kilen Woods State Park
Laurs Lake State Wildlife Management Area
Lillegard WMA
Little Sioux WMA
Minnesota Slough State Wildlife Management Area
Oxbow WMA
Pietz Slough WMA
Robertson County Park
Rost WPA
Sandy Point County Park
Sangl State Wildlife Management Area
Sioux Forks WPA
Sioux Valley WMA
Skunk Lake WMA
String Lake WPA
Summers State Wildlife Management Area
Teal Lake WMA
Timber Lake WMA
Timber Lake WPA
Toe WMA
Valleau WMA
Winkler WMA
Major highways
Interstate 90
U.S. Highway 71
Minnesota State Highway 60
Minnesota State Highway 86
Minnesota State Highway 264
Adjacent counties
Cottonwood County - north
Watonwan County - northeast
Martin County - east
Emmet County, Iowa - southeast
Dickinson County, Iowa - south
Osceola County, Iowa - southwest
Nobles County - west
Demographics
2020 census
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,268 people, 4,556 households, and 3,116 families in the county. The population density was . There were 5,092 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 97.07% White, 0.09% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 1.38% Asian, 0.97% from other races, and 0.38% from two or more races. 1.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 51.9% were of German, 14.1% Norwegian and 5.6% American ancestry.
There were 4,556 households, out of which 29.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.00% were married couples living together, 5.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.60% were non-families. 28.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.95.
The county population contained 24.50% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 20.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 100.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.30 males.