History
Jackson County is named for Andrew Jackson, the nation's seventh president. The county is well known today for its apple farms, but it once possessed a very different resource. Jackson County's earliest treasure was salt. Native Americans frequented the "licks" on Salt Creek, where Daniel Boone was forced to make salt when he was captured by the Shawnees. When Ohio became a state in 1803, the U.S. government kept Jackson County's territory in reserve for the production of salt.
The Scioto Salt Springs in Jackson County were extensive and important to the economy. Workers dug wells about thirty feet deep, but because the water was low in saline matter ten or fifteen gallons were needed to make one pound of salt. Packhorses carried the salt to other settlements, where it sold for as much as eight dollars per hundred pounds. By 1815 the natural supply had been virtually exhausted. Jackson County was formed the next year.
When Jackson County was organized, county officials wanted to establish the county seat within the salt reservation. Thus Congress authorized the state legislature to select and sell one section of land and to apply the proceeds toward the construction of a courthouse and other public buildings. Jackson, formerly named Salt Lick Town, became the county seat.
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Business Opportunities
Business Growth and Potential
The 2000 annual average civilian labor force estimates for Jackson County were: total labor force, 14,500; employment, 13,500; unemployment, 1,000; and unemployment rate, 6.8 percent. The manufacturing industry accounted for the largest segment of workers in Jackson County with 34.2 percent. Employers find the county attractive in terms of land prices, energy costs, transportation access via Routes 32 and 35 and a motivated workforce. One plant manager in Jackson County praises the Southern Ohio work ethic. "There's a high sense of individualism," he says. "But with that comes a high sense of energy and commitment."
Major Employers
General Mills Inc.
Holzer Medical Center
Jackson City Board of Education
Luigino's Inc.
Masco Corp./Merillat Industries Inc.
Meridian Automotive Systems
Osco Industries
Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
Wellston City Board of Education
Business Support Organizations
Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce
234 Broadway Street
Jackson OH 45640
740-286-2722
Oak Hill Chamber of Commerce
154 Zoar Church Road
Oak Hill OH 45656
(740) 682-6588
Wellston Area Chamber of Commerce
203 E. Broadway Street
Wellston OH 45692
(740) 384-3051
Jackson County Economic Development
Stephanie Filson
200 Broadway Street
Jackson OH 45640
Phone: (614) 286-2838
Fax: (614) 286-9641
Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative (SODI)
1864 Shyville Road
Piketon OH 45661
(740) 289-3654
Educational Opportunities Area colleges and universities that serve Jackson County residents include Ohio University, Shawnee State University, the University of Rio Grande, and the Southeastern Business College.
Daymar College - Offering training in a variety of careers.
Tourism and Lifestyle
Recreation
- Located near Wellston amid of some of Ohio's most rugged, scenic landscapes is Lake Alma State Park. A quiet lake and a gentle creek meandering through a forested valley provide a tranquil setting for park visitors, who can enjoy over 80 campsites, summer cabins, boating, fishing, hiking, biking, picnicking and swimming.
- Rugged hills and mist-filled valleys provide a colorful backdrop for Jackson Lake State Park. Two miles west of the town of Oak Hill, Jackson Lake is situated in one of the most picturesque regions of the state. The Jackson Lake area, in addition to its outstanding natural features, is endowed with a rich cultural history that spans many centuries.
- Founded 1971 and located in the Old Welsh Congregational Church, 412 East Main Street, Oak Hill, the Welsh-American Heritage Museum preserves and celebrates the culture of the Welsh immigrants who settled the area in the early 19th century. For information, phone curator Mildred Bangert (740) 682-7057.
- The Lillian E. Jones Museum in downtown Jackson provides unique opportunities for residents and visitors alike. The home formerly owned by Lillian Jones, whose family was active in the early business and social past of Jackson County, was left to be used as a museum to preserve the county's history. The facility also offers new programs, exhibits, and events of interest for the education and enjoyment of the community. Changing exhibits complement a permanent collection of antique furnishings, glassware, ceramics, vintage clothing, books, and collectibles.
- Buckeye Furnace State Memorial, located 10 miles east of Jackson, is a reconstructed iron furnace typical of those operating in southeastern Ohio's Hanging Rock Iron Region more than a century ago. The complex includes the changing house, charcoal and casting sheds and the company store. The memorial is open May through October. For more information, call the Ohio Historical Society at 1-800-686-1529.
Attractions and Points of Interest
- Trout Festival
- Festival of Flags
- Lake Alma Beach Party
- Sports Festival
- County Fair
- Pig Iron Day
- Coal Festival
- Apple Festival
- Foothills Art Festival
- Winter Craftfest
Visitor Information
Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce
234 Broadway Street
Jackson OH 45640
(740) 286-2722
Airports
James A. Rhodes Airport, located about 5 miles from Jackson, has a paved runway extending 5200 feet.
Health Services
Holzer Medical Center -- Jackson
Jackson, Ohio
(740) 288-4625
Adena Regional Medical Center
272 Hospital Road
Chillicothe, OH 45601
(740) 779-7500
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