Jackson

Formed December 21, 1837 (15^th county)

Jackson County (19,485), Maquoketa (6,129)                

The Modern concrete facility was built in 1958 on Platt Street between Niagara and 2^nd streets.  Iowa State Highway 64 is Platt Street.  William J. McNeil provided the designs for the courthouse.  Veteran memorials and a gazebo are on the grounds.  There was an 1873 and an 1886 courthouse in Maquoketa, an 1841 and an 1861 courthouse in Andrew, and an 1848 courthouse in Bellevue.  Jackson County was created on December 21, 1837 from Native American Territory as the 15^th county.  It is named for United States President Andrew Jackson.   The county seat’s name is Native American for “bears.” 

Jackson County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Supervisors.  Seventeen District Court Judges and Fifteen Magistrates serve Jackson, Cedar, Clinton, Muscatine, and Scott counties.  Jackson County is on the eastern border with Illinois.  The Mississippi River forms its eastern border.  Davenport, Iowa is south and Cedar Rapids, Iowa is west of the county.  The county center is 11.1 miles Northeast of Maquoketa nearer Andrew.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Illinois and Clinton, Jones, and Dubuque counties. 

The county has an area of 636 square miles.  It is 19 of 99 in the state.  It ranks 36 out of 99 in population in the state.  It has a density of 30.6 persons per square mile making it 39 out of 99 in the state.  Jackson County has 67.1% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 52 enters from Illinois, east, and exits to Dubuque County, north.  United States Highway 61 goes north to south in the county from Dubuque County to Clinton County.  United States Highway 67 clips the southeast tip from Illinois, east, to Clinton County, south.  The county is shaped like a recliner with an additional back on the west side.  Maquoketa is on the southern border of the county and extends into Clinton County.  Maquoketa is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 31.5% of the county population.

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