Jackson

Formed January 1, 1812 (12^th county)

Jackson County (143,259), Pascagoula (22,003)                

The Art Deco and Stripped Classical marble and concrete building was built in 1950 at Magnolia Street and Watts Street.  United States Highway 90 is eight blocks to the north of the site.  The building features carvings.  Jackson County was established on January 1, 1812 from Native American Territory as the 12^th county.  Benndale (1812), Brewers Bluff (1822), Americus (1826) and Scranton/now Pascagoula (1904) have all served as the county seat.  Carl L. Olschner is the architect.  A Justice Center was recently added in Pascagoula.  An 1875 courthouse preceded the current one.  The county is named for United States President Andrew Jackson.  He is also the namesake for one of the county seats of Hinds County.  The county seat name is Native American for “bread eaters.” 

Jackson County government consists of a sheriff and 5 Supervisors.  A Courts Building and General Services Building have been added.  Four Chancery Court Judges and Three District Court Judges serve Jackson, George, and Greene counties and Two County Court Judges serve Jackson County.  The county is in the southeast corner of the state.  The Gulf of Mexico is on its southern border and Alabama is on its eastern border.  The county center is 4.5 miles North of Pascagoula nearer Moss Point.  The county is surrounded clockwise by George County and Alabama and the Gulf of Mexico and Harrison and Stone counties. 

The area of the county is 727 square miles.  It is 13 out of 82 in the state.  It ranks 5 out of 82 in population in the state.  It has a density of 197.1 persons per square mile making it 5 out of 82 in the state.  Jackson County has 50.0% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 10 crosses the county east to west from Alabama to Harrison County.  United States Highway 90 parallels Interstate Highway 10 from Alabama to Harrison County.  The county is an overall rectangle with a wandering southern coastline.  Pascagoula is in the southeast corner of the county on the coast.  Pascagoula is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 15.4% of the county population.  The county seat is pronounced PAS-KA-GOO-LA.  This county is in the Pascagoula Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Pascagoula