Jack

Formed January 1, 1856 (107^th county)

Jack County (9,044), Jacksboro (4,511)                

The Modern stone and concrete courthouse was built in 1940 on the square at United States Highway 380 (Belknap Street) and United States Highway 281. Jacksboro has been the county seat since the January 1, 1856 formation of the county.  Jack County was cut from Cooke County as the 107^th county.  Four courthouses (1858, 1871, 1886, and 1940) have been located in Jacksboro to serve Jack County.  Voelcker and Dixon are the designers of this latest courthouse.  Jack County and Jacksboro are named for Patrick C. and William H. Jack who was leaders in the Texas independence efforts. 

Jack County government consists of a sheriff, a County Judge, and 4 Commissioners.  One District Court Judge serves Jack and Wise counties and One County Court Judge serves Jack County.  The county is located in north central Texas northwest of Fort Worth, Texas and south of Wichita Falls, Texas.  The county center is in Jacksboro 1-mile Southwest of the city center.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Clay, Montague, Wise, Parker, Palo Pinto, Young, and Archer counties. 

The area of the county is 920 square miles.  It is 128 out of 254 in the state.  It ranks 173 out of 254 in population in the state.  It has a density of 9.83 persons per square mile making it 172 out of 254 in the state.  Jack County has 55.8% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 281 enters from Archer County in the northwest and exits into Palo Pinto County on the south.  United States Highway 380 transits east (Wise County) to west (Young County).  The county is a square and Jacksboro is close to the county center.  Jacksboro is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 49.9% of the county population.