Jackson, Minnesota
Jackson is a city of 3,287 people in Jackson County, Minnesota, founded in 1856.
Why visit Jackson
Townapedia lists 1 museum or landmark, 8 parks and trails, 3 places to eat, 3 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Historic State Theatre, Jackson County Courthouse and Jackson Golf Club.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 81°F; January lows average 5°F, and about 48 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Jackson
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Jackson
Jackson is a city in and the county seat of Jackson County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,323 at the 2020 census.
From the Wikipedia article Jackson, Minnesota (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks1
Jackson County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Courthouse in Jackson, Minnesota, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds8
Restaurants and cafes3
History
For centuries, many indigenous peoples called this area home, including the Cheyenne, Ioway, and Dakota tribes. In 1851, the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux opened the region to white settlement in exchange for government payments.
Jackson was originally called Springfield, and was laid out under that name in 1856. The first settlers in what is now Jackson County—William, George, and Charles Wood—established a trading post near the Des Moines River around the same time. A post office called Jackson has been in operation since 1858.
On March 26, 1857, the Wahpekute Dakota Chief Inkpaduta and his band attacked the settlement in the Spirit Lake Massacre. There were 11 able-bodied men in Springfield, and three men, three children, and a woman died in the attack. Also lost to the raiders were 12 horses, dry goods, lead and powder. The attack's sole survivor was 14-year-old Abbie Gardner. Terrified of a possible second attack, the beleaguered residents abandoned the area.
From the History section of Jackson, Minnesota on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay3
Churches and places of worship2
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries5
Healthcare1
Map of Jackson
27 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22°F | 5°F | 0.6 in | 9.2 in |
| Feb | 27°F | 8°F | 0.7 in | 9.3 in |
| Mar | 39°F | 21°F | 1.5 in | 7.8 in |
| Apr | 55°F | 32°F | 3.0 in | 5.4 in |
| May | 68°F | 46°F | 4.5 in | 0.3 in |
| Jun | 78°F | 57°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 81°F | 60°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 79°F | 58°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 73°F | 49°F | 3.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 59°F | 36°F | 2.3 in | 1.1 in |
| Nov | 42°F | 22°F | 1.2 in | 5.2 in |
| Dec | 28°F | 11°F | 0.8 in | 10.2 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Lakefield 2Ne (10 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Jackson County has had 10 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for floods.
- 2024-06-28: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2020-04-07: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-06-12: Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2018-09-05: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Flood)
- 2014-07-21: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Jackson Municipal Airport (MJQ) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 1 miles away.
- Spirit Lake 15 mi southwest, about 25 min by car
- Estherville 17 mi southeast, about 28 min by car
- Milford 21 mi south, about 34 min by car
- Lake Park 21 mi southwest, about 34 min by car
- Fairmont 26 mi east, about 42 min by car
- Worthington 31 mi west, about 49 min by car
- Spencer 34 mi south, about 55 min by car
- Emmetsburg 39 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
- Sibley 41 mi west, about 1 h by car
- Blue Earth 44 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- CourthouseJacksonCountyMinnesota2007, Jonathunder, CC BY-SA 3.0
- CourthouseJacksonCountyMinnesota2009, Jonathunder, CC BY-SA 3.0
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