Jackson dates to 1848, and 15% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 89% of U.S. towns · #8 of 847 in California. What drives it
9 places in town are on the National Register, among them three historic districts with 86 buildings between them. Below: 5 old photos and papers, maps from 1890 on, and the census since 1880.
Founding year: Wikidata; Wikipedia’s history section gives the same year. First post office: 1851.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Jackson’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Jackson is more historic than 89% of U.S. towns, #8 of 847 in California. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its National Register listings ranks highest and its share of homes from before 1940 lowest.
A
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Jackson’s overall grade.
Few California towns list much on the Register (a typical California town has 0.0 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Jackson’s 182 sits above most of its state (99% of California towns have fewer) while its 92 historic buildings outnumber those of 89% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from B+ to A. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±5.3 points). Two sources give 1848.
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Jackson’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.
Every building
Jackson, building by building, 1890–1912
Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.
The area was inhabited by the Northern Sierra Indians, who occupied areas along creeks, spring, and seep areas, including permanent and seasonal drainages, flat ridges, and terraces. Therefore, areas along watercourses are considered likely locations for prehistoric cultural resources. Permanent villages were usually placed on elevations above seasonal flood levels. Surrounding areas were used for hunting and seed, acorn, and grass gathering.
Passages that mention Jackson, cut from the printed page as they were published.
The early history of Jackson county, Georgia. "The writings of the late G.J.N. Wilson, embracing some of the early history of Jackson county". The first settlers, 17841914 · page 31Read the page →
Read the text
Sixteen years passed without any further change. In 1837 an additional part of Franklin was added to Jackson; and in 1850 a few hundred acres of Jackson were cut off to Clarke. In 1852 the line of Jackson was so changed as to include the residence of William Sanders in Madison. In 1856 the residence of Jesse Lord was transferred from Jackson to Banks, and the lands of David Smith in Gwinnett were added to Jackson. The plantation of George W. Hudson was taken from Jackson and added to
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
The early history of Jackson county, Georgia. "The writings of the late G.J.N. Wilson, embracing some of the early history of Jackson county". The first settlers, 17841914 · page 25Read the page →
Read the text
Ten years passed away before Jackson was again called on for a division of her patrimony, by its citizens living east of Big Sandy creek. By taking a large part from Jackson, and smaller portions from Oglethorpe, Clarke, Franklin and Elbert Counties, Madison County was formed by an Act approved December 5th, 1811, and by "beginning on the Clarke County line on the ridge between Bushy and Beaverdam creek ; thence a direct line to where the Jackson County line crosses Little Sandy creek ; thence
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Timeline
Jackson, 1848 to 1941
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
In 1848, according to Wikidata and Wikipedia’s history of the town. Jackson’s post office opened in 1851, and the census of 1880 counted 1,040 people here.
How does Jackson rank for history?
Jackson is more historic than 89% of U.S. towns, #8 of 847 in California. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Jackson?
9 listings: 5 buildings, among them the Amador County Hospital Building (listed 1972, the first), 3 historic districts, the Chichizola Family Store Complex, the Jackson Downtown Historic District and the Kennedy Mine Historic District, with 86 contributing buildings, and 1 structure. 92 historic buildings in all.
How old are the homes in Jackson?
15% of Jackson’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±5.3 points), against a typical 3.4% for a California town; the median home was built in 1982.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (3), the Library of Congress (4), Wikidata (5), the National Register of Historic Places (9), Wikipedia, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System, Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
1922
1922
Date?
2020
2010
