GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes 1 Indiana Prevention Resource Center GIS in Prevention County Profiles Series, No. 4 Jackson County, Indiana Barbara Seitz de Martinez, PhD, MLS, CPP, Project Director The Indiana Prevention Resource Center at Indiana University is funded, in part, by a contract with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, financially supported through HHS/Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant. The IPRC is operated by the Department of Applied Health Science and The School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation.

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes GIS in Prevention County Profile Series, No. 4 Jackson County, Indiana Barbara Seitz de Martinez, PhD, MLS, CPP Project Director Project Staff : Indiana Prevention Resource Center Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors, and not necessarily those of the Trustees of Indiana University or the Division of Mental Health and Addiction. Indiana University accepts full Responsibility for the content of this publication. ©2005 The Trustees of Indiana University. Permission is extended to reproduce this County Profile for non-profit educational purposes. All other rights reserved. Ritika Bhawal, MPH Ryan Chopra, MPH Kyoungsun Heo, MPA Tuba M. Pervin Altay, MPH

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Jackson County Map The maps and tables in this publication were prepared using PCensus for MapInfo and MapInfo Professional.

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Jackson County is located in South Central Indiana. It is bordered by the following counties: Jennings to the east, Scott to the southeast, Washington to the south, Lawrence to the west, Monroe to the northwest, Brown and Bartholomew to the north. U.S. Highways 50 and 31 and Interstate Highway 65 cross the county. Elevation is feet. A wide variety of topographies are found in the county, from steep slopes in the west and east, slightly sloping along the East Fork of the White River, and nearly level along other waterways in the northwest and southeast. The landscape features oak and hickory trees. The county pertains to three different land resource areas, about equally to the Kentucky and Indiana Sandstone and Shale Hills and Valleys land resource area and the Southern Illinois and Indiana Heavy Till Plain land resource area; and a small area on the western boundary is in the Highland Rim and Pennyroyal land resource area. Jackson county is in the Eastern Time Zone and observes DST. Average daily temperatures are 18٥/38٥ in January and 63٥/87٥ in July. Annual precipitation is about 42 and snowfall about 15 inches. Typically the first freeze of the season occurs October 10-15, except a little later in the northwest corner (October 15-20). The last freeze varies from April 25-30, except in the northwest corner where it is a little earlier, April The growing season lasts about days. Agricultural activity is diversified with livestock being prominent. A little less than two-thirds of the land is in farms and about two-thirds of that land is in cash crops. Important crops are corn for grain, hay, soybeans and winter wheat. Apples are a primary fruit. Popcorn and tobacco are special crops. Livestock includes cattle/calves, milk cows, hogs/pigs, and sheep/lambs. Main natural resources include construction sand and gravel, common clay, and forestland. Major water resources include East Forks of the White and Muskatatuck Rivers; the Boy Scout Lake, Dryden Bed Lake, Rust Lake, Lake and Forest Lake, Starve Hollow Lake; and a number of creeks. Communities include the city of Seymour and the towns of Brownstown (the county seat), Crothersville and Medora. 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Sources: Map from PCensus for MapInfo; Geographic Notes from Indiana Facts: Flying the Colors by John Clements, 1995.

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Jackson County The maps and tables in this publication were prepared using PCensus 7.06 for MapInfo and MapInfo Professional 7.0.

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Jackson County Tobacco Production & Revenue: Source: the Strategic Development Group’s “Alternative Agricultural Strategy” (Bloomington, March 15, 2001) report, which is part of Governor Joseph E. Kernan’s “Recipient Final Reports for Office of the Commissioner of Agriculture Grant Programs” ( According to the above-named source, Jackson County is 17 th in the State in acres (59) devoted to tobacco production and 19 th in the number of farms (10) producing tobacco. Jackson ranked 20 th in the percentage of farms (1.2%) producing tobacco. Jackson ranked 8 th for average tobacco income per farm as percent of average household income; tobacco income for each farm producing tobacco ($17,444), represented 49.2% of the figure for average household income ($35,440) in the county that year (1997). Latest figures (from 1997 USDA Census): Rank for acres in tobacco production: 17 th Acres in tobacco production: 59 Number of farms producing tobacco: 10 As a Percent of all farms: 1.2% Rank in IN for percent of all farms: 20 th Tobacco income per farm producing: $17,444 Percent of County’s Ave. Household Income: 49.2% [See appendices for more information.] Famous sons of Jackson County include rock star songwriter John Cougar Mellencamp, who was born in Seymour. Besides being known for his hit songs, Mellencamp is also recognized for supporting the needs of Midwestern farmers through the Farm Aid concert, which he originally organized together with Willie Nelson. He has also generously supported IU athletics. (Nelson Price, Indiana Legends, Carmel: Guild Press of Indiana, Inc., 1997, p. 135, 247) 3. Location and Historical Notes

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Don’t Know Your Block Group Number? You can find it easily at the American Factfinder Web SiteAmerican Factfinder Web Site 3. Jackson County Block Group Maps

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Jackson County Block Groups Busts