Jackson County is a county in Wisconsin, United States, along the Black River in the west-central part of the state. It had a population of 21,145 at the 2020 census and covers 1,000 square miles (2,600 km2), of which 988 square miles are land, centred near 44°19′N 90°49′W.
Black River Falls is the county seat, and its postal code is 54615. The county has one city, five villages, four census-designated places and 21 towns (Wisconsin’s term for civil townships), and it observes Central time.
Towns & Villages in Jackson County
Jackson County has 32 named places on the map below: one city, five incorporated villages, four census-designated places (CDPs, unincorporated but recognized by the Census Bureau), and 22 smaller unincorporated communities. The table gives each place’s civil town (township) where it is reliably known.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black River Falls | City · seat | — | 3,523 | 54615 |
| Alma Center | Village | — | — | 54611 |
| Hixton | Village | Hixton | — | 54635 |
| Melrose | Village | Melrose | — | 54642 |
| Merrillan | Village | — | — | 54754 |
| Taylor | Village | — | — | 54659 |
| Hatfield | CDP | — | — | — |
| Millston | CDP | Millston | — | 54643 |
| Mission | CDP | — | — | — |
| Sand Pillow | CDP | — | — | — |
| Brockway | Unincorp. | Brockway | — | — |
| Buckholz Corners | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| City Point | Unincorp. | City Point | — | — |
| Disco | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Fall Hall Glen | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Franklin | Unincorp. | Franklin | — | — |
| Irving | Unincorp. | Irving | — | — |
| Levis | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| North Bend | Unincorp. | North Bend | — | — |
| North Branch | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Northfield | Unincorp. | Northfield | — | — |
| Pray | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Price | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Requa | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Sechlerville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Shamrock | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Sheppard | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Spaulding | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Speck Oaks | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Vaudreuil | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Waterbury | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Winnebago Mission | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| York | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
Townships
Jackson County’s 21 towns cover almost all the county’s land outside Black River Falls and the five villages. Populations by town are not separately verified for this profile, so the table lists each town with its best-known settlement only.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Adams | — | — |
| Albion | — | — |
| Alma | — | — |
| Bear Bluff | — | — |
| Brockway | — | Brockway, Merrillan (village) |
| City Point | — | City Point |
| Cleveland | — | — |
| Curran | — | — |
| Franklin | — | Franklin |
| Garden Valley | — | — |
| Garfield | — | — |
| Hixton | — | Hixton (village) |
| Irving | — | Irving |
| Knapp | — | — |
| Komensky | — | — |
| Manchester | — | — |
| Melrose | — | Melrose (village) |
| Millston | — | Millston (CDP) |
| North Bend | — | North Bend |
| Northfield | — | Northfield |
| Springfield | — | — |
ZIP Codes
Jackson County has seven ZIP codes: six standard delivery ZIPs plus one PO-box-only ZIP.
- 54615 — Black River Falls (also serves the surrounding towns of Adams and Albion)
- 54611 — Alma Center
- 54635 — Hixton
- 54642 — Melrose
- 54754 — Merrillan
- 54659 — Taylor
- 54643 — Millston (PO Box only)
The remaining census-designated places and unincorporated communities — including Hatfield, Mission, Sand Pillow and the smaller crossroads settlements — use the ZIP code of the nearest post-office town rather than a code of their own.
Geography
Jackson County sits on the sandy outwash plains of west-central Wisconsin, split by the Black River, which flows south through the county past Black River Falls. The terrain ranges from river-bottom forest and the pine barrens of the Black River State Forest in the east to flatter farmland and cranberry marsh in the west; Lake Arbutus, formed by a dam on the Black River near Hatfield, is the county’s largest body of water. Of the county’s 1,000 square miles, 988 are land and 13 are water.
Jackson County borders Clark County to the north, Wood County to the northeast, Juneau County to the southeast, Monroe County to the south, La Crosse County to the southwest, Trempealeau County to the west, and Eau Claire County to the northwest.
Demographics
Jackson County’s population was 21,145 at the 2020 census, giving a density of about 21 people per square mile of land. Black River Falls, the county seat, is by far the largest community at 3,523 residents; the villages of Alma Center, Hixton, Melrose, Merrillan and Taylor account for most of the rest of the incorporated population. County-level median household income figures were not verified for this profile; statewide, the Wisconsin median is $74,631.
Economy & Local Life
The Ho-Chunk Nation, which has significant landholdings and gaming and government operations in the county, is the county’s largest single employer, with roughly 3,100 workers shared between Jackson and neighboring Sauk County. Agriculture and forestry remain central to the local economy: the county’s sandy soils support cranberry marshes and dairy farms, and timber from the Black River State Forest and surrounding woodlands has supported sawmills in the area since the 19th century. Black River Falls serves as the county’s retail and government center.
History
Jackson County was organized in 1853, split off from Crawford County, and named for President Andrew Jackson. Its early economy was built on the Black River’s lumber industry, which drove logging camps and sawmills through the county in the 19th century before the timber boom gave way to farming and, later, cranberry cultivation.
Getting There
Black River Falls sits at the junction of Interstate 90 and Interstate 94, with US Routes 10 and 12 also running through the county. Canadian National and Union Pacific rail lines cross the county as well.
- Eau Claire, Wisconsin — about 45 miles north
- La Crosse, Wisconsin — about 50 miles southwest
- Tomah, Wisconsin — about 20 miles south
- Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin — about 60 miles southeast
The nearest commercial airport is La Crosse Regional Airport, roughly 50 miles southwest of Black River Falls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Jackson County, Wisconsin?
It is in west-central Wisconsin, along the Black River, at the junction of Interstate 90 and Interstate 94.
What is the population of Jackson County?
21,145 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Jackson County?
1,000 square miles (2,600 km2), of which 988 square miles are land.
What is the county seat of Jackson County?
Black River Falls is the county seat.
How many towns and villages are in Jackson County?
One city, five villages, four census-designated places and 21 towns (civil townships).
What ZIP codes are in Jackson County?
54615, 54611, 54635, 54642, 54754, 54659 and 54643 (PO Box only).
What is Jackson County known for?
The Black River State Forest, Lake Arbutus, and the Ho-Chunk Nation’s tribal lands and government and gaming operations, its largest local employer.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Wisconsin.