Jackson County is a county in Iowa, United States, on the Mississippi River in the northeastern part of the state. It had a population of 19,485 at the 2020 census and covers 653 square miles (1,691 km2) centred near 42°10′N 90°35′W.
Maquoketa is the county seat, and its postal code is 52060. The county has 13 incorporated cities and towns, 8 unincorporated communities and 18 civil townships. Jackson County observes the Central time zone.
Towns & Villages in Jackson County
Jackson County has 21 named places: 13 incorporated cities and towns and 8 unincorporated communities with no municipal government of their own. Several small settlements that appear in older county lists — among them Crab Town, Fulton, Hurstville, Lainsville, Millrock, Ozark, Reeceville, Samoa, Sterling and Van Buren — could not be confirmed against current U.S. Census Bureau or gazetteer records and are omitted here; see notes for the full list of drops.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maquoketa | City · seat | Maquoketa | 6,128 | 52060 |
| Bellevue | City | Bellevue | 2,363 | 52031 |
| Preston | City | — | 949 | 52069 |
| Sabula | City | — | 506 | 52070 |
| Miles | City | — | 408 | 52064 |
| Andrew | City | — | 380 | 52030 |
| La Motte | City | — | 237 | 52054 |
| Springbrook | City | — | 143 | 52075 |
| Monmouth | City | Monmouth | 129 | 52309 |
| St. Donatus | City | — | 120 | 52071 |
| Baldwin | City | — | 99 | 52207 |
| Spragueville | City | — | 92 | 52074 |
| Zwingle | City | — | 84 | — |
| Canton | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Cottonville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Emeline | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Garryowen | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Green Island | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Nashville | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
| Otter Creek | Unincorp. | Otter Creek | — | — |
| South Garry Owen | Unincorp. | — | — | — |
Two of the old county list’s names turn out to be variant spellings rather than separate places: “Garry Owen” is Garryowen, and “Saint Donatus” is St. Donatus — both carried through above under their standard current spelling.
Townships
Jackson County is divided into 18 civil townships. Reliable current population figures by township were not available from the sources used for this page, so the Pop. column is left blank rather than guessed; four townships share a name with, and contain, an incorporated city or community listed above.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Maquoketa | — | Maquoketa |
| Bellevue | — | Bellevue |
| Monmouth | — | Monmouth |
| Otter Creek | — | Otter Creek |
| Brandon | — | — |
| Butler | — | — |
| Fairfield | — | — |
| Farmers Creek | — | — |
| Iowa | — | — |
| Jackson | — | — |
| Perry | — | — |
| Prairie Springs | — | — |
| Richland | — | — |
| South Fork | — | — |
| Tete Des Morts | — | — |
| Union | — | — |
| Van Buren | — | — |
| Washington | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 52060 — Maquoketa
- 52031 — Bellevue
- 52069 — Preston
- 52070 — Sabula
- 52064 — Miles
- 52030 — Andrew
- 52054 — La Motte
- 52075 — Springbrook
- 52309 — Monmouth
- 52071 — St. Donatus
- 52207 — Baldwin
- 52074 — Spragueville
Zwingle and the county’s unincorporated communities have no confirmed ZIP code of their own and use a neighbouring post office town’s code.
Geography
Jackson County sits on the Mississippi River, which forms its eastern and northeastern boundary with Illinois. The terrain is part of the Driftless Area, marked by steep bluffs, limestone outcrops and wooded ravines rather than the flat farmland typical of much of Iowa; the county covers 653 square miles, of which 69 square miles are water. The county borders Dubuque County to the north, Jones County to the west, and Clinton County to the south, with the Mississippi River separating it from Carroll and Jo Daviess counties, Illinois, to the east and northeast.
Demographics
Jackson County had 19,485 residents at the 2020 census, for a density of about 30 people per square mile. Maquoketa and Bellevue are its two largest communities, together home to roughly 44 percent of the county’s population. Median household income data for the county specifically was not verified for this page; Iowa’s statewide 2023 ACS median is $71,433, and Jackson County’s mix of small cities and farmland is broadly consistent with the state figure rather than markedly above or below it.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture — row crops and livestock on the uplands away from the river bluffs — remains a core part of the county’s economy, alongside manufacturing and services based in Maquoketa and Bellevue. The Mississippi River corridor supports tourism: Maquoketa Caves State Park, one of the largest cave systems in Iowa, and Bellevue State Park, set on the river bluffs, are the county’s best-known destinations and draw visitors for hiking, caving and river views.
History
Jackson County was organized on December 21, 1837, and named for President Andrew Jackson. Its position on the Mississippi River made it an early transportation corridor for lead and grain traffic out of the upper Midwest, and towns such as Bellevue and Sabula grew up as river landings before the railroad era. Maquoketa, inland from the river, developed as the county’s commercial center and became the county seat.
Getting There
U.S. Routes 52, 61 and 67 and Iowa Highways 62 and 64 cross the county, linking Maquoketa to the Mississippi River towns and to Dubuque to the north.
- Dubuque — about 25 miles north
- Clinton — about 30 miles south
- Davenport — about 60 miles south
- Cedar Rapids — about 60 miles west
The nearest commercial airport is Dubuque Regional Airport, roughly 25 miles north of Maquoketa.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Jackson County, Iowa?
It is in the northeastern part of the state, on the Mississippi River, between Dubuque and Clinton counties.
What is the population of Jackson County?
19,485 people at the 2020 census.
How big is Jackson County?
653 square miles (1,691 km2), including 69 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Jackson County?
Maquoketa is the county seat.
How many towns are in Jackson County?
13 incorporated cities and towns and 8 unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Jackson County?
Codes include 52060 (Maquoketa), 52031 (Bellevue), 52069 (Preston) and 52070 (Sabula), among others listed above.
What state parks are in Jackson County?
Maquoketa Caves State Park and Bellevue State Park, both known for their limestone bluffs and caves along the Mississippi River.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Iowa.