Jackson County is a county in Kentucky, United States, in the eastern part of the state where the Bluegrass region meets the Appalachian foothills. It had a population of 12,955 at the 2020 census and covers 347 square miles (900 km2) centred near 37°25′N 84°01′W.
McKee is the county seat, and its postal code is 40447. The county contains one incorporated city, one census-designated place, and several dozen unincorporated communities, and it observes Eastern time. Jackson County’s FIPS code is 21109.
Towns & Villages in Jackson County
Jackson County has one incorporated city — the county seat, McKee — plus the census-designated place of Annville and dozens of small unincorporated communities scattered across its hollows and ridges. Most of these places are crossroads stores, former post-office stations, or old mining and timber camps that never grew large enough to incorporate.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcorn | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Annville | CDP | — | 40402 |
| Atkinstown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Blanton Flats | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bond | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bradshaw | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Brazil | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Clover Bottom | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cornelius | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dabolt | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dango | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Datha | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Drip Rock | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Eberle | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Eglon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Egypt | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Elias | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Foxtown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gray Hawk | Unincorp. | — | 40734 |
| Green Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Herd | Unincorp. | — | — |
| High Knob | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hisel | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hurley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kerby Knob | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lakes | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Loam | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Macedonia | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Maulden | Unincorp. | — | — |
| McKee | City · seat | — | 40447 |
| Mildred | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Moores Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Morrill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mummie | Unincorp. | — | — |
| New Zion | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Olin | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Peoples | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Privett | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Royrader | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sand Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sandgap | Unincorp. | — | 40481 |
| Sourwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Threelinks | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Turkey Foot | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tyner | Unincorp. | — | 40486 |
| Waneta | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Welchburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wind Cave | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Zekes Point | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 40447 — McKee (county seat, also serves the central townships)
- 40402 — Annville
- 40481 — Sandgap
- 40486 — Tyner
- 40734 — Gray Hawk
Most of the county’s smaller communities have no post office of their own and share a ZIP code with the nearest of the five towns above.
Geography
Jackson County sits on the Cumberland Plateau, with steep, forested ridges and narrow creek bottoms typical of the Eastern Kentucky coalfield. The South Fork Kentucky River drains the eastern half of the county past Annville, while the Rockcastle River runs along part of its western edge. Elevations range from valley floors along the creeks to ridgetops well above 1,600 feet.
Jackson County borders Estill County to the north, Lee County to the northeast, Owsley County to the east, Clay County to the southeast, Laurel County to the southwest, Rockcastle County to the west, and Madison County to the northwest.
Demographics
Jackson County had 12,955 residents at the 2020 census, spread across roughly 37 people per square mile (14 per km2), one of the lower densities in this part of Kentucky. McKee and the Annville CDP are the county’s two largest population centers; the rest of the population lives in unincorporated hollows and along the main highway corridors. The county’s median household income runs well below the Kentucky median of $61,118, reflecting its largely rural, mountain-county economy.
Economy & Local Life
Jackson County Schools and local government are among the county’s largest employers, alongside health care providers serving the McKee area. Agriculture (cattle and hay) and timber remain part of the rural economy, and small retail and service businesses cluster along KY 30 and KY 89 in and around McKee. In the fall of 2019, a local-option election made McKee a “wet” city, allowing alcohol sales there for the first time in county history.
History
Jackson County was formed in 1858 from parts of Madison, Estill, Owsley, Clay, Laurel, and Rockcastle counties and named for Andrew Jackson, the seventh U.S. president. McKee, the county seat, takes its name from an early landowner in the area. The county was the birthplace of David “Stringbean” Akeman, the banjo player and Grand Ole Opry comedian later murdered at his Ridgetop, Tennessee home in 1973. Jackson County also hosts an annual reenactment of the Battle of Big Hill, an 1862 Civil War skirmish fought nearby during the Confederate invasion of Kentucky.
Getting There
Kentucky Routes 30, 89, 290, and 421 are the main highways through Jackson County; there is no interstate within the county itself.
- London — about 20 miles south via KY 30/US 25
- Richmond — about 30 miles north via KY 421
- Berea — about 25 miles northwest via KY 21/KY 594
- Manchester — about 25 miles east via KY 30
The nearest commercial airport is Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, roughly 50 miles to the north.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Jackson County, Kentucky?
It is in the eastern part of the state, on the Cumberland Plateau between the Bluegrass region and the Appalachian coalfield, centred near 37°25′N 84°01′W.
What is the population of Jackson County?
Jackson County had a population of 12,955 at the 2020 census.
How big is Jackson County?
It covers 347 square miles (900 km2), of which about 1.3 square miles is water.
What is the county seat of Jackson County?
McKee is the county seat.
How many towns are in Jackson County?
The county has one incorporated city (McKee), one census-designated place (Annville), and roughly four dozen smaller unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Jackson County?
The main ZIP codes are 40447 (McKee), 40402 (Annville), 40481 (Sandgap), 40486 (Tyner), and 40734 (Gray Hawk).
When did Jackson County allow alcohol sales?
A local-option vote in fall 2019 made McKee a wet city, permitting alcohol sales there for the first time.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Kentucky.