Jackson County is a county in Tennessee, United States, on the Cumberland Plateau’s western edge along the Cumberland River. It had a population of 11,617 people at the 2020 census and covers 320 square miles (830 km2), of which 308 square miles (800 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) is water, centred near 36°22′N 85°40′W.
Gainesboro is the county seat, and its postal code is 38562. The county has one incorporated town, one census-designated place, and roughly two dozen unincorporated communities. Jackson County has no civil townships. It sits in the Central time zone and is part of the Cookeville Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Towns & Villages in Jackson County
Jackson County has one incorporated town — Gainesboro, the county seat — plus the census-designated place of Dodson Branch and about two dozen unincorporated communities scattered across its rural crossroads and hollows. Most of these communities have no local government of their own; several share a ZIP code with a larger neighboring town.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesboro | Town · seat | — | 38562 |
| Dodson Branch | CDP | — | 38562 |
| Granville | Unincorp. | — | 38564 |
| Whitleyville | Unincorp. | — | 38588 |
| Antioch | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Burristown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Carlock | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Center Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Columbus Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cub Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dudney Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Flynns Lick | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Freewill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gladdice | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Greenwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Harmony | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Haydenburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Highland | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hurricane | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Liberty | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mayfield | Unincorp. | — | — |
| McCoinsville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Milltown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Morrison Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mount Union | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Nameless | Unincorp. | — | — |
| New Hope | Unincorp. | — | — |
| New Salem | Unincorp. | — | — |
| North Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Old Antioch | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rough Point | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shady Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shiloh | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stone | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sugar Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Union Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
Two names on the list can confuse a map search: Antioch and Old Antioch are separate, nearby communities, not a single place with a variant spelling. Neither should be mixed up with the much larger Antioch neighborhood of Nashville, roughly 70 miles to the southwest.
ZIP Codes
- 38562 — Gainesboro (also serves most of the county’s rural communities)
- 38564 — Granville
- 38588 — Whitleyville
The remaining communities on the list — including Dodson Branch, Center Grove, Nameless, North Springs, and Shady Grove — have no post office of their own and are served by the 38562 Gainesboro ZIP code.
Geography
Jackson County lies on the western edge of the Cumberland Plateau, where the terrain drops from the plateau’s rugged uplands into the rolling hill country of the Highland Rim. The Cumberland River crosses the county, and Cordell Hull Lake, an impoundment on the river, backs water into the county’s northern and eastern reaches. Of the county’s 320 square miles, 11 square miles are water. Jackson County borders Clay County to the north, Overton County to the east, Putnam County to the south, Smith County to the southwest, and Macon County to the northwest.
Demographics
Jackson County’s population was 11,617 at the 2020 census. Gainesboro, the county seat, and Dodson Branch are its two largest population centers. The county’s median household income runs well below the Tennessee median of $67,631, reflecting its rural, agricultural economic base. At 308 square miles of land, the county’s population density works out to roughly 38 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture, forestry, and small manufacturing anchor Jackson County’s economy, alongside county government and school employment centered in Gainesboro. The Cumberland River and Cordell Hull Lake draw fishing and recreational traffic through the county’s northern communities. Jackson County is part of the Cookeville Micropolitan Statistical Area, and many residents commute to Cookeville, about 25 miles to the south, for work.
History
Jackson County was established on November 6, 1801, as Tennessee’s 18th county, formed from part of Smith County and land previously held by Indian nations. It was named for Andrew Jackson, who at the time of the county’s founding had served as a U.S. congressman, U.S. senator, and Tennessee Supreme Court justice, and still held a colonelcy in the state militia — years before his presidency or his best-known military service at the Battle of New Orleans. In 1970, the film “I Walk the Line,” starring Gregory Peck, was filmed in the county.
Getting There
U.S. Route 56 and State Route 53 are the county’s main highways, crossing at Gainesboro.
- Cookeville — 25 miles south
- Livingston — 20 miles east
- Carthage — 20 miles southwest
- Lafayette — 25 miles northwest
The nearest commercial airport is Nashville International Airport, roughly 90 miles to the west.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Jackson County, Tennessee?
It is in the Upper Cumberland region of north-central Tennessee, on the western edge of the Cumberland Plateau, about 90 miles east of Nashville.
What is the population of Jackson County?
Jackson County had a population of 11,617 at the 2020 census.
How big is Jackson County?
The county covers 320 square miles (830 km2), of which 308 square miles is land and 11 square miles is water.
What is the county seat of Jackson County?
Gainesboro is the county seat.
How many towns are in Jackson County?
The county has one incorporated town (Gainesboro), one census-designated place (Dodson Branch), and roughly two dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Jackson County?
Jackson County uses three ZIP codes: 38562 (Gainesboro), 38564 (Granville), and 38588 (Whitleyville).
What lake is in Jackson County?
Cordell Hull Lake, an impoundment on the Cumberland River, extends into the county’s northern and eastern sections.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Tennessee.