by Alana A. Carmon

Created in 1845, Jackson Parish was carved from portions of Ouachita, Claiborne, and Union parishes. Named for a former United States President, Andrew Jackson, the parish encompasses 570 square miles and has over 15,000 residents.

Early settlers discovered that the light soil of Jackson was most conducive to growing grain products such as corn, but vegetables and fruits were also harvested in abundance. The most important crop and only marketable one, cotton, was picked not only for home use but also to pay debtors. Today, Jackson’s economy relies less on agriculture and more on the forestry industry and the manufacture of wood and glass products.

PRINCIPAL TOWNS

Chatham

Eros

Jonesboro

Quitman