Our History

History of Jackson

Almost Two Centuries in the Making

Discover what makes the City of Jackson unique.

  • 1839
    Breathitt Town, 1839
    Founded

    Breathitt Town

    Upon the creation of Breathitt County in 1839, local landowner Simon Cockrell Sr. donated 10 acres to serve as its seat of government. The community was originally known as Breathitt, Breathitt Town, or Breathitt Court House after the county.

  • 1845
    Jackson, 1845
    Incorporation

    Jackson

    In honor of President Andrew Jackson, who died that same year, Breathitt Town was renamed Jackson and incorporated in 1845.

  • 1891
    The Kentucky Union Railroad, 1891
    Arrival

    The Kentucky Union Railroad

    The Kentucky Union Railroad arrived in 1891, and as the railroad terminus, Jackson became a major shipping point for the upper Kentucky River region. Large dry-goods centers, a lumber company, a brickyard, and other businesses thrived.

  • 1903
    Bloody Breathitt, 1903
    A Turbulent Era

    Bloody Breathitt

    Local feuds led the national press to publish stories about Jackson and "Bloody Breathitt." State forces were dispatched twice in the 1870s and again in 1903, after the assassination of U.S. Commissioner James B. Marcum on the courthouse steps, to restore order.

  • 1963
    Panbowl Lake, 1963
    The Kentucky River

    Panbowl Lake

    To limit flooding, the Kentucky River was redirected in 1963 by way of a small cut-through the mountain. Its former channel, a river meander, was left behind as Panbowl Lake — now a prime attraction for fishing.