[4] It is a principal city of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

[5] In 1813, Cape Girardeau County succeeded Cape Girardeau District, and the Court of Common Pleas and the Court of General Quarter-Sessions of the Peace in Cape Girardeau were superseded by the Court of Common Pleas, leading to a new seat of justice.

The seat of the county and the courts were at first held on the plantation of Thomas Bull about one and one-half mile south of present-day Jackson.

[8] Although its initial growth was rapid, the economy of the City of Jackson developed conservatively.

The town suffered a setback in June, 1833, when Cholera spread killing 128.

Cholera struck again on June 10, 1852, causing all abled bodies to flee the town until the epidemic had run its course.

In 1877, Jackson was linked to Cape Girardeau by the first long-distance railway service line in Missouri.

By 1884, the population of the City of Jackson had grown to 2,105, and the town supported 50 businesses.

In 1884, by popular vote, it was decided to incorporate Jackson as a city of the fourth class.

The current courthouse was built in 1908 and is “on the square” in the center of Uptown Jackson where Jones Drug Store still runs and serves the community since 1871.

[11] Jackson is located on US Route 61 approximately seven miles northwest of Cape Girardeau.

[13] The 2020 United States census[17] counted 15,481 people, 5,687 households, and 3,985 families in Jackson.

Of all households, 22.8% consisted of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

The racial makeup of the city was 95.81% White, 1.65% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.01% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races.

[22] The Cape Girardeau district operates Central High School.