Jackson county is located in southern Illinois on the banks of the Mississippi River and was organized in 1818.
The first county seat was located in now-defunct Brownsville, about four miles west of the current seat, Murphysboro.
The city of Carbondale is the home of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. The campus boasts such attractions as the Shryock Auditorium, built in 1918 and located on the "old campus". It is a performing arts center and claims a 58-rank Reuter Pipe Organ.
The area is fortunate to be a part of the Shawnee National Forest and its surrounding beauty. Crab Orchard Lake & NWR also graces the county.
The county population on July 1, 1999, was 60,651, a decrease of 416 over the 1990 census.
For information on county government, contact the National Association of Counties Web site.
Additional information is available at these pages: