Jackson, Minnesota
| Jackson, Minnesota | |
|---|---|
| City | |
Jackson County Courthouse in Jackson
|
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| Motto: "Come Grow With Us" | |
 Location of Jackson within Jackson County and state of Minnesota |
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| Coordinates: 43°37′15″N 94°59′19″W / 43.62083°N 94.98861°WCoordinates: 43°37′15″N 94°59′19″W / 43.62083°N 94.98861°W | |
| Country |
 United States
|
| State |
 Minnesota
|
| County | Jackson |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor – Council |
| • Mayor | Wayne Walter |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.60 sq mi (11.91 km2) |
| • Land | 4.58 sq mi (11.86 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,316 ft (401 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 3,299 |
| • Estimate (2012) | 3,307 |
| • Density | 720.3/sq mi (278.1/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 56143 |
| Area code(s) | 507 |
| FIPS code | 27-31562 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0645559 |
| Website | cityofjacksonmn.com |
Jackson is a city and county seat of Jackson County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,299 at the 2010 census.
Jackson was originally called Springfield, and under the latter name was laid out in 1856. A post office called Jackson has been in operation since 1858.
It is speculated that early trappers and explorers were the first to enter the Jackson area. The first white settlers in Jackson were brothers – William, George, and Charles Wood of Indiana, by way of Mankato. In July 1856, they established a trading post and named the proposed town "Springfield" because there was a spring near where they built their cabin, a large one-room log building near the Des Moines River. Forty settlers followed in that summer of 1856. The greater number were of English and Scottish descent, from Webster City, Iowa. Over a dozen log cabins were built by that fall.
The winter of 1856-1857 was one of the most severe that was ever experienced because of its bitter cold, deep snows, and violent storms. Food was scarce as all the white settlers had come too late to raise a crop or plant gardens. Consequently, all provisions had to be hauled from the nearest settlements of Webster City or Mankato.
Several bands of roving Indians visited the white settlers that winter. They were always received kindly, the settlers sharing their supplies. One of these was a gang led by Inkpaduta, a lawless band, who were enemies of all Indians because of their plundering, robberies and outrages. This was the group that in March 1857, after not being extended hospitality at Smithland, Iowa, massacred 40 settlers and took four women hostage in the Okoboji and Spirit Lake area before proceeding to Springfield, Minnesota.
On March 26, 1857, there were 11 able-bodied men in the Springfield settlement. Inkpaduta and his gang came down from the Heron Lake area by way of Gaboo’s camp. They first attacked the Woods’ store where, after killing William and George, they replenished their stock of ammunition and proceeded to attack the other cabins. At the Thomas cabin gathered the greater number of settlers, a determined fight was put up, and they succeeded in standing off the Indians. For the first time since leaving the Smithland area, the Indians encountered men who were not afraid to fight for their lives, and the attempt to wipe out the settlement failed. However, they did kill seven and wounded three others. Terrified of a possible second Indian attack, the beleaguered people who survived left for Fort Dodge.
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Wikipedia