Jackson County's history begins with the Cherokee Indian tribe, who occupied the area during the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. Located in the northeastern corner of the state, Jackson County was created by the Alabama State Legislature on Dec 13, 1819. The County was named after Andrew "Ole Hickory" Jackson, who was visiting in the area at that time.
The county seat is Scottsboro, which was named for Robert T. Scott, an early settler from North Carolina. The Scottsboro and Jackson County area has a unique history which can be explored at the Scottsboro-Jackson Heritage Center. This complex, which is housed in an 1880's Greek Revival mansion known as the Brown-Proctor House, includes a museum, the pioneer village called Sagetown, a collection of Native American tools, Civil War memorabilia, and the 1868 Jackson County Courthouse.
The Stevenson, Alabama Depot was a Union stronghold and fort during the Civil War and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In June, an old fashioned festival celebrates its heritage with parades, story telling, museum tours, and other activities. In Bridgeport, just up the Tennessee River from Stevenson, hundreds of Civil War re-enactors recreate the Siege of Bridgeport, Alabama every March.
Jackson County is home to many natural wonders including nearly 1500 charted caves, over half of all the caves in the state of Alabama. Russell Cave was donated to the area by the National Geographic Society. President John F. Kennedy proclaimed the site a National Monument in 1961, and it is still the only national monument in Alabama. Outdoor enthusiasts may also visit Buck's Pocket State Park, a 2,000 acre area that runs along the West side of Sand Mountain, extending into adjacent DeKalb and Marshall Counties. Another natural wonder Jackson County is know for is its waterfalls. At Pisgah Gorge three beautiful waterfalls can be seen while exploring the hiking trails here.
For over one hundred years the residents of Scottsboro and Jackson County have participated in First Monday or "trade days" where bartering, buying and swapping of goods has not passed on with time. A blend of yard sales, antique shows, and arts and crafts, trade days attract several thousand people monthly. Scottsboro is also home to the Unclaimed Baggage Center where shoppers can search for lost treasures in a retail space that covers a city block.
While in Jackson County, visitors can stay at Goose Pond Colony located on the banks of the Tennessee River's Lake Guntersville. Goose Pond is a municipally owned resort with two beautiful 18 hole championship golf courses, full service marina, meeting facilities, beach area, and lakeside cottages, a lodge, and a waterfront campground. Several national fishing publications have named the area as one of the best bass lakes in the Southeast and people from across the country come to fish at 69,000 Acre Lake in Jackson County.
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