Alisha Gamble

Jackson County, GA

Jackson County, GA, is located in northeast Georgia, about 60 miles northeast of Atlanta. The county is home to approximately 76,000 residents according to the 2020 U.S. Census Bureau , a near 4% growth over 2019 and 25.5% growth since 2010. Spread throughout Jackson are nine incorporated municipalities, including the cities of Arcade, Commerce, Hoschton, Jefferson, Maysville, Nicholson, Pendergrass, and Talmo, as well as the Town of Braselton. The county is currently governed by an elected, 5-member Board of Commissioners (BOC), although a 6th member is expected following approval of a new district due to population growth. Four additional elected officials oversee different services in the county, including the sheriff, tax commissioner, coroner, and surveyor, and ten elected judges and court officials manage our judicial system. The county's nineteen departments provide a full spectrum of services for the county, including law enforcement, construction and maintenance of highways, streets, bridges, and other infrastructure, emergency services, recreational and cultural activities, limited transit, and solid waste disposal. Coinciding with Jackson County's population growth is the robust business community and surge in distribution and manufacturing facilities. The county attracts industrial growth due to its proximity to I-85 and other major highways and railways, as well as by having a large regional workforce. The growth of ecommerce has lead two major retailers leasing centers in Jackson County - creating 2,000 jobs. As a result of the business boom in Jackson County, wages continue to rise, and industrial real estate developers invest in the county. Despite this rapid growth, agriculture remains an important economic sector for the county, accounting for about 20% of land use. This is demonstrated by the county government's support for agricultural growth, including its recent development of the Jackson County Agricultural Facility.