Jackson, Wyoming

Overview

As of the 2010 Census, The main industries which provide employment are: Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services (32.2%), construction (8.7%), retail trade (12.4%), educational services, health care and social assistance (11.9%), and professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services (11.8%).

A strong local economy, primarily due to tourism, has allowed Jackson to develop a large shopping and eating district, centered on the town square.

Points of interest

Jackson, Wyoming is a very popular tourist town bringing in tourists from all over the country. Throughout the town elk antler arches are a big attraction that tourists enjoy. A few of the places nearby to visit include:

History

Jackson Hole was originally populated by Native American tribes including the Shoshoni, Crow, Blackfeet, Bannock, and Gros Ventre. John Colter entered Jackson Hole during the winter of 1807/1808 during the return journey of the Lewis & Clark expedition. The area became a prime area for trappers and many famous mountain men traveled through the area in the early 1800s. These mountain men are responsible for many of the names in the valley including Bridger, Jedediah Smith, and Sublette. David Jackson gave his name to the valley after a winter spent on the shores of Jackson Lake.

As part of the Hayden Expedition of 1871 and 1872, William Henry Jackson took the first photographs of the Teton Mountains and Yellowstone. His photographs, along with the sketches by Tom Moran, were important evidence to convince Congress to protect Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone National Park became the first National Park in 1872. Grand Teton National Park was created in 1929 and greatly expanded in 1950 through the generous efforts of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., who purchased and then donated over 30,000 acres.

The Town of Jackson was named in 1894. Some of the early buildings remain and can be found throughout the area of the Town Square. The Town of Jackson elected the first all-woman city government (including town council and mayor, who in turn appointed women to town marshall, town clerk and treasurer) in 1920.

The first ski rope tow was built at Teton Pass in 1937 and Snow King Resort was established in 1930. Teton County now has three excellent ski areas including Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Teton Village, Grand Targhee Ski and Summer Resort located on the West slope of the Tetons, and Snow King Resort.

The Town of Jackson is the county seat of Teton County and the only incorporated municipality in the region. Less than 3% of land in Teton County is privately owned. 97% of the 2,697,000 acres in Teton County are federally or state owned/managed.

In 2009, the Town of Jackson was designated as a Preserve America Community. This designation recognizes that, as a community, the town protects and celebrates its heritage, uses historic assets for economic development and encourages people to experience and appreciate local historic resources.

In September 2016, the town became viral from the ongoing live stream on the YouTube video consisting of various views of the town, especially the one facing the town square. Many comments were made from different users, particularly whenever a red truck is seen on camera.

Geography

Jackson is located at 43°28′31″N 110°46′9″W (43.475, −110.769), at an elevation of 6,237 feet (1,901 m) above sea level. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.95 square miles (7.64 km²), of which 2.91 square miles (7.54 km²) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²) is water.

Jackson is surrounded by the Teton and Gros Ventre mountain ranges. The Teton Range is commonly associated with Jackson Hole and is a popular sightseeing attraction for many visitors. The Gros Ventre Range contrastingly is geologically older than the Tetons and has a much broader width, which encompasses huge expanses of wilderness and is not as easily accessible.

Soils at Jackson Hole are mostly dark, excessively drained, moderately alkaline gravelly loam of the Greyback series.

Flat Creek, a tributary of the Snake River, runs through town.

Climate

Jackson experiences a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb). Due to its location in a humid microclimate, Jackson and the rest of the Snake headwaters get considerably more precipitation – much of it snow – than the majority of Wyoming. Its elevation is also responsible for extreme differences between day and night temperatures. Extreme temperatures range from −50 °F or −45.6 °C on January 1, 1979, to 98 °F or 36.7 °C on August 19, 1981, and on average 249.7 mornings fall below freezing and 41.2 of these below 0 °F or −17.8 °C; the average window for zero temperatures is from November 19 to March 12 and freezes can occur in any month.

Snowfall averages 71.4 inches or 1.81 metres with a median of 62.7 inches or 1.59 metres. The highest monthly total has been 56.0 inches (1.42 m) in January 1969, and the most in one season being 153.3 inches (3.89 m) between July 1966 and June 1967.

Demographics

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the town was $59,605, and the median income for a family was $69,432. Male full-time, year-round workers had a median income of $35,892 versus $29,175 for females. The per capita income for the town was $27,066. About 4.2% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 9,577 people, 3,964 households, and 1,858 families residing in the town. The population density was 3,291.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,270.7/km²). There were 4,736 housing units at an average density of 1,627.5 per square mile (628.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 79.8% White, 0.4% African American, 0.8% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 15.2% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 27.2% of the population.

There were 3,964 households of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.2% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 53.1% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.04.

The median age in the town was 31.9 years. 18% of residents were under the age of 18; 11.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 43.8% were from 25 to 44; 20.5% were from 45 to 64; and 6.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 54.1% male and 45.9% female.

Government

Jackson is administered by a mayor and town council. The current mayor is Pete Muldoon.

Education

Public education in the town of Jackson is provided by Teton County School District #1. Schools serving the town include Jackson Elementary School (grades K-2), Colter Elementary School (grades 3-5), Jackson Hole Middle School (grades 6-8), Jackson Hole High School, Summit High School, the Jackson Hole Community School and the Journeys School.

Transportation

The town is served by Jackson Hole Airport. A public bus system ("The START Bus", or Southern Teton Area Rapid Transit) services the town of Jackson, the route to Teton Village, and adjacent communities in Star Valley, Wyoming and Teton Valley, Idaho. There are also airport buses to Salt Lake City, and places in between.

Notable people