Blackman Township Public Safety

Jackson County in many ways is an enigmatic community. Economically, they have not been in the best…read moreof positions for many years. The population actually peaked in 2010 and has fallen slightly by about 0.3% since then estimated at just under 160,000. The county has been slow to grow in recent times as it has not experienced double digit growth over the course of a decade since the 1950s. It does not seem to attract large business as the six largest employers are various government functions (state corrections, local governments and schools), utilities and medical care. The unemployment rate in the county is slightly above state average, the average income is slightly below state average and the housing prices are largely flat relative to 2000. There are three (one public, two private) post-secondary institutions classified as colleges or universities. The number of persons holding a bachelor's degree or higher among eligible adults is more than 1/4 less than the national percentage. The county seat is Jackson which is a small city of about 33,000, or slightly more than 20% of the county population. Jackson has standard commercial offerings with a small mall. There are a few parks highlighted by Ella Sharp Park which features an annual balloon race. The claim to fame is that it is the birthplace of the Republican Party. The county is largely rural and is very laid back. There is plenty of open space and many back roads to drive in relative solitude. The Amtrak Wolverine Line runs through the City of Jackson on its route between Chicago and Detroit. The train station is actually very nostalgic and lovely. There is an airport west of the City of Jackson that had commercial service until 1984. It has since served only as a General Aviation Facility. Generally speaking, this is a relatively uninteresting place to visit unless you like to observe Midwest and Michigan cultural life. There are no marquis sites to see although there is a new Prison Museum that opened a little over a year ago that might have some promise to allow Jackson County to claim a noteworthy site for visitors. It would be a slow-and-easy place to live, however. The average commute time to work is about 18 minutes and the home prices are very reasonable though you won't see much increase in your investment. It is one of those counties in the US that easily gets overlooked.

Brooks Memorial Fountain

At the roundabout where Kalamazoo Avenue meets Michigan Avenue, which is at the western end of the…read moremain street of Marshall, is this pretty fountain. It's May, so the water is drained, but I'm sure it will start looking great in the next couple of weeks. There is a historical marker nearby that provides some history. It reads: "In October 1929, Marshall's mayor, Harold C. Brooks, announced his gift to the city of an 'electric fountain' in memory of his late father, Charles E. Brooks. Architect Howard F. Young, landscape engineer Herman Swanson, and engineers from General Electric collaborated on the design. At its dedication, on April 26, 1930, some seven thousand people applauded with 'exclamations of surprise' and 'wonderment' when the mayor's son, Craig, turned on the fountain and its multi-colored lights." [Review 11088 overall, 861 of 2019.]

Chelsea Community Fairgrounds

My friend drove me past the Chelsea Fairgrounds on the outskirts of town and I thought they were…read morevery pretty if small. I'd love to come back in the summer when a fair is being held. I love small town fairs! I wish I had remembered to take a photo.

United States Government

3.0

Jennifer at the local post office has been so helpful every time I have to go overseas for work. I…read moreappreciate her always wanting to work with me with holding mail for extended periods.

I became very angry this past week when I dropped off 2 packages at the Manchester Post Office. I…read morewas treated very badly with passive aggressive behavior from a male postal worker in customer service. If you have a choice of where to ship your mail and packages, I would avoid going to this post office, if you want to have a pleasant experience!

Jacksonburg Public Square

5.0

This was the location of the founding of Jackson, originally called Jacksonburg, named for…read morePresident Andrew Jackson. This park at West Michigan and Jackson has a small fountain and murals depicting early Jackson heritage.

State Prison of Southern Michigan

First time trying this escape room. Basically no clues, Extremely difficult. Food wasn't all that…read moregreat but they didn't charge me for it so I can't complain too much.

Great food. Learned to do cornrows. It was a blast.read more

MDot Rest Area

3.6

(5 reviews)

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I-69 southbound near Battle Creek, about a mile prior to encountering the I-94 interchange (towards…read moreDetroit or Kalamazoo/Chicago). It has a smaller parking lot but still offers the same services including clean restrooms, a dog walking area, picnic tables and parking for both cars and trucks. Bathroom was clean and the vending machine was fully stocked. [Review 11113 overall, 886 of 2019.]

The drinking water at some of the MDOT rest areas can be a bit skanky, my dog won't drink it. I'm…read moresure it is well water, which I generally have not trouble with, but the northern MDOT rest stops water are bad. Even if you use the water fountains. Parking is usually plentiful, lots of space to get a meal outside of your vehicle (picnic), but be prepared for mosquitoes when it warms up in the summer. Bathrooms are usually clean and functional.

Jackson District Library

They have really fast computers and enough to serve the community. Although some of the patrons are…read morevery talkative and loud, I was able to get some work done.

There movies are great for renting out, except the fact they don't clean them and I ended up having…read moreto clean them and take better care of them then they do. I understand many people Rent out these dvds, and they get used a lot. What this means is Clean them better and care for them better. Change out old dvds for new ones, so that people can enjoy the movie without it pausing many times, so stopping mid show and not continuing on.

Sam Hill House Historical Marker

3.0

Quite a lot of history in Marshall Michigan and this house just off the main street near the…read moreroundabout is some of that history. It reads: "Samuel W. Hill, legendary figure of the northland, surveyed the Great Lakes' harbors in 1840-44 and worked with Dr. Douglass Houghton on the first geological survey of the Upper Peninsula in 1845. He was later involved with the sale of land and the building of roads and canals in the area. For many years he directed some of the most successful copper mines of the Lake Superior region. Twice elected to the state legislature, Hill retired to this house in 1875. He died in 1889." [Review 11099 overall, 872 of 2019.]

Marshall District Library

5.0