Jackson Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
History
Settlement
In 1795, the first white settler constructed a permanent home in modern-day Jackson Township; his name was Palmer Ransom. He was followed by additional settlers (including John Lemereaux and Jesse Brown). Jackson Township was formed in 1844 from a portion of Plymouth Township. It originally covered an area of fifteen square miles. The township was named in honor of Andrew Jackson (the seventh President of the United States). Due to its thick forests, the lumber industry was one of the first major employers in the area. In the township's early days, there were roughly nine sawmills and three gristmills. By 1850, the population of Jackson increased to nearly six hundred. Over time, farming replaced logging as the primary industry in the township.
Contemporary history
Vice presidential visit
In October 2005, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney visited the home of Ron and Rhea Simms in Jackson Township. The couple hosted Cheney at a private political fundraiser for Republican Senator Rick Santorum, who was up for re-election in 2006. Two hundred area residents attended the fundraiser ($1,000 per person). The senator raised a total of $300,000. Santorum ultimately lost the election to Bob Casey.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 13.4 square miles (34.6 km), of which 13.3 square miles (34.4 km) is land and 0.077 square miles (0.2 km), or 0.64%, is water. There are two noteworthy communities in Jackson Township: Chase and Huntsville (both are located in the eastern half of Jackson). Larksville Mountain defines the southeastern border of the municipality. The territory's interior is made up of creeks and rolling hills (which contains forests and farmland). PA 29 runs through the western half of the township.