| Description: | Jackson County, located in southern Illinois, covers an area of 588 square miles and had a 2003 population of 58,976, according to estimates by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of the Census. Using these figures, Jackson County was the 37th largest county in Illinois geographically, but 25th largest in terms of population. Combining these two measures, Jackson County had the 23rd highest population density per square mile among Illinois 102 counties. | |