Jackson makes Money magazine's list of best places to live

Many Jackson residents say recognition by a national publication that their city is one of best places to live in America is overdue.

Money magazine named Jackson as one of the 100 Best Places to Live in its 2009 ranking of small towns. Jackson was ranked number 59 in the list.

"I'm so proud that this was recognized by someone else," said Jackson mayor Barbara Lohr, who said Jackson officials were contacted a little more than a month ago and told that the city was under consideration for the Money list. They didn't learn for sure that they made the list until the August issue of the magazine was published.

"When I first saw it I thought, 'oh great, we made it,'" Lohr said. "But then I thought, 'why aren't we number one?'"

Debbie Jennings has been a resident of Jackson for 38 years with her husband, Allen, who operates a masonry business in the city along with son Heath. Jennings thinks the small-town atmosphere of Jackson is attractive to many people who long for a simpler, more relaxed way of life.

"It's Mayberry, USA," Jennings said. "They like the idea of a small community. They like driving by and seeing people they know on the porch and saying 'Hi.'"

According to Money, the criteria for the rankings included median income and home prices, job growth, reading and math test scores, climate, crime rates, air quality, leisure and cultural activities. Economic factors were given more weight than others, according to the magazine's website. The list was pared down from 2,466 cities with populations between 8,500 and 50,000.

Jennings, a real estate broker, deals with clients who frequently specify that they want to live in Jackson. She said the school system is often mentioned by potential home buyers as reasons they would like to move there.

The brief commentary in the Money article didn't mention the schools, but pointed to a diverse economy shared with neighboring Cape Girardeau that is "anchored by Procter and Gamble, Southeast Missouri State University and two large hospitals."

While not cracking the top 100 list, Cape Girardeau was listed as "a contender" for the honor.

Also gaining recognition were Jackson's "well-manicured neighborhoods," its park system and the city's "attractive uptown historic district."

While acknowledging Jackson's schools, neighborhoods and parks, Lohr said it's Jackson's residents that really make it a good place to live.

"It's our people," Lohr said. "We have to give most of the credit to the citizens that live here who have strong morals, a strong work ethic, and who volunteer for so many community projects."

Residents seem happy with the image the Jackson has gained.

"In all honesty, Jackson is what Jackson is," Jennings said. "On Saturday at noon, the sidewalks are rolled up."