Editing Jackson County, Alabama (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Jackson-County-AL-census-map.png|thumb|right|Map of Jackson County showing census subdivisions]]

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|1127|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|1078|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|49|sqmi}} (%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_01.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 22, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> It is the fifth-largest county in Alabama by total area. Much of it is located in the [[Appalachians]].

Of special interest is [[Russell Cave National Monument]], which is located in Doran Cove, approximately 5 miles west of the town of [[Bridgeport, Alabama|Bridgeport]]. It is believed to offer "one of the most complete records of prehistoric culture in the southeast United States."<ref name="AlEnc">[http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-1343 Donna J. Siebenthaler, "Jackson County"], ''Encyclopedia of Alabama'', 2018; accessed September 21, 2018</ref> Russell Cave was declared a [[National Monument]] in May 1961 by President [[John F. Kennedy]]. The Monument consists of {{convert|310|acre|km2}} of land donated by the [[National Geographic Society]].

The cave is an important archaeological site that was excavated in 1956 by the [[Smithsonian Institution]] and the [[National Geographic Society]]. The October 1956 issue of ''[[National Geographic Magazine]]'' featured an article reporting, "Life 8,000 Years Ago Uncovered in an Alabama Cave." Evidence was found of human occupation of the cave from 6200 B.C. to A.D. 1650. The article was written by [[Carl F. Miller]], the expedition leader.<ref>Carl F. Miller, "Life 8,000 Years Ago Uncovered in an Alabama Cave", ''National Geographic Magazine'', pp. 542–558</ref> There have been follow-up studies about this site.

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Marion County, Tennessee]] – northeast
*[[Dade County, Georgia]] – east (EST)
*[[DeKalb County, Alabama|DeKalb County]] – southeast
*[[Marshall County, Alabama|Marshall County]] – southwest
*[[Madison County, Alabama|Madison County]] – west
*[[Franklin County, Tennessee]] – northwest

===National protected areas===
* [[Fern Cave National Wildlife Refuge]]
* [[Russell Cave National Monument]]
* [[Sauta Cave National Wildlife Refuge]]