Jacksonville is a city in Calhoun County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 census the population was 12,548, which is a 49% increase before 2000. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is house to Jacksonville State University, which is a middle of commerce and one of the largest employers in the area.

Jacksonville was founded in 1833 upon land purchased from Creek Indian Chief “Du-Hoag” Ladiga. First called Drayton, the town was renamed to award President Andrew Jackson in 1834. There are a couple Civil War monuments in town, including a statue of Major John Pelham in the city cemetery and a statue of a Confederate soldier in the center of the square. Jacksonville served as the county seat for Calhoun County (pronounced Cal’n County) until the 20th century past it moved to Anniston. Jacksonville State University was founded here in 1883.

An EF3 tornado hit Jacksonville upon March 19, 2018, causing extensive damage to the city and Jacksonville State University, almost $42 million in damages. The relatively low number of casualties, specifically just four injuries, was qualified by some to the fact that the academic circles was upon spring break at the time. More than 1,000 volunteers assisted in the short tornado relief. Caleb Howard, then a senior at Jacksonville State University, said that “t’s been amazing to see the university and the community come together.” Classes resumed at the academic circles the similar to month. Although the university’s normal site for graduation, Pete Mathews Coliseum, was damaged in the tornado along with more than 20 extra buildings, the first spring graduation before the tornado proceeded as scheduled on May 4 external the football stadium. Dr. John Beeler, the university’s president, said “It’s a joyous issue generally because you’re celebrating the accomplishments of anything your graduates, but it’s an even more joyous concern because to me it’s a celebration of how far we’ve come in a gruff time in recovering from these tornadoes.”

Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachians, Jacksonville is located at 33°48’56.758″ North, 85°45’37.681″ West (33.815766, -85.760467).