Located on the Forked Deer River near the center of West Tennessee, Jackson is approximately 87 miles northeast of Memphis and 131 miles west of Nashville. The community is home to four colleges: Lambuth University, Lane College, Union University and Jackson State Community College. Jackson was the hometown of legendary rockabilly music artist Carl Perkins. Jackson’s greenbelt development contains 4,000 acres of natural area and encompasses the city on three sides. Cypress Grove Nature Park is the most prominent part of the greenway and contains a cypress forest, 6,000 feet of elevated boardwalk, a pavilion and a raptor center. Part of the city’s park system is the Electro Chalybeate Well, which is a vast underground river of mineral water. Known as the “miracle spring” because of its alleged curative powers, the site quickly became a regional landmark and gathering place. In 1980, the City of Jackson constructed a 19th century-style gazebo and park encompassing the spring for residents and visitors to enjoy. Jackson is home to the Women’s NAIA basketball championships every March and the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant every June. Each August brings the Rockabilly Festival, which showcases approximately 150 artists and bands. In September, the Archeofest at nearby Pinson Mounds State Archeological Area commemorates the area’s Native American heritage through arts and crafts such as basketry, flute making, quillwork, and pottery. Other activities during the festival include dance performances, storytelling, tool and weapon demonstrations and haywagon tours. At an elevation of 433 feet, Jackson experiences an average July high temperature of 91 degrees and an average January low temperature of 29 degrees. The community annually receives an average of 54.78 inches of precipitation and 6.6 inches of snow.