A historically black junior college in Florida (1961–1966) founded to resist school integration.
Jackson Junior College opened in September 1961 as one of eleven black junior colleges established by the Florida Legislature in the late 1950s. Created in response to the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision, the college was intended to maintain racial segregation by demonstrating a "separate but equal" higher education system for African Americans. The institution was jointly supported by Calhoun, Jackson, and Washington Counties, with bus transportation provided to students. It was closed abruptly in 1966 following the Civil Rights Act of 1964, without offering students a transition opportunity to complete their studies elsewhere.
The college was particularly strong in science and sponsored an annual science fair. It was primarily oriented toward preparing students to transfer to four-year institutions, especially Florida A&M University, located 75 miles away. The college did not offer athletic activities or teams. It opened with 47 students and five part-time faculty members, reaching peak enrollment of 195 students in 1964–1965, plus additional adult education students pursuing GED credentials.
Jackson Junior College shared facilities with Jackson County Training School, the local black high school. All initial teachers were also employed at the high school, and the college's only president, William A. Hurley, served simultaneously as principal of the training school. A dedicated building with classrooms and administrative offices opened in 1963, though the college continued to use the high school's cafeteria and library. Faculty salaries were lower than those at the nearby white Chipola Junior College.