In 1858, the county was named for Andrew Jackson, the seventh U.S. President from 1829 to 1837 and the first elected from west of the Appalachians. He was the first Representative in Congress from Tennessee in 1796 to 1797, served twice in the U.S. Senate in 1797 and 1823, and was the victorious commander at New Orleans in 1815. The county was formed from small parts of Madison, Estill, Owsley, Clay, Laurel, and Rockcastle, every adjoining county except Lee.