J.B. Jackson (geographer)

J.B. Jackson was an influential American geographer known for his work on the cultural landscapes of everyday places. He focused on understanding how ordinary settings—like neighborhoods, markets, and roadside attractions—reflect societal values, history, and community identity. Jackson believed that studying these familiar environments reveals much about a culture’s priorities and evolution. His ideas shifted geography’s focus from abstract maps to the meaning behind the places people create and inhabit, highlighting the importance of local, everyday spaces in shaping our sense of community and identity.