Jasper, Texas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jasper is a city in Jasper County, Texas, on U.S. highways 96 and 190, State Highway 63, and Sandy Creek in north central Jasper County. The population was 8,247 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Jasper CountyGR6 and is situated in East Texas, specifically the Deep East Texas subregion. Jasper is about 110 miles (180 km) northeast of Houston.

Location of Jasper, Texas

Contents

[edit] History

The area was settled around 1824 by John Bevil. 30 families occupied the settlement as early as 1830, when it was known as Snow River or Bevil's Settlement after John R. Bevil one of the earliest white settlers.

In 1835 it was renamed for William Jasper, a hero of the American Revolution who was killed attempting to plant the American colors at the storming of Savannah in 1779.[1] Jasper became the county seat in 1844. During the Civil War the town housed a Confederate quartermaster depot. Antebellum educational institutions included the Jasper Male and Female High School, which operated until 1878, when it became the Southeast Texas Male and Female College, and Jasper Collegiate Institute, which operated from 1851 until 1874. The population declined to 360 in 1870, reflecting the hardships of the Civil War, but by 1885 had risen to 1,000.

A weekly newspaper, the Jasper Newsboy, has been published continuously since 1865.

In 1896 Jasper had a population of 1,200. With the arrival of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway early in the twentieth century, Jasper grew into a center for the manufacture of timber products. Lumber from two sawmills with a daily capacity of 125,000 board feet (295 m³), goods from basket and stave factories, logs, ties, poles, and pulpwood were shipped in 200 cars per month.

Jasper served as headquarters for the Lower Neches Valley Authority's construction program, including Dam "B" at Town Bluff and engineering and surveying for a dam at Magee Bend on the Angelina River.

Local farmers raised broiler chickens and beef and in the 1950s turned to dairying. Jasper also became the headquarters of Morgan and Lindsey Incorporated, variety chain stores, which at one time operated 85 stores in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

In 1990 the community had 7,267 residents and 222 businesses.

The only known soldier of the American Revolution to be buried in Texas was Jasper resident Stephen Williams, in whose honor a marker has been placed on the courthouse lawn.

[edit] Notable Events

The city became infamous throughout the United States in 1998 after an African-American man named James Byrd, Jr. was dragged to death by John William King and two other white men from the surrounding area. Four years later in 2002, Ken Tillery would die under nearly the reverse circumstances, Tillery being Caucasian and his three murderers African-American.

Jasper was also one of the primary locations for the recovery of the Space Shuttle Columbia wreckage in February of 2003.

Jasper was greatly affected by Hurricane Rita on September 25, 2005 as she moved inland. It suffered considerable damage. The town was also left without power or drinkable water for about three and half weeks. Many residents of Jasper felt that FEMA overlooked them and the situation that Jasper and Jasper County were in.

[edit] Geography and climate

Jasper is located at 30°55′20″N, 93°59′56″W (30.922333, -93.998750)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.9 km² (10.4 mi²). 26.8 km² (10.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.58%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 8,247 people, 2,888 households, and 1,992 families residing in the city. The population density was 307.9/km² (797.4/mi²). There were 3,467 housing units at an average density of 129.5/km² (335.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 48.26% White, 43.91% African American, 0.44% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 5.18% from other races, and 1.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.56% of the population.

There were 2,888 households out of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were married couples living together, 20.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.

[edit] Economy

The median income for a household in the city was $24,671, and the median income for a family was $32,242. Males had a median income of $28,432 versus $17,266 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,997. About 23.3% of families and 28.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.3% of those under age 18 and 23.3% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Education

The city is served by Jasper Independent School District.

[edit] Famous people of Jasper, Texas

Other famous people from Jasper, Texas include former baseball player Max Alvis, Texas A & M Singing Cadets choir director David Kipp, evangelist Malcom Ellis, and baseball player Mark Guidry.

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/JJ/hfj2.html

[edit] External links

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