Jasper, Texas

Jasper is a city in Jasper County, Texas, United States, 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 (2006 estimate-7,465). It is the county seat of Jasper County^[3] and is situated in East Texas, specifically the Deep East Texas subregion. Jasper is about 110 miles (180 km) northeast of Houston.

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 European-American 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.^[4] Jasper became the county seat in 1844. During the Civil War the town housed a Confederate quartermaster depot and served as a major center for the C.S.A.'s communication, transportation, and supply. Jasper was a Confederate Army headquarters for a nine-county area. Following the war, Union troops occupied Jasper, camping in town square, and lead by General George Custer.^[5] 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 6,959 residents and 222 businesses.^[6]

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.

Notable events

• The city became infamous throughout the United States in 1998 after a man named James Byrd, Jr. was dragged to death by John William King and two other men from the surrounding area.

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

• Jasper was greatly affected by Hurricane Rita on September 25, 2005 as it 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 then, and still feel, that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) overlooked them and the situation that Jasper and Jasper County were in. Even as late as mid-2007 there are still blue FEMA tarps in evidence on area roofs, as some people continue to await funding to make repairs.

Geography and climate

Jasper is located at 30°55′20″N 93°59′56″W / 30.92222°N 93.99889°W (30.922333, -93.998750).^[7]

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

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 8,247 people, 2,888 households, and 1,992 families residing in the city. The population density was 797.4 people per square mile (307.9/km²). There were 3,467 housing units at an average density of 335.2/sq mi (129.5/km²). 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.

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. Due to the lack of viable employment locally these figures are not likely to get better in the future.

Education

The city is served by Jasper Independent School District.

Notable residents

• Max Alvis, baseball player, Cleveland Indians
• Ernie Holmes, football player, Pittsburg Steelers
• Red Bryant, football player, Seattle Seahawks
• Sean Weatherspoon, football player, University of Missouri, Atlanta Falcons
• Joe Tonahill (deceased), attorney, namesake of Tonahill Society, co-founder of Texas Trial Lawyers Association, member of Jack Ruby defense team
• Derick Armstrong, football player, BC Lions
• C.J. Ebarb, Baseball Player, Toronto Blue Jays

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
3. ^ . National Association of Counties. . Retrieved 2008-01-31.
4. ^ TSHA Online - Texas State Historical Association
5. ^ Texas State Historical Commission. "Jasper County, C.S.A. Historical Marker". http://www.stoppingpoints.com/texas/sights.cgi?marker=Jasper+County%2C+C.+S.+A.&cnty=jasper.
6. ^ Jasper city, Texas - Population Finder - American FactFinder
7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31.

External links

• Jasper city website
• Jasper County website
• Jasper/Lake Sam Rayburn Area Chamber of Commerce
• USGS Entry for Jasper, Texas

Categories: Cities in Texas | Jasper County, Texas | County seats in Texas ();