Jasper, Tennessee facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jasper, Tennessee
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Town
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Jasper City Hall
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| Nickname(s):
"Gateway to the beautiful Sequatchie Valley"
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| Motto(s):
"The friendly city on the move!"
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Location of Jasper in Marion County, Tennessee.
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 Jasper, Tennessee
Location in Tennessee
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| Country | United States |
| State | Tennessee |
| County | Marion |
| Founded | 1820 |
| Incorporated | 1959 |
| Named for | William Jasper |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.96 sq mi (25.78 km2) |
| • Land | 9.85 sq mi (25.50 km2) |
| • Water | 0.11 sq mi (0.28 km2) |
| Elevation | 620 ft (190 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,612 |
| • Density | 366.85/sq mi (141.64/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
37347
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| Area code(s) | 423 |
| FIPS code | 47-37820 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1289309 |
Jasper is a town in Tennessee, USA. It is the main town, or "county seat," of Marion County. In 2020, about 3,612 people lived there. The town started in 1820 on land from Betsy Pack, whose mother was a Cherokee woman. Jasper is also part of the larger Chattanooga metropolitan area.
Contents
History of Jasper
Jasper got its name from William Jasper. He was a hero during the American Revolutionary War from South Carolina.
The town was formed on land that was leased for just $1 from Elizabeth, also known as "Betsy" Pack. She was the daughter of Chief John Lowery and Nannie Watts, a beloved Cherokee woman. Her family and friends still gather twice a year to place flowers at a marker in front of the courthouse. The main north-south street in town is named Betsy Pack Drive in her honor.
Geography and Location
Jasper covers about 9.2 square miles (23.8 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water. The town is located in the southwestern part of the Sequatchie Valley. This area is mostly flat. It is surrounded by steep cliffs of the Cumberland Plateau to the north and west. There are also low hills to the east.
To the south, you'll find Guntersville Lake, which is part of the Tennessee River. The Sequatchie River flows just east of Jasper. It then empties into the Tennessee River at the town's southeastern edge. The town of Kimball is right next to Jasper to the southwest.
Roads and Highways
Jasper's main square is where U.S. Route 72 (Main Street) and Tennessee State Route 150 (Betsy Pack Drive) meet. US-72, which also includes U.S. Route 64 and U.S. Route 41 in Jasper, connects the town to Chattanooga to the southeast. It also links to Kimball, South Pittsburg, and Alabama to the southwest.
State Route 150 connects Jasper to the Grundy County area, which is on top of the Plateau to the northwest. Tennessee State Route 28 is a major north-south road in the Sequatchie Valley. It crosses US-72 in southeastern Jasper. Finally, Interstate 24 passes through the southern edges of Jasper.
Population and Demographics
Demographics is the study of a population. It looks at things like how many people live somewhere and what groups they belong to.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 249 | — | |
| 1870 | 375 | 50.6% | |
| 1880 | 541 | 44.3% | |
| 1890 | 902 | 66.7% | |
| 1920 | 728 | — | |
| 1930 | 1,251 | 71.8% | |
| 1960 | 1,450 | — | |
| 1970 | 2,009 | 38.6% | |
| 1980 | 2,633 | 31.1% | |
| 1990 | 2,780 | 5.6% | |
| 2000 | 3,214 | 15.6% | |
| 2010 | 3,279 | 2.0% | |
| 2020 | 3,612 | 10.2% | |
| Sources: | |||
2020 Census Information
The 2020 United States census counted 3,612 people living in Jasper. There were 1,376 households and 906 families in the town.
| Race | Number | Percentage |
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| White (non-Hispanic) | 3,066 | 84.88% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 245 | 6.78% |
| Native American | 7 | 0.19% |
| Asian | 16 | 0.44% |
| Other/Mixed | 187 | 5.18% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 91 | 2.52% |
Transportation in Jasper
The Marion County Airport, also known as Brown Field, is located about 4.5 miles (7.2 kilometers) southeast of Jasper's town center. It is a public airport owned by the county.
Notable People from Jasper
Many interesting people have come from Jasper. Here are a few:
- Bob Long: A professional baseball player.
- Eric Westmoreland: A former football player for the University of Tennessee Volunteers. He also played as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns.
- Jacob Saylors: A professional running back for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He also played for the St. Louis Battlehawks in the United Football League and for the East Tennessee State Buccaneers football team.
See also
In Spanish: Jasper (Tennessee) para niños
