Jasper, Texas facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jasper
City
Downtown Jasper from corner of Lamar and Austin
Motto(s):  "Jewel of the Forest"
Location of Jasper, Texas
Jasper, Texas Location in Texas Show map of Texas Jasper, Texas Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Texas
County	Jasper
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
Area
• Total	10.46 sq mi (27.09 km2)
• Land	10.45 sq mi (27.06 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation	207 ft (63 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	6,884
• Density	722.86/sq mi (279.09/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP code	75951
Area code(s)	409
FIPS code	48-37420
GNIS feature ID	2410134

Jasper is a city in Texas, United States. It is the main city and county seat of Jasper County. In 2020, about 6,884 people lived there.

Jasper is located in a part of Texas called Deep East Texas. It is about 40 miles (64 km) west of the Texas-Louisiana border. The city is known as the "Butterfly Capital of Texas." Every year, in early October, Jasper hosts a Butterfly Festival. This festival celebrates the amazing journey of monarch butterflies as they migrate.

History of Jasper

Early Settlement and Naming

The area where Jasper is now located was first settled around 1824. John Bevil was one of the first people to live there. By 1830, about 30 families had made their home in the settlement. At that time, it was called "Snow River."

In 1835, the town was given a new name: Jasper. It was named after William Jasper. He was a brave soldier from the American Revolution. He died trying to raise the American flag during a battle in 1779. When the Republic of Texas was formed in 1836, Jasper became one of its first 23 counties. In 1844, Jasper became the county seat. Texas, including Jasper, joined the United States in 1845.

The Jasper County Courthouse, built in 1889, is a historic building in Jasper.

Jasper During the Civil War

During the American Civil War, Jasper was an important place for the Confederate army. It was a major center for sending messages, moving supplies, and transporting goods. Jasper was even a Confederate Army headquarters for a large area of nine counties. After the war ended, General George Custer and his Union troops came to Jasper. They camped in the town square.

Growth and Challenges in the 19th Century

Jasper had schools like the Jasper Male and Female High School. Later, it became the Southeast Texas Male and Female College. Another school, Jasper Collegiate Institute, also operated for many years. The town's population dropped to 360 people in 1870 because of the difficulties of the Civil War. However, by 1885, it grew back to 1,000 people.

By 1896, Jasper had 1,200 residents. When the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway arrived in the early 1900s, Jasper became a hub for making wood products. Lumber from sawmills, baskets, and other wood items were shipped out of Jasper. This helped the town's economy grow.

20th Century Events

In 1901, a major fire destroyed most of Jasper. Thieves had robbed the post office and county treasurer's safes. They then set a fire, and since the town had no fire department, the fire spread quickly. The damage was estimated at $100,000.

Jasper also served as the main office for a large construction project. This project built dams like Dam "B" at Town Bluff. Farmers in the area raised chickens and cattle. Later, in the 1950s, they started dairy farming. Jasper also became the headquarters for Morgan and Lindsey. This was a chain of variety stores that had many stores across several states.

In June 1998, Jasper gained national attention due to a terrible event. This led to the creation of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. This law helps protect people from crimes motivated by hate.

21st Century and Recent Events

In 2000, Jasper had 8,247 residents and about 250 businesses. In February 2003, Jasper was one of the main locations where parts of the Space Shuttle Columbia wreckage were found after it broke apart.

In September 2005, Hurricane Rita caused a lot of damage to Jasper. The city lost power and clean drinking water for about three and a half weeks.

The Jasper Arboretum Project started in 2000. In 2012, an Outdoor Learning Center was added. Together, they created 14 acres (5.7 hectares) of public gardens, walking trails, and a nature classroom.

In 2012, Jasper was in the news again due to a disagreement over the hiring and firing of its first Black police chief. This event showed some of the challenges Jasper has faced with racism throughout its history.

On July 8, 2024, a strong tornado hit the western part of Jasper. It was caused by Hurricane Beryl. Many trees, power poles, and buildings were damaged, and one person was hurt.

Geography and Climate

Jasper is located in the northern part of Jasper County. Major roads like U.S. Route 190 and U.S. Route 96 pass through the city. U.S. 190 connects Jasper to nearby towns like Newton and Woodville. U.S. 96 goes north to San Augustine and south to Beaumont. Texas State Highway 63 also runs through Jasper.

The city covers a total area of about 10.46 square miles (27.1 square kilometers). Only a very small part of this area is water. Sandy Creek flows just south of the city center. It eventually reaches the Neches River.

Weather in Jasper

Jasper has a warm climate. Summers are hot, and winters are mild. The city gets a good amount of rain throughout the year. Snow is very rare in Jasper.

People of Jasper

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,884 people living in Jasper. There were 2,809 households and 1,997 families.

In 2010, the city had 7,590 people. About 34.4% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.54 people. The average family had 3.20 people.

The population was spread out by age. About 29.4% were under 18. About 15.2% were 65 or older. The average age was 35 years old.

Economy and Jobs

The average income for a household in Jasper was about $24,671. For families, it was about $32,242. About 28.4% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 34.3% of those under 18.

Parks and Fun Things to Do

Sam Rayburn Reservoir is a large lake about 14 miles (23 km) north of Jasper. It is the biggest lake completely within Texas. Thousands of visitors come here every year for vacation. B. A. Steinhagen Lake is another lake about 11 miles (18 km) west of the city.

Education in Jasper

Students in Jasper attend schools in the Jasper Independent School District. There is also Vista Academy of Jasper. The school district works with Lamar Institute of Technology and Stephen F. Austin State University. This helps students get ready for college and careers. Jasper is also part of the Angelina College district. The city also has its own public library, the Jasper Public Library.

Media and News

Jasper has a weekly newspaper called the Jasper Newsboy. It has been published since 1865. It is thought to be the oldest weekly newspaper in Texas that has been published without stopping.

The area also has several radio stations:

• KJAS radio 107.3 FM
• KTXJ radio 102.7 FM
• KCOX radio 1350 AM

And a television station:

• KVHP-LD television 34

Welcome sign when entering Jasper from U.S. Route 190 West.

Famous People From Jasper

Many notable people have connections to Jasper:

• Mark Chesnutt, a country music singer, used to live here.
• Don Adams, a Texas politician.
• Max Alvis, a former professional baseball player.
• Derick Armstrong, a Canadian football player.
• Zack Bronson, a former NFL football player for the San Francisco 49ers.
• Red Bryant, an NFL football player for the Arizona Cardinals, grew up in Jasper.
• James Byrd, Jr., whose tragic death led to important hate crime laws.
• Phil Hennigan, a former professional baseball pitcher.
• Robert Hunt, a professional football player for the Miami Dolphins.
• Roger Mobley, a pastor and former child actor.
• SirVincent Rogers, a former professional football player.
• Michael Sarver, a singer and American Idol contestant.
• Eugene Seale, a former professional football player.
• Sean Weatherspoon, a former professional football player, grew up in Jasper.

Images for kids

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  A robot icon, representing the Kiddle encyclopedia.

See also

In Spanish: Jasper (Texas) para niños