Rensselaer, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rensselaer, Indiana
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Jasper County Courthouse
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Location of Rensselaer in Jasper County, Indiana
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Jasper |
| Townships | Marion, Newton |
| Platted | June 12, 1839 |
| Incorporated | December 8, 1858 |
| Named for | James Van Rensselaer |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.73 sq mi (17.44 km2) |
| • Land | 6.73 sq mi (17.43 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 659 ft (201 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,733 |
| • Density | 852.11/sq mi (328.99/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
47978
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| Area code(s) | 219 |
| FIPS code | 18-63792 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2396349 |
Rensselaer is a city in Jasper County, Indiana, in the United States. It is located along the Iroquois River. Rensselaer is the main city, or county seat, of Jasper County.
In 2020, about 5,733 people lived in Rensselaer. Just south of the city, you can find Saint Joseph's College.
Contents
History of Rensselaer
Rensselaer was first planned on June 12, 1839. It was originally called "Newton." The town was built near the fast-flowing parts of the Iroquois River.
By 1844, the town's name changed to "Rensselaer." It was named after James Van Rensselaer. He was a merchant from Utica, New York. He came to the area after his business failed during a tough economic time in 1837. He took over the land from Joseph D. Yeoman, who had started a farm there earlier.
St. Joseph Indian Normal School
The St. Joseph Indian Normal School was started in 1888. It was founded by St. Katherine Drexel. She was a wealthy woman from Philadelphia. She gave $50,000 to help educate Catholic American Indian boys.
This school taught 60 boys each year until 1896. The Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions ran the school.
Historic Places in Rensselaer
Several important buildings in Rensselaer are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include:
- The Jasper County Courthouse
- The Oren F. and Adelia Parker House
- The Rensselaer Carnegie Library
- The Rensselaer Courthouse Square Historic District
Geography and Location
Rensselaer is in the southwest part of Jasper County. The small town of Collegeville is just south of Rensselaer. Saint Joseph's College is located in Collegeville.
The Iroquois River flows through the southern part of Rensselaer. This river is a branch of the Kankakee River. The Kankakee River eventually flows into the Illinois River.
Roads and Travel
Two main roads meet in downtown Rensselaer: U.S. Route 231 and Indiana State Road 114.
- US-231 goes north about 20 miles to DeMotte. It goes south about 12 miles to Remington.
- State Road 114 goes east about 13 miles to U.S. Route 421. It goes west about 3.5 miles to Interstate 65.
From I-65, Rensselaer is about 42 miles north of Lafayette. It is also about 54 miles south of Gary.
Land and Water
In 2010, Rensselaer covered a total area of about 3.86 square miles. Most of this area, about 3.8 square miles, is land. Only a small part, about 0.06 square miles, is water.
Climate in Rensselaer
Rensselaer has a humid continental climate. This means there are big differences in temperature between seasons. Summers are warm to hot and often humid. Winters are cold, and sometimes very cold. Rain and snow are spread out fairly evenly throughout the year.
Population Changes
The population of Rensselaer has changed over the years. Here's a look at how many people have lived in the city since 1850:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 241 | — | |
| 1860 | 535 | 122.0% | |
| 1870 | 617 | 15.3% | |
| 1880 | 968 | 56.9% | |
| 1890 | 1,455 | 50.3% | |
| 1900 | 2,255 | 55.0% | |
| 1910 | 2,393 | 6.1% | |
| 1920 | 2,912 | 21.7% | |
| 1930 | 2,798 | −3.9% | |
| 1940 | 3,214 | 14.9% | |
| 1950 | 4,072 | 26.7% | |
| 1960 | 4,740 | 16.4% | |
| 1970 | 4,688 | −1.1% | |
| 1980 | 4,944 | 5.5% | |
| 1990 | 5,045 | 2.0% | |
| 2000 | 5,294 | 4.9% | |
| 2010 | 5,859 | 10.7% | |
| 2020 | 5,733 | −2.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Education in Rensselaer
Rensselaer has its own school district called the Rensselaer Central School Corporation. This district includes schools for students from kindergarten through 12th grade.
The city also has a public library. It is a part of the Jasper County Public Library system.
As mentioned before, Saint Joseph's College is located in Rensselaer.
Transportation
Rensselaer has an Amtrak train station. The Cardinal train stops here three days a week. This train service helps people travel to and from Rensselaer.
Notable People from Rensselaer
Many interesting people have come from Rensselaer, including:
- Eleanor Stackhouse Atkinson, an author.
- Dan Brandenburg, a football player for the Buffalo Bills.
- Steve Buyer, a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Charles A. Halleck, a Republican leader in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- James Frederick "Jimmy" Hanley, a songwriter.
- Tom Harmon, a famous college football player who won the Heisman Trophy in 1940.
- Eli Isom, a professional wrestler.
- Michael Stephen Kanne, a judge on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Robert H. Milroy, a Major General in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
- Augustus Phillips, an actor from the time of silent films.
See also
In Spanish: Rensselaer (Indiana) para niños
