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Jasper, Alabama

Coordinates: 33°50′32″N 87°16′38″W / 33.842347°N 87.277174°W / 33.842347; -87.277174
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Jasper, Alabama
City
Motto(s): 
"Experience from the past, knowledge for the future."
Location of Jasper in Walker County, Alabama.
Location of Jasper in Walker County, Alabama.
Coordinates: 33°50′32″N 87°16′38″W / 33.84222°N 87.27722°W / 33.84222; -87.27722
CountryUnited States
StateAlabama
CountyWalker
Government
 • MayorDavid O’Mary
Area
[1]
 • Total28.63 sq mi (74.16 km2)
 • Land28.54 sq mi (73.93 km2)
 • Water0.09 sq mi (0.23 km2)
Elevation
328 ft (100 m)
Population
 (2010)[2]
 • Total14,352
 • Estimate 
(2017)[3]
13,618
 • Density477.09/sq mi (184.21/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
35501-35504
Area code205
FIPS code01-38416
GNIS feature ID0120822
Websitehttp://www.jaspercity.com/

Jasper is a city in and the county seat of[4] Walker County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census, its population was 14,352, up from 14,052 in 2000. It is the county seat of Walker County. The city was once ranked among the world's leading producers of coal.

History

Named in honor of Sergeant William Jasper, an American Revolutionary War hero, Jasper was settled around 1815 and incorporated on August 18, 1886.[5]

During the Civil War, Union troops marching toward Selma burned the courthouse and several other buildings in town and raided neighboring farms for supplies.[5]

The first significant growth of the area was realized in 1886, when the Kansas City-Memphis & Birmingham and the Sheffield & Birmingham Railroads were completed through Jasper. The population grew from 200 people in 1886 to more than 3,000 in 1890.[5] In a special edition in 1891, the Mountain Eagle stated there were six coal mines, two sandstone quarries, 400 coke ovens, one foundry and machine shop, two saw mills, one brick works, four hotels, and two banks.

President Franklin Roosevelt visited the town in 1940 to attend a memorial service for his friend and supporter, William Bankhead.[5]

Historic sites

Jasper has several sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the John Hollis Bankhead House, First United Methodist Church, Jasper Downtown Historic District, and Walker County Hospital.[6]

Geography

Jasper is located at 33°50′32″N 87°16′38″W / 33.84222°N 87.27722°W / 33.84222; -87.27722 (33.842347, -87.277174).[7]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.9 square miles (70 km2), of which 26.9 square miles (70 km2) is land and 0.04% is water.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880269—
1890780190.0%
19001,661112.9%
19102,50951.1%
19203,24629.4%
19305,31363.7%
19406,84728.9%
19508,58925.4%
196010,79925.7%
197010,7980.0%
198011,89410.2%
199013,55313.9%
200014,0523.7%
201014,3522.1%
2017 (est.)13,618[3]−5.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
2013 Estimate[9]

As of the census of 2000, there were 14,052 people, 5,728 households, and 3,809 families residing in the city. The population density was 523.0 people per square mile (201.9/km²). There were 6,473 housing units at an average density of 240.9 per square mile (93.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.15% White, 13.98% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.7% some other race, and 1.4% two or more races. 4.4% of the population was Hispanic.

There were 5,728 households out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38, and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city, the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 27.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,586, and the median income for a family was $54,059. Males had a median income of $51,548 versus $35,248 for females. The per capita income for the city was $27,927. About 14.8% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.5% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 14,352 people, 5,760 households, and 3,831 families residing in the city. The population density was 533.5 people per square mile (206.2/km²). There were 6,478 housing units at an average density of 241 per square mile (93/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.3% White, 13.4% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 0.l.

There were 5,760 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33, and the average family size was 2.91.

In the city, the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,044, and the median income for a family was $43,674. Males had a median income of $35,182 versus $22,868 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,491. About 10.2% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.3% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Jasper is the location of the SyFy Channel's documentary show "Town of the Living Dead".[10] The City is also home to the annual "Foothills Festival" that happens every year in "Historic Downtown Jasper Square." They hold Live Music and food vendors all around the Famous Downtown Jasper Square. In 2017 the dates for the "Foothills Festival" have been announced for September 15 and September 16.[11] In the TV series Lost, Jasper is the hometown of James "Sawyer" Ford.

Schools

Elementary

T.R. Simmons Elementary School (PreK-1), Memorial Park Elementary School (2-3)

Intermediate

Maddox Intermediate School (4-6)

Junior High

Jasper Junior High (7-8)

High School

Jasper High School (9-12) (formerly Walker High School)'(Originally: Walker County High School, WCHS)'

North Highlands School

School for students with disabilities of all grades

Former Schools

West Jasper Elementary School (Closed 2017)

Media

Newspaper

Radio

Television

  • W16CM-D/16

Notable people

References

  1. ^ "2017 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Jul 7, 2018.
  2. ^ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2014-05-22. Retrieved 2014-06-07. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ a b c d Kaetz, James P. "Encyclopedia of Alabama: Jasper". encyclopediaofalabama.org. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
  6. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  8. ^ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013". Archived from the original on May 22, 2014. Retrieved June 7, 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ "Town of the Living Dead - about".
  11. ^ http://www.foothillsjasper.com/
  12. ^ "Ronnie Coleman".
Wikisource has the text of a 1920 Encyclopedia Americana article about Jasper, Alabama.

Media related to Jasper, Alabama at Wikimedia Commons

33°50′32″N 87°16′38″W / 33.842347°N 87.277174°W / 33.842347; -87.277174

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