Jasper, Florida
Encyclopedia
Jasper is a city in Hamilton County
, Florida
, United States
. The population was 1,780 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 1,848 http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2004-04-12.xls. It is the county seat
of Hamilton County
. The United Methodist Church in Jasper, Florida is on the National Register of Historic Places
. One of the largest industries is phosphate
mining.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2 square miles (5.2 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,780 people, 742 households, and 488 families residing in the city. The population density
was 911.2 people per square mile (352.4/km²). There were 878 housing units at an average density of 449.4 per square mile (173.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 52.25% White, 45.67% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.73% from other races
, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.09% of the population.
There were 742 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.7% were married couples
living together, 23.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 74.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 69.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $19,018, and the median income for a family was $23,664. Males had a median income of $30,938 versus $17,244 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $12,844. About 30.5% of families and 37.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 56.5% of those under age 18 and 18.7% of those age 65 or over.
, author of the 1944 best-seller Strange Fruit
, was born in Jasper before relocating with her family to Clayton, Georgia
at age 14. Smith was the founder and editor of "South Today," a journal of fiction and opinion, both literary and political, that was the first magazine in the South to publish stories and articles by black writers. Smith flaunted the racial norms of her day by hosting interracial dinners of white and black women between 1936 until the 1960s. She also wrote a nonfiction book, "Killers of the Dream," which examined the effect of race, sex, and religion on the Southern psyche, both white and black. Shortly after "Killers of the Dream" was published she received an honorary degree from Howard University
, a historically black college, with the declaration, "You are a dangerous revolutionist. There is enough dynamite in what you say to blow up the very foundation of segregated civilization."
Hamilton County, Florida
Hamilton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 13,327. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 13,983 . Its county seat is Jasper, Florida.- History :...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,780 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 1,848 http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2004-04-12.xls. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Hamilton County
Hamilton County, Florida
Hamilton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 13,327. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 13,983 . Its county seat is Jasper, Florida.- History :...
. The United Methodist Church in Jasper, Florida is on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. One of the largest industries is phosphate
Phosphate
A phosphate, an inorganic chemical, is a salt of phosphoric acid. In organic chemistry, a phosphate, or organophosphate, is an ester of phosphoric acid. Organic phosphates are important in biochemistry and biogeochemistry or ecology. Inorganic phosphates are mined to obtain phosphorus for use in...
mining.
Geography
Jasper is located at 30.518856°N 82.951194°W.According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 2 square miles (5.2 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,780 people, 742 households, and 488 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 911.2 people per square mile (352.4/km²). There were 878 housing units at an average density of 449.4 per square mile (173.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 52.25% White, 45.67% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.73% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.09% of the population.
There were 742 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 23.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the city the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 74.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 69.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $19,018, and the median income for a family was $23,664. Males had a median income of $30,938 versus $17,244 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $12,844. About 30.5% of families and 37.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 56.5% of those under age 18 and 18.7% of those age 65 or over.
Born in Jasper
Lillian SmithLillian Smith (author)
Lillian Eugenia Smith was a writer and social critic of the Southern United States, known best for her best-selling novel Strange Fruit...
, author of the 1944 best-seller Strange Fruit
Strange Fruit
"Strange Fruit" is a song performed most famously by Billie Holiday, who released her first recording of it in 1939, the year she first sang it. Written by the teacher Abel Meeropol as a poem, it exposed American racism, particularly the lynching of African Americans. Such lynchings had occurred...
, was born in Jasper before relocating with her family to Clayton, Georgia
Clayton, Georgia
Clayton is a city in Rabun County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,019 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Rabun County and is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains.-History:...
at age 14. Smith was the founder and editor of "South Today," a journal of fiction and opinion, both literary and political, that was the first magazine in the South to publish stories and articles by black writers. Smith flaunted the racial norms of her day by hosting interracial dinners of white and black women between 1936 until the 1960s. She also wrote a nonfiction book, "Killers of the Dream," which examined the effect of race, sex, and religion on the Southern psyche, both white and black. Shortly after "Killers of the Dream" was published she received an honorary degree from Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
, a historically black college, with the declaration, "You are a dangerous revolutionist. There is enough dynamite in what you say to blow up the very foundation of segregated civilization."
- Alex J. Brown - Starting Defensive End for the New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans SaintsThe New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
- Don BryantDon Bryant (baseball)Donald Ray Bryant was a catcher and coach in Major League Baseball. He was nicknamed "Bear" by baseball teammates in homage to University of Alabama football coaching legend Paul "Bear" Bryant...
- Former Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player and bullpen coachCoach (baseball)In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game... - Marquis DanielsMarquis DanielsMarquis Antwane Daniels is a , guard-forward who most recently was a member of the Sacramento Kings. Daniels was an undrafted guard in the 2003 NBA Draft, yet has become a regular rotation player averaging at least 17.8 minutes per game in each one of his first six seasons...
- NBA Guard/Forward for the Sacramento KingsSacramento KingsThe Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, Born: Jan 7, 1981 - Art SmithArt Smith (chef)Charles Arthur "Art" Smith is an American chef who has worked for former Florida governor Bob Graham and Jeb Bush and until 2007 was personal chef to Oprah Winfrey...
- Oprah's Chef, common guest on The Today Show
Local Publications
- Jasper News — local newspaper for Jasper