Jasper, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Jasper is a city in Jasper County
, Missouri
, United States
. The population within the city limits was 931 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Joplin, Missouri
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), of which, 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (1.79%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,011 people, 409 households, and 271 families residing in the city. The population density
was 921.8 people per square mile (354.9/km²). There were 454 housing units at an average density of 413.9 per square mile (159.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.85% White, 0.30% African American, 0.89% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.40% from other races
, and 2.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.57% of the population.
There were 409 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.8% were married couples
living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,650, and the median income for a family was $31,667. Males had a median income of $26,304 versus $19,219 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,067. About 10.6% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.2% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.
community just across the Barton County line) for its position between county-seats Carthage
and Lamar
, but in the late 1800s it was renamed Jasper to reuse the postal equipment of a previous Jasper that existed southeast of Carthage.
Jasper was the home to Debra Dene Barnes Miles
the year after she finished her reign as Miss America
(from 'Miss Kansas' title) in 1968.
In the 1950s Jasper hosted a local fair celebrating its dairy industry. The current site of the popcorn plant was the PET condensed milk plant. The 1960s and 1970s were the years of the Jasper Harvest Fair held the last week before school started. The Chamber of Commerce sponsored a Kenny Carter Pit Bar-b-que. Hundreds would line up for bar-b-que brisket, chicken, baked beans, cole slaw, potato chips and bread. The evening was rounded off with local talent, the high school band and gospel singing groups. Jasper Appreciation Days is another celebration that takes place in early fall for two days. The Appreciation Days are filled with fun festivities. The Jasper student organizations use this to raise money for their affliliated organization, and to get their message out there.
2 State Titles
-2001 Class 1 Baseball
-1979 Class 1 Football
, starring Patrick Swayze
; however, the movie was not actually filmed in Jasper. Critic Robert Trussell noted, "Little effort was made to hide the (California) mountains in the background."
Jasper County, Missouri
Jasper County is a county located in the US state of Missouri. It is included in the Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. The 2010 total population of Jasper County was 117,404. It is the ninth most populous county in Missouri. Its county seat is Carthage, making it one of the few...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population within the city limits was 931 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Joplin, Missouri
Joplin, Missouri
Joplin is a city in southern Jasper County and northern Newton County in the southwestern corner of the US state of Missouri. Joplin is the largest city in Jasper County, though it is not the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 50,150...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Area
The Joplin Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties – Jasper and Newton – in southwest Missouri, anchored by the city of Joplin...
.
Geography
Jasper is located at 37°20′8"N 94°18′1"W (37.335679, -94.300174).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 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), of which, 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (1.79%) is water.
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 1,011 people, 409 households, and 271 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 921.8 people per square mile (354.9/km²). There were 454 housing units at an average density of 413.9 per square mile (159.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.85% White, 0.30% African American, 0.89% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.40% 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 2.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.57% of the population.
There were 409 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.8% 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, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the city the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,650, and the median income for a family was $31,667. Males had a median income of $26,304 versus $19,219 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 $17,067. About 10.6% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.2% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.
History
Jasper has been known as Coon Creek settlement, and as Midway (a name that at times included the DublinDublin, Missouri
Dublin, Missouri is a former community in Barton County, Missouri located on the Jasper County line approximately one mile north of the current town of Jasper....
community just across the Barton County line) for its position between county-seats Carthage
Carthage, Missouri
Carthage is a city in Jasper County, Missouri, United States. The population was 14,378 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Jasper County and is nicknamed "America's Maple Leaf City."...
and Lamar
Lamar, Missouri
Lamar is a city in Barton County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,474 at the 2011 census. It is the county seat of Barton County. Lamar is well known as the birthplace of President Harry S. Truman.-Geography:...
, but in the late 1800s it was renamed Jasper to reuse the postal equipment of a previous Jasper that existed southeast of Carthage.
Jasper was the home to Debra Dene Barnes Miles
Debra Dene Barnes
Debra Dene Barnes, was crowned Miss America in 1968.Debra was raised in Moran, Kansas. Upon graduation from high school, she attended Pittsburg State Teachers College in Pittsburg, Kansas and majored in music....
the year after she finished her reign as Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
(from 'Miss Kansas' title) in 1968.
Parks
The city maintains a park at the west end of Grand Avenue just east of the railroad tracks. The park contains a playground for the children, a memorial bench, band stand, picnic areas, tennis courts and horse shoe pits. There is a baseball/softball complex on the southwest edge of town and are used by the youth baseball association and adult ball leagues.Celebrations
Each November the city holds its annual Veterans Appreciation Celebration parade.In the 1950s Jasper hosted a local fair celebrating its dairy industry. The current site of the popcorn plant was the PET condensed milk plant. The 1960s and 1970s were the years of the Jasper Harvest Fair held the last week before school started. The Chamber of Commerce sponsored a Kenny Carter Pit Bar-b-que. Hundreds would line up for bar-b-que brisket, chicken, baked beans, cole slaw, potato chips and bread. The evening was rounded off with local talent, the high school band and gospel singing groups. Jasper Appreciation Days is another celebration that takes place in early fall for two days. The Appreciation Days are filled with fun festivities. The Jasper student organizations use this to raise money for their affliliated organization, and to get their message out there.
Commerce
Grand Avenue is considered the "downtown" area of the city. At the junction of Grand Avenue and Main Street you will find Southwest Missouri bank on the N.E. corner. Current businesses also include Selveys Furniture, Flowers Unlimited Florist, H&W Grocery Store, the local post office, Gem Dandy's Pizza, 100 Grand Antiques, Judy's Truck Stop, Sharon's Restaurant, McKay's Dairy Kreme, Jasper Tavern, Collier Group Insurance and Realtor, Maneval's Grain, Jasper Grain, Duain's Auto Repair, Dollar General, Fleet Paint and Body, Gilster- Mary Lee popcorn company, Ward Printing, and a Fastrip.School
The Jasper R-5 school district educates the areas students in K-12. The orange and black Eagles field basketball, baseball, football, track,cross country, volleyball and other team sports.2 State Titles
-2001 Class 1 Baseball
-1979 Class 1 Football
Churches
Places of worship include the Jasper First Christian Church, the Jasper First Baptist Church, and the Jasper United Methodist Church, as well as nearby rural congregations.Jasper in media
Jasper is the nominal setting of the 1989 movie Road HouseRoad House (1989 film)
Road House is a 1989 American action film partially based on the life of Norman "Storm" Cantwell, directed by Rowdy Herrington and starring Patrick Swayze as a bouncer at a newly-refurbished roadside bar who protects a small town in Missouri from a corrupt businessman. Sam Elliot also plays a...
, starring Patrick Swayze
Patrick Swayze
Patrick Wayne Swayze was an American actor, dancer and singer-songwriter. He was best known for his tough-guy roles, as romantic leading men in the hit films Dirty Dancing and Ghost, and as Orry Main in the North and South television miniseries. He was named by People magazine as its "Sexiest...
; however, the movie was not actually filmed in Jasper. Critic Robert Trussell noted, "Little effort was made to hide the (California) mountains in the background."