Editing Jasper, Alabama

{{Short description|City in Alabama, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Jasper, Alabama
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| motto              = "Experience from the past, knowledge for the future."
| image_skyline      = Image:Jasper sign (1 of 1).jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = Flag of Jasper, Alabama.png
| image_seal         = Seal of Jasper, Alabama.svg
| image_map          = File:Walker County Alabama Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Jasper Highlighted 0138416.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Jasper in Walker County, Alabama.
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Alabama|County]]
| subdivision_name   = [[United States]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Alabama]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Walker County, Alabama|Walker]]
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = David O’Mary
| established_date   = 1887
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_sq_mi   = 29.66
| area_land_sq_mi    = 29.33
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.33
| elevation_ft       = 328
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 14572
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_sq_mi = 496.81
| timezone           = [[Central Time Zone (North America)|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset         = -6
| coordinates        = {{coord|33|50|32|N|87|16|38|W|region:US-AL|display=inline}}
| timezone_DST       = CDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -5
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code        = 35501-35504
| area_code          = [[Area codes 205 and 659|205, 659]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 01-38416
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 0120822
| website            = http://www.jaspercity.com/
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_01.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 29, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 76.83
| area_land_km2      = 75.97
| area_water_km2     = 0.86
| population_density_km2 = 191.82
}}

'''Jasper''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> [[Walker County, Alabama]], United States. Its population was 14,352 as of the 2010 census.<ref name= encyclopedia>{{Cite encyclopedia
 |last= Kaetz
 |first= James P.
 |url= http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/face/Article.jsp?id=h-2536
 |title=Encyclopedia of Alabama: Jasper
 |encyclopedia=encyclopediaofalabama.org
 |access-date=May 16, 2010
}}</ref> Named in honor of Sergeant [[William Jasper]], an [[American Revolutionary War]] hero, Jasper was settled around 1815 and incorporated on August 18, 1886.<ref name= encyclopedia/>

The first significant growth of the area was in 1886 when the [[Kansas City, Memphis and Birmingham Railroad]] and the Sheffield & Birmingham Railroads were completed through Jasper. The population grew from 200 people in 1886 to more than 3,000 in 1890.<ref name= encyclopedia/> 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.

== Historic sites ==
Jasper has several sites listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. These include the [[Bankhead House (Jasper, Alabama)|John Hollis Bankhead House]], [[First United Methodist Church (Jasper, Alabama)|First United Methodist Church]], [[Jasper Downtown Historic District]], and [[Walker County Hospital]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

==Geography==
Jasper is located at {{coord|33|50|32|N|87|16|38|W|type:city}} (33.842347, -87.277174).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020527061848/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html|archive-date=May 27, 2002|url-status=dead}}</ref> According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|26.9|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|26.9|sqmi|km2}} is land and 0.04% is water.

===Climate===
{{Weather box   <!-- Infobox begins -->
| single line = Y
| location    = Jasper, Alabama, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1960&ndash;2017

|Jan record high F = 77
|Feb record high F = 84
|Mar record high F = 90
|Apr record high F = 94
|May record high F = 96
|Jun record high F = 102
|Jul record high F = 108
|Aug record high F = 105
|Sep record high F = 100
|Oct record high F = 92
|Nov record high F = 86
|Dec record high F = 78

|Jan avg record high F = 70.1
|Feb avg record high F = 75.4
|Mar avg record high F = 81.8
|Apr avg record high F = 85.5
|May avg record high F = 89.8
|Jun avg record high F = 94.6
|Jul avg record high F = 96.4
|Aug avg record high F = 96.9
|Sep avg record high F = 93.8
|Oct avg record high F = 86.6
|Nov avg record high F = 78.3
|Dec avg record high F = 70.3
|year avg record high F = 98.4

<!-- Average high temperatures -->
| Jan high F  =52.0
| Feb high F  =56.2
| Mar high F  =65.0
| Apr high F  =73.3
| May high F  =80.2
| Jun high F  =86.3
| Jul high F  =89.8
| Aug high F  =89.7
| Sep high F  =84.4
| Oct high F  =74.4
| Nov high F  =63.7
| Dec high F  =54.7
<!-- Mean daily temperature -->
| Jan mean F  =41.3
| Feb mean F  =44.9
| Mar mean F  =52.7
| Apr mean F  =60.6
| May mean F  =68.9
| Jun mean F  =76.0
| Jul mean F  =79.7
| Aug mean F  =79.1
| Sep mean F  =73.3
| Oct mean F  =61.9
| Nov mean F  =51.3
| Dec mean F  =44.0
<!-- Average low temperatures -->
| Jan low F  =30.6
| Feb low F  =33.5
| Mar low F  =40.5
| Apr low F  =48.0
| May low F  =57.6
| Jun low F  =65.7
| Jul low F  =69.6
| Aug low F  =68.5
| Sep low F  =62.2
| Oct low F  =49.4
| Nov low F  =39.0
| Dec low F  =33.2

|Jan avg record low F = 12.3
|Feb avg record low F = 16.4
|Mar avg record low F = 22.8
|Apr avg record low F = 30.5
|May avg record low F = 41.5
|Jun avg record low F = 52.6
|Jul avg record low F = 61.4
|Aug avg record low F = 60.1
|Sep avg record low F = 44.7
|Oct avg record low F = 32.1
|Nov avg record low F = 23.4
|Dec avg record low F = 16.0
|year avg record low F = 9.5

|Jan record low F = -10
|Feb record low F = 2
|Mar record low F = 6
|Apr record low F = 25
|May record low F = 31
|Jun record low F = 40
|Jul record low F = 49
|Aug record low F = 51
|Sep record low F = 32
|Oct record low F = 22
|Nov record low F = 10
|Dec record low F = -2

<!-- Total precipitation, this should include rain and snow. -->
| precipitation colour    =  green
| Jan precipitation inch  =6.05
| Feb precipitation inch  =6.01
| Mar precipitation inch  =5.77
| Apr precipitation inch  =5.95
| May precipitation inch  =5.31
| Jun precipitation inch  =4.70
| Jul precipitation inch  =4.92
| Aug precipitation inch  =4.00
| Sep precipitation inch  =4.24
| Oct precipitation inch  =3.84
| Nov precipitation inch  =4.99
| Dec precipitation inch  =5.98

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 10.0
|Feb precipitation days = 8.6
|Mar precipitation days = 10.0
|Apr precipitation days = 8.7
|May precipitation days = 9.1
|Jun precipitation days = 10.3
|Jul precipitation days = 10.6
|Aug precipitation days = 9.3
|Sep precipitation days = 6.9
|Oct precipitation days = 6.5
|Nov precipitation days = 8.4
|Dec precipitation days = 9.7

<!-- Snowfall -->
| Jan snow inch  =0.1
| Feb snow inch  =0.2
| Mar snow inch  =0.3
| Apr snow inch  =0.0
| May snow inch  =0.0
| Jun snow inch  =0.0
| Jul snow inch  =0.0
| Aug snow inch  =0.0
| Sep snow inch  =0.0
| Oct snow inch  =0.0
| Nov snow inch  =0.0
| Dec snow inch  =0.0

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 0.1
|Feb snow days = 0.2
|Mar snow days = 0.0
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.0
|Dec snow days = 0.1

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00014226&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Jasper, AL
|access-date = March 4, 2023
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=bmx
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Birmingham
|access-date = March 4, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
In 2020, it was reported that of Alabama cities with populations of at least 10,000 people as of 2010, Jasper was among the five fastest to decline in population over the 2010s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Howell |first=Ed |date=June 19, 2020 |title=Jasper near top in population loss for larger state cities |url=https://mountaineagle.com/stories/jasper-near-top-in-population-loss-for-larger-state-cities,26255 |access-date=June 11, 2023 |website=Daily Mountain Eagle |language=en |archive-date=June 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611212454/https://mountaineagle.com/stories/jasper-near-top-in-population-loss-for-larger-state-cities,26255 |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{US Census population
|1880= 269
|1890= 780
|1900= 1661
|1910= 2509
|1920= 3246
|1930= 5313
|1940= 6847
|1950= 8589
|1960= 10799
|1970= 10798
|1980= 11894
|1990= 13553
|2000= 14052
|2010= 14352
|2020= 14572
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 2, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426102944/http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|archive-date=April 26, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]], there were 14,052 people, 5,728 households, and 3,809 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|523.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 6,473 housing units at an average density of {{convert|240.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|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.

Of the 5,728 households 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 households were one person and 13.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.38, and the average family size was 2.93.

The age distribution was 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% 65 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 household income was $41,586 and the median family income 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===
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]], there were 14,352 people, 5,760 households, and 3,831 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|533.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 6,478 housing units at an average density of 241 per square mile (93/km{{sup|2}}). The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|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.

Of the 5,760 households 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 households were one person and 14.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.33, and the average family size was 2.91.

The age distribution was 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% 65 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 household income was $33,044 and the median family income 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.

===2020 census===
[[File:House at 1300 7th Ave, Jasper, AL, US.jpg|right|thumb|House at 1300 7th Ave.]]
{| class="wikitable"
|+Jasper racial composition<ref>{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0138416&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=December 11, 2021|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|10,924
|74.97%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|1,889
|12.96%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|32
|0.22%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|162
|1.11%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|539
|3.7%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|1,026
|7.04%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 14,572 people, 5,269 households, and 3,176 families residing in the city.

== Arts and culture ==
Jasper is the location of the [[SyFy Channel]]'s documentary show ''Town of the Living Dead''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.syfy.com/townofthelivingdead/about|title=Town of the Living Dead - about|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014103455/http://www.syfy.com/townofthelivingdead/about|archive-date=October 14, 2014|access-date=October 8, 2014}}</ref> The city is home to the annual Foothills Festival in Historic Downtown Jasper Square, which features live music and food vendors. In the TV series [[Lost (2004 TV series)|''Lost'']], Jasper is the hometown of [[James "Sawyer" Ford]].

The 2020 documentary film ''[[Jasper Mall (film)|Jasper Mall]]'' centers around the economically distressed [[Jasper Mall]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.al.com/business/2020/06/alabama-shopping-mall-subject-of-new-documentary-film.html|title=Alabama shopping mall subject of new documentary film|website=AL.com|date=June 28, 2020 |access-date=November 17, 2020}}</ref>

==Schools==
* T.R. Simmons Elementary School (grades preK–1)
* Memorial Park Elementary School (grades 2–3)
* Maddox Intermediate School (grades 4–6)
* Jasper Junior High (grades 7–8)
* [[Jasper High School (Alabama)|Jasper High School]] (grades 9–12)
* North Highlands School (for students with disabilities across all grades)

==Media==

===Newspaper===
* ''[[Daily Mountain Eagle]]'' (daily)

===Radio===
* [[WJLX]]/1240&nbsp;kHz
* [[WIXI]]/1360&nbsp;kHz
* [[WQJJ-LP]]/101.9&nbsp;MHz
* W268BM/101.5&nbsp;MHz: rebroadcasts WJLX

On February 2, 2024, it was discovered that the 200-ft tower of WJLX had been stolen.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--not stated--> |date=February 9, 2024 |title=200-foot radio station tower stolen without a trace in Alabama, silencing small town's voice |url=https://apnews.com/article/radio-station-tower-stolen-am-fm-alabama-d16a57daeaf10f473df39d628e1fe388 |work=Associated Press |location=Jasper, Alabama |access-date=February 18, 2024}}</ref>

===Television===
* [[W25FC-D]]/25

==Notable people==
{{alumni|residents|date=June 2019}}
<!--Please insert Wikipedia notable individuals in alphabetical order by surname.-->
{{div col |colwidth=27em}}
* [[Jason Aaron]], comic writer
* [[John H. Bankhead II]], United States senator
* [[Tallulah Bankhead]], actress
* [[Walter W. Bankhead]], member of the [[77th United States Congress]]
* [[William Brockman Bankhead]], speaker of the United States House of Representatives
* [[Tom Bevill]], member, United States Congress
* Allen Branstetter, founding member of [[St. Paul and The Broken Bones]]
* [[Ronnie Coleman (American football)|Ronnie Coleman]], NFL player<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/player/ronniecoleman/2511750/profile|title=Ronnie Coleman|website=NFL.com}}</ref>
* [[Eric Dover]], musician 
* [[Eric Esch]], professional boxer, MMA fighter and kick boxer
* [[Raymond D. Fowler]], psychologist and professor emeritus at the University of Alabama
* [[James Shepherd Freeman]], admiral, United States Navy
* [[James Stanley Freeman]], businessman
* [[Michael A. Grinston]], 16th sergeant major of the U.S. Army
* [[Polly Holliday]], actress
* [[Steven Jack Land]], [[renewal theologian]]
* [[George Lindsey]], actor
* [[Carter Manasco]], member of the United States House of Representatives
* [[Terry Owens (American football)|Terry Owens]], NFL player 
* [[Sandy Posey]], singer
* [[Jim Pyburn]], professional baseball player
* [[Greg Reed]], member of the Alabama Senate, representing the 5th District 
* [[Michael Rooker]], actor
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Americana Poster|Jasper (Alabama)|Jasper, Alabama}}
{{Commons category-inline}}
*[http://www.jaspercity.com City of Jasper]
*[http://www.isjl.org/history/archive/al/jasper.html Institute of Southern Jewish Life, History of Jasper]
*http://www.encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-2536

{{Coord|display=title|33.842347|-87.277174}}

{{Walker County, Alabama}}
{{Alabama county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Alabama]]
[[Category:Cities in Walker County, Alabama]]
[[Category:County seats in Alabama]]
[[Category:Birmingham metropolitan area, Alabama]]