Rensselaer, Indiana

Infobox Settlement
official_name = City of Rensselaer, Indiana
settlement_type = City
nickname =
mapsize = 250x200px


imagesize =
image_caption =


imagesize =
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map_caption = Location in the state of Indiana


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
area_note =
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Indiana
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Jasper
subdivision_type3 = Township
subdivision_name3 = Marion
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Herbert H. Arihood (R)
named_for = James Van Rensselaer
established_title = Platted
established_date = June 12, 1839
established_title1 = Incorporated
established_date1 = December 8, 1858
area_magnitude = 1 E6
area_total_km2 = 7.5
area_land_km2 = 7.5
area_water_km2 = 0.2
population_as_of = 2005
population_note =
population_total = 6294
population_density_km2 = 704.8
timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
area_total_sq_mi = 3.0
area_land_sq_mi = 2.9
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1
elevation_m = 201
elevation_ft = 659
latd = 40 |latm = 56 |lats = 17 |latNS = N
longd = 87 |longm = 9 |longs = 5 |longEW = W
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 47978
area_code = 219
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 18-63792GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0441902GR|3
footnotes =
website = cityofrensselaerin.com

Rensselaer is a city located along the Iroquois River in Marion Township, Jasper County, Indiana, United States. The population was 5,294 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Jasper CountyGR|6. Rensselaer is home to Saint Joseph's College of Indiana.

Geography

Rensselaer is located at coor dms|40|56|17|N|87|9|5|W|city (40.938051, -87.151341)GR|1. U.S. Route 231 and Indiana State Road 114 intersect in the downtown area. The Iroquois River flows through the south part of the city.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.0 square miles (7.7 km²), of which, 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (2.03%) is water.

History

This settlement, first platted on June 12, 1839, was originally named Newton and was established at the rapids of the Iroquois River. By 1844 it had been renamed to Rensselaer after James Van Rensselaer, a merchant from Utica, New York who came to the area after his business failed in the Panic of 1837. He took over the land from Joseph D. Yeoman, who had established a farm some years earlier and had begun to plan the village.cite book
last = Battle
first = J. H.
title = Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper, and Newton, Indiana
chapter = History of Jasper County
year = 1883
publisher = F. A. Battey and Company
location = Chicago, Illinois
pages = pp. 508-514 ]

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 5,294 people, 2,158 households, and 1,404 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,824.8 people per square mile (704.8/km²). There were 2,296 housing units at an average density of 791.4/sq mi (305.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.94% White, 0.32% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.66% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.53% of the population.

There were 2,158 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,821, and the median income for a family was $43,313. Males had a median income of $33,971 versus $24,016 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,872. About 6.6% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

Rail Transportation

Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Rensselaer.

Amtrak Train 51, the westbound Cardinal, is scheduled to depart Rensselaer at 8:20am on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday; Amtrak Train 851, the westbound Hoosier State, is scheduled to depart Rensselaer at 8:20am on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Both trains go to Dyer and Chicago Union Station to connect with other trains.

Amtrak Train 50, the eastbound Cardinal, is scheduled to depart Dyer at 8:57pm on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday with service to Lafayette, Crawfordsville, Indianapolis, Connersville, Cincinnati, Maysville, South Portsmouth, Ashland, Huntington, Charleston, Montgomery, Thurmond, Prince, Hinton, Alderson, White Sulphur Springs, Clifton Forge, Staunton, Charlottesville, Culpeper, Manassas, Alexandria, and Washington, DC and continuing on to New York City.
Amtrak Train 850, the eastbound Hoosier State, is scheduled to depart Rensselaer at 9:41pm on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with service to Lafayette, Crawfordsville, and Indianapolis.

Famous Residents

* Thomas Dudley Harmon, Heisman Trophy winner at Michigan.
*Steve Buyer U.S. House of Representatives for Indiana's 4th Congressional District

References

External links

* [http://cityofrensselaerin.com/ City of Rensselaer]
* [http://www.visitrensselaer.com/ Visitor's Guide: Rensselaer, Indiana]
* [http://mainstreetrensselaer.org/ Main Street: Rensselaer, Indiana]