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Jasper County

Jasper County was organized formally on March 15, 1838.  Originally, the territory of Jasper included all of the present county of Newton and most of Benton. Before this time, it was attached to White County. The first County Seat was located at Parish Grove, thirty miles south of the present seat of justice and five miles southwest of Fowler. This was chosen because it was near the center of population and for the additional reason that it is one of the few high and dry spots in the county.  At the first meeting of the commissioners it was decided to change the location to the cabin of George W. Spitler, in what is now Iroquois Township, Newton County, he having been elected County Clerk and refusing to serve unless this was done. This temporary arrangement was upset by the legislative act of January 29, 1839, which appointed commissioners to examine the counties of Jasper and Newton and see whether they should be consolidated.  Rensselaer (originally called Newton) became the County Seat when the State Commissioners met in June 1839, and decided upon a consolidation. The original plat of the newly chosen County Seat was filed June 12, 1839; by 1849 it had three stores, two physicians, one lawyer and 15 dwelling houses.

Please visit the Jasper County communities page for more information about the communities, cities, towns and villages of Jasper County.