Overview

Introduction to Rensselaer, Indiana

Rensselaer, Indiana, in Jasper county, is 38 miles NW of Lafayette, Indiana (center to center) and 69 miles SE of Chicago, Illinois.

Introduction to Rensselaer, Indiana

Rensselaer, Indiana, in Jasper county, is 38 miles NW of Lafayette, Indiana and 69 miles SE of Chicago, Illinois. There are an estimated 5,294 people in the city.

Rensselaer History

Rensselaer was originally known as Newton and was platted on June 12, 1839. It was renamed Rensselaer in 1844 in honor of James Van Rensselaer, a merchant from Utica, New York. After his business failed during the Panic of 1837, he moved to the area. Rensselaer is the county seat of Jasper County, and was incorporated on December 8, 1858. In 1888, the St. Joseph's Indian Normal School was founded by the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions.

Rensselaer and nearby Attractions

  • Carroll County Historical Society Museum
  • Winamac State Fish and Wildlife Area
  • Matteson Historical Museum
  • Tippecanoe Battlefield
  • Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park
  • Balmoral Race Track

Things To Do In Rensselaer

Lemon Lake County Park, Willow Slough State Game Preserve, the Kingsbury State Fish and Wildlife Area, the Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area, and the Buckley Homestead County Park are some popular local parks and recreational areas. The Tippecanoe Battlefield was the site of a battle between Tecumseh and Harrison in 1811. In addition, the city celebrates a number of festivals throughout the year, including the Little Cousin Jasper Festival, the Jasper County Fair and OktoberFest Rensselaer.

Rensselaer Transportation

Chicago Midway is the closest major airport.

Rensselaer Higher Education

Saint Joseph's College is located in Rensselaer. Other nearby colleges include Valparaiso University, Ivy Tech State College-Northwest and Prairie State College.

Demographics

People

Total Population5,757
Male Share of the Population48.9%
Female Share of the Population51.1%
Senior Citizens16.1%
Employed Population 16+2,726
Age of the Population40

Families

% of people married48.3%
Average household size2

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher16.6%
Median Earnings25+$33,400
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$16,023
Median Earnings With High School Degree$35,156

Wealth

Median Family Income$55,486
% Above Poverty Level84.1%
% Below Poverty Level15.9%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time17 minutes
% Working from Home1.7%
% Walking and Biking to Work1.8%
% Using Public Transportation0.8%

Housing

People Living Alone29.7%
Median Gross Rent$718
Median House Value$114,900

Ancestry

German28.3%
Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)21.7%
Irish13.6%
English8.4%
Swedish3.1%
Polish3%
Dutch2.6%
French Except Basque2.4%
Scottish1.3%
Czech0.9%
Italian0.8%
Norwegian0.5%
Hungarian0.4%
Greek0.3%
Canadian0.2%
Croatian0.2%
US/American0.2%
Swiss0.1%
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Rensselaer Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyJasper County
Standard Zip Codes47978
Phone Area Codes219
Time ZoneAmerica/Indiana/Indianapolis
Approximate Latitude40.93
Approximate Longitude-87.14

Rensselaer Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

  • Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
  • Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

StationRENSSELAER
Distance0.2 miles
Jan Temp14 to 30 F
Apr Temp39 to 60 F
Jul Temp64 to 85 F
Oct Temp41 to 64 F
Annual Precip38.3 inches
StationKENTLAND
Distance18.9 miles
Jan Temp14 to 31 F
Apr Temp38 to 61 F
Jul Temp63 to 85 F
Oct Temp41 to 65 F
Annual Precip37.4 inches
StationLOWELL
Distance26.7 miles
Jan Temp12 to 30 F
Apr Temp37 to 60 F
Jul Temp62 to 84 F
Oct Temp39 to 64 F
Annual Precip40 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Brook1,065$43,641
Francesville963$57,188
Goodland1,072$55,568
Mount Ayr111$42,917
Remington1,350$53,472
Wolcott1,095$59,813

Rensselaer Public Libraries

Jasper County Public Library
208 WEST SUSAN STREET
Rensselaer, Indiana
(219) 866-5881

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More Information for Librarians

Rensselaer Hospitals

Jasper County Hospital
(Government - Local)
1104 E Grace St
(219) 866-5141

Rensselaer Public Schools

Rensselaer Central High Sch
1106 E Grace St
ZIP: 47978
(219) 866-5175
High
Total Enrollment 555
Rensselaer Central Primary School
1144 N Melville St
ZIP: 47978
(219) 866-0275
Primary
Total Enrollment 414
Rensselaer Middle School
1106 Bomber Blvd
ZIP: 47978
(219) 866-4661
Middle
Total Enrollment 379
Van Rensselaer Elementary School
902 E Washington
ZIP: 47978
(219) 866-8212
Primary
Total Enrollment 345

Rensselaer Private Schools

St Augustine Elementary School
328 N Mckinley Ave
ZIP: 47978
Elementary
Total Enrollment 89
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