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Rensselaer, IN


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Rensselaer, Indiana

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. There are an estimated 5,294 people in the city.

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.

High Points

Rensselaer strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Indiana):

CategoryTrophy
Short Commute Times
(vs. State)		Top 6%Rensselaer Short Commute Times
Walking and Biking to Work
(vs. State)		Top 7%Rensselaer Walking and Biking to Work
Affordability of Property Taxes
(vs. Peers)		Top 14%Rensselaer Affordability of Property Taxes
Affordability of Rents
(vs. Peers)		Top 15%Rensselaer Affordability of Rents
College Educated Adults
(vs. State)		Top 19%Rensselaer College Educated Adults

Comparative Profile of Rensselaer, IN

Comparing Rensselaer to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Indiana (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Senior Citizens99
Female Share of the Population88
Children Under 5 Years Old64
Well-Paid Single Women68
Well-Paid Single Men57
Age of the Population56
Male Share of the Population33
Racial Diversity27

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Portion of People Married54
Average Household Size43

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
People Above Poverty54
College Educated Adults59
Median Family Income45
People in Middle Class or Better44

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Walking and Biking to Work910
Short Commute Times910
Working at Home33
Public Transportation Use11

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Affordability of Property Taxes98
Affordability of Rents98
People Living Alone99
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals89
Seasonal and Vacation Housing66
Housing Recently Built23

Crime

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Low Property Crime55
Low Violent Crime54

Detailed pages on related topics: Rensselaer colleges • Rensselaer travel.

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Additional Details

Rensselaer CollegesRensselaer Colleges
Rensselaer colleges and trade schools.
Rensselaer Hotels & TravelRensselaer Hotels & Travel
Rensselaer hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation.

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