NORTHWEST INDIANA
JASPER COUNTY, IN
County Office
115 West Washington Street
Rensselaer, IN 219-866-4926
www.jaspercountyin.gov
Chamber of Commerce
129 North Weston
Rensselaer, IN 219-866-8223
www.rensselaerchamber.com
Well-served by Interstate 65, rural Jasper County is located approximately halfway between Chicago and Indianapolis. The quaint city of Rensselaer, anchored by its grand historic courthouse, serves as the seat of county government and a commercial hub for rural residents and smaller surrounding communities. Newcomers to Jasper County will discover wide blue skies and roads that cut a straight path through waves of wheat fields. Explorations through Jasper County will uncover a kaleidoscope of images, from a 21st century dairy farm and celebrated bakeries to the Saint Joseph’s College grotto with its rare example of specialize landscaping.
Services
Residents of Jasper County have the assurance of state-of-the-art healthcare in such major hospitals as St. Anthony in Crown Point, Porter Memorial in Valparaiso, Broadway Methodist in Merrillville, and Jasper County Hospital in Rensselaer. Supportive facilities and services include efficient and convenient medical clinics, skilled physicians who represent many specialties, dentists, and optometrists. Since 1939, Porter Memorial Health System has grown and matured from one small hospital into a network of healthcare facilities that stretch across Porter County into Jasper County. DeMotte Medical Center was founded in 1989 to ensure that residents of Jasper County could access to Porter Memory Health System services at a location close to home. Physician consultations as well as outpatient laboratory and diagnostic imaging services are available in DeMotte. Jasper County Hospital is an acute-care facility in Rensselaer where scores of physicians provide primary care and an impressive variety of specialty services for inpatients and outpatients.
The commitment to quality education on all levels is evident in Jasper County, where public and private schools on elementary and secondary levels complement the opportunities for higher education close to home. Ivy Tech State College represents one of the largest systems of higher education in Indiana, offering nearly two dozen campuses statewide. Those closest to Jasper County include locations in Gary, East Chicago, Valparaiso, and Michigan City. As an open-access, two-year technical college, Ivy Tech provides courses, degree programs, certifications, and continuing education as well as customized training for local businesses. The private, liberal-arts institution of Saint Joseph’s College is located just outside of Rensselaer, serving more than 1,000 students from Indiana and across the nation. Saint Joseph’s began offering classes in the late 1800s as a Roman Catholic high school and a junior college for men. In 1936, Saint Joseph’s became a four-year liberal arts college and shifted to a coeducational academic environment in 1968.
Lifestyle
New residents who decide to settle in scenic Jasper County enjoy a location near the historic Kankakee River, Lake Michigan, and the Port of Indiana. Approximately one hour’s drive from Chicago, this vantage point is also 20 minutes from the Indiana-Illinois state line. The Prairie Arts Council in Rensselaer provides leadership in the cultural and visual arts, while the Jasper County Historical Society Museum preserves the area’s proud and rich history. The Curtis Creek Country Club represents a regional attraction, evolving from a nine-hole course graced by the creek of the same name and acres of rich forest land with oaks, ash, linden, hickory, walnut, cherry, sassafras and willow. The original layout has remained in continuous use, although noted Chicago golf-course architect Leonard Macomber added an additional nine holes in 1930. The modern club is a golfer’s paradise, including the clubhouse designed by Albert W. Coenility with entertainment centers, locker room facilities for men and women, and a popular outdoor patio area.
Local parks and recreation departments enhance the quality of life with sports fields and courts, tennis courts, swimming pools, and a wide variety of programs. Social, civic, and hobby clubs tend to be extremely active in these smaller communities, giving new residents a chance to become involved in the community. The housing selection in Jasper County ranges from well-kept older homes to newer construction in a variety of architectural styles, sizes, and price ranges. Antiques, unique shops and services, hometown friendliness, flea markets and bake sales, farm-fresh markets, and colorful celebrations and festivals add to the quality of life. Farmhouses, horse properties, country manors with generous acreage, and tidy bungalows in the heart of a small town are all possibilities. With its friendly neighborhoods, strong local economy, and pristine natural beauty, Jasper County is still on the horizon of its potential as a vital and influential element of Chicago Southland.
DeMotte
Municipal Offices
219-987-3831
www.townofdemotte.com
Chamber of Commerce
219-987-5800
http://demottechamber.org
The progressive and growing community of DeMotte offers many of the commercial conveniences and amenities associated with larger cities. Ideally located near the historic Kankakee River, the town is only a five-minute drive from Interstate 65 and Indiana Route 10. Residents are 40 minutes away from the water-sport recreation opportunities at Lake Michigan, and 60 minutes from the world-class attractions in Chicago. Outstanding schools combine with nearby colleges in Rensselaer and Valparaiso as well as public universities in neighboring counties for a full range of quality educational opportunities. The town also offers the DeMotte Adult Learning Center, a well equipped library, and abundant recreational facilities. Lush parks provide picnic areas, tennis courts, playgrounds, a swimming pool, and sports fields. Three state game preserves are available within a 45-minute drive from DeMotte, and the entire area is ideal for hunting, fishing, bird watching, canoeing, and outdoor adventure. Active clubs and organizations, local industry, well-planned zoning for serene residential neighborhoods, and colorful local celebrations are all persuasive factors in helping new residents “Decide DeMotte.”
Rensselaer, Remington
Municipal Offices
Rensselaer City
219-866-5212
www.cityofrensselaerin.com
Remington
219-261-2523
Chamber of Commerce
219-866-8223
www.rensselaerchamber.com
Commonly called the “Gateway to Northwest Indiana,” the Jasper county seat of Rensselaer combines a close small-town spirit with new-growth opportunities. The city is well situated geographically for an easy commute to the leading metropolitan centers of two states: Chicago and Indianapolis. With its local college, major hospital, governmental offices, thriving businesses, and arts community, Rensselaer serves as a hub of activity and amenities. The nearby community of Remington is one of the very small towns that benefits from the development in Rensselaer. Remington is home to several thriving trucking companies and shares an active chamber of commerce with Rensselaer. In addition to regional recreational sites that include Lake Michigan and Indiana Dunes attractions, city parks and recreation programs meet the needs of all age groups. Nearly 80 acres throughout Rensselaer are devoted to open space and sports facilities. Residents enjoy baseball diamonds, a swimming pool, picnic shelters, lighted tennis courts, canoe landings, a boat launch, an ice-skating pond, sports leagues, a running track, and a football field. Those looking for championship golf on magnificent fairways can explore membership opportunities at the country club.
Wheatfield
Municipal Offices
219-956-3119
Chamber of Commerce
219-956-3535
www.wheatfieldchamber.org
The small town of Wheatfield is primarily residential in nature with a scattering of convenient services and shops. Most businesses are locally owned, adding to the friendly hometown atmosphere where neighbors stop to chat. Wheat is still one of the crops that are grown in this rural region of Northern Indiana that was once covered by wild rice and swamp grass. Along with conventional farming, this area specializes in such crops as blueberries, asparagus, strawberries, “popcorn,” and Christmas trees. Some of the largest hog and cattle operations in the Midwest sprawl over the surrounding countryside. Residents are only a 45-minute drive from the main campus for Purdue University—acclaimed as one of the region’s most important educational and cultural centers. Several other institutions of higher education are located even close to home, adding opportunities to enjoy visual and performing arts.
