On December 8, 1859, the county was re-created and the borders were redrawn to essentially their current state.

John Newton, who served under Gen. Francis Marion (the "Swamp Fox") in the American Revolutionary War.

At least four other states, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri and Texas, have adjacent Jasper and Newton Counties, as though these two were remembered as a pair.

The council members serve four-year terms and are responsible for setting salaries, the annual budget and special spending.

The commissioners are charged with executing the acts legislated by the council, collecting revenue and managing day-to-day functions of the county government.

[10][11] The county maintains a small claims court that can handle some civil cases.

The judge on the court is elected to a term of four years and must be a member of the Indiana Bar Association.

[11] The county has several other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor and circuit court clerk.

Each of these elected officers serves a term of four years and oversees a different part of county government.

[11] Each of the townships has a trustee who administers rural fire protection and ambulance service, provides poor relief and manages cemetery care, among other duties.

[14] As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 14,244 people, 5,503 households, and 3,945 families residing in the county.