Newton is a city in and the county seat of Jasper County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,069 at the 2000 Census. Newton is home to a large coal-fired power plant [2] and Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area.Newton is also home to the Drive 'n Theatre, formerly known as the Fairview Drive-In, that opened in 1953. It is one of 10 drive-ins left standing in Illinois.Newton has produced several notable natives. These include Texas Ranger pitcher Ross Wolf, Illinois state representative Norman L. Benefiel, folk singer Burl Ives, and Irene Hunt, who set the historical novel about the Civil War, Across Five Aprils, in and around Newton.