Churubusco, Indiana

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Town of Churubusco, Indiana
Nickname: "Turtle Town, USA"
Location in the state of Indiana
Location in the state of Indiana
County Whitley
Government
 - Town Council President Vivian Rosswurm
Area
 - City 2.3 km²  (0.9 sq mi)
 - Land 2.3 km² (0.9 sq mi)
 - Water 0.0 km² (0 sq mi)
Population (2000)
 - City 1,666
 - Density 722.7/km² (1,871.8/sq mi)
Time zone EST (UTC−5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC−4)
Website: Town of Churubusco

Churubusco (IPA: [ˌtʃɛ.ɹəˈbʌ.skoʊ]), often shortened to Busco[ˈbʌ.skoʊ]), is a town located near the headwaters of the Eel River in the extreme northeast corner of Whitley County, Indiana, USA, about 11 miles northwest of its nearest neighboring large city, Fort Wayne, of which it is considered a bedroom community. The population was 1,666 at the 2000 census.

Contents

[edit] History

Originally, Churubusco was two towns, named Union (in honor of the union victory of the Civil War) and Franklin (in honor of the founding father, Benjamin Franklin) that bordered each other on either side of a railroad track. In the 1840s, the population of both Franklin and Union grew large enough to qualify for a post office. Before that time, residents of both towns either had to trek 11 miles by foot or horse and buggy to nearby Columbia City to get their mail.

Since the towns were in the same location, the Postmaster General ordered that the towns apply for a joint post office. The Postmaster General also denied both "Union" and "Franklin" as the post office name since both were already taken by other Indiana towns.

After a community meeting, the town got its unusual name from Churubusco, Mexico, the site of the 1847 Battle of Churubusco during the Mexican-American War. At the time the townsfolk thought it was as patriotic as either Union and Franklin since the United States won a large victory there. And they were certain that no other town would already have chosen such a unique name.

The name Churubusco is a Spanish corruption of a Nahuatl toponym celebrating the god Huitzilopochtli.

The town has an annual festival called Turtle Days rooted in the lore of the Beast of Busco, a giant snapping turtle that reportedly haunted nearby Fulk's Lake in Allen County.

[edit] Geography

Churubusco is located at 41°13′53″N, 85°19′10″W (41.231373, -85.319541)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.3 km² (0.9 mi²), all land.

[edit] Climate

Due to its location, Churubusco has typical continental interior weather with cold winters and hot summers.

[edit] Climate

Due to its location, Fort Wayne has typical continental interior weather with cold winters and hot, wet summers.

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Avg high °F
(°C)		 30
(0)		 34
(1)		 46
(8)		 59
(15)		 71
(22)		 80
(27)		 84
(29)		 82
(28)		 76
(24)		 63
(17)		 49
(9)		 36
(2)		 59
(15)
Avg low °F
(°C)		 14
(-10)		 16
(-9)		 26
(-3)		 36
(2)		 47
(8)		 57
(14)		 60
(16)		 58
(14)		 51
(11)		 40
(4)		 32
(0)		 20
(-7)		 38
(3)
Rainfall in. (mm) 1.9 (48) 1.8 (46) 2.9 (74) 3.6 (91) 3.5 (89) 4.1 (104) 3.8 (97) 3.4 (86) 3.4 (86) 2.6 (66) 3.3 (84) 3.1 (79) 37.5 (953)
Source:Weatherbase.com[1]

Severe weather

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 1,666 people, 650 households, and 438 families residing in the town. The population density was 722.7/km² (1,876.8/mi²). There were 692 housing units at an average density of 300.2/km² (779.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.60% White, 0.06% African American, 0.60% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.12% from other races, and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.38% of the population.

One of four roadside gateway signs welcoming motorists to Churubusco.
One of four roadside gateway signs welcoming motorists to Churubusco.

There were 650 households out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the town the population was spread out with 29.0% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 18.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $39,583, and the median income for a family was $49,279. Males had a median income of $34,844 versus $22,161 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,814. About 3.2% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.


[edit] Law and government

An 1889 plat map of Churubsuco showing the first two towns, "Union" and "Franklin."
An 1889 plat map of Churubsuco showing the first two towns, "Union" and "Franklin."

Churubusco has an elected clerk and town council-style of government.

[edit] Executive/Representatives - town council

The Churubusco Town Council is a three-member legislative group that serve four-year terms; each are elected town-wide as at-large council members. the council elects one member from among its body to act a president of the council. That president sets agendas during council meetings. The current council members were elected on November 4, 2003, and will serve until December 31, 2007:

[edit] Town Clerk

Republican Gerri Johnson is Churubusco's town clerk.

[edit] Education

Churubusco High School, Middle School and Elementary school together make up the Smith-Green Community Schools district which has some 1,400 students [1].

[edit] Media

[edit] Newspapers

  • Churubusco News - weekly newspaper 1994 - present
  • Churubusco Tri-County Truth - weekly newspaper 1891 - 1990, originally published as the Saturday Truth.
  • Churubusco Sunday People -- weekly newspaper January-May 1886
  • Churubusco Weekly Herald - weekly newspaper 1881 - 1882

[edit] Radio

[edit] Trivia

  • Town nickname: "Turtle Town U.S.A."
  • Name of mascot : "Oscar the Turtle".

[edit] Notable Natives

[edit] References

  1. ^ Whitley County, Indiana, Weatherbase.com (Accessed July 2, 2006)
  2. ^ Apr 25 in weather history..., National Weather Service. (Accessed June 16, 2006)
  3. ^ GANDY, Harry Luther, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (Accessed June 16, 2006)

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../c/h/u/Churubusco%2C_Indiana_3fba.html"