Williamsport, Indiana

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Williamsport is a town in Warren County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,935 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Warren County^GR6.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 References
5 External links

[edit] History

Williamsport was platted by William Harrison on December 11, 1828, on the south end of the eastern fractional part of the northeast quarter of section 11, township 21, range 8. Harrison was the first to occupy the town in the fall of 1828, building a log house at the east end of Main Street near the river, and operated a ferry crossing there for several years. Though located on the opposite side of the river from the Wabash and Erie Canal, Williamsport sought to draw shipping traffic by constructing a short cut-off canal. Finished around 1852, the project led to the nickname "Side-Cut City".

Williamsport became the county seat in June of 1829, taking the title away from short-lived Warrenton. Its post office was the first in the county and has operated since September 28, 1829. The town was incorporated in March of 1854, at which time its population was 552.

[edit] Geography

The Wabash River as seen from Old Town.

Williamsport is located at 40°17′13″N, 87°17′31″W (40.286834, -87.291998)^GR1. Its most striking natural feature is Williamsport Falls, a 90-foot waterfall near the center of town, and Indiana's tallest. Williamsport's older section ("Old Town") is in bottom land next to the Wabash River; "New Town" was built on the hill above it to be closer to the railroad. The rail line through town is currently operated by Norfolk Southern Railway.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.7 km² (1.0 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 1,935 people, 762 households, and 508 families residing in the town. The population density was 711.5/km² (1,838.4/mi²). There were 809 housing units at an average density of 297.5/km² (768.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.38% White, 0.10% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, and 0.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.16% of the population.

There were 762 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the town the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $39,605, and the median income for a family was $46,912. Males had a median income of $32,429 versus $20,644 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,026. About 2.8% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] References

Clifton, Thomas A. (editor) (1913), Past and Present of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Co.
Goodspeed, Weston A. (1883) , "Towns and Villages of Warren County" in Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper and Newton, Indiana: Historical and Biographical, Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co.
Warren County Historical Society (2002), A History of Warren County, Indiana (175th Anniversary Edition)