Greenville, Indiana

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Town of Greenville, Indiana
Location in the state of Indiana
Location in the state of Indiana
Coordinates: 38°22′22″N 85°59′19″W / 38.37278, -85.98861
Country United States
State Indiana
County Floyd
Township Greenville
Area
 - Total 0.6 sq mi (1.6 km²)
 - Land 0.6 sq mi (1.6 km²)
 - Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)
Elevation 827 ft (252 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 591
 - Density 953.1/sq mi (368.0/km²)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 47124
Area code(s) 812
FIPS code 18-29844[1]
GNIS feature ID 0435458[2]

Greenville is a town in Greenville Township, Floyd County, Indiana, United States. The population was 591 at the 2000 census.

Contents

[edit] History

Early in Floyd County's history, Greenville was initially to be the county seat. A New Albany resident offered to provide a bell for the courthouse, if and only if the courthouse were built in New Albany. Thus, it was built there instead.

Captain John Baptiste Ford found his way to Greenville as a 14 year old runaway from Danville, Kentucky. Ford began as an apprentice in the local saddle shop which led him into his first business venture. Ford purchased the Old Mill and saddle shop from its owner, added a grocery and began making tin pie safes which he sold through out the country. In 1824, Ford became the first man to succeed in making plate glass in the United States. That success was the precursor to several glass companies, most notably the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company now known as PPG. John Baptiste Ford became the father of American plate glass.

That original business venture that housed the mill, saddle shop and grocery still stands today. Historically referred to as the Old Mill and Ford's Flour Mill, The Greenville Station is believed to be the oldest commercial building in Greenville. Construction on the three-story brick structure began in 1810 and finished in 1812. Besides housing Ford's grocery and the saddle shop, the Old Mill was the Greenville Post Office from 1823 to 1973 when a new Post Office site was chosen. The Station was a stop for the 104-mile stagecoach route that ran from Falls Cities to the Wabash River. The building also served as a stop along the Pony Express route from 1861 to 1867. The Greenville Station served as lodge hall for two civil organizations, the fraternal order of the Free and Accepted Masons and the International Order of Oddfellows. Through a majority of the early 20th century the Greenville Station was referred to by the townspeople as the "lodge building" or the "lodge."

On March 26, 1908 a fire destroyed all but two of the town's original buildings. Today, the Station stands just two-doors from the city's oldest home (rebuilt in 1908), which still boasts some of John B. Ford's original plate glass works. The Greenville Station and the Simpson Memorial United Methodist Church stand testament as survivors to an era prior to statehood for the state of Indiana and the city of Greenville.

[edit] Geography

Greenville is located at 38°22′22″N, 85°59′19″W (38.372768, -85.988685)[3].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all of it land.

The township is situated such that, clockwise, it borders the township of Jackson Township, Washington County to the northwest, Wood Township, Clark County to the northeast, Laffayette Township in Floyd County to the east, Georgetown Township to the south, Jackson Township, Harrison County to the southwest, and Morgan Township, Harrison County to the west.

Big and Little Indian Creeks meander through the township, which are tributaries in the Ohio River watershed.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 591 people, 224 households, and 174 families residing in the town. The population density was 954.9 people per square mile (368.0/km²). There were 238 housing units at an average density of 384.6/sq mi (148.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.12% White, 0.34% African American, 1.02% Asian, 0.51% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.51% of the population.

There were 224 households out of which 39.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.2% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the town the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $49,271, and the median income for a family was $50,972. Males had a median income of $44,464 versus $26,484 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,343. About 5.0% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.1% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links