Williamsport, Indiana

Williamsport
Town
Warren County courthouse in Williamsport
Williamsport Williamsport's location in Warren County
Coordinates: 40°17′13″N 87°17′31″W / 40.28694°N 87.29194°W / 40.28694; -87.29194Coordinates: 40°17′13″N 87°17′31″W / 40.28694°N 87.29194°W / 40.28694; -87.29194
Country	United States
State	Indiana
County	Warren
Township	Washington
Founded	1828
Incorporated	1854
Founded by	William Harrison
Area[1]
• Total	1.30 sq mi (3.37 km2)
• Land	1.30 sq mi (3.37 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation[2]	659 ft (201 m)
Population (2010)[3]
• Total	1,898
• Estimate (2012[4])	1,864
• Density	1,460.0/sq mi (563.7/km2)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	47993
Area code(s)	765
FIPS code	18-84410[5]
GNIS feature ID	0446088[2]

Williamsport is a town in Washington Township, Warren County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,898 at the 2010 census.^[3] It is the county seat of Warren County^[6] and is the largest of the four incorporated towns in the county. Williamsport Falls, the highest waterfall in the state, is located in downtown Williamsport.^[7]

History

Williamsport was platted by (and named for) William Harrison on December 11, 1828,^[8] 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; he built 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 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 1854, at which time its population was 552.^[9]

James Frank Hanly, who was the Governor of Indiana from 1905 to 1909, lived and practiced law here from 1879 to 1896; he is buried at Hillside Cemetery, on the northeast side of town.^[10]

The Williamsport-Washington Township Public Library opened in 1917 as a Carnegie library, and moved to a new facility in 2002.^[11]

Historic Places

The Williamsport Presbyterian Church at 15 Fall Street, built in 1889, appears on the Indiana Register of Historic Sites and Structures. It was closed in 1964 and stood vacant until 1991, when a non-profit corporation was set up to support the restoration effort. It was listed in 1998 after having received a new slate roof and other repairs. The building contains the original stained glass windows, bell, pulpit, and pews.

The "Tower House" can be found at 303 Lincoln Street and was constructed in 1845. The house was nicknamed due to its 3 story tower on the northeast corner of the building. The house was originally constructed as a mirrored twin; the twin house was destroyed by a fire in the 1990s. The house has changed from its original construction. An enclosed front porch and side porch has been retooled to serve as the current family's kitchen area. The house originally contained two large rooms upstairs, and three rooms downstairs. What appears to be the summer kitchen and original carriage house still stand. The house now has five bedrooms, one bath upstairs and seven rooms, an enclosed porch, and a bath downstairs.

The Warren County Courthouse at 125 North Monroe Street was built in 1907-1908 and is on the United States National Register of Historic Places. It is the fourth purpose-built court house in the county's history.^[12]

Geography

Map of Williamsport

Williamsport is located along State Road 28 near the shores of the Wabash River which forms the eastern border of the county. Its most striking natural feature is Williamsport Falls, a 90-foot waterfall near the center of town and Indiana's tallest.^[7] Williamsport's original section ("Old Town") is in bottom land next to the 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.^[13]

According to the 2010 census, the town has a total area of 1.30 square miles (3.4 km²), all land.^[14]

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,898 people, 766 households, and 513 families residing in the town.^[3] The population density was 1,460.0 inhabitants per square mile (563.7 /km²). There were 852 housing units at an average density of 655.4 per square mile (253.1 /km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.3% White, 0.3% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 0.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.0% of the population.

There were 766 households of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.0% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.90.

The median age in the town was 42.5 years. 22.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.9% were from 25 to 44; 25.9% were from 45 to 64; and 20.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.

Economy

Industry in Williamsport includes TMF Center, which manufactures parts for construction equipment and trucking; GL Technologies, which procures industrial tooling; and Kuri-Tec, which manufactures industrial hoses and accessories.^[15]

The town includes the county's single hospital, St. Vincent Williamsport Hospital, a 16-bed acute care facility operated by Indianapolis-based St. Vincent Health. The hospital includes a 24-hour emergency medical service and ambulance service.^[16] Williamsport also has a nursing home, "The Waters of Williamsport", a 96-bed facility that provides health care and rehabilitation services primarily for seniors.^[17] These are important local employers, as 9.8% of Warren County's jobs relate to health care and social services.^[18]

• 

  The town clock

• 

  Williamsport Falls

• 

  The Wabash River as seen from Old Town

• 

  1877 map of Williamsport

References

Bibliography

• Goodspeed, Weston A. (1883). "Part II. History of Warren County". Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper and Newton, Indiana. Chicago: F. A. Battey and Company. pp. 31–156. Retrieved 2010-09-19. 
• Clifton, Thomas, ed. (1913). Past and Present of Fountain and Warren Counties Indiana. Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen and Company. pp. 201–335. Retrieved 2010-09-19. 
• Warren County Historical Society (1966). A History of Warren County, Indiana. Williamsport, Indiana. 
• Warren County Historical Society (2002). A History of Warren County, Indiana (175th Anniversary Edition). Williamsport, Indiana. pp. 163–173. 

v t e Municipalities and communities of Warren County, Indiana, United States County seat: Williamsport Towns Pine Village State Line City West Lebanon Williamsport Townships Adams Jordan Kent Liberty Medina Mound Pike Pine Prairie Steuben Warren Washington Unincorporated communities Carbondale Foster Green Hill Hedrick Independence Johnsonville Judyville Kramer Marshfield Pence Rainsville Stewart Tab Winthrop Ghost towns Baltimore Brisco Chatterton Chesapeake Dresser Kickapoo Locust Grove Point Pleasant Sloan Walnut Grove Warrenton