West Lebanon, Indiana

West Lebanon
Town
West Lebanon

West Lebanon's location in Warren County

Coordinates: 40°16′14″N 87°23′9″W / 40.27056°N 87.38583°WCoordinates: 40°16′14″N 87°23′9″W / 40.27056°N 87.38583°W
Country United States
State Indiana
County Warren
Township Pike
Founded 1830
Incorporated 1869
Area[1]
 • Total 0.62 sq mi (1.61 km2)
 • Land 0.62 sq mi (1.61 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation[2] 712 ft (217 m)
Population (2010)[3]
 • Total 723
 • Estimate (2012[4]) 709
 • Density 1,166.1/sq mi (450.2/km2)
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 47991
Area code(s) 765
FIPS code 18-82934[5]
GNIS feature ID 0445780[6]

West Lebanon is a town in Pike Township, Warren County, Indiana, United States. The population was 723 at the 2010 census.[3]

History

West Lebanon was laid out and platted in the fall of 1830 by Ebenezer Purviance, John G. Jemison and Andrew Fleming, and consisted of 64 lots. Originally named Lebanon, the name was changed to West Lebanon in 1869 when the town was incorporated, possibly in deference to the Boone County community of the same name which established its post office on December 15, 1832, just eleven days before their own.[7]

Not being close to any waterways, West Lebanon's early growth was relatively slow and for many years had no more than 20 families. However, with the completion of the Wabash Railroad line one mile north of town in 1856, the community's fortunes improved and led to most of the town relocating closer to the station. The original settlement area became known as Old Town.[8]

A Carnegie library was built at the corner of High Street and North Street in 1916 and continues to operate as the West Lebanon-Pike Township Public Library.[9]

Fire destroyed part of West Lebanon's business district the evening of January 26, 2011, destroying a row of buildings along the west side of High Street between First and North streets.[10][11]

Geography

Map of West Lebanon
Map from 1877 atlas

West Lebanon is located just south of State Road 28 about 7.5 miles (12.1 km) east of the Illinois border and about 5 miles (8.0 km) west of Williamsport. State Road 263 is concurrent with High Street and intersects State Road 28 at the north edge of town. A line of the Norfolk Southern Railway also passes through the north edge of the town. Rock Creek, east of town, flows south toward the Wabash River and forms the township's eastern border; it is fed by the small Johnson Branch which crosses the north edge of town.

According to the 2010 census, the town has a total area of 0.62 square miles (1.6 km2), all land.[1]

Economy

Decorations on High Street

There are more than 25 businesses in West Lebanon. Industry includes Tru-Flex Metal Hose, which has made stripwound and corrugated flexible metal hose since 1962, and Dyna-Fab, which specializes in metal stampings and weldments.[12]

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 723 people, 287 households, and 192 families residing in the town.[3] The population density was 1,166.1 inhabitants per square mile (450.2/km2). There were 327 housing units at an average density of 527.4 per square mile (203.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 99.2% White, 0.1% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 0.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.1% of the population.

There were 287 households of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.1% were non-families. 25.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.98.

The median age in the town was 37.4 years. 27.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.1% were from 25 to 44; 24% were from 45 to 64; and 17.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 50.1% male and 49.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 793 people, 307 households, and 232 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,287.1 people per square mile (493.8/km²). There were 336 housing units at an average density of 545.4 per square mile (209.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.99% White, 0.13% Native American, 0.13% Asian, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.50% of the population.

There were 307 households out of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the town the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 106.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $34,844, and the median income for a family was $40,139. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $20,221 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,424. About 5.2% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.4% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Each year on the last weekend of September the town holds the West Lebanon Patriot Festival, an event named for the Patriot mascot of nearby Seeger High School. The festival features flea market vendors, a parade, cake walks, live music, fireman's water ball competition, outhouse races and other attractions.[13] The festival was previously known as West Lebanon Fun Days.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Places: Indiana". 2010 Census Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  2. ↑ "2007-09-28". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-11-23.
  4. ↑ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-06-25.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  7. ↑ Baker, Ronald L.; Carmony, Marvin (1975). Indiana Place Names. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. p. 176.
  8. ↑ "Old Town". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  9. ↑ "West Lebanon-Pike Township Public Library". Retrieved 2012-10-02.
  10. ↑ "Fire ravages West Lebanon business district". Journal and Courier. 26 January 2011. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
  11. ↑ Weddle, Eric (27 January 2011). "Wood stove cited as cause in West Lebanon fire". Journal and Courier. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
  12. ↑ Warren County Local Economic Development Organization. "Business Directory". Retrieved 2010-09-18.
  13. ↑ Edwards, Rebecca (2007-10-04). "Patriot Fest Celebrates Hometown Heritage". The Review Republican. p. 1.

External links