Greenville, Indiana

Greenville, Indiana
Town
Town of Greenville
Location of Greenville in Floyd County, Indiana.
Coordinates: 38°22′22″N 85°59′19″W / 38.37278°N 85.98861°W / 38.37278; -85.98861Coordinates: 38°22′22″N 85°59′19″W / 38.37278°N 85.98861°W / 38.37278; -85.98861
Country	United States
State	Indiana
County	Floyd
Township	Greenville
Area[1]
• Total	0.78 sq mi (2.02 km2)
• Land	0.78 sq mi (2.02 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	827 ft (252 m)
Population
• Estimate (2016)[2]	807
• Density	1,034.62/sq mi (399.64/km2)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	47124
Area code(s)	812 & 930
FIPS code	18-29844[3]
GNIS feature ID	0435458[4]
U.S. Highway
Major State Roads
Website	http://www.visitgreenvillein.com

Greenville is an incorporated town in Floyd County, Indiana. The population was estimated by the Census Bureau to be 807 in 2016 at the 2010 census. Greenville is located in the greater Louisville metropolitan area.

History

Greenville was platted in 1816 by Andrew Mundell and Benjamin Haines some three years before Floyd County was even established. During the first three years of Greenville's development, the village was a part of Clark County. 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, on the condition that 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 with his future father-in-law 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 throughout the country. Later, Ford moved to New Albany and established several businesses, and 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. Ford became the father of American plate glass.

That original building 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 original wooden structure began in 1810 and finished in 1812. In 1840, Ford helped to erect the present brick structure.^[5] Besides housing Ford's grocery and the saddle shop, the Old Mill was the Greenville Post Office from 1823 until the early 1940s when it was relocated to H. Miller's house at the corner of East First Street and Hwy 150. 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 most of the town's original buildings. Today, the Station stands just two doors from one of the city's oldest home (rebuilt in 1908), which still boasts some of John B. Ford's original plate glass works.

The Simpson Memorial United Methodist Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.^[6]

Notable Residents

• Andrew Mundell Founded Greenville by formally platting the town in 1816.

• Benjamin Haines Founded Greenville by formally platting the town in 1816.

• John Baptiste Ford Lived in Greenville from 1825 - 1854 and pursued several business ventures while living in Greenville. After leaving Greenville, Ford went on to became an influential industrialist eventually establishing Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company (now PPG Porter) and Michigan Alkali Company (went on to become BSAF).

• Joseph Smith The prominent Mormon and founder of the Church of Latter Day Saints stayed in Greenville for one month in 1832. Smith stayed at Porter's Public House, owned and operated by Daniel Porter, and wrote in his journal about his painful poisoning which took place. His stay is well documented in The Joseph Smith Papers.

• Norman Jay Colman In 1850, Colman became the first principal in Greenville when the Floyd County Seminary opened in town at the same location as the present day school. He went on to a successful political career including becoming the 1st Secretary of Agriculture appointed by President Grover Cleveland in 1889.

• Isaac Newton Kimberlin lived in Greenville for 6 months in 1867. He enlisted in Company G of the Seventh Missouri Infantry on May 21,1861. He was recognized during the Civil War in reports for his bravery running batteries at Vicksburg aboard the Tigress. He participated in the Battle of Shiloh, the Vicksburg Campaign, the Battle of Nashville and the capture of Mobile.

• Roscoe Miller was a pitcher in MLB who played four seasons in 1901 - 1904 with the Detroit Tigers, New York Giants, and Pittsburgh Pirates. His rookie season was his best finishing 23-13 with 35 complete games which is still an American League rookie record.

• Jeff Leo Thompson is a professional baseball player and resident of Greenville. In 2013, he was selected by the Detroit Tigers with the 94 overall pick in the 3rd round. He is currently with the Tigers minor league. Prior to being drafted into MLB, Thompson played for University of Louisville and was named 2013 Big East Conference Pitcher of the Year and a Golden Spikes Award semifinalist after going 11-2 with a 2.19 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 17 starts.

• Judith Schad is the owner of Capriole Goat Cheese, an artisan goat cheese producer in Greenville, Indiana. Founded in 1988, Capriole is one of the oldest and most award winning goat cheese producers in the United States.

Historic Buildings

• Simpson Memorial United Methodist Church (Greenville, Indiana) It was designed by church plan catalog architect Benjamin D. Price and built by Capt. John Nafius in 1899. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.

• Jersey Park Farm is a historic home and farm located just on the outskirts of Greenville. The farmhouse was built about 1875, and consists of a two-story, Federal style rectangular section with a two-story round section and one-story round section. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

• The Station was built in 1840 by John Baptiste Ford and is the oldest commercial building in town.

Geography

Greenville is located at 38°22′22″N 85°59′19″W / 38.37278°N 85.98861°W / 38.37278; -85.98861 (38.372768, -85.988685).^[7]

According to the 2010 census, Greenville has a total area of 0.78 square miles (2.02 km²), all land.^[8]

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.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census^[10] of 2010, there were 595 people, 219 households, and 162 families residing in the town. The population density was 762.8 inhabitants per square mile (294.5/km²). There were 241 housing units at an average density of 309.0 per square mile (119.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.5% White, 1.5% African American, 0.8% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.0% of the population.

There were 219 households of which 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.0% were non-families. 18.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.12.

The median age in the town was 39.4 years. 26.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.8% were from 25 to 44; 27.6% were from 45 to 64; and 11.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 51.1% male and 48.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census^[3] 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 per square mile (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.

Education

The community is within the New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corporation. Greenville is within the attendance boundaries of Greenville Elementary School,^[11] Highland Hills Middle School,^[12] and Floyd Central High School.^[13]

Greenville Elementary School is located within the town limits.^[14]

References