Elwood, Indiana

Elwood is a city in Madison and Tipton counties in the U.S. state of Indiana.[6] The Madison County portion, which includes most of the city, is part of the Anderson, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the small portion in Tipton County is part of the Kokomo, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 8,614 at the 2010 census.

Elwood, Indiana
City
City of Elwood
Location of Elwood in Madison County and Tipton County, Indiana.
Coordinates: 40°16′27″N 85°50′17″W
CountryUnited States
StateIndiana
CountiesMadison, Tipton
Government
 • MayorTodd Jones (D)
Area
 • Total3.97 sq mi (10.28 km2)
 • Land3.97 sq mi (10.28 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation860 ft (262 m)
Population
 • Total8,614
 • Estimate 
(2019)[4]
8,394
 • Density2,115.42/sq mi (816.80/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
46036
Area code(s)765
FIPS code18-21070[5]
GNIS feature ID434144
Websitewww.elwoodcity-in.org

History

Elwood was laid out in 1853 under the name Duck Creek.[7] It was incorporated as a city in 1891.[8]

A post office was established under the name Duck Creek in 1855, was renamed to Elwood in 1869, and has been operating since.[9]

Around the 1880s, Elwood became a sundown town, prohibiting African Americans from residing within the town. In 1897, a number of African American families were driven out of Elwood.[10]

Elwood was the site of a great political event on August 17, 1940. The Republican National Committee held a formal notification ceremony to recognize Wendell Willkie as its nominee for President of the United States to run against Franklin Roosevelt. Held at Callaway Park on the outskirts of town, the ceremony drew 150,000 people for what would become the largest political rally in American history at the time. People came in 60,000 automobiles, 63 special trains, 300 Pullmans, and 1,200 buses. The Indiana University band led a parade in which 249 other bands also marched in the procession. When Willkie stepped onto the platform, the crowd cheered him for ten minutes before he could begin his speech. However, oppressive heat and Willkie's underwhelming, flat speech left many disappointed by the end of the day.[11]

The annual Glass Festival, held every third weekend of August, is one way in which the city tries to promote the area's history with natural gas and glass. In the years surrounding the turn of the century, Elwood, along with the nearby towns of Anderson and Gas City, was a common destination for Welsh immigrant families.

The Elwood Downtown Historic District was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.[12]

Geography

Elwood is located at 40°16′27″N 85°50′17″W (40.274109, -85.838047).[13]

According to the 2010 census, Elwood has a total area of 3.77 square miles (9.76 km2), all land.[14]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1870310—
1880751142.3%
18902,284204.1%
190012,950467.0%
191011,028−14.8%
192010,790−2.2%
193010,685−1.0%
194010,9132.1%
195011,3624.1%
196011,7933.8%
197011,196−5.1%
198010,867−2.9%
19909,494−12.6%
20009,7372.6%
20108,614−11.5%
Est. 20198,394[4]−2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]

2010 census

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 8,614 people, 3,455 households, and 2,265 families living in the city. The population density was 2,284.9 inhabitants per square mile (882.2/km2). There were 4,099 housing units at an average density of 1,087.3 per square mile (419.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.7% White, 0.2% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 1.0% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.3% of the population.

There were 3,455 households, of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.4% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.02.

The median age in the city was 38.6 years. 25.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.1% were from 25 to 44; 28.1% were from 45 to 64; and 14.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.7% male and 51.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 9,737 people, 3,845 households, and 2,660 families living in the city. The population density was 2,743.1 people per square mile (1,059.0/km2). There were 4,179 housing units at an average density of 1,177.3 per square mile (454.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.33% White, 0.05% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.64% of the population.

There were 3,845 households, out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.3% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,986, and the median income for a family was $36,239. Males had a median income of $31,527 versus $19,947 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,402. About 11.7% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

Business

Red Gold, one of the nation's largest tomato processors, has a plant in Elwood, as well as tool and die shops and other small manufacturers.

Education

Elwood has a public library, a branch of the North Madison County Public Library System.[16]

Notable people
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References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  2. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
  4. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  5. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. "Elwood, Indiana". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2016-07-22.
  7. Forkner, John La Rue; Dyson, Byron H. (1897). Historical Sketches and Reminiscences of Madison County, Indiana. Wilson, Humprheys & Co. p. 878.
  8. Forkner, John La Rue (1914). History of Madison County, Indiana: A Narrative Account of Its Historical Progress, Its People and Its Principal Interests, Volume 1. Lewis Publishing Company. p. 117.
  9. "Madison County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved July 22, 2016.
  10. "Race Troubles in Indiana". The Evening Times. Washington, D.C. August 27, 1897. p. 5 – via Chronicling America. There is a race war brewing in Ellwood [sic]. The citizens always have been averse to allowing negroes to live there. For the past twenty years occasionally a colored man or woman would come, but he would not be permitted to remain any length of time. Recently a number of negro families have located here. Within the last few days the entire negro population would have been notified to leave the city. Four of them, have been driven out this week, and the remainder have been given until Saturday night to move. Trouble is anticipated should any families refuse to comply with the demands.
  11. Steve Neal, Dark Horse: A Biography of Wendell Willkie, 132-136
  12. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  13. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  14. "G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2015-07-28.
  15. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  16. "Branches". North Madison County Public Library System. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
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