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, Williamsport has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.37 km2), all land.[1]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1850279—
186052086.4%
187098890.0%
1880913−7.6%
18901,02712.5%
19001,24521.2%
19101,243−0.2%
19201,088−12.5%
19301,053−3.2%
19401,22216.0%
19501,2411.6%
19601,3539.0%
19701,66122.8%
19801,7475.2%
19901,7982.9%
20001,9357.6%
20101,898−1.9%
Est. 20141,867[14]−1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 1,898 people, 766 households, and 513 families residing here.[16] The population density was 1,457.6 inhabitants per square mile (562.8/km2). There were 852 housing units at an average density of 654.3 per square mile (252.6/km2).[17] The racial makeup was 98.3% white, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.2% Pacific islander, 0.1% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.0% of the population.[16] In terms of ancestry, 22.0% were German, 10.4% were American, 9.2% were Irish, and 5.7% were English.[18]

Of the 766 households, 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, 33.0% were non-families, and 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age was 42.5 years.[16]

The median income for a household was $37,969 and the median income for a family was $48,026. Males had a median income of $41,719 versus $28,875 for females. The per capita income for was $17,487. About 16.3% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.0% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.[19]

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.[20]

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.[21] Williamsport also has a nursing home, "The Waters of Williamsport", a 96-bed facility that provides health care and rehabilitation services primarily for seniors.[22] These are important local employers, as 9.8% of Warren County's jobs relate to health care and social services.[23]

References

  1. 1 2 "G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-25.
  2. 1 2 "USGS detail on Williamsport". Retrieved 2007-09-23.
  3. 1 2 "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010". Retrieved 2013-11-23.
  4. ↑ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-06-25.
  5. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. ↑ "Find a County – Warren County, IN". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
  7. 1 2 "Williamsport Falls". Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
  8. ↑ Baker, Ronald L.; Carmony, Marvin (1975). Indiana Place Names. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. p. 181.
  9. ↑ Warren County Historical Society 1966, p. 134.
  10. ↑ "J. Frank Hanly Biography". National Governors Association. Retrieved 2011-01-16.
  11. ↑ Warren County Historical Society 2002, p. 81.
  12. ↑ Counts, Will; Jon Dilts (1991). The 92 Magnificent Indiana Courthouses. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. pp. 178–9. ISBN 978-0-253-33638-5.
  13. ↑ "State of Indiana 2012 Rail System Map" (PDF). Indiana Department of Transportation. 2012. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  14. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  16. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  17. ↑ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  18. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  19. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  20. ↑ Warren County Local Economic Development Organization. "Business Directory". Retrieved 2010-09-18.
  21. ↑ "Emergency Medicine". St. Vincent Williamsport Hospital. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  22. ↑ "About Us". The Waters of Williamsport. Retrieved 2010-09-18.
  23. ↑ STATS Indiana. "InDepth Profile: Warren County, Indiana". Indiana Business Research Center. Retrieved 2010-09-12.

Bibliography

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