Kentland, Indiana

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Town of Kentland, Indiana
—  Town  —
Railline serving Kentland and the Illinois and Indiana border lands
Location in the state of Indiana
Coordinates: 40°46′11″N 87°26′46″W / 40.76972°N 87.44611°W / 40.76972; -87.44611
Country United States
State Indiana
County Newton
Township Jefferson
Area
 - Total 1.5 sq mi (3.8 km2)
 - Land 1.5 sq mi (3.8 km2)
 - Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation 679 ft (207 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 1,822
 - Density 1,247.9/sq mi (481.8/km2)
Time zone CST (UTC-6)
 - Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 47951
Area code(s) 219
FIPS code 18-39546[1]
GNIS feature ID 0437256[2]

Kentland is a town in Jefferson Township, Newton County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,822 at the 2000 census. The town was founded in 1860 as "Kent", though this name was soon lengthened to Kentland. The name honors Alexander Kent, who acquired the then marshy plat and prepared it for development. The city is the county seat of Newton County[3]. Once primarily a cattle town, Kentland is now an agricultural community with a diversifying economy with the town motto "Where Agriculture and Industry Meet." The town is served by an original Carnegie library and is an important crossroads on US highways 41 and 24. Geologists believe that the area was the site of an ancient meteorite impact.

Kentland is the birthplace of famous turn-of-the-century humorist, George Ade, author of such plays as The College Widow, Artie and The Sultan of Sulu among others. Purdue University's Ross-Ade Stadium, home of the Boilermakers football team, is named for him and fellow Purdue benefactor David Ross. Disgraced Indiana governor Warren McCray, convicted of mail fraud and forced to resign in 1924, also hailed from Kentland.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Kentland is located at 40°46′11″N 87°26′46″W / 40.76972°N 87.44611°W / 40.76972; -87.44611 (40.769719, -87.446184)[4].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.8 km²), all of it land.

The Kentland crater, a probable meteorite impact crater, is located between Kentland and Goodland.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 1,822 people, 733 households, and 477 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,250.5 people per square mile (481.8/km²). There were 793 housing units at an average density of 544.3/sq mi (209.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.30% White, 0.11% African American, 0.27% Asian, 0.82% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.96% of the population.

There were 733 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the town the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $34,732, and the median income for a family was $45,043. Males had a median income of $32,734 versus $20,714 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,797. About 4.7% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Notable residents, past and present

Jethro A. Hatch, was the first physician in Kentland and a U.S. Representative from Indiana.

[edit] See also

George Ade

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/usamap.cfm. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  • George Pence and Nellie C. Armstrong (1933). Indiana Boundaries: Territory, State and County. Indiana Historical Society.

[edit] External links