Brownstown, Indiana

For the community in Crawford County, see Brownstown, Crawford County, Indiana.

Brownstown, Indiana
Town
Historic Downtown Main Street
Location of Brownstown in Jackson County, Indiana.
Coordinates: 38°52′40″N86°02′48″W / 38.87778°N 86.04667°W / 38.87778; -86.04667
Country	United States
State	Indiana
County	Jackson
Township	Brownstown
Area [1]
• Total	1.62 sq mi (4.21 km2)
• Land	1.62 sq mi (4.19 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation [2]	656 ft (200 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,025
• Density	1,868.44/sq mi (721.59/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (EST)
ZIP code	47220
Area code	812
FIPS code	18-08470 [3]
GNIS feature ID	2396612 [2]
Website	https://www.explorebrownstown.com/

Brownstown is a town within Brownstown Township and the county seat of Jackson County, Indiana, United States. ^[4] The population was 2,947 at the 2010 census. It was named for Jacob Brown, a general of the War of 1812. ^[5]

History

Jackson County Courthouse

The town of Brownstown was platted on April 8, 1816, notably prior to the statehood of Indiana itself. ^[6] Brownstown became the county seat of Jackson County in November 1816, replacing Fort Vallonia, which had only been the county seat since June of that year. The land for the Jackson County Court House, which rests in the heart of Brownstown on the square, was donated by Col. John Ketcham (1782–1865) for this specific function.

The Jackson County Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011. ^[7]

Geography

According to the 2010 census, Brownstown has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.14 km²), of which 1.59 square miles (4.12 km²) (or 99.38%) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km²) (or 0.63%) is water. ^[8]

Brownstown lies on the East Fork of the White River, bordered by the Jackson-Washington State Forest and near the Hoosier National Forest.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	504		—
1870	572		13.5%
1880	849		48.4%
1890	1,422		67.5%
1900	1,685		18.5%
1910	1,492		−11.5%
1920	1,554		4.2%
1930	1,758		13.1%
1940	1,860		5.8%
1950	1,998		7.4%
1960	2,158		8.0%
1970	2,376		10.1%
1980	2,704		13.8%
1990	2,872		6.2%
2000	2,978		3.7%
2010	2,947		−1.0%
2020	3,025		2.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [9]

2010 census

As of the census ^[10] of 2010, there were 2,947 people, 1,175 households, and 792 families living in the town. The population density was 1,853.5 inhabitants per square mile (715.6/km²). There were 1,282 housing units at an average density of 806.3 per square mile (311.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.3% White, 0.1% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.0% of the population.

There were 1,175 households, of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.6% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% 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 2.97.

The median age in the town was 38.7 years. 25.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.2% were from 25 to 44; 23.5% were from 45 to 64; and 18.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[3] of 2000, there were 3,000 people, 1,168 households, and 805 families living in the town. The population density was 2,080.6 inhabitants per square mile (803.3/km²). There were 1,242 housing units at an average density of 867.7 per square mile (335.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.76% White, 0.10% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.07% from other races, and 0.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.60% of the population.

There were 1,168 households, out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,000, and the median income for a family was $39,044. Males had a median income of $27,984 versus $21,503 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,525. About 8.9% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The town has a lending library, the Brownstown Public Library, along with three main public schools: an elementary, middle, and high school. ^[11] The town also has a private Lutheran elementary and middle school.

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Brownstown, Indiana
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
5. History of Jackson County, Indiana: From the Earliest Time to the Present, with Biographical Sketches, Notes, Etc., Together with an Extended History of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory and the State of Indiana. Unigraphic. 1886. p. 362.
6. History of Jackson County, Indiana: From the Earliest Time to the Present, with Biographical Sketches, Notes, Etc., Together with an Extended History of the Northwest, the Indiana Territory and the State of Indiana. Unigraphic. 1886. p. 500.
7. "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 12/12/11 through 12/16/112. National Park Service. November 23, 2011.
8. "G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2015.
9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved December 11, 2012.
11. "Indiana public library directory" (PDF). Indiana State Library. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 18, 2017. Retrieved March 7, 2018.

External links

• Brownstown Chamber of Commerce