Ferdinand, Indiana

Ferdinand, Indiana
Town
Monastery Immaculate Conception
Location of Ferdinand in Dubois County, Indiana.
Coordinates: 38°13′37″N86°51′47″W / 38.22694°N 86.86306°W / 38.22694; -86.86306
Country	United States
State	Indiana
County	Dubois
Township	Ferdinand
Area [1]
• Total	2.33 sq mi (6.04 km2)
• Land	2.30 sq mi (5.95 km2)
• Water	0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2)
Elevation [2]	535 ft (163 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,157
• Density	939.05/sq mi (362.64/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (EDT)
ZIP code	47532
Area code	812
FIPS code	18-22990 [3]
GNIS feature ID	2396936 [2]
Website	http://www.ferdinandindiana.org

Ferdinand is a town in Ferdinand Township, Dubois County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. ^[2] The population was 2,157 at the 2020 census.

History

Ferdinand was founded in 1840 by Fr. Joseph Kundek, OSB and was named after the Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria. ^[4] The town was settled by mostly German-speaking people from central Europe. At one time Ferdinand was known as the wooden shoe village. At the end of the 19th century, Ferdinand contained many businesses, including a machine works, a brick works, brewery, several taverns, and a dairy.

The Ferdinand post office has been in operation since 1850. ^[5]

In 1867, the Monastery of Immaculate Conception was founded in Ferdinand.

Ferdinand was incorporated as a town in 1905. ^[6]

In 1906, the Ferdinand News was established as the local newspaper.

Just prior to World War II the Civilian Conservation Corps created the Ferdinand State Forest.

The Monastery Immaculate Conception and Dr. Alois Wollenmann House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. ^{[7] [8]}

Photo from Small Town Indiana photo survey.

Geography

Ferdinand is located at 38°13′31″N86°51′40″W / 38.22528°N 86.86111°W / 38.22528; -86.86111 (38.225392, -86.860996). ^[9]

According to the 2010 census, Ferdinand has a total area of 2.31 square miles (5.98 km²), of which 2.27 square miles (5.88 km²) (or 98.27%) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²) (or 1.73%) is water. ^[10]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	500		—
1890	627		25.4%
1910	827		—
1920	884		6.9%
1930	846		−4.3%
1940	990		17.0%
1950	1,252		26.5%
1960	1,427		14.0%
1970	1,432		0.4%
1980	2,192		53.1%
1990	2,318		5.7%
2000	2,277		−1.8%
2010	2,157		−5.3%
2020	2,157		0.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [11]

2010 census

As of the census ^[12] of 2010, there were 2,157 people, 823 households, and 566 families residing in the town. The population density was 950.2 inhabitants per square mile (366.9/km²). There were 866 housing units at an average density of 381.5 per square mile (147.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.2% White, 0.1% African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.

There were 823 households, of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.2% were non-families. 27.5% 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 2.38 and the average family size was 2.89.

The median age in the town was 45.1 years. 21% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.6% were from 25 to 44; 25% were from 45 to 64; and 25.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 44.5% male and 55.5% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[3] of 2000, there were 2,277 people, 808 households, and 569 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,017.3 inhabitants per square mile (392.8/km²). There were 845 housing units at an average density of 377.5 per square mile (145.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.03% White, 0.04% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 0.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.61% of the population.

There were 808 households, out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 27.1% 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 2.51 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.8% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 78.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $41,326, and the median income for a family was $52,065. Males had a median income of $34,205 versus $23,646 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,335. About 3.4% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 16.1% of those age 65 or over.

Attractions

Monastery of Immaculate Conception closeup

Attractions in Ferdinand include:

• Monastery Immaculate Conception, the monastery of The Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand
• Ferdinand State Forest

Education

• Forest Park Jr./Sr. High School
• Ferdinand Elementary School
• Cedar Crest Intermediate School

The town has a public library, a branch of the Jasper-Dubois County Public Library. ^[13]

Churches

• St. Ferdinand Catholic Church

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ferdinand, Indiana
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. Wilson, George R. (1910). History of Dubois County from Its Primitive Days to 1910. Windmill Publications. pp.  370.
5. "Dubois County". Jim Forte Postal History. Archived from the original on September 4, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2016.
6. Wilson, George R. (1910). History of Dubois County from Its Primitive Days to 1910. Windmill Publications. pp.  371.
7. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
8. "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 3/18/13 through 3/22/13. National Park Service. March 29, 2013.
9. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
10. "G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved December 11, 2012.
13. "Ferdinand Branch Library". Jasper-Dubois County Public Library. Retrieved March 7, 2018.

External links

• Town of Ferdinand, Indiana, website
• Monastery Immaculate Conception
• Ferdinand State Forest