Winchester, Indiana

Last updated

Winchester
City
City of Winchester
Randolph County Courthouse and monument.jpg
Randolph County Courthouse and veterans' monument in downtown Winchester
WinchesterINseal.png
Seal
Nicknames: 
Dub – C (WC), Sugar Cream Pie Capital
Randolph County Indiana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Winchester Highlighted 1884752.svg
Location of Winchester in Randolph County, Indiana.
Winchester, Indiana from the air.jpg
Birds-eye view of Winchester
Coordinates: 40°10′19″N84°58′35″W / 40.17194°N 84.97639°W / 40.17194; -84.97639
Country United States
State Indiana
County Randolph
Township White River
Named after Winchester, Hampshire
Government
 •  Mayor Robert (Bob) McCoy (R)[ citation needed ]
Area
[1]
 • Total
3.47 sq mi (8.99 km2)
 • Land3.46 sq mi (8.96 km2)
 • Water0.012 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation
[2]
1,093 ft (333 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
4,843
 • Estimate 
(2025)
4,722 [3] Decrease2.svg
 • Density1,400.3/sq mi (540.66/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
47394
Area code 765
FIPS code 18-84752 [4]
GNIS feature ID2397335 [2]
Website www.winchester-in.gov

Winchester is a city in White River Township, Randolph County, Indiana, United States. The city is the county seat of Randolph County. [2] The population was 4,843 at the 2020 census. [5] It is the home of Winchester Speedway.

Contents

History

Winchester was laid out in 1818 as the county seat [6] of Randolph County, after five early settlers donated land for that purpose; the town was almost certainly named for Winchester, Virginia. The County government was organized in August of that year in the cabin of Benjamin Cox, a Quaker settler from North Carolina. A post office has been in operation at Winchester since 1820. [7] [8]

During the mid-1800s, Randolph County, and thus Winchester, became notable for its role in abolitionism and the Underground Railroad. The county was home to three distinct settlements of free African Americans, and documentary evidence shows that many local homes and churches served as stops on the Underground Railroad. [8]

With the discovery of oil, natural gas, and other resources in the late 1800s, and 1890s in eastern Indiana, Winchester transitioned from a rural county seat into an industrial town. The local availability of fuel from natural gas and oil wells enabled furnaces in which glassmaking could thrive. These developments made Winchester a center of glass production, part of the broader “Indiana Gas Glow” era, as factories requiring high heat for glass-blowing setup operations, providing many jobs for local residents [9] .

The Gen. Asahel Stone Mansion, Winchester Courthouse Square Historic District, and Winchester Residential Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [10] [11]

The town is also the home to the famous A&B Cafe, located at 110 North Main Street. It has operated since 1984 as a locally owned café and sports bar and is frequently described in business directories and local guides as a long-standing gathering place for residents and visitors. [12] [13]

2024 tornado outbreak

At 7:58pm on March 14, 2024, a quarter-mile wide EF3 tornado hit Winchester during a severe weather outbreak. [14] Severe damage was dealt to the Goodwill, The Lodge at Summers Pointe, and Strip Mall. The Freedom Life Church and Taco Bell were flattened. Thirty-eight were injured and three were left critically injured; one of the three died weeks later. [15] [16]

As of June 2024, three months after the tornado's touchdown, the remainder of the Strip Mall was demolished as a result of its ultimate destruction from the tornado. It was subsequently rebuilt into a Wendy's restaurant about a year later. Summers Pointe and Taco Bell both underwent repairs and eventually reopened.

A similar situation occurred at 5:53 pm on May 13, 2025, when an EFU landspout tornado touched down unexpectedly near the area but caused no damage. [17]

Geography

According to the 2010 census, Winchester has a total area of 3.343 square miles (8.66 km2), of which 3.33 square miles (8.62 km2) (or 99.61%) is land and 0.013 square miles (0.03 km2) (or 0.39%) is water. [18]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1850 532—
1870 1,456—
1880 1,95834.5%
1890 3,01453.9%
1900 3,70522.9%
1910 4,26615.1%
1920 4,021−5.7%
1930 4,48711.6%
1940 5,30318.2%
1950 5,4673.1%
1960 5,7425.0%
1970 5,493−4.3%
1980 5,6593.0%
1990 5,095−10.0%
2000 5,037−1.1%
2010 4,935−2.0%
2020 4,843−1.9%
2025 (est.)4,722 [3] −2.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [19]

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 4,935 people, 2,051 households, and 1,281 families living in the city. The population density was 1,482.0 inhabitants per square mile (572.2/km2). There were 2,349 housing units at an average density of 705.4 per square mile (272.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.1% White, 0.5% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 1.3% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.6%. [20]

Of the 2,051 households 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.5% were non-families. 32.2% of households were one person and 14.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.89.

The median age was 40.2 years. 23.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.8% were from 25 to 44; 25.4% were from 45 to 64; and 18.9% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.6% male and 52.4% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 5,037 people, 2,171 households, and 1,350 families living in the city. The population density was 1,623.8 inhabitants per square mile (627.0/km2). There were 2,377 housing units at an average density of 766.3 per square mile (295.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.31% White, 0.24% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.32% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.41%. [4]

Of the 2,171 households 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 33.7% of households were one person, and 16.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the city the population was spread out, with 22.2% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.

The median household income was $28,500 and the median family income was $37,607. Males had a median income of $28,947 versus $22,226 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,753. About 10.9% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education

It is in the Randolph Central School Corporation. [21] Schools, all part of the Randolph public school district, include: [22] [23]

The town has a lending library, the Winchester Community Public Library. [24]

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Winchester, Indiana
  3. 1 2 "Winchester Demographic Statistics". Indiana Demographics by Cubit. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  4. 1 2 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  6. ↑ Tucker, E. (1882). History of Randolph County, Indiana: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers : to which are Appended Maps of Its Several Townships. A.L. Klingman. p. 36.
  7. ↑ "Randolph County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
  8. 1 2 County, Randolph (July 20, 2022). "History". Randolph County. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Randolph County Indiana – A Brief History". Randolph County Historical Society. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  10. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  11. ↑ "National Register of Historic Places Listings" (PDF). Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 3/21/11 through 3/25/11. National Park Service. April 1, 2011.
  12. ↑ "A & B Cafe, 110 N Main St, Winchester, IN 47394, US - MapQuest". www.mapquest.com. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Important Local Businesses". www.importantlocalbusinesses.com. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
  14. ↑ Helsel, Phil; Cradduck, Josh; Prociv, Kathryn; Burke, Minyvonne (March 14, 2024). "Tornadoes leave at least 3 dead in Ohio and flatten buildings in Indiana". Weather. NBC News . Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Summary of March 14th 2024 Severe Storms (Updated 3/27: 2 Tornadoes)". www.weather.gov. National Weather Service Indianapolis IN. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  16. ↑ "...NWS Damage Survey for 03/14/24 Tornado Event Update 3..." Iowa Environment Mesonet. National Weather Service Indianapolis IN. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Landspout tornado touches down in Randolph County, causes no damage". wishtv.com. Wish TV. May 13, 2025. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  18. ↑ "G001 – Geographic Identifiers – 2010 Census Summary File 1". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  20. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved December 11, 2012.
  21. ↑ Geography Division (December 18, 2020). 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Randolph County, IN (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved May 3, 2025. - Text list
  22. ↑ "Search for Public Schools – Willard Elementary School (180177000241)". National Center for Education Statistics . Institute of Education Sciences . Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Willard Elementary School (7145)". INview. Indiana Department of Education . Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Indiana public library directory" (PDF). Indiana State Library. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
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