Clinton, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Clinton is a city in Vermillion County
, Indiana
, United States
. The population was 4,893 at the 2010 census. The city was established in 1829 and is named after DeWitt Clinton
, who served as governor of New York
from 1817 to 1823. Many of Clinton's original settlers were immigrants working in coal mines. Most of the immigrants were Italians trying to earn a living coal mining. Many of these immigrants were from northern Italy, in contrast to the majority of Italian immigrants
to America during this same time period that hailed from southern Italy. Over time, the coal mining industry in Clinton died down but many of the Italian settlers stayed at Clinton.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6 km²), of which, 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.88%) is water.
of 2000, there were 5,126 people, 2,124 households, and 1,319 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,284.5 people per square mile (883.6/km²). There were 2,379 housing units at an average density of 1,060.3 per square mile (410.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.15% White, 0.35% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.16% from other races
, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.68% of the population.
There were 2,124 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples
living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city, the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 83.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,330, and the median income for a family was $36,692. Males had a median income of $28,294 versus $22,927 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,601. About 7.4% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 20.0% of those age 65 or over.
The current mayor is Arthur A. Lindsay, Jr.
The current city council consists of:
Marion "Mono" Pastore - Ward One, Marty Shortridge - Ward Two, Roy Strayer - Ward Three, Robert Lindsey - Ward Four, Jay Rogers - At-Large
Post-secondary education is served through Indiana State University
, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
and Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
in nearby Terre Haute.
, a four-day Labor Day Weekend celebration of the area’s Italian and coal mining heritage. Founded in 1966, the event draws over 75,000 visitors annually, featuring Italian and carnival-style food, grapevine-roofed wine garden, grape stomping, tours and more. The festival also provides free stage entertainment, flea market and the largest Italian-theme parade in the Midwest. The festival is also host to the Indiana Bocce Ball championship, boasts one of the few coal mining museums in the nation, and owns one of fewer than 400 genuine gondolas in the United States. The reigning Queen of the Little Italy Festival is 20 year old Clinton resident Michelle Natalie.
Vermillion County, Indiana
Vermillion County lies in western Indiana between the Illinois border and the Wabash River. It was officially established in 1824 and was the 50th Indiana county to be formed. It is included in the Terre Haute, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county seat is Newport.According to the 2010...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 4,893 at the 2010 census. The city was established in 1829 and is named after DeWitt Clinton
DeWitt Clinton
DeWitt Clinton was an early American politician and naturalist who served as United States Senator and the sixth Governor of New York. In this last capacity he was largely responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal...
, who served as governor of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
from 1817 to 1823. Many of Clinton's original settlers were immigrants working in coal mines. Most of the immigrants were Italians trying to earn a living coal mining. Many of these immigrants were from northern Italy, in contrast to the majority of Italian immigrants
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
to America during this same time period that hailed from southern Italy. Over time, the coal mining industry in Clinton died down but many of the Italian settlers stayed at Clinton.
Geography
Clinton is located at 39°39′36"N 87°24′21"W (39.659903, -87.405924).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6 km²), of which, 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.88%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,126 people, 2,124 households, and 1,319 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,284.5 people per square mile (883.6/km²). There were 2,379 housing units at an average density of 1,060.3 per square mile (410.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.15% White, 0.35% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.16% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.68% of the population.
There were 2,124 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city, the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 83.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,330, and the median income for a family was $36,692. Males had a median income of $28,294 versus $22,927 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $14,601. About 7.4% of families and 12.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 20.0% of those age 65 or over.
Law and Government
Clinton city government consists of a mayor and a city council.The current mayor is Arthur A. Lindsay, Jr.
The current city council consists of:
Marion "Mono" Pastore - Ward One, Marty Shortridge - Ward Two, Roy Strayer - Ward Three, Robert Lindsey - Ward Four, Jay Rogers - At-Large
Fire Protection
The fire department is an all volunteer organization. Its current chief is Chris Strohm.Education
Clinton, Indiana has three primary elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. The three elementary schools are Central Elementary School, Van Duyn Elementary School and Ernie Pyle Elementary School. Glendale Elementary and Matthew's South Elementary schools, which were both located in Clinton City limits, consolidated with Central Elementary in the mid 1980s. Clinton's residents could fit into one main elementary school, but because of all the rural area around Clinton it makes more sense to group all the students into three smaller schools. The middle school and high school are neighboring each other. The middle being South Vermillion Middle School, and the high being South Vermillion High School. The high school was formerly known as Clinton High School before the current school was constructed in 1977. However, the mascot has remained the same, the Wildcat.Post-secondary education is served through Indiana State University
Indiana State University
Indiana State University is a public university located in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States.The Princeton Review has named Indiana State as one of the "Best in the Midwest" seven years running, and the College of Education's Graduate Program was recently named as a 'Top 100' by U.S...
, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is a Roman Catholic, four-year liberal arts women's college located northwest of Terre Haute, Indiana, between the Wabash River and the Illinois state line. There is also a small village of the same name located nearby...
, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Rose–Hulman Institute of Technology , formerly Rose Polytechnic Institute, is a small private college specializing in teaching engineering, mathematics, and science. RHIT is highly regarded for its undergraduate engineering program, which US News and World Reports ranked in 2011 as No...
and Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana is Indiana's community college system, encompassing 24 campuses in 14 regions. The community college system now has more than 165,000 students...
in nearby Terre Haute.
Special Events
Clinton hosts the annual Little Italy FestivalLittle Italy Festival
Little Italy Festival is an annual festival that takes place on Labor Day Weekend in Clinton, Indiana. The festival is run by the L.I.F.T. board, and the City of Clinton...
, a four-day Labor Day Weekend celebration of the area’s Italian and coal mining heritage. Founded in 1966, the event draws over 75,000 visitors annually, featuring Italian and carnival-style food, grapevine-roofed wine garden, grape stomping, tours and more. The festival also provides free stage entertainment, flea market and the largest Italian-theme parade in the Midwest. The festival is also host to the Indiana Bocce Ball championship, boasts one of the few coal mining museums in the nation, and owns one of fewer than 400 genuine gondolas in the United States. The reigning Queen of the Little Italy Festival is 20 year old Clinton resident Michelle Natalie.
Notable natives or residents
- Charles Edward JonesCharles Edward JonesColonel Charles Edward Jones was a United States Air Force officer, a computer programmer, and an astronaut in the USAF Manned Spaceflight Engineer Program.-Biography:...
, astronaut killed in the September 11, 2001 attacksSeptember 11, 2001 attacksThe September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
. - Ken KerchevalKen KerchevalKen Kercheval is an American actor, best known for his role as Cliff Barnes on the television series Dallas....
, American actor, best known for his role on the television series DallasDallas (TV series)Dallas is an American serial drama/prime time soap opera that revolves around the Ewings, a wealthy Texas family in the oil and cattle-ranching industries. Throughout the series, Larry Hagman stars as greedy, scheming oil baron J. R. Ewing... - Claude MatthewsClaude MatthewsClaude Matthews was the 23rd Governor of the U.S. state of Indiana from 1893 to 1897. A farmer, he was nominated to prevent the loss of voters to the Populist Party. The Panic of 1893 occurred just before he took office, leading to severe economic problems during his term...
, former Governor of Indiana - Sister Esther Newport, painter, art educator and founder of the Catholic Art Association
- Henry WashburnHenry D. WashburnHenry Dana Washburn was a U.S. Representative from Indiana and a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
(also known as Henry Dana Washburn), Civil War general, U.S. Congressman, explorer, as surveyor-general of the Montana TerritoryMontana TerritoryThe Territory of Montana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 28, 1864, until November 8, 1889, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Montana.-History:...
he led first government survey of Yellowstone Park. - Orville Lynn MajorsOrville Lynn MajorsOrville Lynn Majors is a former licensed practical nurse from Clinton, Indiana who was convicted of murdering his patients. Though he was only tried for six murders, he is believed to have committed as many as 130 between 1993 and 1995, the period of time for which he was employed by the...
- Serial killerSerial killerA serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
nurse.