Corydon, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Corydon is a town in Harrison Township
, Harrison County
, Indiana
, United States
, founded in 1808, and is known as Indiana's First State Capital. After Vincennes
, Corydon was the second capital of the Indiana Territory
from May 1, 1813, until December 11, 1816. After statehood, the town was the capital of Indiana until January 10, 1825, when it moved to Indianapolis
. The town remains the county seat
of Harrison County and had a population of 3,122 at the 2010 census.
Corydon's history dates to the American Revolution
, when the area was captured by George Rogers Clark
from the British
, bringing it under the control of the fledgling United States
.
In the early 1800s Edward Smith brought his family to settle the edge of a fertile valley near a large spring, the site of the today's county fairgrounds. William Henry Harrison
, Governor
of the Indiana Territory
, often stopped to rest at their home while travelling to and from Vincennes
. Harrison chanced on the spot where Big Indian Creek and Little Indian Creek join to become the Indian Creek
. Tradition says he decided to build a town there and asked Edward Smith's daughter, Jenny, to name it. She chose the name Corydon from Harrison's favorite hymn
, the Pastoral Elegy
.
Harrison sold the town site to Harvey Heth
in 1808, a government surveyor and large landowner. The official founding date is 1808 when Heth was platted the town. Heth donated the town square for public use, and sold individual lots to settlers and the territorial government. In 1809 Corydon was connected by road to Doup's Ferry, fifteen miles (24 km) to the south in Mauck's Port
, providing access to the Ohio River
for trade. Corydon sent a mounted militia company company nicknamed the Yellow Jackets
to support the territorial army in the War of 1812
. They fought in the Battle of Tippecanoe
, suffering higher casualties than any other unit engaged on there.
In 1811 construction on the first state capitol was begun by Dennis Pennington
with the intention of it being used as an assembly building for the territorial legislature. Pennington, a Corydon resident, was the speaker of territorial legislature. Corydon was competing with Madison
and Jeffersonville
to become the new capital of the territory. Construction, using limestone from a nearby quarry, was completed in 1813. The Governor's Mansion and First State Office Building were built in 1817. The home of Colonel Thomas Posey
was also built during this time. Colonel Posey was the son of Thomas Posey, Governor
of Indiana Territory
from 1813 until 1816. The Grand Masonic Lodge
, the first in the state, was built in 1819. Corydon became the second capital of the Indiana Territory on May 1, 1813, when it was moved there from Vincennes
to be more centralized with the population of the newly reorganized Indiana Territory.
The state's first constitution
was drawn up in Corydon during June 1816. The forty-three delegates representing Indiana Territory's counties where charged with the writing of the state's constitution and met inside the Harrison County Courthouse. Because of cramped conditions inside the courthouse and the summer heat, the delegates often sought refuge outside under a giant elm tree next to Big Indian Creek. This tree is now known as the Constitution Elm, and its trunk is still preserved. The preamble of the constitution began:
After statehood, Corydon served as the first state capital of Indiana. During the eleven years that Corydon served as a capital it was the center of politics in the state and residents included Davis Floyd
, Jonathan Jennings
the first Governor of Indiana, and Dennis Pennington
first Speaker of the Senate, Ratliff Boon
the second governor, and William Hendricks
the first Congressman
, third governor and Senator
.
Dennis Pennington and other representatives from Harrison County in the Indiana General Assembly
resisted attempts to move the capital from Corydon; they succeeded in part by their adding a clause to the state constitution during the convention preventing the capital from leaving the town before 1825. Ultimately, as the population center of the state shifted continually northward, it was no longer convenient to have a state capital at the southern extremity of the state. The capital was finally moved to Indianapolis
on January 10, 1825.
Corydon was the site of the only Civil War
battle fought in Indiana. On July 9, 1863, Confederate
cavalry
led by Brigadier General
John Hunt Morgan
, aided by the citizens of Brandenburg, Kentucky
, crossed the Ohio River
into Indiana to begin what is known as "Morgan's Raid
". Morgan's 2,500 men were opposed by 400 hastily assembled home guard
at the Battle of Corydon
. The Union
troops were quickly defeated and the town surrendered. Corydon was sacked in retaliation for Union looting in Kentucky. The town's treasury of $690 was seized, and the inmates of the jail were released. Gen. Morgan demanded from $600 to $700 from each mill and shop owner; otherwise their buildings would be burned. Tradition says one Corydon miller overpaid by $200; Morgan promptly returned it to him.
The railroad reached Corydon in 1882. Corydon was connected by Southern Railways to the main line running across northern Harrison County at Crandall
. The line remained open to passenger traffic until 1996. In 2008, the line was owned by Lucas Oil
.
The town of Corydon was shocked by an attempted murder in 1889, the first in the town's history. The two would be murderers, named Devin and Tennyson, were taken from the county jail an angry lynch mob and hung from the old Western Bridge. Although their identities were known, the members of the lynch mob were never prosecuted.
In 1929, a new county courthouse was completed. Prior to that the count government had used the old state capitol building. The old statehouse was converted into an historical memorial.
A fire in 1960 destroyed much of County Fairgrounds, including the grandstand. A grandstand was purchased from the minor league baseball team from Parkway Field
in Louisville, Kentucky
and is still in use. In 1969, Samuel P. Hays donated the 311 acres (1.3 km²) Hayswood Nature Reserve
to the county. Known as Hayswood Park, it is the second largest nature reserve in Harrison County.
The Old Capitol Building is now a state historic site and the downtown area was designated a National Historic District in 1973. The Governor's Headquarters, Constitution Elm, First State Office Building and Posey House are included. The O'Bannon Publishing Company prints the Corydon Democrat, a weekly newspaper. Indiana Governor Frank O'Bannon
owned the publishing company and his wife still lives nearby.
Because of its historic nature, Corydon is a well-known regional tourist destination. The town hosts weekly events from early spring until late fall, usually centered around the historic town square
. Some of the better attended events include the annual Halloween Parade, the Harrison County Fair, summer Friday night band concerts, an annual reenactment of the Battle of Corydon
and a long string of country and bluegrass performances. The week-long county fair, held the last week of July at the Harrison County Fairgrounds, is one of the more popular events, with attendance usually over 3,000 per night. The fair includes 4-H
exhibits, a midway, demolition derbies, harness racing, and musical entertainment. The fair, first held in 1860, is the oldest, continuous county fair in the state of Indiana. The current town board President is Fred Cammack. He has served in this position since 1975.
In 2008 Corydon began celebrating its bicentennial anniversary with a year of events and the unveiling of a $200,000 bronze statue of the late governor and citizen of Corydon, the Honorable Frank O'Bannon
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), all land.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 2,715 people, 1,171 households, and 674 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,708.1 people per square mile (659.3/km²). There were 1,271 housing units at an average density of 799.6 per square mile (308.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.27% White, 1.14% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.85% from other races
, and 0.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.88% of the population.
There were 1,171 households out of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.4% were married couples
living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.4% were non-families. 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.1% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 24.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 83.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,823, and the median income for a family was $41,630. Males had a median income of $29,159 versus $21,699 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $20,740. About 9.8% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.2% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.
Harrison Township, Harrison County, Indiana
Harrison Township is one of twelve townships in Harrison County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 10,303. Corydon, the county seat of Harrison County, is in Harrison Township.-History:...
, Harrison County
Harrison County, Indiana
Harrison County is a county located in the far southern part of the U.S. state of Indiana along the Ohio River. It is divided into twelve townships, and the county seat is Corydon, the former capital of Indiana. The county is part of the larger Louisville/Jefferson County, KY–IN Metropolitan...
, 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...
, founded in 1808, and is known as Indiana's First State Capital. After Vincennes
Vincennes, Indiana
Vincennes is a city in and the county seat of Knox County, Indiana, United States. It is located on the Wabash River in the southwestern part of the state. The population was 18,701 at the 2000 census...
, Corydon was the second capital of the Indiana Territory
Indiana Territory
The Territory of Indiana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1800, until November 7, 1816, when the southern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Indiana....
from May 1, 1813, until December 11, 1816. After statehood, the town was the capital of Indiana until January 10, 1825, when it moved to Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. The town remains the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Harrison County and had a population of 3,122 at the 2010 census.
History
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, when the area was captured by George Rogers Clark
George Rogers Clark
George Rogers Clark was a soldier from Virginia and the highest ranking American military officer on the northwestern frontier during the American Revolutionary War. He served as leader of the Kentucky militia throughout much of the war...
from the British
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
, bringing it under the control of the fledgling United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In the early 1800s Edward Smith brought his family to settle the edge of a fertile valley near a large spring, the site of the today's county fairgrounds. William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the...
, Governor
Governor of Indiana
The Governor of Indiana is the chief executive of the state of Indiana. The governor is elected to a four-year term, and responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the functions of many agencies of the Indiana state government. The governor also shares power with other statewide...
of the Indiana Territory
Indiana Territory
The Territory of Indiana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1800, until November 7, 1816, when the southern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Indiana....
, often stopped to rest at their home while travelling to and from Vincennes
Vincennes, Indiana
Vincennes is a city in and the county seat of Knox County, Indiana, United States. It is located on the Wabash River in the southwestern part of the state. The population was 18,701 at the 2000 census...
. Harrison chanced on the spot where Big Indian Creek and Little Indian Creek join to become the Indian Creek
Indian Creek
-Communities:* Indian Creek, California, unincorporated community in Calaveras County* Indian Creek, Florida, village in Miami-Dade County* Indian Creek, Illinois, village in Lake County* Indian Creek No...
. Tradition says he decided to build a town there and asked Edward Smith's daughter, Jenny, to name it. She chose the name Corydon from Harrison's favorite hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
, the Pastoral Elegy
Pastoral Elegy
The Pastoral Elegy is a hymn from the "Old Missouri Harmony Songbook". The Town of Corydon, Indiana is named after a person in this hymn. The mournful, period song tells the tale of a young shepherd boy named Corydon who died....
.
Early history
Harvey Heth
Harvey Heth was born on April 28, 1770 in Virginia. He was the son of Phoebe Miller Heth and Captain Henry Heth a new Irish immigrant to the United States and a veteran of the American Revolutionary War.-Biography:...
in 1808, a government surveyor and large landowner. The official founding date is 1808 when Heth was platted the town. Heth donated the town square for public use, and sold individual lots to settlers and the territorial government. In 1809 Corydon was connected by road to Doup's Ferry, fifteen miles (24 km) to the south in Mauck's Port
Mauckport, Indiana
Mauckport is a town in Heth Township, Harrison County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. The population was 81 at the 2010 census.-History:In the earliest times Daniel Boone and his brothers, most notably Squire Boone, were regularly in the area of Mauckport. Squire Boone settled in the area in 1806...
, providing access to the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
for trade. Corydon sent a mounted militia company company nicknamed the Yellow Jackets
Yellow Jackets (Indiana)
The Yellow Jackets were a mounted militia company from Harrison County in the Indiana Territory. The company numbered sixty men and officers and saw action as part of the expeditionary force dispatched to put down the American Indian uprising during Tecumseh's War...
to support the territorial army in the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. They fought in the Battle of Tippecanoe
Battle of Tippecanoe
The Battle of Tippecanoe was fought on November 7, 1811, between United States forces led by Governor William Henry Harrison of the Indiana Territory and Native American warriors associated with the Shawnee leader Tecumseh. Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa were leaders of a confederacy of...
, suffering higher casualties than any other unit engaged on there.
In 1811 construction on the first state capitol was begun by Dennis Pennington
Dennis Pennington
Dennis Pennington was an early legislator in Indiana and the Indiana Territory, speaker of the first Indiana State Senate, speaker of the territorial legislature, a member of the Whig Party serving over 37 years in public office, and one of the founders of Indiana. He was also a stonemason and...
with the intention of it being used as an assembly building for the territorial legislature. Pennington, a Corydon resident, was the speaker of territorial legislature. Corydon was competing with Madison
Madison, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,004 people, 5,092 households, and 3,085 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,402.9 people per square mile . There were 5,597 housing units at an average density of 654.1 per square mile...
and Jeffersonville
Jeffersonville, Indiana
Jeffersonville is a city in Clark County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. Locally, the city is often referred to by the abbreviated name Jeff. It is directly across the Ohio River to the north of Louisville, Kentucky along I-65. The population was 44,953 at the 2010 census...
to become the new capital of the territory. Construction, using limestone from a nearby quarry, was completed in 1813. The Governor's Mansion and First State Office Building were built in 1817. The home of Colonel Thomas Posey
Thomas Posey
Thomas Posey was an officer in the American Revolution, a general during peacetime, the third Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky, Governor of the Indiana Territory, and a Louisiana Senator.-Family and background:...
was also built during this time. Colonel Posey was the son of Thomas Posey, Governor
Governor of Indiana
The Governor of Indiana is the chief executive of the state of Indiana. The governor is elected to a four-year term, and responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the functions of many agencies of the Indiana state government. The governor also shares power with other statewide...
of Indiana Territory
Indiana Territory
The Territory of Indiana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1800, until November 7, 1816, when the southern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Indiana....
from 1813 until 1816. The Grand Masonic Lodge
Masonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
, the first in the state, was built in 1819. Corydon became the second capital of the Indiana Territory on May 1, 1813, when it was moved there from Vincennes
Vincennes, Indiana
Vincennes is a city in and the county seat of Knox County, Indiana, United States. It is located on the Wabash River in the southwestern part of the state. The population was 18,701 at the 2000 census...
to be more centralized with the population of the newly reorganized Indiana Territory.
Constitution of Indiana
There have been two Constitutions of the State of Indiana. The first constitution was created when the Territory of Indiana sent forty-three delegates to a constitutional convention on June 10, 1816 to establish a constitution for the proposed State of Indiana after the United States Congress had...
was drawn up in Corydon during June 1816. The forty-three delegates representing Indiana Territory's counties where charged with the writing of the state's constitution and met inside the Harrison County Courthouse. Because of cramped conditions inside the courthouse and the summer heat, the delegates often sought refuge outside under a giant elm tree next to Big Indian Creek. This tree is now known as the Constitution Elm, and its trunk is still preserved. The preamble of the constitution began:
We the Representatives of the people of the Territory of Indiana, in Convention met, at Corydon, on Monday the tenth day of June in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and sixteen
After statehood, Corydon served as the first state capital of Indiana. During the eleven years that Corydon served as a capital it was the center of politics in the state and residents included Davis Floyd
Davis Floyd
Davis Floyd was an Indiana Jeffersonian Republican politician who was convicted of aiding American Vice President Aaron Burr in the Burr conspiracy. Floyd was not convicted of treason however and returned to public life after several years working to redeem his reputation...
, Jonathan Jennings
Jonathan Jennings
Jonathan Jennings was the first Governor of Indiana and a nine-term congressman from Indiana. Born in Readington, New Jersey, he studied law with his brother before immigrating to Indiana in 1806 where he took part in land speculation...
the first Governor of Indiana, and Dennis Pennington
Dennis Pennington
Dennis Pennington was an early legislator in Indiana and the Indiana Territory, speaker of the first Indiana State Senate, speaker of the territorial legislature, a member of the Whig Party serving over 37 years in public office, and one of the founders of Indiana. He was also a stonemason and...
first Speaker of the Senate, Ratliff Boon
Ratliff Boon
Ratliff Boon was the second Governor of Indiana from September 12 to December 5, 1822, taking office following the resignation of Governor Jonathan Jennings' after his election to Congress...
the second governor, and William Hendricks
William Hendricks
William Hendricks was a Democratic-Republican member of the House of Representatives from 1816 to 1822, the third Governor of Indiana from 1822 to 1825, and an Anti-Jacksonian member of the U.S. Senate from 1825 to 1837. He led much of his family into politics and founded one of the largest...
the first Congressman
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, third governor and Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
.
Dennis Pennington and other representatives from Harrison County in the Indiana General Assembly
Indiana General Assembly
The Indiana General Assembly is the state legislature, or legislative branch, of the state of Indiana. It is a bicameral legislature that consists of a lower house, the Indiana House of Representatives, and an upper house, the Indiana Senate...
resisted attempts to move the capital from Corydon; they succeeded in part by their adding a clause to the state constitution during the convention preventing the capital from leaving the town before 1825. Ultimately, as the population center of the state shifted continually northward, it was no longer convenient to have a state capital at the southern extremity of the state. The capital was finally moved to Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
on January 10, 1825.
Post-capital period
On September 11–14, 1860, the first annual county fair was held on Corydon's 36 acres (14.6 ha) fairgrounds. The fair has been an annual event since then and is the longest continuously running fair in the state. The fairgrounds were built in the southwest corner of Corydon where it is bordered on the south and west by a large ridge which served as a natural grandstands until the first grandstands were built around 1910.American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
battle fought in Indiana. On July 9, 1863, Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
led by Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
John Hunt Morgan
John Hunt Morgan
John Hunt Morgan was a Confederate general and cavalry officer in the American Civil War.Morgan is best known for Morgan's Raid when, in 1863, he and his men rode over 1,000 miles covering a region from Tennessee, up through Kentucky, into Indiana and on to southern Ohio...
, aided by the citizens of Brandenburg, Kentucky
Brandenburg, Kentucky
Brandenburg is a city in Meade County, Kentucky, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 2,049 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Meade County.-History:...
, crossed the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
into Indiana to begin what is known as "Morgan's Raid
Morgan's Raid
Morgan's Raid was a highly publicized incursion by Confederate cavalry into the Northern states of Indiana and Ohio during the American Civil War. The raid took place from June 11–July 26, 1863, and is named for the commander of the Confederates, Brig. Gen...
". Morgan's 2,500 men were opposed by 400 hastily assembled home guard
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
at the Battle of Corydon
Battle of Corydon
The Battle of Corydon was a minor engagement that took place July 9, 1863, just south of Corydon, which had been the original capital of Indiana until 1825, and was the county seat of Harrison County. The attack occurred during Morgan's Raid in the American Civil War as a force of 2,500 cavalry...
. The Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
troops were quickly defeated and the town surrendered. Corydon was sacked in retaliation for Union looting in Kentucky. The town's treasury of $690 was seized, and the inmates of the jail were released. Gen. Morgan demanded from $600 to $700 from each mill and shop owner; otherwise their buildings would be burned. Tradition says one Corydon miller overpaid by $200; Morgan promptly returned it to him.
Crandall, Indiana
Crandall is a town in Jackson Township, Harrison County, Indiana, United States. The population was 152 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Crandall is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
. The line remained open to passenger traffic until 1996. In 2008, the line was owned by Lucas Oil
Lucas Oil
Lucas Oil Products is a manufacturer and distributor of automotive oil, additives, and lubricants. It was founded by trucker Forrest Lucas and his wife Charlotte in 1989....
.
In 1929, a new county courthouse was completed. Prior to that the count government had used the old state capitol building. The old statehouse was converted into an historical memorial.
A fire in 1960 destroyed much of County Fairgrounds, including the grandstand. A grandstand was purchased from the minor league baseball team from Parkway Field
Parkway Field
Parkway Field is the name of a minor league baseball and college baseball park that stood in Louisville, Kentucky. It was home to the Louisville Colonels of the American Association from 1923 into the mid 1950s, and then of the University of Louisville team for several decades until they abandoned...
in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
and is still in use. In 1969, Samuel P. Hays donated the 311 acres (1.3 km²) Hayswood Nature Reserve
Hayswood Nature Reserve
The Hayswood Nature Preserve is a county park owned by the Harrison County Park and Recreation Board.-The Samuel P Hays Donation:The preserve was donated to the citizens of Harrison County in 1969 by Dr. Samuel P. Hays. The parks board developed a portion of the land in 1973 for public use, but...
to the county. Known as Hayswood Park, it is the second largest nature reserve in Harrison County.
The Old Capitol Building is now a state historic site and the downtown area was designated a National Historic District in 1973. The Governor's Headquarters, Constitution Elm, First State Office Building and Posey House are included. The O'Bannon Publishing Company prints the Corydon Democrat, a weekly newspaper. Indiana Governor Frank O'Bannon
Frank O'Bannon
Frank Lewis O'Bannon was an American politician who was the 47th Governor of Indiana from 1997 until his death in 2003.-Background:...
owned the publishing company and his wife still lives nearby.
Present town
Corydon Historic District
The Corydon Historic District of Corydon, Indiana, United States, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also known as Indiana's First State Capital and as Historic Corydon...
. Some of the better attended events include the annual Halloween Parade, the Harrison County Fair, summer Friday night band concerts, an annual reenactment of the Battle of Corydon
Battle of Corydon
The Battle of Corydon was a minor engagement that took place July 9, 1863, just south of Corydon, which had been the original capital of Indiana until 1825, and was the county seat of Harrison County. The attack occurred during Morgan's Raid in the American Civil War as a force of 2,500 cavalry...
and a long string of country and bluegrass performances. The week-long county fair, held the last week of July at the Harrison County Fairgrounds, is one of the more popular events, with attendance usually over 3,000 per night. The fair includes 4-H
4-H
4-H in the United States is a youth organization administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture , with the mission of "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development." The name represents...
exhibits, a midway, demolition derbies, harness racing, and musical entertainment. The fair, first held in 1860, is the oldest, continuous county fair in the state of Indiana. The current town board President is Fred Cammack. He has served in this position since 1975.
In 2008 Corydon began celebrating its bicentennial anniversary with a year of events and the unveiling of a $200,000 bronze statue of the late governor and citizen of Corydon, the Honorable Frank O'Bannon
Frank O'Bannon
Frank Lewis O'Bannon was an American politician who was the 47th Governor of Indiana from 1997 until his death in 2003.-Background:...
.
Geography
Corydon is located at 38°12′46"N 86°7′31"W (38.212724, -86.125318).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 town has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²), all land.
Demographics
As of the 2010 census Corydon had a population of 3,122. The median age was 46.0. The racial and ethnic makeup of the population was 95.2% non-Hispanic white, 0.5% non-Hispanic black, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from some other race, 1.2% from two or more races and 2.6% Hispanic or Latino.As of the census
Census
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 2,715 people, 1,171 households, and 674 families residing in the town. 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 1,708.1 people per square mile (659.3/km²). There were 1,271 housing units at an average density of 799.6 per square mile (308.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.27% White, 1.14% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.85% 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 0.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.88% of the population.
There were 1,171 households out of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.4% 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, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.4% were non-families. 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.1% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 24.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 83.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $33,823, and the median income for a family was $41,630. Males had a median income of $29,159 versus $21,699 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 town was $20,740. About 9.8% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.2% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.
List of historic sites
- Old State Capitol
- Governor Hendricks Headquarters
- Constitution Elm
- First State Office Building
- Coburn-Porter Law Office
- Posey House
- Battle of Corydon Civil War Memorial Park
- The Kintner House InnKintner House HotelThe Kintner House Hotel, located within the Corydon Historic District in Corydon, Indiana, is a historic bed & breakfast. It is on the National Register of Historic Places since 1987. The present building was built in 1873...
- Branham Tavern
- Westfall House
- Cedar GladeKintner-McGrain HouseThe Kintner-McGrain House, also known as Cedar Glade, is on the National Register of Historic Places, located north of downtown Corydon, Indiana. It attained the "Cedar Glade" name due to the giant red cedars Jacob Kinter, the builder, planted in front of the house. It has been owned by three...
- Leora Brown School
- Heth House
- Cedar Hill Cemetery
- Flags Over Corydon
- Harrison County Fairgrounds
Famous residents
- James BestJames BestJames Best is an American actor best known for his role as bumbling Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane in the CBS television series The Dukes of Hazzard. He has also worked as an acting coach, artist, and musician.-Early years:...
, actor, played Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane in the Dukes of HazzardDukes of HazzardThe Dukes of Hazzard is an American television series that aired on the CBS television network from 1979 to 1985.The series was inspired by the 1975 film Moonrunners, which was also created by Gy Waldron and had many identical or similar character names and concepts.- Overview :The Dukes of Hazzard...
television series, also a character actor on "Gunsmoke" - Frank O'BannonFrank O'BannonFrank Lewis O'Bannon was an American politician who was the 47th Governor of Indiana from 1997 until his death in 2003.-Background:...
, politician, 47th Governor of IndianaGovernor of IndianaThe Governor of Indiana is the chief executive of the state of Indiana. The governor is elected to a four-year term, and responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the functions of many agencies of the Indiana state government. The governor also shares power with other statewide... - Arville FunkArville FunkArville L. Funk was a lawyer, teacher, author, and a preeminent Indiana historian. Born in Harrison County, Indiana, Funk attended public school in Corydon, and studied law in New Albany...
, author, scholar, Indiana historian - Spier SpencerSpier SpencerCaptain Spier Spencer was an Indiana militia officer who commanded a company of mounted riflemen known as the Yellow Jackets at the Battle of Tippecanoe. Spencer County, Indiana was named in his honor....
, Harrison County's first sheriff and captain of the Yellow Jacket militia company. Killed at the Battle of TippecanoeBattle of TippecanoeThe Battle of Tippecanoe was fought on November 7, 1811, between United States forces led by Governor William Henry Harrison of the Indiana Territory and Native American warriors associated with the Shawnee leader Tecumseh. Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa were leaders of a confederacy of...
and Spencer County is named for him. - William T. ZenorWilliam T. ZenorWilliam Taylor Zenor was a United States Representative from Indiana.He was born near Corydon, Indiana and attended the common schools and the James G. May Seminary. He also studied law in New Albany, Indiana and was admitted to the bar in 1870 and commenced practice in Corydon...
, four term Congressman