Dana, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Dana is a town in Helt Township
, Vermillion County
, Indiana
, United States
. The population was 608 at the 2010 census. It is primarily a farming community.
Famed World War II
war correspondent
Ernie Pyle
was born on a tenant farm near Dana. Bert Shepard
, a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Washington Senators who had lost his leg in WWII, was also born in Dana.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 662 people, 252 households, and 187 families residing in the town. The population density
was 2,255.4 people per square mile (881.4/km²). There were 288 housing units at an average density of 981.2 per square mile (383.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.58% White, 0.60% African American, 0.30% Asian, 0.76% from other races
, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.66% of the population.
There were 252 households out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.7% were married couples
living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,750, and the median income for a family was $38,182. Males had a median income of $30,313 versus $21,875 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,603. About 6.6% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.4% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.
The US developed the Girdler Sulfide chemical exchange production process which was first demonstrated on a large scale at the Dana, Indiana plant in 1945.
Even though miles from any major body of water, Dana is home to a United States Coast Guard
LORAN
navigation transmitter station.
The last locomotive built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) currently is in use in Dana at the Cargill Ag Horizons elevator. The locomotive, a model T-6 switcher originally built for the Newburgh & South Shore in 1969, still retains it's original road number of 1017.
Helt Township, Vermillion County, Indiana
Helt Township is one of five townships in Vermillion County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 2,651.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Helt Township covers an area of ; of this, or 0.75 percent is water....
, Vermillion County
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 608 at the 2010 census. It is primarily a farming community.
Famed World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
war correspondent
War correspondent
A war correspondent is a journalist who covers stories firsthand from a war zone. In the 19th century they were also called Special Correspondents.-Methods:...
Ernie Pyle
Ernie Pyle
Ernest Taylor Pyle was an American journalist who wrote as a roving correspondent for the Scripps Howard newspaper chain from 1935 until his death in combat during World War II. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1944...
was born on a tenant farm near Dana. Bert Shepard
Bert Shepard
Robert Earl "Bert" Shepard was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who pitched in one game for the Washington Senators in 1945 after having had his right leg amputated after his fighter plane was shot down in Germany during World War II while he was serving as a pilot in the...
, a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Washington Senators who had lost his leg in WWII, was also born in Dana.
History
The town was laid out in 1874 and was named for Charles Dana who was a local railroad stockholder and famous newspaper editor.Geography
Dana is located at 39°48′24"N 87°29′39"W (39.806714, -87.494256).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 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
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 662 people, 252 households, and 187 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 2,255.4 people per square mile (881.4/km²). There were 288 housing units at an average density of 981.2 per square mile (383.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.58% White, 0.60% African American, 0.30% Asian, 0.76% 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 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.66% of the population.
There were 252 households out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.7% 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, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,750, and the median income for a family was $38,182. Males had a median income of $30,313 versus $21,875 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 $15,603. About 6.6% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.4% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.
Facts
The famous war correspondent Ernie Pyle grew up just outside Dana. Today the town boasts a museum that celebrates Pyle's life and career.The US developed the Girdler Sulfide chemical exchange production process which was first demonstrated on a large scale at the Dana, Indiana plant in 1945.
Even though miles from any major body of water, Dana is home to a United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
LORAN
LORAN
LORAN is a terrestrial radio navigation system using low frequency radio transmitters in multiple deployment to determine the location and speed of the receiver....
navigation transmitter station.
The last locomotive built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) currently is in use in Dana at the Cargill Ag Horizons elevator. The locomotive, a model T-6 switcher originally built for the Newburgh & South Shore in 1969, still retains it's original road number of 1017.