Hamilton, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Hamilton is a town located on the border of Steuben County, Indiana
and DeKalb County, Indiana
. In Steuben County, it is in Otsego Township
, and in DeKalb County it is in Franklin Township
. The population was 1,532 at the 2010 census.
shortly thereafter, where he met Fisher Howe, president of a syndicate of capitalists. Dr. Tuttle sold all but one-sixteenth of the plat to him for $15,000. In the spring of 1838, Howe sent Sidney Gambia, an agent, to Enterprise to sell goods and develop the settlement. However, Enterprise was heavily-ladened with illness that year, to such an extent that is became known for it. To improve the settlement's reputation, the name was changed to Hamilton. Eventually the town was sold to Sidney Gambia for $1 (and for other terms), and the name was officially recorded as the Town of Hamilton in 1844.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 2 square miles (5.2 km²), of which, 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (17.82%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,233 people, 517 households, and 348 families residing in the town. The population density
was 744.5 people per square mile (286.8/km²). There were 680 housing units at an average density of 410.6 per square mile (158.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.62% White, 0.08% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races
, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.54% of the population.
There were 517 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples
living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% 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 2.85.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,391, and the median income for a family was $47,917. Males had a median income of $36,346 versus $22,219 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,834. About 6.2% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.
Steuben County, Indiana
Steuben County is a county located in the northeast corner of the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 34,185. The county seat is Angola...
and DeKalb County, Indiana
DeKalb County, Indiana
DeKalb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. Named for Revolutionary War hero Johann, Baron de Kalb , the county was created by the Indiana legislature in 1835 and organized in 1837. As of 2010, the population was 42,223...
. In Steuben County, it is in Otsego Township
Otsego Township, Steuben County, Indiana
Otsego Township is one of twelve townships in Steuben County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 2,546.-Geography:Otsego Township covers an area of ; of this, or 4.17 percent is water. Lakes in this township include Ball Lake, Fee Lake, Hamilton Lake, Jackson Lake, Johnson...
, and in DeKalb County it is in Franklin Township
Franklin Township, DeKalb County, Indiana
Franklin Township is one of fifteen townships in DeKalb County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,264.-Geography:Franklin Township covers an area of ; of this is water...
. The population was 1,532 at the 2010 census.
History
In the late 1830s, the land that present-day Hamilton was built on was sold by the owner Niconar Munson to Dr. Samuel Tuttle, who was the first to plat the town. The original name of the town was "Enterprise". Dr. Tuttle went to New YorkNew 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...
shortly thereafter, where he met Fisher Howe, president of a syndicate of capitalists. Dr. Tuttle sold all but one-sixteenth of the plat to him for $15,000. In the spring of 1838, Howe sent Sidney Gambia, an agent, to Enterprise to sell goods and develop the settlement. However, Enterprise was heavily-ladened with illness that year, to such an extent that is became known for it. To improve the settlement's reputation, the name was changed to Hamilton. Eventually the town was sold to Sidney Gambia for $1 (and for other terms), and the name was officially recorded as the Town of Hamilton in 1844.
Geography
Hamilton is located at 41°32′5"N 84°54′59"W (41.534845, -84.916515).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 2 square miles (5.2 km²), of which, 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (17.82%) 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 1,233 people, 517 households, and 348 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 744.5 people per square mile (286.8/km²). There were 680 housing units at an average density of 410.6 per square mile (158.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.62% White, 0.08% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.32% 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 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.54% of the population.
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, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% 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 2.85.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,391, and the median income for a family was $47,917. Males had a median income of $36,346 versus $22,219 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 $19,834. About 6.2% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The town of Hamilton lies in the school district of Hamilton Community Schools. The local schools town residents attend are:- Hamilton Elementary School
- Hamilton Junior-Senior High School
Notable Natives and Former Residents
- James I. Farley (1871–1948), member of U.S. House of Representatives, 1933–1939, was born on a farm near Hamilton.
- Edgar "Pop" BuellEdgar BuellEdgar “Pop” Buell was a short, bald, profane Indiana farmer born in 1913. Until the age of 47 he resided in Steuben County, Indiana. After his wife died in 1958, he looked for new meaning in his life. He found it with the International Voluntary Services, a precursor to the Peace Corps, which...
(1913–1980), humanitarian aid worker in LaosLaosLaos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
in the 1960s and 1970s, farmed in Steuben County near Hamilton until he joined International Voluntary ServicesInternational Voluntary ServicesInternational Voluntary Services, Inc., was a private nonprofit organization that placed American volunteers in development projects in Third World countries. IVS had volunteers in Algeria, Bolivia, Ecuador, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Laos, Nepal, South Vietnam and other countries...
in 1960.