Knightstown, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Knightstown is a town in Wayne Township
, Henry County
, Indiana
, along the Big Blue River
. The population was 2,182 at the 2010 census. Knightstown is famous for the 1986 movie Hoosiers
. The Hoosier Gym was used in the filming of the movie. Knightstown hosts two annual festivals. Jubilee Days held in early-mid June and The Hoosier Fall Festival held in September. Knightstown also hosts an annual car show and a music series on the town square. The Hoosier Gym also hosts Indiana's best high school basketball players in the annual Hoosier Classic. Recently, many locals and beef jerky aficionados have begun a grass roots movement to name Knightstown the "Beef Jerky Capital of the World."
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²), all of it land. By 1819, some settlers had come into the future Knightstown area. When the National Road was surveyed, it crossed a farm belonging to Waitsell M. Cary. In 1827, Cary hired chief surveyor Jonathan Knight (1787-1858) to plat out a village between Montgomery Creek and the Blue River. Cary also built the first structure in the town, which is now marked by a plaque on the northeast corner of Main and Washington Streets. He named the town for Jonathan Knight. There is only one Knightstown in the United States.
of 2000, there were 2,148 people, 915 households, and 595 families residing in the town. The population density
was 3,026.2 people per square mile (1,168.1/km²). There were 979 housing units at an average density of 1,379.2 per square mile (532.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.02% White, 0.42% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.09% Asian, and 0.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.23% of the population.
There were 915 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were married couples
living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 85.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,639, and the median income for a family was $42,222. Males had a median income of $36,081 versus $22,111 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $22,466. About 7.0% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.6% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.
Wayne Township, Henry County, Indiana
Wayne Township is one of thirteen townships in Henry County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 4,170.-Geography:Wayne Township covers an area of ; of this, or 0.15 percent is water...
, Henry County
Henry County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 48,508 people, 19,486 households, and 13,971 families residing in the county. The population density was 124 people per square mile . There were 20,592 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile...
, 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...
, along the Big Blue River
Big Blue River (Indiana)
The Big Blue River is an tributary of the Driftwood River in east-central Indiana in the United States. Via the Driftwood, White, Wabash and Ohio rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River.-Course:...
. The population was 2,182 at the 2010 census. Knightstown is famous for the 1986 movie Hoosiers
Hoosiers
Hoosiers is a 1986 sports film about a small-town Indiana high school basketball team that wins the state championship. It is loosely based on the Milan High School team that won the 1954 state championship....
. The Hoosier Gym was used in the filming of the movie. Knightstown hosts two annual festivals. Jubilee Days held in early-mid June and The Hoosier Fall Festival held in September. Knightstown also hosts an annual car show and a music series on the town square. The Hoosier Gym also hosts Indiana's best high school basketball players in the annual Hoosier Classic. Recently, many locals and beef jerky aficionados have begun a grass roots movement to name Knightstown the "Beef Jerky Capital of the World."
Geography
Knightstown is located at 39°47′48"N 85°31′42"W (39.796734, -85.528334).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 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²), all of it land. By 1819, some settlers had come into the future Knightstown area. When the National Road was surveyed, it crossed a farm belonging to Waitsell M. Cary. In 1827, Cary hired chief surveyor Jonathan Knight (1787-1858) to plat out a village between Montgomery Creek and the Blue River. Cary also built the first structure in the town, which is now marked by a plaque on the northeast corner of Main and Washington Streets. He named the town for Jonathan Knight. There is only one Knightstown in the United States.
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 2,148 people, 915 households, and 595 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 3,026.2 people per square mile (1,168.1/km²). There were 979 housing units at an average density of 1,379.2 per square mile (532.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.02% White, 0.42% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.09% Asian, and 0.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.23% of the population.
There were 915 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% 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, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 85.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,639, and the median income for a family was $42,222. Males had a median income of $36,081 versus $22,111 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 $22,466. About 7.0% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.6% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Former Secretary of Agriculture (1969–1971) Clifford M. HardinClifford M. HardinClifford Morris Hardin served as United States Secretary of Agriculture from 1969 to 1971.Hardin was born near Knightstown, Indiana, to J. Alvin Hardin and Mabel Hardin. He earned a B.S. , an M.S. and a Ph.D...
and historian Charles A. BeardCharles A. BeardCharles Austin Beard was, with Frederick Jackson Turner, one of the most influential American historians of the first half of the 20th century. He published hundreds of monographs, textbooks and interpretive studies in both history and political science...
grew up and attended school in Knightstown. - Actor Monte BlueMonte BlueMonte Blue was a movie actor who began his career as a romantic leading man in the silent film era, and later progressed to character roles....
grew up and was educated at the Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's HomeIndiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's HomeThe Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's Home was a residential and educational facility near Knightstown, Indiana in northwestern Rush County, Indiana. The home was founded in 1865 by Governor of Indiana Oliver Morton and was for veterans of the American Civil War. Two years later, it was...
located south of Knightstown. - Character actor Forrest LewisForrest Lewis-Career:In the mid-1950s, Lewis appeared briefly as a deputy in the syndicated crime drama Sheriff of Cochise, starring John Bromfield. He also guest starred with Maudie Prickett in the episode "Brief Glory" of the syndicated western series 26 Men...
was born in Knightstown. He is best known for the recurring role of "Officer Kelly" in "The Shaggy Dog", "The Absent Minded Professor" and "Son of Flubber". - Gussie Manlove
- U.S. Marine Private William ZionWilliam ZionWilliam Zion was a United States Marine private received the Medal of Honor during the China Relief Expedition.-Biography:...
was born in Knightstown. He received the Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
during the China Relief ExpeditionChina Relief ExpeditionThe China Relief Expedition was the name of an expedition in China undertaken by the United States Armed Forces to the rescue of United States citizens, European nationals, and other foreign nationals during the latter years of the Boxer Rebellion, which lasted from between 1898 and 1901...
. - Leonidas Perry Newby (b. 1855) and Willard Meredith Avery (b. 1907) served as Grand Masters of the Grand Encampment of the Knights Templar of the United States of America, Sir Knight Newby serving 1922-25, and Sir Knight Avery serving 1976-79.
Recreation
- The gym that served as the home court for the Hickory Huskers in the movie "HoosiersHoosiersHoosiers is a 1986 sports film about a small-town Indiana high school basketball team that wins the state championship. It is loosely based on the Milan High School team that won the 1954 state championship....
" is located in Knightstown. It is now known as the Hoosier GymHoosier GymThe Historic Hoosier Gym, located in Knightstown, Indiana, is most famous for being the central location for the 1986 basketball movie Hoosiers, starring Gene Hackman and Dennis Hopper...
. It serves as a community center and has a small museum. The gym and museum are open daily to the public free of charge. - Knightstown also has a public golf course named Royal Hylands, which in 2006 was named among the top 25 public golf courses in the state by the Indiana Golf Association tournament players.
External links
- Town of Knightstown, Indiana website
- http://www.cabeard.k12.in.us/
- http://www.knightstownchamber.com/home.html
- http://www.thehoosiergym.com