Oolitic, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Oolitic is a town in Indian Creek
and Shawswick
townships, Lawrence County
, Indiana
, United States
. The population was 1,184 at the 2010 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.
Oolitic was originally platted as "Limestone" on September 26, 1888. In 1896, the name was sent to Washington, D.C., to allow a post office to be established. The request was refused because of a town already named Limestone, Indiana. Doctor R. B. Short suggested using "Oolitic", and Oolitic became incorporated on November 4, 1901.
The word Oolitic was used as an adjective for Oolitic limestone (derived from the Greek word oolite
, meaning eggs and stone). Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed of calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate and quartz, along with the small shells and eggs left behind when this area was covered by an inland sea.
Found immediately north of Oolitic are some of the largest Limestone quarries in the world, many of them in continuous operation since the 1830s. Many famous buildings are built of Oolitic Limestone. Probably the most famous is the Empire State Building. Visitors can see the "Empire Hole," about 1/2 mile north of Oolitic
of 2000, there were 1,152 people, 507 households, and 337 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,431.1 people per square mile (556.0/km²). There were 563 housing units at an average density of 699.4 per square mile (271.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.78% White, 0.17% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.09% from other races
, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.35% of the population.
There were 507 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples
living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,250, and the median income for a family was $37,279. Males had a median income of $30,758 versus $21,650 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $16,889. About 13.4% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.9% of those under age 18 and 12.2% of those age 65 or over.
, an American comic-strip character popular in the 1930s and 40s. The link between Oolitic and Joe Palooka is unclear, although some believe the character was chosen because "Palooka" rhymes with "limestone" in Japanese. Oolitic can be seen as the first opponent of the season played by Hickory, the fictitious Indiana high school basketball team depicted in the 1986 movie Hoosiers
. The film is loosely based on the Milan High School
team that won the 1954 Indiana state championship. However, a check of Milan's championship run schedule in the '53-'54 season does not list Oolitic as an opponent. See 1954 Milan High School basketball team
.
Indian Creek Township, Lawrence County, Indiana
Indian Creek Township is one of nine townships in Lawrence County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 2,662.-Geography:...
and Shawswick
Shawswick Township, Lawrence County, Indiana
Shawswick Township is one of nine townships in Lawrence County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 20,598.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Shawswick Township covers an area of ; of this, is land and is water.-Cities, towns, villages:* Bedford*...
townships, Lawrence County
Lawrence County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 45,922 people, 18,535 households, and 13,141 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 20,560 housing units at an average density of 46 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,184 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Oolitic is located at 38°53′44"N 86°31′29"W (38.895513, -86.524696).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 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.
Geology
The town is built upon oolitic limestone, which gives the town's name. The town was founded for the purpose of quarrying this material, for building purposes.Oolitic was originally platted as "Limestone" on September 26, 1888. In 1896, the name was sent to Washington, D.C., to allow a post office to be established. The request was refused because of a town already named Limestone, Indiana. Doctor R. B. Short suggested using "Oolitic", and Oolitic became incorporated on November 4, 1901.
The word Oolitic was used as an adjective for Oolitic limestone (derived from the Greek word oolite
Oolite
Oolite is a sedimentary rock formed from ooids, spherical grains composed of concentric layers. The name derives from the Hellenic word òoion for egg. Strictly, oolites consist of ooids of diameter 0.25–2 mm; rocks composed of ooids larger than 2 mm are called pisolites...
, meaning eggs and stone). Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed of calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate and quartz, along with the small shells and eggs left behind when this area was covered by an inland sea.
Found immediately north of Oolitic are some of the largest Limestone quarries in the world, many of them in continuous operation since the 1830s. Many famous buildings are built of Oolitic Limestone. Probably the most famous is the Empire State Building. Visitors can see the "Empire Hole," about 1/2 mile north of Oolitic
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 1,152 people, 507 households, and 337 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 1,431.1 people per square mile (556.0/km²). There were 563 housing units at an average density of 699.4 per square mile (271.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.78% White, 0.17% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.09% 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 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.35% of the population.
There were 507 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% 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, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,250, and the median income for a family was $37,279. Males had a median income of $30,758 versus $21,650 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 $16,889. About 13.4% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.9% of those under age 18 and 12.2% of those age 65 or over.
Points of interest
Oolitic is home to a statue of Joe PalookaJoe Palooka
Joe Palooka was an American comic strip about a heavyweight boxing champion, created by cartoonist Ham Fisher in 1921. The strip debuted in 1930 and was carried at its peak by 900 newspapers....
, an American comic-strip character popular in the 1930s and 40s. The link between Oolitic and Joe Palooka is unclear, although some believe the character was chosen because "Palooka" rhymes with "limestone" in Japanese. Oolitic can be seen as the first opponent of the season played by Hickory, the fictitious Indiana high school basketball team depicted in 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 film is loosely based on the Milan High School
Milan High School
Milan High School is a small high school located at 609 N Warpath Drive, Milan, Indiana. Its current principal is Paul Ketcham.-Courses:Milan High School offers a variety of courses in the general and advanced levels...
team that won the 1954 Indiana state championship. However, a check of Milan's championship run schedule in the '53-'54 season does not list Oolitic as an opponent. See 1954 Milan High School basketball team
1954 Milan High School basketball team
The 1954 Milan High School Indians were the Indiana state high school basketball champions in 1954. With an enrollment of only 161, the Indians were the smallest school ever to win a single-class state basketball title in Indiana. The team and town are the inspiration for the 1986 film Hoosiers...
.