Otterbein, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Otterbein is a town in Bolivar Township
, Benton County
and Shelby Township
, Tippecanoe County
, Indiana
, named for William Otterbein Brown who donated land for the town. As of the 2010 census
, its population was 1,262. It is part of the Lafayette, Indiana
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
passes along its north side and the Kankakee, Beaverville and Southern Railroad
cuts through town to the south.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all of it land.
Oxford Street, old US 52, is the central E-W street and the only blinking traffic light in town is located at its junction with Main Street. Otterbein is known for its extremely wide, block long Main Street that accommodates two rows of parallel parking in the middle of the street.
A Centennial celebration was held over the July 4th holiday in 1972. During the festivities the town elevator, located at the west end of town, burned. As of this entry on 02/27/2009 there are two churches in town; Catholic and United Methodist. A fire in the last three years destroyed Denny's Pharmacy at the corner of First and Main and damaged the adjoining building to the north, the Shoemaker Funeral Home. Students attend Otterbein Elementary School and then move to Benton Central Jr-Sr School which has an Oxford, Indiana address.
The town had two sets of Nickel Plate railroad tracks and a depot until the nationalization of the railroads in the 1970s. One set of tracks has since been removed and the private KBS railroad uses the track primarily for grain transport. Since the end of 2008 the railroad right-of-way has been used for the placement of poles that carry electric power from the wind turbines in western Benton County to the substation at Montmorenci.
Haan Crafts, the Frontier Machine Company and the Kerkhoff Truss Plant were the initial occupants in the Industrial Park at the east edge of town which is actually in Tippecanoe County.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 1,312 people, 498 households, and 359 families residing in the town. The population density
was 2,291.9 people per square mile (888.7/km²). There were 518 housing units at an average density of 904.9 per square mile (350.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.02% White, 0.23% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.61% from other races
, and 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.07% of the population.
There were 498 households out of which 42.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples
living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% 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 3.11.
In the town the population was spread out with 30.8% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,524, and the median income for a family was $45,341. Males had a median income of $31,000 versus $20,944 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,128. About 4.8% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.
Bolivar Township, Benton County, Indiana
Bolivar Township is one of eleven townships in Benton County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,310. Bolivar Township was organized in March 1860 and named for South American liberator Simón Bolivar.-Adjacent townships:* Center...
, Benton County
Benton County, Indiana
Benton County is located along in the northwest part of the U.S. state of Indiana, along the border with Illinois. As of 2010, the county's population was 8,854. It contains six incorporated towns as well as several small unincorporated settlements; it is also divided into 11 townships which...
and Shelby Township
Shelby Township, Tippecanoe County, Indiana
Shelby Township is one of thirteen townships in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 2,078.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Shelby Township covers an area of ; of this, or 0.95 percent is water....
, Tippecanoe County
Tippecanoe County, Indiana
Tippecanoe County is a county located in the northwest quadrant of the U.S. state of Indiana. It was created in 1826 from Wabash County. It is part of the Lafayette, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, 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...
, named for William Otterbein Brown who donated land for the town. As of the 2010 census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
, its population was 1,262. It is part of the Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette is a city in and the county seat of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States, northwest of Indianapolis. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 67,140. West Lafayette, on the other side of the Wabash River, is home to Purdue University, which has a large impact on...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Lafayette, Indiana metropolitan area
The Lafayette, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of three counties in Indiana, anchored by the city of Lafayette...
.
History
Originally a site known as Pond Grove, Otterbein's first 60 lots were laid out by John Levering and his wife on October 25, 1872, with an addition by Mary A. Clancey on April 24, 1883. The first home was built by Dr. John K. Thompson and the first business, a general store, by Henry H. Moore. William Otterbein Brown, the farmer and stock-dealer for whom the town was named, held the office of postmaster until his death on February 18, 1879. Otterbein High School ran from 1910-1966 when the rest of the high schools in the county were consolidated for Benton Central. The gym and most of the building burned in a fire in 1972.Geography
Otterbein is located at 40°29′20"N 87°5′43"W (40.488919, -87.095355). It occupies mostly flat, open farm land on the eastern border of Benton County in Bolivar Township, with eastern sections of the community extending into Tippecanoe County. U.S. Route 52U.S. Route 52
U.S. Route 52 is a United States highway that runs across the northern, eastern and southeastern regions of the United States. Contrary to most other even-numbered U.S...
passes along its north side and the Kankakee, Beaverville and Southern Railroad
Kankakee, Beaverville and Southern Railroad
The Kankakee, Beaverville and Southern Railroad Company is a Class III railroad serving agricultural communities in east-central Illinois and west-central Indiana.-History:...
cuts through town to the south.
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 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²), all of it land.
Oxford Street, old US 52, is the central E-W street and the only blinking traffic light in town is located at its junction with Main Street. Otterbein is known for its extremely wide, block long Main Street that accommodates two rows of parallel parking in the middle of the street.
A Centennial celebration was held over the July 4th holiday in 1972. During the festivities the town elevator, located at the west end of town, burned. As of this entry on 02/27/2009 there are two churches in town; Catholic and United Methodist. A fire in the last three years destroyed Denny's Pharmacy at the corner of First and Main and damaged the adjoining building to the north, the Shoemaker Funeral Home. Students attend Otterbein Elementary School and then move to Benton Central Jr-Sr School which has an Oxford, Indiana address.
The town had two sets of Nickel Plate railroad tracks and a depot until the nationalization of the railroads in the 1970s. One set of tracks has since been removed and the private KBS railroad uses the track primarily for grain transport. Since the end of 2008 the railroad right-of-way has been used for the placement of poles that carry electric power from the wind turbines in western Benton County to the substation at Montmorenci.
Haan Crafts, the Frontier Machine Company and the Kerkhoff Truss Plant were the initial occupants in the Industrial Park at the east edge of town which is actually in Tippecanoe County.
Demographics
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 1,312 people, 498 households, and 359 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 2,291.9 people per square mile (888.7/km²). There were 518 housing units at an average density of 904.9 per square mile (350.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.02% White, 0.23% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.61% 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 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.07% of the population.
There were 498 households out of which 42.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% 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, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% 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 3.11.
In the town the population was spread out with 30.8% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,524, and the median income for a family was $45,341. Males had a median income of $31,000 versus $20,944 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 $17,128. About 4.8% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.
Notable natives
- Adam KennedyAdam Kennedy (actor)Adam Kennedy was an American actor, screenwriter, novelist, and painter, who starred as the Irish-American newspaper editor Dion Patrick in thirty-seven episodes during the first season, 1957–1958, of NBC's western television series, The Californians...
(1922–1997), American actorActorAn actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, authorAuthorAn author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, and painterPaintingPainting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is... - Neal MusserNeal MusserNeal Gordon Musser is an American Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently playing for the New York Mets organization.Musser began his Major League Baseball career with the Kansas City Royals in...
, professional baseball player - Richard AthaRichard AthaRichard E. "Dick" Atha is a retired American basketball player.-Basketball career:He played collegiately for the Indiana State University.He was selected by the New York Knicks in the 1953 NBA Draft....
, OHS Graduate, NBA player, member Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame - Donald E. WilliamsDonald E. WilliamsCaptain Donald Edward Williams is a former NASA astronaut. He has logged a total of 287 hours and 35 minutes in space....
, OHS Graduate, Commander NASA space shuttle
Further reading
- Mossman, Ed (1883), "History of Benton County: Past Events -- Present Condition" in Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper and Newton, Indiana: Historical and Biographical, Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co.