Fowler, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Fowler is a town in Center Township
, Benton County
, Indiana
, United States
. The population was 2,415 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lafayette, Indiana
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
ted by Moses Fowler and his wife on October 26, 1872, and originally consisted of 583 lots, though a re-platting on April 8, 1875, expanded it to 1,602 lots and 20 blocks. Several more additions were made to the town over subsequent years.
The town's first home was erected in March 1871 by Scott Shipman, and its first business opened in June of that year, a small general store run by Henry D. Clark. Many more businesses followed over the next few years, including the Henry Jacobs & Son grocery, grain elevators built by L. Templeton, and blacksmith John E. Mitchell, who was also the town's first postmaster (succeeded by grocer Henry Jacobs). In 1874, Fowler became the county seat, which until that time had occupied nearby Oxford
.
The town was incorporated in 1875, and its rapid growth is clear from the following list, printed in an 1883 history of Benton County:
Fowler is home to the Fowler Ridge Wind Farm
.
and Indiana State Roads 18
and 55 pass through town, and U.S. Route 41 intersects 52 four miles to the northwest.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), of which, 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) of it is land and 0.71% is water.
of 2000, there were 2,415 people, 948 households, and 623 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,730.6 people per square mile (666.0/km²). There were 1,020 housing units at an average density of 730.9 per square mile (281.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.14% White, 0.29% African American, 0.08% Asian, 0.41% from other races
, and 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.87% of the population.
There were 949 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were married couples
living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,396, and the median income for a family was $50,586. Males had a median income of $29,889 versus $21,781 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,881. About 4.5% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.
Center Township, Benton County, Indiana
Center Township is one of eleven townships in Benton County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 2,854. It was organized in June 1875 and was originally known as Prairie Township.-Geography:...
, 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...
, 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 2,415 at the 2000 census. 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
Fowler was platPlat
A plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
ted by Moses Fowler and his wife on October 26, 1872, and originally consisted of 583 lots, though a re-platting on April 8, 1875, expanded it to 1,602 lots and 20 blocks. Several more additions were made to the town over subsequent years.
The town's first home was erected in March 1871 by Scott Shipman, and its first business opened in June of that year, a small general store run by Henry D. Clark. Many more businesses followed over the next few years, including the Henry Jacobs & Son grocery, grain elevators built by L. Templeton, and blacksmith John E. Mitchell, who was also the town's first postmaster (succeeded by grocer Henry Jacobs). In 1874, Fowler became the county seat, which until that time had occupied nearby Oxford
Oxford, Indiana
Oxford is a town in Oak Grove Township, Benton County, Indiana. The population was 1,162 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Lafayette, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
.
The town was incorporated in 1875, and its rapid growth is clear from the following list, printed in an 1883 history of Benton County:
"In September, 1875, the town of Fowler contained ten lawyers, one minister, three doctors, one dentist, one baker, two barber shops, three billiard saloons, two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, three boot and shoe stores, one grain elevator, two dry goods stores, twenty carpenters, one furniture store, two stove and tin stores, one hardware store, one hotel, three restaurants, two drug stores, three millinery establishments, two saloons, two livery stables, three retail groceries, one clothing store, one merchant tailor, one graded school, two printing offices, two lumber yards, two churches and about 1,200 inhabitants."
Fowler is home to the Fowler Ridge Wind Farm
Fowler Ridge Wind Farm
The Fowler Ridge Wind Farm currently consists of two completed phases with the possibility of a third phase some time in the near future. The wind farm is in Benton County, Indiana, near the city of Fowler, IN about northwest of Lafayette and northwest of Indianapolis...
.
Geography
Fowler is located at 40°37′6"N 87°19′9"W (40.618204, -87.319124), in Center Township. 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...
and Indiana State Roads 18
Indiana State Road 18
State Road 18 in the U.S. State of Indiana is an east–west route in North Central Indiana running from the Illinois border in Benton County almost to the Ohio border, terminating at U.S. Route 27 /State Road 67 in Jay County...
and 55 pass through town, and U.S. Route 41 intersects 52 four miles to the northwest.
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 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), of which, 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) of it is land and 0.71% 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 2,415 people, 948 households, and 623 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 1,730.6 people per square mile (666.0/km²). There were 1,020 housing units at an average density of 730.9 per square mile (281.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.14% White, 0.29% African American, 0.08% Asian, 0.41% 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 1.08% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.87% of the population.
There were 949 households out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% 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, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,396, and the median income for a family was $50,586. Males had a median income of $29,889 versus $21,781 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 $17,881. About 4.5% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.