Francisco, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Francisco is a town in Center Township
, Gibson County
, Indiana
, United States
. The population was 459 at the 2010 census. It was founded in 1851. Local tradition says the town was named for its first settler, a Spanish laborer working on the Wabash and Erie Canal
who built a shack in the area.
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.
Francisco is located on State Highway 64
between Princeton
and Oakland City
.
of 2000, there were 543 people, 233 households, and 150 families residing in the town. The population density
was 995.5 people per square mile (381.2/km²). There were 249 housing units at an average density of 456.5 per square mile (174.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.26% White, 0.55% African American and 0.18% Native American. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.37% of the population.
There were 233 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples
living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,750, and the median income for a family was $39,250. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $18,125 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,499. About 10.6% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.
by John Perkins in 1851. Francisco was incorporated in 1907 and the Francisco State Bank chartered a year later. Its heydey was in the mid-1850s during use of the ill-fated canal to ship goods and produce south to Evansville. Mills, grain warehouses and packing establishments thrived during the decade. Remnants of the old canal are still visible just south of Highway 64 and west of town.
Ott Family
In recent history the Ott Family has given a lot to this small community. Howard Ott (Junior) was known for many years as the Mayor of Francisco. Junior served as Town Board President for a number of years. William R Ott (B-Bob) served as Fire Chief and Twp Trustee for many years and was seen by many in his later days as a mentor and great leader of the fire department. The fire department gained much of the respect from the community that they still enjoy today while under the leadership of B-Bob. Brother of William and Howard Ott was Joseph Ott (Joe) who served as Town Marshal for some years in the 1980s.
Meetings are held the second Tuesday of every month. Wastewater meetings begin at 5:30p followed by Water & Town Business.
Town Hall can be reached at 812-782-3573
Town Board Members, Jerry McKannan and Vance Lloyd
(Town Board also serves as Water Board)
Secretary/Tressurer. Jonnie Watkins
Wastewater/Sewer Board, Dave McFetridge, Dave McKinney and Sam Watkins
Town Marshal, Kevin Cox.... Deputies Bill Johnson & Robert Miskel
Fire Chief, David Pond
Dave Mcfetridge (D) defeated Charles Albright (R)
Vance K. Lloyd SR. (R) defeated Sam Watkins (D)
David W. Robb (R) defeated Jerry McKannan (D)
Indiana State Road 64
Coming Soon I-69
Norfolk Southern Railroad
F.E.S. is located on SR 64/Main St. in Francisco Indiana.
The home of the Mighty Owls is grades K-6.
At least 3 schools have stood on these grounds, with the prior 2 falling to fire. The Last Francisco High School Burnt in the 1970s after being hit by lightning. The Lions Club pictured in the Gallery at the bottom of this page was built to serve as grades 5-8 during construction of a new school. Also used for classroom space was the Methodist, Baptist and Nazarene churches.
A small one-room school house once stood near the intersection of Green and School Streets and is why today the current school is not even located on the same side of town as School Street.
Francisco was a town built on the East Banks of the Wabash and Erie Canal. The Manmade Canal ran from Lake Erie in Ohio to the Ohio River at Evansville. Francisco was home to many Rowdy Irishmen who came to help build the canal. The Heyday for the Wabash & Erie Canal was mid 1850s and the canal was closed to traffic around 1870.
A large outbreak of cholera broke out among canal workers near Francisco around 1852; as many as 100 workers died and many more fled from the area. Those who stayed and survived were assigned the task of burying the dead. Many were buried along the banks in long trenches, while others were burnt in piles on the floor of small shanties along the canal.
Drinking establishments or Doggeries were popular among canal workers and in that day were very prominent around Francisco. Whiskey was supplied by "Jigger Bosses" to workers four times a day and caused many fights among the Irish and Americans. The Irish were generally assigned to digging with shovels, while Americans built culverts and bridges.
Center Township, Gibson County, Indiana
Center Township is one of ten townships in Gibson County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,478. Francisco is the township seat.-Geography:Center Township covers an area of ; of this, or 0.1 percent is water.-Adjacent townships:...
, Gibson County
Gibson County, Indiana
Gibson County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Indiana and is included in the Evansville, Indiana–Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 33,503. The county seat is Princeton.-Geography:...
, 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 459 at the 2010 census. It was founded in 1851. Local tradition says the town was named for its first settler, a Spanish laborer working on the Wabash and Erie Canal
Wabash and Erie Canal
The Wabash and Erie Canal was a shipping canal that linked the Great Lakes to the Ohio River via an artificial waterway. The canal provided traders with access from the Great Lakes all the way to the Gulf of Mexico...
who built a shack in the area.
Geography
Francisco is located at 38°20′0"N 87°26′50"W (38.333360, -87.447314).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.
Francisco is located on State Highway 64
Indiana State Road 64
State Road 64 in the U.S. State of Indiana is an east–west highway that crosses most of the southern portion of the state, covering a distance of about .-Route description:...
between Princeton
Princeton, Indiana
The median income for a household in the city was $26,689, and the median income for a family was $37,308. Males had a median income of $28,076 versus $19,825 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,049...
and Oakland City
Oakland City, Indiana
Oakland City is the second-largest city but third-largest community in Gibson County, Indiana, United States, after the city of Princeton and the town of Fort Branch. It is the home of Oakland City University...
.
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 543 people, 233 households, and 150 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 995.5 people per square mile (381.2/km²). There were 249 housing units at an average density of 456.5 per square mile (174.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.26% White, 0.55% African American and 0.18% Native American. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.37% of the population.
There were 233 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% 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, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,750, and the median income for a family was $39,250. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $18,125 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 $15,499. About 10.6% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.1% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.
History
The town was platted and laid out on the east side of the Wabash and Erie CanalWabash and Erie Canal
The Wabash and Erie Canal was a shipping canal that linked the Great Lakes to the Ohio River via an artificial waterway. The canal provided traders with access from the Great Lakes all the way to the Gulf of Mexico...
by John Perkins in 1851. Francisco was incorporated in 1907 and the Francisco State Bank chartered a year later. Its heydey was in the mid-1850s during use of the ill-fated canal to ship goods and produce south to Evansville. Mills, grain warehouses and packing establishments thrived during the decade. Remnants of the old canal are still visible just south of Highway 64 and west of town.
Ott Family
In recent history the Ott Family has given a lot to this small community. Howard Ott (Junior) was known for many years as the Mayor of Francisco. Junior served as Town Board President for a number of years. William R Ott (B-Bob) served as Fire Chief and Twp Trustee for many years and was seen by many in his later days as a mentor and great leader of the fire department. The fire department gained much of the respect from the community that they still enjoy today while under the leadership of B-Bob. Brother of William and Howard Ott was Joseph Ott (Joe) who served as Town Marshal for some years in the 1980s.
Town Hall
Francisco Town Hall is located at 203 West Main St/SR64 with the Fire Department.Meetings are held the second Tuesday of every month. Wastewater meetings begin at 5:30p followed by Water & Town Business.
Town Hall can be reached at 812-782-3573
Town Board
Town Board President, Dave McFetridgeTown Board Members, Jerry McKannan and Vance Lloyd
(Town Board also serves as Water Board)
Secretary/Tressurer. Jonnie Watkins
Wastewater/Sewer Board, Dave McFetridge, Dave McKinney and Sam Watkins
Town Marshal, Kevin Cox.... Deputies Bill Johnson & Robert Miskel
- Past Marshals... Vance Lloyd, Ernie Dillon, Joe Ott, George Hannah & Jeff Hannah (George's Father), Charlie Powell
- The first Town Marshal in 1907 was A.L. Wright
Fire Chief, David Pond
- Past Fire Chiefs... Billy Griswold, Tracy Krieg, Dave Brown & Big John Dunn
- William R. Ott (B-Bob) was Chief in 1961 when the Fire Department was incorporated, and became Chief again in the 1980s and 1990s.
Election 2011
Results from the November 2011 Town Election.Dave Mcfetridge (D) defeated Charles Albright (R)
Vance K. Lloyd SR. (R) defeated Sam Watkins (D)
David W. Robb (R) defeated Jerry McKannan (D)
Highways and rail lines
Indiana State Road 64Indiana State Road 64
State Road 64 in the U.S. State of Indiana is an east–west highway that crosses most of the southern portion of the state, covering a distance of about .-Route description:...
Coming Soon I-69Interstate 69
Interstate 69 is an Interstate Highway in the United States. It exists in two parts: a completed highway from Indianapolis, Indiana, northeast to the Canadian border in Port Huron, Michigan, and a mostly proposed extension southwest to the Mexican border in Texas...
Norfolk Southern Railroad
Schools
Francisco Elementary School is part of the East Gibson School Corp..F.E.S. is located on SR 64/Main St. in Francisco Indiana.
The home of the Mighty Owls is grades K-6.
At least 3 schools have stood on these grounds, with the prior 2 falling to fire. The Last Francisco High School Burnt in the 1970s after being hit by lightning. The Lions Club pictured in the Gallery at the bottom of this page was built to serve as grades 5-8 during construction of a new school. Also used for classroom space was the Methodist, Baptist and Nazarene churches.
A small one-room school house once stood near the intersection of Green and School Streets and is why today the current school is not even located on the same side of town as School Street.
Other points of interest
Wabash & Erie CanalFrancisco was a town built on the East Banks of the Wabash and Erie Canal. The Manmade Canal ran from Lake Erie in Ohio to the Ohio River at Evansville. Francisco was home to many Rowdy Irishmen who came to help build the canal. The Heyday for the Wabash & Erie Canal was mid 1850s and the canal was closed to traffic around 1870.
A large outbreak of cholera broke out among canal workers near Francisco around 1852; as many as 100 workers died and many more fled from the area. Those who stayed and survived were assigned the task of burying the dead. Many were buried along the banks in long trenches, while others were burnt in piles on the floor of small shanties along the canal.
Drinking establishments or Doggeries were popular among canal workers and in that day were very prominent around Francisco. Whiskey was supplied by "Jigger Bosses" to workers four times a day and caused many fights among the Irish and Americans. The Irish were generally assigned to digging with shovels, while Americans built culverts and bridges.