Plainfield, Indiana
Encyclopedia
As of the census
of 2000, there were 18,396 people, 7,051 households, and 4,914 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,023.1 people per square mile (395.0/km²). There were 7,449 housing units at an average density of 414.3 per square mile (160.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.11% White, 2.23% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races
, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.36% of the population.
There were 7,051 households out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% were married couples
living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 101.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $46,782, and the median income for a family was $57,790. Males had a median income of $39,148 versus $29,315 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $21,083. About 3.6% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.
In 1822 a tract of land which included the area now known as Plainfield was obtained by Jeremiah Hadley of Preble County, Ohio. Ten years later he sold it to his son, Elias Hadley. Levi Jessup and Elias Hadley laid out the town in 1839. Plainfield became incorporated as a town in 1839. The town got its name from the early Friends (Quakers) who settled around the area and established several meetinghouses throughout the county, including the important Western Yearly Meeting of Friends in Plainfield. The Friends were "plain" people, and thus the name Plainfield. The high school continues to honor the Quakers, using the name for the school's mascot.
Plainfield has long been associated with the national road, U.S. Route 40
, which goes through town as "Main Street." One incident which brought Plainfield national attention occurred in 1842 when President Martin Van Buren
was spilled deliberately from his stage coach into the thick mud of the highway. The practical joke came as a result of Van Buren's vetoing a bill from Congress to improve the highway, a move which angered Western settlers. When Van Buren came through Plainfield on a swing to shore up his popularity for the 1844 election, a group of perpetrators set up the incident. The elm tree whose roots caused the president's carriage to topple became known as the Van Buren Elm. An elementary school near this site is named Van Buren Elementary School.
(formerly Indiana Youth Center) of the Indiana Department of Correction
is in Plainfield.
Plainfield's public education system is run by the Plainfield Community School Corporation. The schools under this body include:
The Plainfield Community School Corporation is the only public school system in Indiana to have all of its schools receive a 4 star rating for two consecutive years. In 2009, a new High School was constructed. The former High School became the Middle School, and the former middle school building was converted into "Clark's Creek Elementary", an upper elementary school for grades 4-5.
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 18,396 people, 7,051 households, and 4,914 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 1,023.1 people per square mile (395.0/km²). There were 7,449 housing units at an average density of 414.3 per square mile (160.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.11% White, 2.23% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.36% 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 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.36% of the population.
There were 7,051 households out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.2% 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, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 101.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $46,782, and the median income for a family was $57,790. Males had a median income of $39,148 versus $29,315 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 $21,083. About 3.6% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.
History
Plainfield has long been associated with the national road, U.S. Route 40
U.S. Route 40
U.S. Route 40 is an east–west United States highway. As with most routes whose numbers end in a zero, U.S. 40 once traversed the entire United States. It is one of the original 1920s U.S. Highways, and its first termini were San Francisco, California, and Atlantic City, New Jersey...
, which goes through town as "Main Street." One incident which brought Plainfield national attention occurred in 1842 when President Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren
Martin Van Buren was the eighth President of the United States . Before his presidency, he was the eighth Vice President and the tenth Secretary of State, under Andrew Jackson ....
was spilled deliberately from his stage coach into the thick mud of the highway. The practical joke came as a result of Van Buren's vetoing a bill from Congress to improve the highway, a move which angered Western settlers. When Van Buren came through Plainfield on a swing to shore up his popularity for the 1844 election, a group of perpetrators set up the incident. The elm tree whose roots caused the president's carriage to topple became known as the Van Buren Elm. An elementary school near this site is named Van Buren Elementary School.
Government and infrastructure
The Plainfield Correctional FacilityPlainfield Correctional Facility
Plainfield Correctional Facility is a prison for men of the Indiana Department of Correction located in Plainfield, Indiana.The facility opened in 1969 as the Indiana Youth Center.-Notable inmates:...
(formerly Indiana Youth Center) of the Indiana Department of Correction
Indiana Department of Correction
The Indiana Department of Correction operates state prisons in Indiana. It has its headquarters in Indianapolis.-Adult facilities:Current facilities:* Branchville Correctional Facility - Branchville...
is in Plainfield.
Public school system
- Plainfield Kindergarten Center
- Brentwood Elementary School
- Central Elementary School
- Van Buren Elementary School
- Clark's Creek Elementary School
- Plainfield Community Middle School
- Plainfield High School (Indiana)Plainfield High School (Indiana)Plainfield High School in Plainfield, Indiana, USA, is a public high school of the Plainfield Community School Corporation.-History:...
The Plainfield Community School Corporation is the only public school system in Indiana to have all of its schools receive a 4 star rating for two consecutive years. In 2009, a new High School was constructed. The former High School became the Middle School, and the former middle school building was converted into "Clark's Creek Elementary", an upper elementary school for grades 4-5.