Riley, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Riley, once known as Lockport, is a town in Riley Township
, Vigo County
, Indiana
, United States
. The population was 221 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Terre Haute
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
from 1847-1850. The canal town became a significant trading point along the waterway. Though the canal closed in 1873, the building of several different railroads kept the community as a place for trade. The town originally had various mills
, sawmill
s, and tanneries
, but all were burned at different times. It also proved notable in the grain
market.
In 1911 the town took the name of its post office and became Riley. For several decades, Riley sustained a healthy coal mining industry including a strip mine just south of town operated by the Maumee Colleries Company as late as 1936. In the second half of the twentieth century, Riley included a small suburban residential community.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²), all of it land. At one time, the Wabash and Erie Canal
ran through Riley and there are remnants of locks and the canal in several places. A great source is Ron's Rondevous at http://www.abcs.com/thompro/frames.htm.
of 2000, there were 160 people, 76 households, and 44 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,747.7 people per square mile (686.4/km²). There were 83 housing units at an average density of 906.6 per square mile (356.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.38% White, and 0.62% from two or more races.
There were 76 households out of which 21.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples
living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.8% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.76.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 26.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 83.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,333, and the median income for a family was $35,833. Males had a median income of $31,667 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,616. About 15.0% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.9% of those under the age of eighteen and 22.2% of those sixty five or over.
Riley Township, Vigo County, Indiana
Riley Township is one of twelve townships in Vigo County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 2,805.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Riley Township covers an area of ; of this, is land and is water.-Cities, towns, villages:* Riley* Terre Haute...
, Vigo County
Vigo County, Indiana
Vigo County is a county located along the western border of the U.S. state of Indiana. Vigo County is included in the Terre Haute, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county seat is Terre Haute....
, 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 221 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Terre Haute
Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute is a city and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943. The city is the county seat of Vigo County and...
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
The original town of Lockport was platted November 23, 1836, by Nathaniel Donham. It was known as Lockport due to its importance during the building 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...
from 1847-1850. The canal town became a significant trading point along the waterway. Though the canal closed in 1873, the building of several different railroads kept the community as a place for trade. The town originally had various mills
Mill (grinding)
A grinding mill is a unit operation designed to break a solid material into smaller pieces. There are many different types of grinding mills and many types of materials processed in them. Historically mills were powered by hand , working animal , wind or water...
, sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
s, and tanneries
Tanning
Tanning is the making of leather from the skins of animals which does not easily decompose. Traditionally, tanning used tannin, an acidic chemical compound from which the tanning process draws its name . Coloring may occur during tanning...
, but all were burned at different times. It also proved notable in the grain
GRAIN
GRAIN is a small international non-profit organisation that works to support small farmers and social movements in their struggles for community-controlled and biodiversity-based food systems. Our support takes the form of independent research and analysis, networking at local, regional and...
market.
In 1911 the town took the name of its post office and became Riley. For several decades, Riley sustained a healthy coal mining industry including a strip mine just south of town operated by the Maumee Colleries Company as late as 1936. In the second half of the twentieth century, Riley included a small suburban residential community.
Geography
Riley is located at 39°23′23"N 87°18′2"W (39.389838, -87.300420).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 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²), all of it land. At one time, 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...
ran through Riley and there are remnants of locks and the canal in several places. A great source is Ron's Rondevous at http://www.abcs.com/thompro/frames.htm.
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 160 people, 76 households, and 44 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 1,747.7 people per square mile (686.4/km²). There were 83 housing units at an average density of 906.6 per square mile (356.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.38% White, and 0.62% from two or more races.
There were 76 households out of which 21.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% 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, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.8% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.76.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 26.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 83.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,333, and the median income for a family was $35,833. Males had a median income of $31,667 versus $23,750 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 $13,616. About 15.0% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.9% of those under the age of eighteen and 22.2% of those sixty five or over.