San Pierre, Indiana
Encyclopedia
San Pierre is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Starke County
, Indiana
, United States
. The population was 156 at the 2000 census. In spite of being an unincorporated town, San Pierre has a post office
, ZIP Code
46374.
had been established as River in 1853. According to one local tradition
, the village later took the name of San Pierre, named after a nearby French-Canadian saloon
owner. The story goes that 'Pierre' built a shack some 400 feet south of the village of Culvertown and began to sell whisky
there. As a consequence of this inducement, the town shifted slightly to the south and the name was changed to San Pierre. Another tradition records the village being named after a French
railroad worker called 'Pierre', with San being added to provide more importance to the name. In any case, the name was changed simply to Pierre in 1894, possibly as a result of increasing tension between Spain
and the United States, leading up to the Spanish-American War
. Finally the name was changed back to San Pierre in 1899. Before the downturn of the railroad industry, San Pierre had a train station
at the intersection of the Monon
and New York Central railways, and thus was a stop on the route of Abraham Lincoln
's funeral train.
, each year San Pierre and the surrounding vicinity is briefly home to more than 10,000 of the sandhill crane
species of bird during their fall migration. The bird has become so synonymous with the town that it has become an unofficial emblem of the community, including a depiction on the welcome sign.
and Indiana State Road 10
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 156 people, 71 households, and 39 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 1,100.2 people per square mile (430.2/km²). There were 77 housing units at an average density of 543.0/sq mi (212.4/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.72% White, 0.64% Native American, 0.64% from other races
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population.
There were 71 households out of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were married couples
living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.7% were non-families. 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 25.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 25.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $30,500, and the median income for a family was $39,375. Males had a median income of $20,000 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $13,552. None of the population or families were below the poverty line.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Starke County
Starke County, Indiana
Starke County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 23,363. The county seat is Knox.-History:Starke County was created in 1835 and organized in 1850. It was named for Gen...
, 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 156 at the 2000 census. In spite of being an unincorporated town, San Pierre has a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
, ZIP Code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
46374.
History
Established and laid out in 1854, the area was originally called Culvertown, although a post officePost office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
had been established as River in 1853. According to one local tradition
Tradition
A tradition is a ritual, belief or object passed down within a society, still maintained in the present, with origins in the past. Common examples include holidays or impractical but socially meaningful clothes , but the idea has also been applied to social norms such as greetings...
, the village later took the name of San Pierre, named after a nearby French-Canadian saloon
Bar (establishment)
A bar is a business establishment that serves alcoholic drinks — beer, wine, liquor, and cocktails — for consumption on the premises.Bars provide stools or chairs that are placed at tables or counters for their patrons. Some bars have entertainment on a stage, such as a live band, comedians, go-go...
owner. The story goes that 'Pierre' built a shack some 400 feet south of the village of Culvertown and began to sell whisky
Whisky
Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and corn...
there. As a consequence of this inducement, the town shifted slightly to the south and the name was changed to San Pierre. Another tradition records the village being named after a French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
railroad worker called 'Pierre', with San being added to provide more importance to the name. In any case, the name was changed simply to Pierre in 1894, possibly as a result of increasing tension between Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and the United States, leading up to the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
. Finally the name was changed back to San Pierre in 1899. Before the downturn of the railroad industry, San Pierre had a train station
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
at the intersection of the Monon
Monon Railroad
The Monon Railroad , also known as the Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville Railway from 1897–1956, operated almost entirely within the state of Indiana...
and New York Central railways, and thus was a stop on the route of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
's funeral train.
Sandhill Cranes
Due to its closeness to the Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife AreaJasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area
Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area is a nature preserve and recreation and hunting area near the town of Medaryville in northwestern Indiana. It occupies approximately in northwestern Pulaski County, northeastern Jasper County and southwestern Starke County, and is administered by the Division...
, each year San Pierre and the surrounding vicinity is briefly home to more than 10,000 of the sandhill crane
Sandhill Crane
The Sandhill Crane is a large crane of North America and extreme northeastern Siberia. The common name of this bird references habitat like that at the Platte River, on the edge of Nebraska's Sandhills in the American Midwest...
species of bird during their fall migration. The bird has become so synonymous with the town that it has become an unofficial emblem of the community, including a depiction on the welcome sign.
Geography
San Pierre is located at 41°11′57"N 86°53′34"W (41.199296, -86.892853) at the junction of U.S. Route 421U.S. Route 421
U.S. Route 421 is a spur route of U.S. 21. It runs for from Michigan City, Indiana, at U.S. 20, to Fort Fisher in North Carolina. The highway goes through the cities of Indianapolis, Indiana, Lexington, Kentucky, Boone, North Carolina, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Greensboro, North Carolina and...
and Indiana State Road 10
Indiana State Road 10
State Road 10 is an east–west road in northwest Indiana. Its western terminus is at the Illinois state line west of Lake Village. Its eastern terminus is at State Road 19 south of Etna Green.-Route description:...
.
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 CDP has a total area of 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²), all of it land.
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 156 people, 71 households, and 39 families residing in the CDP. 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 1,100.2 people per square mile (430.2/km²). There were 77 housing units at an average density of 543.0/sq mi (212.4/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.72% White, 0.64% Native American, 0.64% 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...
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population.
There were 71 households out of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% 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, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.7% were non-families. 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 25.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 25.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $30,500, and the median income for a family was $39,375. Males had a median income of $20,000 versus $18,750 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 CDP was $13,552. None of the population or families were below the poverty line.