Brownstown, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Brownstown is a town in Brownstown Township
, Jackson County
, Indiana
, United States
. The population was 3,000 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat
of Jackson County
. It was named for Jacob Brown
, a General of the War of 1812
.
, which had only been the county seat since June of that year. The land for the Jackson County Court House, which rests in the heart of Brownstown on the square, was donated by Col. John Ketcham
(1782–1865) for this specific function.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all of it land.
Brownstown lies on the East Fork of the White River, bordered by the Jackson-Washington State Forest and very near the Hoosier National Forest.
of 2000, there were 3,000 people, 1,168 households, and 805 families residing in the town. The population density
was 2,080.6 people per square mile (804.1/km²). There were 1,242 housing units at an average density of 867.7 per square mile (335.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.76% White, 0.10% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.07% from other races
, and 0.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.60% of the population.
There were 1,168 households out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples
living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% 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 2.96.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 85.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,000, and the median income for a family was $39,044. Males had a median income of $27,984 versus $21,503 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,525. About 8.9% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
Brownstown Township, Jackson County, Indiana
Brownstown Township is one of twelve townships in Jackson County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 5,301.-Geography:Brownstown Township covers an area of ; of this, or 1.6 percent is water...
, Jackson County
Jackson County, Indiana
Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 42,376. The county seat is Brownstown.-History:...
, 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 3,000 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Jackson County
Jackson County, Indiana
Jackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 42,376. The county seat is Brownstown.-History:...
. It was named for Jacob Brown
Jacob Brown
Jacob Jennings Brown was an American army officer in the War of 1812. His successes on the northern border during that war made him a hero. In 1821 he was appointed commanding general of the U.S. Army and held that post until his death.-Early life:Born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Jacob Jennings...
, a General of the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
.
History
The town of Brownstown was founded 8 April 1816, notably prior to the statehood of Indiana itself. Brownstown became the county seat of Jackson County in November 1816, replacing Fort ValloniaVallonia, Indiana
Vallonia is an unincorporated community in Driftwood Township, Jackson County, Indiana and as an 18th century French settlement and 19th century American frontier fortification known as Fort Vallonia.-Fort Vallonia:...
, which had only been the county seat since June of that year. The land for the Jackson County Court House, which rests in the heart of Brownstown on the square, was donated by Col. John Ketcham
John Ketcham (1782)
John Ketcham was a self-taught surveyor, building contractor, and judge.-Early years:John was the son of Daniel Ketcham and Keziah Pigmon Lewis and born in Washington County, Maryland. His father signed the Patriot's Oath of Allegiance in 1778...
(1782–1865) for this specific function.
Geography
Brownstown is located at 38°52′47"N 86°2′46"W (38.879823, -86.046163).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), all of it land.
Brownstown lies on the East Fork of the White River, bordered by the Jackson-Washington State Forest and very near the Hoosier National Forest.
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 3,000 people, 1,168 households, and 805 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 2,080.6 people per square mile (804.1/km²). There were 1,242 housing units at an average density of 867.7 per square mile (335.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.76% White, 0.10% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.07% 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 0.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.60% of the population.
There were 1,168 households out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% 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, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.0% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% 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 2.96.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 85.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,000, and the median income for a family was $39,044. Males had a median income of $27,984 versus $21,503 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 $15,525. About 8.9% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.