Kentland, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Kentland is a town in Jefferson Township
, Newton County
, Indiana
, United States
. The population was 1,748 at the 2010 census. The town was founded in 1860 as "Kent", though this name was soon lengthened to Kentland. The name honors Alexander Kent
, who acquired the then marshy plat and prepared it for development. The city is the county seat
of Newton County
. Once primarily a cattle town, Kentland is now an agricultural community with a diversifying economy with the town motto "Where Agriculture and Industry Meet." The town is served by an original Carnegie library
and is an important crossroads on US highways 41
and 24
. Geologists believe that the area was the site of an ancient meteorite
impact.
Kentland is the birthplace of the famous turn-of-the-century humorist George Ade
, author of such plays as The College Widow, Artie, and The Sultan of Sulu. Purdue University
's Ross-Ade Stadium
, home of the Boilermakers
football team, is named for him and fellow Purdue benefactor David Ross. Disgraced Indiana governor Warren McCray, convicted of mail fraud and forced to resign in 1924, also hailed from Kentland.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), all of it land.
The Kentland crater
, a probable meteorite
impact crater
, is located between Kentland and Goodland
.
of 2000, there were 1,822 people, 733 households, and 477 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,250.5 people per square mile (481.8/km²). There were 793 housing units at an average density of 544.3 per square mile (209.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.30% White, 0.11% African American, 0.27% Asian, 0.82% from other races
, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.96% of the population.
There were 733 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples
living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,732, and the median income for a family was $45,043. Males had a median income of $32,734 versus $20,714 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,797. About 4.7% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.
, was the first physician in Kentland and a U.S. Representative from Indiana
.
Jefferson Township, Newton County, Indiana
Jefferson Township is one of ten townships in Newton County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 2,248.-External links:* *...
, Newton County
Newton County, Indiana
Newton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 14,244. The county seat is Kentland.- 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 1,748 at the 2010 census. The town was founded in 1860 as "Kent", though this name was soon lengthened to Kentland. The name honors Alexander Kent
Alexander Kent
Alexander Kent may refer to:* a pseudonym of British writer Douglas Reeman*Alex Kent, bass guitarist...
, who acquired the then marshy plat and prepared it for development. 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 Newton County
Newton County, Indiana
Newton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 14,244. The county seat is Kentland.- History :...
. Once primarily a cattle town, Kentland is now an agricultural community with a diversifying economy with the town motto "Where Agriculture and Industry Meet." The town is served by an original Carnegie library
Carnegie library
A Carnegie library is a library built with money donated by Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. 2,509 Carnegie libraries were built between 1883 and 1929, including some belonging to public and university library systems...
and is an important crossroads on US highways 41
U.S. Route 41
U.S. Route 41 is a north–south United States Highway that runs from Miami, Florida to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Until 1949, the part in southern Florida, from Naples to Miami, was U.S...
and 24
U.S. Route 24
U.S. Route 24 is one of the original United States highways of 1926. It originally ran from Pontiac, Michigan, in the east to Kansas City, Missouri, in the west. Today, the highway's eastern terminus is west of Clarkston, Michigan, at an intersection with I-75 and its western terminus is near...
. Geologists believe that the area was the site of an ancient meteorite
Meteorite
A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives impact with the Earth's surface. Meteorites can be big or small. Most meteorites derive from small astronomical objects called meteoroids, but they are also sometimes produced by impacts of asteroids...
impact.
Kentland is the birthplace of the famous turn-of-the-century humorist George Ade
George Ade
George Ade was an American writer, newspaper columnist, and playwright.-Biography:Ade was born in Kentland, Indiana, one of seven children raised by John and Adaline Ade. While attending Purdue University, he became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity...
, author of such plays as The College Widow, Artie, and The Sultan of Sulu. Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
's Ross-Ade Stadium
Ross-Ade Stadium
Ross–Ade Stadium is a stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana, United States. It is the home of the Purdue University Boilermakers football team.-History:...
, home of the Boilermakers
Purdue Boilermakers
Boilermakers is the official nickname for the intercollegiate athletic teams of Purdue University. As is common with athletic nicknames, it is also used as colloquial designation of Purdue's students and alumni at large....
football team, is named for him and fellow Purdue benefactor David Ross. Disgraced Indiana governor Warren McCray, convicted of mail fraud and forced to resign in 1924, also hailed from Kentland.
Geography
Kentland is located at 40°46′11"N 87°26′46"W (40.769719, -87.446184).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 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), all of it land.
The Kentland crater
Kentland crater
The Kentland crater, also known as the Kentland structure or the Kentland disturbed area, is an impact crater located near the town of Kentland in Newton County, Indiana, United States....
, a probable meteorite
Meteorite
A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives impact with the Earth's surface. Meteorites can be big or small. Most meteorites derive from small astronomical objects called meteoroids, but they are also sometimes produced by impacts of asteroids...
impact crater
Impact crater
In the broadest sense, the term impact crater can be applied to any depression, natural or manmade, resulting from the high velocity impact of a projectile with a larger body...
, is located between Kentland and Goodland
Goodland, Indiana
Goodland is a town in Grant Township, Newton County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,043 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Goodland is located at ....
.
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 1,822 people, 733 households, and 477 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 1,250.5 people per square mile (481.8/km²). There were 793 housing units at an average density of 544.3 per square mile (209.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.30% White, 0.11% African American, 0.27% Asian, 0.82% 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 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.96% of the population.
There were 733 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% 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, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $34,732, and the median income for a family was $45,043. Males had a median income of $32,734 versus $20,714 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 $17,797. About 4.7% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents, past and present
Jethro A. HatchJethro A. Hatch
Jethro Ayers Hatch was a U.S. Representative from Indiana.-Early life and ancestors:He was born on June 18, 1837 in Pitcher, New York the son of Jethro Hatch, Sr. and Minerva Pierce, the daughter of Gordon Pierce and Thirza Smalley. He was the grandson of Timothy Hatch, one of the Proprietors and...
, was the first physician in Kentland and a U.S. Representative from 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...
.
External links
- "Warren T. McCray" http://www.countyhistory.com/doc.gov/033.htm
- "Earth Impact Database: Kentland" http://www.unb.ca/passc/ImpactDatabase/images/kentland.htm
- "South Newton High School" http://www.newton.k12.in.us