Vevay, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Vevay is a town in and the county seat
of Jefferson Township
, Switzerland County
, Indiana
, United States
, along the Ohio River
. The population was 1,683 at the 2010 census.
. Vevay has a reputation as being home of the first commercial winery in the United States. When Switzerland County was formed in 1814, Vevay was made the county seat.
and Ohio Route 56/156.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), of which 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (3.25%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1735 people, 719 households, and 437 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,171.3 people per square mile (452.6/km²). There were 795 housing units at an average density of 536.7 per square mile (207.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.67% White, 0.23% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.69% from other races
, and 0.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.44% of the population.
There were 719 households out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% were married couples
living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 82.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $27,448, and the median income for a family was $32,857. Males had a median income of $28,068 versus $20,167 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,477. About 11.4% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.2% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.
city of Vevey
, is celebrated La fête des vignerons The Winegrowers' Festival.
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 Jefferson Township
Jefferson Township, Switzerland County, Indiana
Jefferson Township is one of six townships in Switzerland County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 3,111.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Jefferson Township covers an area of ; of this, is land and is water.-Unincorporated towns:* Center Square at...
, Switzerland County
Switzerland County, Indiana
Switzerland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 10,613. The county seat is Vevay.-History:Switzerland County was formed in 1814...
, 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...
, along the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
. The population was 1,683 at the 2010 census.
History
Vevay was founded in 1802 by Swiss immigrants intending on cultivating grapes and producing wine. It was named after the Swiss town of VeveyVevey
Vevey is a town in Switzerland in the canton Vaud, on the north shore of Lake Geneva, near Lausanne.It was the seat of the district of the same name until 2006, and is now part of the Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut District...
. Vevay has a reputation as being home of the first commercial winery in the United States. When Switzerland County was formed in 1814, Vevay was made the county seat.
Geography
Vevay is located at 38°44′45"N 85°4′16"W (38.745837, -85.071044), along the Ohio RiverOhio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
and Ohio Route 56/156.
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), of which 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (3.25%) is water.
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 1735 people, 719 households, and 437 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 1,171.3 people per square mile (452.6/km²). There were 795 housing units at an average density of 536.7 per square mile (207.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.67% White, 0.23% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.69% 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 0.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.44% of the population.
There were 719 households out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% 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, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 82.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $27,448, and the median income for a family was $32,857. Males had a median income of $28,068 versus $20,167 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 $15,477. About 11.4% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.2% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.
The Swiss Wine Festival
Vevay holds an annual celebration called the Swiss Wine Festival. It is usually held on the last weekend in August, as well as the preceding Thursday and Friday. The festival has many fun activities such as ferry rides on the Ohio River, amusement rides, pageants, car shows, musical performances, cheerleading competitions, the famed grape stomps and both Beer and Wine Gardens. Many people also set up booths for shopping. On Saturday night, most gather on the docks and close to the river to watch a fireworks show. People from all over the Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio tristate come to enjoy the festive celebration.Origin
Since 1797, every 22 years, in the SwissSwitzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
city of Vevey
Vevey
Vevey is a town in Switzerland in the canton Vaud, on the north shore of Lake Geneva, near Lausanne.It was the seat of the district of the same name until 2006, and is now part of the Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut District...
, is celebrated La fête des vignerons The Winegrowers' Festival.
Points of interest
- "Life on the Ohio" River History Museum reflects Vevay's and Switzerland County's heritage on the Ohio RiverOhio RiverThe Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
. Open year round (excluding major holidays) Sunday - Saturday from 10 - 5. - Switzerland County Historical Museum is located in an old Presbyterian church, built in 1860. Open year round (excluding major holidays) Saturday - Sunday from 10 - 5.
- The first Switzerland County Courthouse was built in 1822. It was replaced by the one that stands today in 1865, built by contractor John Haley.
- The Benjamin Franklin Schenck Mansion is a 35 room mansion, built in 1874 by Benjamin Franklin Schenck and is currently a bed and breakfast.
- The U.P. Schenck House was built in 1846 for Ulysses P. Schenck, a Swiss riverboat captain who owned a fleet of flat bottom river boats.
- The Armstrong Tavern is a two-story log house built in 1816 by Thomas Armstrong.
- The Hoosier TheatreHoosier TheatreThe Hoosier Theatre is a 225-seat historic theatre located at 209 Ferry Street in Vevay, Indiana, on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built in 1837 as a warehouse and store to serve the town's large Ohio River traffic. Over the years it has housed a saddlery, the local post office,...
was built in 1837 and is listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Noted natives
- Lydia Moss BradleyLydia Moss BradleyLydia Moss Bradley was a wealthy philanthropist notable for her philanthropic works in Illinois and the independent management of her wealth.-Earlier life:...
, philanthropist and founder of Bradley UniversityBradley UniversityBradley University, founded in 1897, is a private, co-educational university located in Peoria, Illinois. It is a small institution with an enrollment of approximately 6,100 undergraduate and postgraduate students and a full-time faculty of approximately 350.... - Edward EgglestonEdward EgglestonEdward Eggleston was an American historian and novelist.-Biography:Eggleston was born in Vevay, Indiana, to Joseph Cary Eggleston and Mary Jane Craig. As a child, he was too ill to regularly attend school, so his education was primarily provided by his father. He became an ordained Methodist...
, Methodist minister and author - Bertha FryBertha FryBertha Fry née Vanosdol was an American supercentenarian. She was age 113 years 348 days old at the time of her death. She lived in Muncie, Indiana....
, supercentenarianSupercentenarianA supercentenarian is someone who has reached the age of 110 years. This age is achieved by about one in a thousand centenarians....
, born in Vevay in 1893, died in 2007 at age 113 years, 11 months, 13 days (third oldest living person at time of death) - Ken MaynardKen MaynardKen Maynard was an American motion picture stuntman and actor.-Biography:Born Kenneth Olin Maynard in Vevay, Indiana, he was one of five children. His younger brother, Kermit Maynard, also became a stuntman and actor....
, actor and stuntman - Will Henry StevensWill Henry StevensWill Henry Stevens was an American modernist painter and naturalist. Stevens is known for his paintings and tonal pastels depicting the rural Southern landscape, abstractions of nature, and non-objective works...
, artist
See also
- List of cities and towns along the Ohio River
- VeveyVeveyVevey is a town in Switzerland in the canton Vaud, on the north shore of Lake Geneva, near Lausanne.It was the seat of the district of the same name until 2006, and is now part of the Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut District...
(SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
)
The Winegrowers' Festival in VeveyVeveyVevey is a town in Switzerland in the canton Vaud, on the north shore of Lake Geneva, near Lausanne.It was the seat of the district of the same name until 2006, and is now part of the Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut District...