Williamsport, Indiana

Williamsport was platted by (and named for) William Harrison on December 11, 1828,{{cite book

|last1=Baker

|first1=Ronald L.

|last2=Carmony

|first2=Marvin

|publisher=Indiana University Press

|year=1975|

location=Bloomington, Indiana

|title=Indiana Place Names

|page=181}} on the south end of the eastern fractional part of the northeast quarter of section 11, township 21, range 8. Harrison was the first to occupy the town in the fall of 1828; he built a log house at the east end of Main Street near the river and operated a ferry crossing there for several years. Though located on the opposite side of the river from the Wabash and Erie Canal, Williamsport sought to draw shipping traffic by constructing a short cut-off canal. Finished around 1852, the project led to the nickname "Side-Cut City".

Williamsport became the county seat in June 1829, taking the title away from short-lived Warrenton. Its post office was the first in the county and has operated since September 28, 1829.{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=IN&county=Warren&searchtext=&pagenum=2 | title=Warren County | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | access-date=July 10, 2016}} The town was incorporated in March 1854, at which time its population was 552.Warren County Historical Society 1966, p. 134.

James Frank Hanly, who was the Governor of Indiana from 1905 to 1909, lived and practiced law here from 1879 to 1896; he is buried at Hillside Cemetery, on the northeast side of town.{{cite web

|url=http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_indiana/col2-content/main-content-list/title_hanly_james.html

|title=J. Frank Hanly Biography

|publisher=National Governors Association

|access-date=September 20, 2016}}

The Williamsport-Washington Township Public Library opened in 1917 as a Carnegie library, and moved to a new facility in 2002.Warren County Historical Society 2002, p. 81.

The Williamsport Presbyterian Church at 15 Fall Street, built in 1889, appears on the Indiana Register of Historic Sites and Structures. It was closed in 1964 and stood vacant until 1991, when a non-profit corporation was set up to support the restoration effort. It was listed in 1998 after having received a new slate roof and other repairs. The building contains the original stained glass windows, bell, pulpit, and pews.

The "Tower House" can be found at 303 Lincoln Street and was constructed in 1854. The house was nicknamed due to its three-story tower on the northeast corner of the building. The house was originally constructed as a mirrored twin; the twin house was destroyed by a fire in the 1990s. The house has changed from its original construction. An enclosed front porch and side porch has been retooled to serve as the current family's kitchen area. The house originally contained two large rooms upstairs, and three rooms downstairs. What appears to be the summer kitchen and original carriage house still stand. The house now has five bedrooms, one bath upstairs and seven rooms, an enclosed porch, and a bath downstairs. They were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 as the Kent and Hitchens Houses.{{NRISref|version=2010a}}

The Warren County Courthouse at 125 North Monroe Street was built in 1907-1908 and is on the United States National Register of Historic Places. It is the fourth purpose-built court house in the county's history.{{cite book

|last = Counts

|first = Will

|author2=Jon Dilts

|title = The 92 Magnificent Indiana Courthouses

|publisher = Indiana University Press

|year = 1991

|location = Bloomington, Indiana

|isbn = 978-0-253-33638-5

|pages = 178–9}}

Image:Map of Williamsport, Indiana.svg

Williamsport is located along State Road 28 near the shores of the Wabash River which forms the eastern border of the county. Its most striking natural feature is Williamsport Falls, a 90-foot waterfall near the center of town and Indiana's tallest. Williamsport's original section ("Old Town") is in bottom land next to the river; "New Town" was built on the hill above it to be closer to the railroad. The rail line through town is currently operated by Norfolk Southern Railway.{{cite web

|url=http://www.in.gov/indot/files/MAIN-RR-11_V1.pdf

|title=State of Indiana 2012 Rail System Map

|publisher=Indiana Department of Transportation

|year=2012

|access-date=December 2, 2013

}}

According to the 2010 census, Williamsport has a total area of {{convert|1.3|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1884410

|title=G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1

|access-date=July 25, 2015

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213045723/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1884410

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

{{US Census population

|1850= 279

|1860= 520

|1870= 988

|1880= 913

|1890= 1027

|1900= 1245

|1910= 1243

|1920= 1088

|1930= 1053

|1940= 1222

|1950= 1241

|1960= 1353

|1970= 1661

|1980= 1747

|1990= 1798

|2000= 1935

|2010= 1898

|2020= 1950

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 1,898 people, 766 households, and 513 families residing here.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US1884410

|title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data

|access-date=July 10, 2015

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212132804/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/1600000US1884410

|archive-date=February 12, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The population density was {{convert|1,457.6|PD/sqmi}}. There were 852 housing units at an average density of {{convert|654.3|/sqmi}}.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18171

|access-date=July 10, 2015

|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212202842/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18171

|archive-date=February 12, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The racial makeup was 98.3% white, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.2% Pacific islander, 0.1% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 22.0% were German, 10.4% were American, 9.2% were Irish, and 5.7% were English.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/1600000US1884410

|title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

|access-date=July 10, 2015

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213081726/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/1600000US1884410

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

Of the 766 households, 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.0% were non-families, and 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age was 42.5 years.

The median income for a household was $37,969 and the median income for a family was $48,026. Males had a median income of $41,719 versus $28,875 for females. The per capita income was $17,487. About 16.3% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.0% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/1600000US1884410

|title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

|access-date=July 10, 2015

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213090217/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/1600000US1884410

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

The town is served by the Williamsport-Washington Township Public Library, one of two public libraries in Warren County.{{cite web | url=https://www.in.gov/library/files/countyindex13.pdf | title=Indiana public library directory | publisher=Indiana State Library | access-date=March 15, 2018}}

Industry in Williamsport includes TMF Center, which manufactures parts for construction equipment and trucking; GL Technologies, which procures industrial tooling; and Kuri-Tec, which manufactures industrial hoses and accessories.{{cite web

|author=Warren County Local Economic Development Organization

|url=http://www.warrenadvantage.com/Business_Directory/business.php

|title=Business Directory

|access-date=September 18, 2010}}

The town includes the county's single hospital, St. Vincent Williamsport Hospital, a 16-bed acute care facility operated by Indianapolis-based St. Vincent Health. The hospital includes a 24-hour emergency medical service and ambulance service.{{cite web

|url=https://www.stvincent.org/locations/hospitals/williamsport

|title=St. Vincent Williamsport

|publisher=St. Vincent Williamsport Hospital

|access-date=July 6, 2017

}} Williamsport also has a nursing home, "Williamsport Nursing and Rehabilitation", that provides health care and rehabilitation services primarily for seniors.{{cite web

|url=http://www.ascseniorcare.com/location/williamsport-nursing-rehabilitation/

|title=Williamsport Nursing and Rehabilitation

|publisher=American Senior Communities

|access-date=September 20, 2016

}} These are important local employers, as 9.8% of Warren County's jobs relate to health care and social services.{{cite web

|author=STATS Indiana

|url=http://www.stats.indiana.edu/profiles/profiles.asp?scope_choice=a&county_changer=18171&button1=Get+Profile&id=2&page_path=Area+Profiles&path_id=11&panel_number=1

|title=InDepth Profile: Warren County, Indiana

|access-date=September 12, 2010

|publisher=Indiana Business Research Center}}

File:Williamsport, Indiana clock.png|The town clock

File:Williamsport Falls 2.jpg|Williamsport Falls

File:Wabash River at Williamsport.png|The Wabash River as seen from Old Town

File:Williamsport, Indiana map from 1877 atlas.png|1877 map of Williamsport

• Emily Caroline Chandler Hodgin (1838-1907), temperance reformer
• Ele Stansbury (born 1861), 23rd Indiana Attorney General

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book

|title=Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper and Newton, Indiana

|chapter=Part II. History of Warren County

|publisher=F. A. Battey and Company

|location=Chicago

|year=1883

|first=Weston A.

|last=Goodspeed

|pages=31–156

|chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/cu31924028850010#page/n33/mode/2up

|access-date=September 19, 2010

}}

• {{cite book

|editor-last=Clifton

|editor-first=Thomas

|title=Past and Present of Fountain and Warren Counties Indiana

|publisher=B. F. Bowen and Company

|year=1913

|location=Indianapolis

|pages=201–335

|url=https://archive.org/stream/pastpresentoffou01clif#page/346/mode/2up

|access-date=September 19, 2010

}}

• {{cite book

|title=A History of Warren County, Indiana

|author=Warren County Historical Society

|location=Williamsport, Indiana

|year=1966

}}

• {{cite book

|title=A History of Warren County, Indiana

|author=Warren County Historical Society

|location=Williamsport, Indiana

|year=2002

|pages=163–173

|edition=175th Anniversary

}}

• [https://www.townofwilliamsport.com/ Official website]

{{Warren County, Indiana}}

{{Indiana county seats}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Towns in Warren County, Indiana

Category:Towns in Indiana

Category:County seats in Indiana

Category:Populated places established in 1828

Category:1828 establishments in Indiana