Arcadia, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arcadia, Indiana
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Location of Arcadia in Hamilton County, Indiana.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Hamilton |
| Township | Jackson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.55 sq mi (1.43 km2) |
| • Land | 0.55 sq mi (1.43 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 856 ft (261 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,515 |
| • Density | 2,749.55/sq mi (1,061.70/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (EST) |
| ZIP code |
46030
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| Area code | 317 |
| FIPS code | 18-01954 |
| GNIS ID | 2397435 |
| Website | https://www.arcadiaindiana.org/ |
Arcadia is a small town in Jackson Township, Hamilton County, Indiana, USA. In 2010, about 1,666 people lived there.
Contents
History of Arcadia
People started settling in the Arcadia area around 1833. Early settlers like Hencil Bartholomew bought land. Later, in 1836, John and Harriet Shaffer bought land next to Daniel and Matilda Waltz. This area later became the center of downtown Arcadia.
The Railroad Arrives
In 1846, a company called the Peru and Indianapolis Railroad (P&I) was created. Their goal was to build a train line from Peru, Indiana to Indianapolis. By 1849, the railroad had planned its route through the land owned by Shaffer and Waltz.
In 1850, Shaffer and Waltz gave their land to create the town. The town was officially planned out in 1851 by Isaac Martz. The story goes that the town was first going to be named "Shaltz," combining Shaffer and Waltz's names. But Judge Jeremiah Smith chose the name Arcadia, after a beautiful ancient region in Greece. The Arcadia post office opened in 1852.
At first, the area was very wooded and marshy. After the town was planned, the trees were cleared. Streets were paved with gravel, and people paid a small fee (a "toll") to use them. The land was drained by large ditches, which later had simple log bridges. Early sidewalks were raised wooden platforms.
Factories and Businesses
By 1852, the railroad was finished. This helped Arcadia grow quickly as a farming community. Many different businesses opened in town. In the early years, there was a cigar factory, a cabinet shop, and a mill for flour and wood.
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More businesses came to Arcadia as the 1800s ended. By the 1880s, you could find a wagon shop, a drug store, a butcher shop, and many other stores. There were also two large buildings called grain elevators, used for storing grain.
In 1888, the Frankfort Oil and Gas Company found natural gas nearby. This discovery led to a small boom in local industries. Factories in the eastern US had used up most of their wood for fuel. Natural gas was a great new fuel source for things like glass and brick making.
A brick factory was opened by George Walters and B. P. Hollett. It used clay from nearby land to make bricks for miles around. The Baker Glass Company moved to Arcadia in 1894, using the town's natural gas. Later, the Flint House Glass Company also opened a factory to make lamp chimneys. In 1898, the Arcadia Cheese Factory started making about 200 pounds of cheese every day. Around 1890, the first creamery (for dairy products) was also set up.
Early Education
As early as 1840, a school made of logs was built on land given by Moses Martz. School terms lasted three months. Parents paid about $1.50 per student to help fund the school.
Geography
According to the 2010 census, Arcadia covers about 0.56 square miles (1.43 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Population Information
Arcadia's population has changed over the years. Here's how many people have lived in the town during different census years:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 433 | — | |
| 1890 | 670 | 54.7% | |
| 1900 | 1,413 | 110.9% | |
| 1910 | 990 | −29.9% | |
| 1920 | 1,060 | 7.1% | |
| 1930 | 912 | −14.0% | |
| 1940 | 968 | 6.1% | |
| 1950 | 1,073 | 10.8% | |
| 1960 | 1,271 | 18.5% | |
| 1970 | 1,338 | 5.3% | |
| 1980 | 1,801 | 34.6% | |
| 1990 | 1,468 | −18.5% | |
| 2000 | 1,747 | 19.0% | |
| 2010 | 1,666 | −4.6% | |
| 2020 | 1,515 | −9.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2010 Census Details
In 2010, there were 1,666 people living in Arcadia. The town had 612 households and 427 families. The average household had about 2.62 people. The average family had about 3.07 people.
About 27.9% of the people in town were under 18 years old. The median age was 36 years. This means half the people were younger than 36, and half were older.
Education
School Districts
- Hamilton Heights School Corporation (K-12)
The high school's sports teams compete in the Mid-Indiana Conference (MIC).
See also
In Spanish: Arcadia (Indiana) para niños
