Bluffton, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bluffton, Indiana
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The Wells County Courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
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| Motto(s):
"The Parlor City"
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Location of Bluffton in Wells County, Indiana.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Wells |
| Township | Harrison, Lancaster |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council government |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.52 sq mi (22.06 km2) |
| • Land | 8.39 sq mi (21.72 km2) |
| • Water | 0.13 sq mi (0.34 km2) |
| Elevation | 807 ft (246 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 10,308 |
| • Density | 1,229.19/sq mi (474.57/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
46714
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| Area code | 260 |
| FIPS code | 18-06220 |
| GNIS ID | 2394209 |
Bluffton is a city in Wells County, Indiana, USA. It's also the main town, called the county seat, for Wells County. It's located in the northeastern part of Indiana, right by the Wabash River.
In 2020, about 10,308 people lived there. This was more than the 9,897 people counted in 2010. Bluffton is known as the "Parlor City." This nickname came about because it had some of the first clean, paved streets in the area. This was during the time of the Indiana gas boom, when most streets were still dirt.
Contents
Bluffton's History: From Forests to a City
Early Settlers and How Bluffton Began
The first non-Native American settlers arrived in the Bluffton area in 1835. They came after the Black Hawk War ended and the Erie Canal was finished. These early settlers were mostly from New England. They were often called "Yankee" settlers.
These pioneers were descendants of English Puritans. They had settled in New England a long time ago. Many of them were part of the Congregational church. However, some had joined the Methodist or Baptist churches. When they first arrived, the area was a thick forest and wild prairie.
Bluffton was officially planned out in 1838. It got its name from the river bluffs (steep banks) near where the town started. The Bluffton post office opened in 1839. In its early days, it was a simple village. It often had floods from the Wabash River and outbreaks of sickness.
Wells County was formed in 1837. Soon after, four people were chosen to pick the county seat. Bluffton, Vera Cruz, and Murray were all considered. The choice came down to Bluffton and Murray. On March 5, 1838, Bluffton was chosen as the county seat. Two landowners, Abraham Studabaker and Robert C. Bennet, gave land for a courthouse. They also donated $270 to help build it.
The first county courthouse was built in 1840 by David Whitman. It was a two-story building. It stood on the west side of Main Street. Bluffton became an official town in 1851, with about 850 people living there.
Growing with Industry and Progress
In 1848, people in Bluffton wanted a 10-mile planked road to Fort Wayne. A plank road is made of wooden planks. In 1849, locals built a ten-mile section of this road. It was used until 1856, when it was replaced by a gravel road.
Plans for railroads started as early as the 1840s. But these plans didn't work out at first. The first railroad, the Fort Wayne, Cincinnati Louisville Railroad, was surveyed in 1852. Its construction was delayed by the American Civil War.
From 1867 to 1868, the railroad began to be built through Bluffton. It was finished by 1869. The railroad brought a lot of growth to Bluffton. It also helped drain the many swamps, which reduced risks like sickness and flooding.
In the 1890s, a new, impressive five-story courthouse was completed. It was built in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, using sandstone. This marked a new era for Bluffton and Wells County. Bluffton was also part of the name for a short-lived railroad, the Cincinnati, Bluffton and Chicago Railroad, started in 1903. However, this railroad's bridge in Bluffton collapsed in 1913. The railroad then went out of business.
Bluffton's Welcoming Community
Bluffton is one of the first towns in Indiana and across America to openly talk about its past. It used to be a "sundown town." This meant that certain groups of people, especially African Americans, were not allowed to be in town after dark.
However, Bluffton has worked hard to become a welcoming and inclusive town. In 2006, USA Today newspaper wrote about Bluffton. The article noted that Bluffton was putting up welcoming signs at schools and on state highways. Mayor Ted Ellis was praised for helping Bluffton join the National League of Cities' "Partnership for Working Toward Inclusive Communities." This partnership helps towns become more inclusive.
Why Bluffton is the "Parlor City"
Bluffton's nickname, the "Parlor City," comes from its history. During the Trenton Oil boom, Bluffton had some of the first clean, paved streets in the area. Most other streets at that time were just dirt.
The nickname comes from the idea of a "parlor" in a home. The parlor was usually the cleanest room. It was the first place guests saw when they visited. Today, when you enter downtown Bluffton, you see the new Parlor City Plaza and the historic courthouse. This helps keep the "Parlor City" nickname alive.
Bluffton's Location and Weather
Geography of Bluffton
Bluffton covers an area of about 8.359 square miles (21.65 km2). Most of this area, about 8.23 square miles (21.32 km2), is land. The rest, about 0.129 square miles (0.33 km2), is water.
Bluffton's Climate
Bluffton has a climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are warm, and winters are cold.
| Climate data for Bluffton, Indiana (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1971–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 67 (19) |
74 (23) |
86 (30) |
87 (31) |
95 (35) |
100 (38) |
104 (40) |
99 (37) |
97 (36) |
90 (32) |
79 (26) |
70 (21) |
104 (40) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 56.1 (13.4) |
58.7 (14.8) |
70.3 (21.3) |
80.4 (26.9) |
87.5 (30.8) |
92.0 (33.3) |
92.6 (33.7) |
90.8 (32.7) |
89.3 (31.8) |
82.1 (27.8) |
68.9 (20.5) |
57.6 (14.2) |
94.4 (34.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 31.9 (−0.1) |
35.6 (2.0) |
46.7 (8.2) |
59.9 (15.5) |
71.1 (21.7) |
79.6 (26.4) |
82.6 (28.1) |
80.9 (27.2) |
75.6 (24.2) |
63.2 (17.3) |
48.9 (9.4) |
37.2 (2.9) |
59.4 (15.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 24.5 (−4.2) |
27.4 (−2.6) |
37.3 (2.9) |
49.3 (9.6) |
60.8 (16.0) |
70.0 (21.1) |
73.0 (22.8) |
71.0 (21.7) |
64.7 (18.2) |
52.8 (11.6) |
40.6 (4.8) |
30.1 (−1.1) |
50.1 (10.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 17.2 (−8.2) |
19.2 (−7.1) |
27.9 (−2.3) |
38.7 (3.7) |
50.6 (10.3) |
60.4 (15.8) |
63.3 (17.4) |
61.2 (16.2) |
53.7 (12.1) |
42.4 (5.8) |
32.2 (0.1) |
23.0 (−5.0) |
40.8 (4.9) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −4.4 (−20.2) |
1.3 (−17.1) |
10.9 (−11.7) |
24.6 (−4.1) |
36.2 (2.3) |
47.2 (8.4) |
52.7 (11.5) |
50.7 (10.4) |
40.6 (4.8) |
29.1 (−1.6) |
18.6 (−7.4) |
5.7 (−14.6) |
−7.6 (−22.0) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −24 (−31) |
−18 (−28) |
−7 (−22) |
8 (−13) |
22 (−6) |
37 (3) |
41 (5) |
40 (4) |
27 (−3) |
10 (−12) |
5 (−15) |
−18 (−28) |
−24 (−31) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.51 (64) |
1.96 (50) |
2.65 (67) |
3.83 (97) |
4.67 (119) |
4.71 (120) |
4.46 (113) |
3.84 (98) |
3.07 (78) |
2.92 (74) |
3.08 (78) |
2.33 (59) |
40.03 (1,017) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 7.6 (19) |
6.5 (17) |
3.6 (9.1) |
0.4 (1.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
1.1 (2.8) |
4.1 (10) |
23.3 (59) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 12.8 | 10.7 | 11.3 | 13.1 | 13.3 | 11.6 | 9.5 | 9.2 | 8.1 | 10.4 | 10.8 | 12.6 | 133.4 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 5.2 | 4.0 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 3.0 | 15.2 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People of Bluffton: Demographics
Population Growth Over Time
Bluffton's population has grown steadily over the years.
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 477 | — | |
| 1860 | 760 | 59.3% | |
| 1870 | 1,131 | 48.8% | |
| 1880 | 2,354 | 108.1% | |
| 1890 | 3,589 | 52.5% | |
| 1900 | 4,479 | 24.8% | |
| 1910 | 4,987 | 11.3% | |
| 1920 | 5,391 | 8.1% | |
| 1930 | 5,074 | −5.9% | |
| 1940 | 5,417 | 6.8% | |
| 1950 | 6,076 | 12.2% | |
| 1960 | 6,238 | 2.7% | |
| 1970 | 8,297 | 33.0% | |
| 1980 | 8,705 | 4.9% | |
| 1990 | 9,020 | 3.6% | |
| 2000 | 9,536 | 5.7% | |
| 2010 | 9,897 | 3.8% | |
| 2020 | 10,308 | 4.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Bluffton's Population in 2010
In 2010, there were 9,897 people living in Bluffton. There were 4,112 households and 2,585 families. The city had about 1,202 people per square mile. Most residents (96%) were White. About 3.3% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
About 31.3% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.34 people. The average family had 2.93 people. The median age in the city was 38.3 years old. About 24.6% of residents were under 18. About 16.9% were 65 or older.
Fun Things to Do and See in Bluffton
Arts and Culture in Bluffton
Bluffton is home to the Bluffton Free Street Fair. This is the largest and oldest free street fair in Indiana. It started in 1898. It was first called the "Bluffton Street Fair and Wells County Agricultural Exposition."
Several historic places in Bluffton are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Stewart-Studebaker House, the Villa North Historic District, and the Wells County Courthouse.
Learning and News in Bluffton
Education in Bluffton
Students in Bluffton attend public schools. These schools are part of the Bluffton Harrison Metropolitan School District and Northern Wells Community Schools District. Bluffton also has a public library. It is a branch of the Wells County Public Library.
Local News in Bluffton
Bluffton has its own newspaper, The Bluffton News Banner. It is published every day except Sunday. You can find it throughout Wells County. The newspaper was founded in 1892.
Healthcare in Bluffton
Bluffton is home to the Bluffton Regional Medical Center. This hospital is one of nine locations that are part of the Lutheran Health Network.
Famous People from Bluffton
Many notable people have connections to Bluffton:
- Adam Ballinger, a basketball player.
- Randy Borror, a member of the Indiana House of Representatives.
- Joseph S. Dailey, a Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court.
- Charles Clemon Deam, a botanist born in Bluffton in 1865.
- D'Wayne Eskridge, an NFL American football player.
- Chandler Harnish, a quarterback and MVP of the 2010 Humanitarian Bowl. He was born in Bluffton.
- Verdi Karns, a ragtime composer born in Bluffton in 1882.
- Don Lash, a champion long-distance runner. He won the 1938 James E. Sullivan Award. He was born in Bluffton in 1912.
- Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a former U.S. Senator from New York. He was also a former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
- Everett Scott, a former baseball player. He was on the New York Yankees' first World Series championship team in 1923. He is also in the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame.
- E. J. Tackett, a professional ten-pin bowler.
- Robert Tonner, a fashion designer and doll artist. He was born in Bluffton in 1952.
See also
In Spanish: Bluffton (Indiana) para niños
