Dale, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dale, Indiana
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Location of Dale in Spencer County, Indiana.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Spencer |
| Township | Carter |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.43 sq mi (6.29 km2) |
| • Land | 2.42 sq mi (6.26 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) |
| Elevation | 463 ft (141 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,544 |
| • Density | 638.81/sq mi (246.67/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
47523
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| Area code(s) | 812 |
| FIPS code | 18-16624 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2396674 |
Dale is a small town located in Spencer County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. It is part of Carter Township. According to the 2020 census, about 1,544 people live there.
Contents
The Story of Dale: How It Began
The town of Dale was first established in 1843. It was originally known by a different name: Elizabeth.
Later, when a post office was opened in the town, its name was changed. The new name, Dale, was chosen to honor Robert Dale Owen. He was a congressman from New Harmony at that time. The Dale post office has been serving the community since 1844.
Where is Dale? Geography and Location
Dale is located in Indiana and covers a total area of about 1.56 square miles (4.04 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, making up about 99.36% of the town.
Only a very small part, about 0.01 square miles (0.03 square kilometers), is water.
Who Lives in Dale? Population Facts
The number of people living in Dale has changed over the years. Here's a quick look at its population history:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 318 | — | |
| 1890 | 659 | 107.2% | |
| 1900 | 624 | −5.3% | |
| 1910 | 583 | −6.6% | |
| 1920 | 688 | 18.0% | |
| 1930 | 770 | 11.9% | |
| 1940 | 763 | −0.9% | |
| 1950 | 850 | 11.4% | |
| 1960 | 900 | 5.9% | |
| 1970 | 1,113 | 23.7% | |
| 1980 | 1,693 | 52.1% | |
| 1990 | 1,553 | −8.3% | |
| 2000 | 1,568 | 1.0% | |
| 2010 | 1,593 | 1.6% | |
| 2020 | 1,544 | −3.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Dale's Population in 2010
In 2010, there were 1,593 people living in Dale. These people lived in 603 different homes. The town had a population density of about 1,027.7 people per square mile.
Most of the people living in Dale were White (84.6%). There were also smaller numbers of African American, Native American, and Asian residents. About 12.6% of the population identified with other races. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 18.1% of the town's population.
Learning in Dale: Schools and Libraries
Dale is part of the North Spencer County School Corporation. The town has its own public elementary school, which is called David Turnham Elementary School.
Years ago, Dale also had its own high school. The school's colors were black and gold, and their mascot was the golden aces. However, in 1972, this high school joined with another school to form Heritage Hills High School.
For reading and learning, Dale has a public library. It is a branch of the Lincoln Heritage Public Library.
Getting Around Dale: Roads and Travel
Transportation in Dale has seen some big changes. In 2011, a new four-lane highway was built. This highway, U.S. Route 231, now goes around the west side of Dale.
This new road helps traffic move more smoothly. The town can be accessed from Indiana 62 on the south side. There are also access points from Indiana 68 on the west side. A new road called Spencer County Road 2050 North provides access from the north.
This new County Road 2050 North also connects to places like hotels, a restaurant, and a gas station. These places used to be reached from an older road connection with Interstate 64.
Famous Faces from Dale
Several notable people have connections to Dale, Indiana:
- Del Harris was a basketball coach who was born in Dale. He even returned to coach the local high school team.
- Florence Henderson was a famous singer and actress. She was a co-star on the TV show The Brady Bunch. Florence Henderson was born in Dale.
- Roger Kaiser was a well-known basketball player.
- J. Clarence Karcher was a geophysicist and inventor. He helped create the reflection seismograph, a tool used to study the Earth. He was born in Dale.
- Abraham Lincoln, who became a U.S. president, grew up on a farm nearby. His mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln, passed away when he was young. Her burial site is located on that original farm.
See also
In Spanish: Dale (Indiana) para niños
