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Ellettsville, Indiana facts for kids

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Ellettsville, Indiana
Downtown Ellettsville
Downtown Ellettsville
Motto(s): 
"Builders Of American History"
Location of Ellettsville in Monroe County, Indiana.
Location of Ellettsville in Monroe County, Indiana.
Country United States
State Indiana
County Monroe
Township Richland
Area
 • Total 5.17 sq mi (13.40 km2)
 • Land 5.17 sq mi (13.40 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
696 ft (212 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 6,655
 • Density 1,286.24/sq mi (496.61/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (EST)
ZIP code
47429
Area code(s) 812, 930
FIPS code 18-20800
GNIS feature ID 2396926
Website http://www.ellettsville.in.us

Ellettsville is a small town in Richland Township, Monroe County, Indiana, United States. It is a part of the larger Bloomington area. In 2020, about 6,655 people lived there.

Discovering Ellettsville's Past

Early Settlers and Town Beginnings

Ellettsville was officially planned out in 1837. Before that, in 1818, Edward Ellett, Sr., and his wife Eleanor moved to the area. They came with their four younger sons: David, Richard, Johnston, and Barton. For their first winter, they lived in a simple, three-sided log cabin they built.

Edward's two oldest sons, William and Samuel, also settled there that same year with their own families. Later, their daughters Sarah, Phoebe, and Nancy, along with their husbands, also moved to the area. In 1826, Edward Jr., another son, arrived. The town was named Ellettsville in 1837, honoring the Ellett family.

Samuel Ellett was a busy man! He built the first courthouse in 1820. It was finished early and cost only $400. By 1822, the first school opened, and Samuel Ellett's children were among its first students.

Honoring the Founder and Family Service

In 1987, Indiana celebrated its 150th birthday. A special marker was placed to honor Edward Ellett, Sr., the town's founder, who lived from about 1762 to 1833.

The Ellett family had a strong tradition of serving their country. Two of Edward Ellett's sons, Samuel and Edward Jr., fought in The War of 1812. Later, three of Edward Sr.'s grandsons fought to protect the United States during the American Civil War.

  • Stephen R. Ellett fought with the 67th Indiana Infantry Regiment at the Battle of Vicksburg.
  • His younger brothers, James W. Ellett and John H. Ellett, joined the 27th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Regiment. They fought bravely at Gettysburg.
  • James Ellett sadly died while serving in Alabama in 1864.
  • John Ellett was hurt at Chancellorsville but survived the war.

This family tradition continued into World War II. Dale Ellett, a great-great-grandson of the founder, volunteered and died in 1945 while fighting against Nazi Germany.

Town Growth and Recognition

Ellettsville has had a post office since 1837. The community officially became an incorporated town in 1866. This meant it could have its own local government.

The Ellettsville Downtown Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. This means its historic buildings and area are recognized as important and worth preserving.

Ellettsville, Indiana building
A building in downtown Ellettsville.

Ellettsville's Location and Size

Ellettsville covers an area of about 4.24 square miles (10.98 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no large bodies of water inside the town limits.

Ellettsville, Indiana
A view of Ellettsville, Indiana.

Who Lives in Ellettsville?

Historical population
Census Pop.
1850 74
1880 585
1890 712 21.7%
1900 708 −0.6%
1910 676 −4.5%
1920 721 6.7%
1930 767 6.4%
1940 863 12.5%
1950 855 −0.9%
1960 1,222 42.9%
1970 1,627 33.1%
1980 3,328 104.5%
1990 3,275 −1.6%
2000 5,078 55.1%
2010 6,378 25.6%
2020 6,655 4.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

A Look at the 2010 Population

In 2010, Ellettsville had 6,378 people living in 2,593 homes. About 1,704 of these were families. The town had about 1,504 people per square mile. There were also 2,753 housing units, which are homes or apartments.

Most residents (95.5%) identified as White. Smaller groups included African American (1.0%), Native American (0.2%), and Asian (0.6%). About 1.6% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

In terms of households, 35.3% had children under 18 living there. Nearly half (47.2%) were married couples. About 13.6% of homes had a female head of household without a husband. About 5.0% had a male head of household without a wife.

The average age in Ellettsville was 34.5 years old. About 26.5% of the people were under 18. About 12.1% were 65 years old or older. The town had slightly more females (53.3%) than males (46.7%).

Learning and Education in Ellettsville

Ellettsville has a good school system for its students.

  • Edgewood High School teaches students in grades 9-12.
  • Edgewood Junior High School is for grades 6-8.
  • Edgewood Intermediate School serves grades 3-5.
  • Edgewood Primary School is for the youngest students, from kindergarten to grade 2.

These schools are part of the Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corporation. This school district covers two townships in northwestern Monroe County.

The town also has a public library. It is a branch of the Monroe County Public Library, offering books and resources for everyone.

See also

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