Ferdinand, Indiana Facts for Kids

Ferdinand was founded in 1840 by Fr. Joseph Kundek, OSB and was named after the Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria. The town was settled by mostly German-speaking people from central Europe. At one time Ferdinand was known as the wooden shoe village. At the end of the 19th century, Ferdinand contained many businesses, including a machine works, a brick works, brewery, several taverns, and a dairy.

The Ferdinand post office has been in operation since 1850.

In 1867, the Monastery of Immaculate Conception was founded in Ferdinand.

Ferdinand was incorporated as a town in 1905.

In 1906, the Ferdinand News was established as the local newspaper.

Just prior to World War II the Civilian Conservation Corps created the Ferdinand State Forest.

The Monastery Immaculate Conception and Dr. Alois Wollenmann House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Photo from Small Town Indiana photo survey.

Geography

Ferdinand is located at 38°13′31″N 86°51′40″W / 38.22528°N 86.86111°W / 38.22528; -86.86111 (38.225392, -86.860996).

According to the 2010 census, Ferdinand has a total area of 2.31 square miles (5.98 km²), of which 2.27 square miles (5.88 km²) (or 98.27%) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²) (or 1.73%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1880	500	—
1890	627	25.4%
1910	827	—
1920	884	6.9%
1930	846	−4.3%
1940	990	17.0%
1950	1,252	26.5%
1960	1,427	14.0%
1970	1,432	0.4%
1980	2,192	53.1%
1990	2,318	5.7%
2000	2,277	−1.8%
2010	2,157	−5.3%
2020	2,157	0.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 2,157 people, 823 households, and 566 families residing in the town. The population density was 950.2 inhabitants per square mile (366.9/km²). There were 866 housing units at an average density of 381.5 per square mile (147.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.2% White, 0.1% African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.

There were 823 households, of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.2% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.89.

The median age in the town was 45.1 years. 21% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.6% were from 25 to 44; 25% were from 45 to 64; and 25.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 44.5% male and 55.5% female.

Attractions

Monastery of Immaculate Conception closeup

Attractions in Ferdinand include:

Monastery Immaculate Conception, the monastery of The Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand
Ferdinand State Forest

Education

Forest Park Jr./Sr. High School
Ferdinand Elementary School
Cedar Crest Intermediate School

The town has a public library, a branch of the Jasper-Dubois County Public Library.

Churches

St. Ferdinand Catholic Church

Ferdinand, Indiana facts for kids

Contents

History