French Lick, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
French Lick, Indiana
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French Lick Resort and Larry Bird Boulevard
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Location of French Lick in Orange County, Indiana.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Orange |
| Township | French Lick |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.82 sq mi (4.72 km2) |
| • Land | 1.82 sq mi (4.72 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 499 ft (152 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,722 |
| • Density | 944.60/sq mi (364.77/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
47432
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| Area code(s) | 812 |
| FIPS code | 18-25972 |
| GNIS feature ID | 450938 |
French Lick is a town in French Lick Township, Orange County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 1,807 at the 2010 census. In November 2006, the French Lick Resort Casino, the state's tenth casino in the modern legalized era, opened, drawing national attention to the small town. However, it is best known as the hometown of basketball legend Larry Bird.
Contents
History
French Lick was originally a French trading post built near a spring and salt lick. A fortified ranger post was established near the springs in 1811. On Johnson's 1837 map of Indiana, the community was known as Salt Spring. The town was founded in 1857.
The sulfur springs were commercially exploited for medical benefits starting in 1840. By the later half of the 19th century, French Lick was famous in the United States as a spa town. In the early 20th century it also featured casinos attracting celebrities such as boxer Joe Louis, composer Irving Berlin and gangster Al Capone.
Due to wartime travel restrictions, the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox held spring training in French Lick from 1943-1944; in 1945 the Cubs stayed in town while the White Sox moved to Terre Haute - utilizing Memorial Stadium. In order to conserve rail transport during World War II, 1943 spring training was limited to an area east of the Mississippi River and north of the Ohio River.
The French Lick Resort Casino was the focal point of most of the entertainment; the hotel remained open well after the casinos were closed down and the heyday of the town was well past. The resort closed for renovation in 2005.
Pluto Water, a best selling laxative of the first half of the 20th century, was bottled here. It was also home to a large 7-Up bottling facility, which ceased operations in the mid-20th century.
Franklin D. Roosevelt announced his intention to run for president at a National Governors' Convention held at the French Lick Springs Hotel.
The town is famous as the hometown of NBA great Larry Bird. Bird started for French Lick/West Baden's high school team, Springs Valley High School, where he left as the school's all-time scoring leader. In his later basketball career, one of Bird's nicknames was "the Hick from French Lick". French Lick is also the hometown of former Sacramento Kings head coach Jerry Reynolds, who currently works as the team's color commentator on its television broadcasts and is the Kings' director of player personnel.
Geography
French Lick is located at 38°32′49″N 86°37′8″W / 38.54694°N 86.61889°W (38.546872, -86.618939). The area has rich mineral sources ("The Lick").
According to the 2010 census, French Lick has a total area of 1.77 square miles (4.58 km2), all land.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 260 | — | |
| 1910 | 1,803 | 593.5% | |
| 1920 | 1,980 | 9.8% | |
| 1930 | 2,462 | 24.3% | |
| 1940 | 2,042 | −17.1% | |
| 1950 | 1,946 | −4.7% | |
| 1960 | 1,954 | 0.4% | |
| 1970 | 2,059 | 5.4% | |
| 1980 | 2,265 | 10.0% | |
| 1990 | 2,087 | −7.9% | |
| 2000 | 1,941 | −7.0% | |
| 2010 | 1,807 | −6.9% | |
| 2020 | 1,722 | −4.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,807 people, 764 households, and 439 families living in the town. The population density was 1,020.9 inhabitants per square mile (394.2/km2). There were 924 housing units at an average density of 522.0 per square mile (201.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 88.8% White, 5.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.1% of the population.
There were 764 households, of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.6% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.5% were non-families. 36.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.93.
The median age in the town was 39.2 years. 24% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.6% were from 25 to 44; 25.4% were from 45 to 64; and 18.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 46.9% male and 53.1% female.
Education
The town has a lending library, the Melton Public Library.
See also
In Spanish: French Lick para niños
