Gas City, Indiana facts for kids
Gas City is a small city located in Grant County, Indiana, in the United States. It sits along the Mississinewa River. In 2010, about 5,965 people lived there.
Quick facts for kids
Gas City
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| City of Gas City | |
Aerial view of Gas City facing southwest
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Location of Gas City in Grant County, Indiana.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Grant |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.03 sq mi (13.02 km2) |
| • Land | 5.03 sq mi (13.02 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 853 ft (260 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,157 |
| • Density | 1,224.79/sq mi (472.88/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
46933
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| Area code(s) | 765 |
| FIPS code | 18-27054 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2394866 |
| Website | http://www.gascityindiana.com/ |
Contents
History of Gas City
Gas City was first settled on May 25, 1867. It was originally called Harrisburg, named after its founder, Noah Harris.
The Indiana Gas Boom
In 1887, something big happened: natural gas was discovered in the area. This was part of a larger event known as the Indiana gas boom. Because of this discovery, Harrisburg quickly grew into a "boom town." A boom town is a place that grows very fast because of a sudden increase in jobs or resources.
On March 21, 1892, a company called the Gas City Land Company was started. Just a few days later, the town, which had only about 150 people, changed its name to Gas City. However, much of the natural gas was used up by the early 1900s. This happened because the gas was often taken out of the ground in ways that were not very efficient.
Historic Places and Events
Several important buildings in Gas City are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Gas City High School, the Thompson-Ray House, and the West Ward School. These places are important because they help tell the story of the city's past.
Every fall, Gas City hosts a fun event called the Ducktail Run Rod and Custom Car Show. Locals simply call it the "Ducktail Run." It's a big car show where people bring vehicles from 1972 or older. In 2020, over 2,000 cars were registered to be part of the show!
Geography of Gas City
Gas City covers an area of about 4.56 square miles (11.81 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 145 | — | |
| 1890 | 145 | 0.0% | |
| 1900 | 3,622 | 2,397.9% | |
| 1910 | 3,224 | −11.0% | |
| 1920 | 2,870 | −11.0% | |
| 1930 | 3,087 | 7.6% | |
| 1940 | 3,488 | 13.0% | |
| 1950 | 3,787 | 8.6% | |
| 1960 | 4,469 | 18.0% | |
| 1970 | 5,742 | 28.5% | |
| 1980 | 6,370 | 10.9% | |
| 1990 | 6,296 | −1.2% | |
| 2000 | 5,940 | −5.7% | |
| 2010 | 5,965 | 0.4% | |
| 2020 | 6,157 | 3.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2010 Census Information
In 2010, the city had 5,965 people living in 2,410 homes. About 1,632 of these were families. The population density was about 1,308 people per square mile (505 people per square kilometer).
Most of the people living in Gas City were White (96.2%). Smaller groups included African American (0.9%), Native American (0.3%), and Asian (0.4%). About 2.4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Gas City was 39.4 years old. About 24.6% of residents were under 18 years old. Also, 15.4% of the people were 65 years or older. Slightly more than half of the residents were female (51.8%), and 48.2% were male.
Transportation in Gas City
Gas City has several important roads that help people travel in and out of the city:
Interstate 69 (exit 259)
U.S. Route 35
State Road 22
Education in Gas City
Gas City is home to the Mississinewa School Corporation. This school system includes:
- Mississinewa High School
- R.J. Baskett Middle School
- Northview Elementary School
The city also has a public library, called the Gas City-Mill Township Public Library. It's a great place to borrow books and learn new things.
Notable People from Gas City
Some well-known people have come from Gas City:
- Garrel Burgoon, a businessman and politician
- Thomas Francis Jr., a doctor who studied viruses and diseases
- Alta Little, a baseball player
- William Skelly, an oil business owner
See also
In Spanish: Gas City (Indiana) para niños
