Geneva, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Geneva, Indiana
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Location of Geneva in Adams County, Indiana.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Adams |
| Township | Wabash |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.24 sq mi (3.22 km2) |
| • Land | 1.10 sq mi (2.86 km2) |
| • Water | 0.14 sq mi (0.36 km2) |
| Elevation | 850 ft (260 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,257 |
| • Density | 1,138.59/sq mi (439.76/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (EST) |
| ZIP code |
46740
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| Area code(s) | 260 |
| FIPS code | 18-27216 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2396956 |
Geneva is a small town located in Wabash Township, Adams County, Indiana. In 2020, about 1,257 people lived there. Geneva is famous for being the home of Gene Stratton-Porter, a well-known writer and naturalist. Her historic house, called the Limberlost Cabin, is a popular place to visit. She lived there from 1895 to 1913.
Contents
History of Geneva: How the Town Began
Geneva started in 1871 when two smaller towns, Alexander and Buffalo, joined together. The town was named after the city of Geneva in Switzerland. The first post office opened in Geneva in 1872.
The Indiana Gas Boom and Geneva's Growth
Geneva grew a lot because of the Indiana Gas Boom. This was a time in the late 1800s and early 1900s when a lot of natural gas and oil were found in Indiana. Oil was discovered near Geneva in 1892. This discovery brought many new people to the area. It also made land prices go up very quickly.
At its busiest time in November 1895, one company had 160 oil wells in the Geneva area. These wells produced over 24,000 barrels of oil each month! Oil production started to slow down after 1907.
Charles D. Porter and his wife, Gene Stratton-Porter, lived in Geneva for many years. They owned about 30 oil wells in the area. They used the money from these wells to build their famous home, the Limberlost Cabin, in 1895.
Geography: Where is Geneva Located?
Geneva covers a total area of about 1.24 square miles (3.22 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 1.10 square miles (2.86 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.14 square miles (0.36 square kilometers), is water.
Population: Who Lives in Geneva?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 467 | — | |
| 1890 | 748 | 60.2% | |
| 1900 | 1,076 | 43.9% | |
| 1910 | 1,140 | 5.9% | |
| 1920 | 879 | −22.9% | |
| 1930 | 895 | 1.8% | |
| 1940 | 966 | 7.9% | |
| 1950 | 999 | 3.4% | |
| 1960 | 1,053 | 5.4% | |
| 1970 | 1,100 | 4.5% | |
| 1980 | 1,430 | 30.0% | |
| 1990 | 1,280 | −10.5% | |
| 2000 | 1,368 | 6.9% | |
| 2010 | 1,293 | −5.5% | |
| 2020 | 1,257 | −2.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Geneva's Population in 2010
According to the census from 2010, there were 1,293 people living in Geneva. These people lived in 570 households, and 349 of these were families. The town had about 1,186 people per square mile.
Most of the people in Geneva were White (94.6%). A smaller number were African American (0.6%), Native American (0.2%), or Asian (0.2%). About 3.2% of the population were from other races, and 1.2% were from two or more races. About 5.4% of the people identified as Hispanic or Latino.
About 28.8% of households had children under 18 living with them. Many households (45.3%) were married couples. About 14.1% of households had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older. The average household had 2.27 people.
The average age of people in Geneva was 41.1 years old. About 23.9% of residents were under 18. About 18% were 65 years old or older. Slightly more than half of the population (51.6%) were female, and 48.4% were male.
Education: Learning in Geneva
Geneva has a public library. It is a part of the Adams Public Library System. Students in Geneva attend schools in the South Adams Schools District.
Famous People from Geneva
- L. S. Buckmaster (1894–1967) was a leader in labor unions.
- Robert O. Fink was a professor who studied classical history and languages.
- Gene Stratton-Porter (1863–1924) was a very popular author, nature photographer, and naturalist. She also produced movies during the silent movie era.
Important Buildings and Places
- The Limberlost Cabin was finished in 1895. It was the home of Gene Stratton-Porter, her husband Charles Porter, and their daughter Jeannette. This special property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Today, it is known as the Limberlost State Historic Site. The Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites manages it, and it is open for people to visit.
See also
In Spanish: Geneva (Indiana) para niños
