Greenfield, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Greenfield, Indiana
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Hancock County Courthouse in downtown Greenfield
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Location of Greenfield in Hancock County, Indiana.
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Indiana | ||
| County | Hancock | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Mayor–council government | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 13.71 sq mi (35.50 km2) | ||
| • Land | 13.56 sq mi (35.12 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.15 sq mi (0.38 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 889 ft (271 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 23,488 | ||
| • Density | 1,713.20/sq mi (661.47/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
46140
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| Area code(s) | 317 | ||
| FIPS code | 18-29520 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 2394986 | ||
Greenfield is a city in Indiana, United States. It is the main city and county seat of Hancock County, Indiana. Greenfield is also part of the larger Indianapolis metropolitan area. In 2020, about 23,488 people lived there.
Greenfield was once an important stop on the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad. This railroad connected major cities like Pittsburgh, Chicago, and St. Louis.
Contents
Greenfield's History
How Greenfield Began
Hancock County was created on March 1, 1828. It was named after John Hancock, who was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence. Greenfield was chosen as the county seat on April 11, 1828. This meant it would be the main city for the county's government. At that time, only about 400 people lived in the whole county.
Early settlers built their homes near two creeks that flow through the area. The first businesses were small gristmills. These mills helped settlers grind their corn and wheat into flour.
Growth and Development
Around 1835, U.S. Route 40, also known as the National Road, was built through Hancock County. This road was very busy. Wagon trains traveled west, and livestock were moved to Cincinnati. In 1853, the first steam railroad was finished. It ran along the south edge of Greenfield. This railroad later became part of the Pennsylvania Railroad system. However, these tracks were removed in the 1980s.
Greenfield's population kept growing. In 1876, it officially became a city with 2,023 people. The city grew even faster starting in 1887. This was because natural gas was found in the area. Greenfield became a "boomtown" for about 20 years. Many new factories and businesses started during this time.
Honoring James Whitcomb Riley
A statue of famous poet James Whitcomb Riley stands in front of the Hancock County Courthouse. It was put there in 1918. School children from all over the United States donated money to buy the statue. Every October, during the Riley Festival, local school children parade to the statue. They place flowers around it to honor the poet.
Several historic places in Greenfield are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Charles Barr House and the James Whitcomb Riley House.
Greenfield's Geography
Greenfield is located in the middle of Hancock County. U.S. Route 40 goes through the city center. It is called Main Street there. This road leads east to Knightstown and west to Indianapolis. Interstate 70 runs north of Greenfield. You can get on I-70 from Exit 104. I-70 goes east to Richmond and west through Indianapolis to Terre Haute. Indiana State Road 9 (State Street) crosses US-40 in downtown Greenfield. It goes north to Pendleton and south to Shelbyville.
The city covers about 12.66 square miles (32.79 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. A small part is water.
Riley Park is on the east side of downtown. The Brandywine Creek flows through this park. This creek is a small river that flows into the Big Blue River.
Greenfield's Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 420 | — | |
| 1860 | 744 | 77.1% | |
| 1870 | 1,203 | 61.7% | |
| 1880 | 2,013 | 67.3% | |
| 1890 | 3,100 | 54.0% | |
| 1900 | 4,489 | 44.8% | |
| 1910 | 4,448 | −0.9% | |
| 1920 | 4,168 | −6.3% | |
| 1930 | 4,188 | 0.5% | |
| 1940 | 4,821 | 15.1% | |
| 1950 | 6,159 | 27.8% | |
| 1960 | 9,049 | 46.9% | |
| 1970 | 9,986 | 10.4% | |
| 1980 | 11,288 | 13.0% | |
| 1990 | 11,657 | 3.3% | |
| 2000 | 14,600 | 25.2% | |
| 2010 | 20,602 | 41.1% | |
| 2020 | 23,488 | 14.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 20,602 people living in Greenfield. The city had 7,983 households. The population density was about 1,641 people per square mile. The average age in the city was 35.6 years old. About 26.4% of the people were under 18 years old.
Education in Greenfield
Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation serves the city and nearby areas. It has schools for all ages. There are four elementary schools for grades K-3. Two intermediate schools serve grades 4-6. There is one junior high school for grades 7-8. Finally, there is one high school for grades 9-12.
Greenfield Central Jr. High School was built in the late 2000s. This helped make room for the city's growing population. Greenfield-Central High School also had major updates in 2011 and 2022.
Schools in Greenfield
- Eden Elementary School
- Harris Elementary School
- J.B. Stephens Elementary School
- Weston Elementary School
- Greenfield Intermediate School
- Maxwell Intermediate School
- Greenfield Central Jr. High School
- Greenfield-Central High School
St. Michael's School is a private Catholic school in Greenfield. It offers classes from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. This school has won the Blue Ribbon Award. It has a small class size, with about 8 students for every teacher.
Greenfield also has a public library. It is a part of the Hancock County Public Library system.
Greenfield's Businesses and Economy
Many businesses have their main offices or important operations in Greenfield. These companies provide many jobs for the community.
- Avery Dennison: This company makes different types of sticky labels and films.
- Cynthia's Hallmark Stores: This company runs Hallmark stores. Their Greenfield store is the largest one in the U.S.
- Elanco: This company makes health products for animals. They create medicines for pets and farm animals. Their main office is in Greenfield.
- Fortrea: This company does research and testing for medicines.
- Hancock Regional Hospital: This is a full-service hospital for the community.
- Hitachi Astemo: This company makes parts for cars. They supply parts to companies like Honda Motor.
- Indiana Automotive Fasteners: This company makes special parts called fasteners for car makers like Toyota and Ford.
- Novelty, Inc.: This company sells fun novelty items to convenience stores.
- Stanley Black & Decker: This company makes industrial fasteners and tools.
- University Loft Company: This company makes and sells furniture.
Sister City Program
Greenfield has a special "sister city" relationship with Kakuda, Japan. This program started in 1990. Each year, a small group of high school students from Greenfield and Kakuda get to visit their sister city. They stay with a host family for ten days. Many of their travel costs are covered by local donations. This helps students learn about different cultures.
Notable People from Greenfield
Greenfield has been home to many interesting people.
- Mark Dismore, a racing driver.
- Yogi Ferrell, a professional basketball player.
- Kyle Gibson, a professional baseball pitcher.
- Jaycie Phelps, a gold medalist in gymnastics at the 1996 Olympics.
- James Whitcomb Riley, a famous poet and writer.
- Drey Jameson, a professional baseball pitcher.
- Braylon Mullins, a highly-rated basketball player committed to UCONN.
Greenfield Events
Each year in October, Greenfield hosts the Riley Festival. It is also known as "Riley Days." During this festival, the intersection of State Road 9 and US 40 is closed. The downtown courthouse square fills with vendors and exhibitors. It is a big community celebration.
Media in Greenfield
- Radio Station WRGF 89.7 FM
- Daily Reporter - the local daily newspaper
See also
In Spanish: Greenfield (Indiana) para niños
