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Greenfield, Indiana
Hancock County Courthouse in downtown Greenfield
Hancock County Courthouse in downtown Greenfield
Location of Greenfield in Hancock County, Indiana.
Location of Greenfield in Hancock County, Indiana.
Country United States
State Indiana
County Hancock
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
883 ft (269 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 23,488
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
46140
Area code(s) 317
FIPS code 18-29520
GNIS feature ID 0449837

Greenfield is a city in and the county seat of Hancock County, Indiana, United States, and a part of the Indianapolis metropolitan area. The population was 20,602 at the 2010 census, and an estimated 23,006 in 2019. It lies in Center Township.

Greenfield was a stop along the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad that connected Pittsburgh to Chicago and St. Louis.

History

Hancock County was created on March 1, 1828, and named for John Hancock, the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence. The town of Greenfield was chosen as the county seat on April 11, 1828. The Commissioners announced, "The seat of Justice of Hancock County shall be known and designated by the name and title of Greenfield." The population of the county at that time was 400.

Early settlers built along the two creeks which flow south through Center Township, which includes Greenfield. The first businesses were small grist mills for grinding corn and wheat for settlers.

U.S. Route 40, the National Road, was built through Hancock County around 1835. It was heavily traveled by wagon trains going west and livestock going to Cincinnati. In 1853, the first steam railroad was completed by the Indiana Central Railroad at the south edge of Greenfield. The railroad became part of the Pennsylvania Railroad System and later the Penn-Central. These tracks were removed in the 1980s.

During this time, Greenfield's population continued to grow. Greenfield was incorporated as a city in 1876 with a population of 2,023. The greatest single period of growth began in 1887 when natural gas was discovered in the area. Greenfield was a boom town for 20 years, with the founding of manufacturing plants and other industries.

A statue of James Whitcomb Riley, which stands in front of the Hancock County Courthouse, was erected in 1918. It was purchased with money donated by school children from all over the United States. Each year, during the Riley Festival in October, the city's school children parade to the statue to place flowers around it.

Charles Barr House, Greenfield Courthouse Square Historic District, Greenfield Residential Historic District, Lilly Biological Laboratories, Lincoln Park School, and James Whitcomb Riley House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

Greenfield is located at 39°47′29″N 85°46′17″W / 39.79139°N 85.77139°W / 39.79139; -85.77139 (39.791338, -85.771343).

According to the 2010 census, Greenfield has a total area of 12.662 square miles (32.79 km2), of which 12.55 square miles (32.50 km2) (or 99.12%) is land and 0.112 square miles (0.29 km2) (or 0.88%) is water.

Located on the east side of historic downtown lies Riley Park, in which flows the Brandywine River.

Demographics

Historical population
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

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 20,602 people, 7,983 households, and 5,382 families living in the city. The population density was 1,641.6 inhabitants per square mile (633.8/km2). There were 8,818 housing units at an average density of 702.6 per square mile (271.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.6% White, 0.6% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.

There were 7,983 households, of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.6% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.04.

The median age in the city was 35.6 years. 26.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.7% were from 25 to 44; 23% were from 45 to 64; and 14% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.1% male and 51.9% female.

Sister and friendship cities

Greenfield is currently in a sister city relationship with Kakuda, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. Each year, a small group of high school students from Greenfield and Kakuda are chosen to travel to each sister city, respectively, and will stay with a host family for ten days, most expenses paid, thanks to local donations. The sister city program began in 1990 and continues today.

Events

Each year in October, the city of Greenfield hosts the Riley Festival which is commonly known as Riley Days. The intersections of State Road 9 and US 40 are closed and the downtown courthouse square is filled with vendors and exhibitors.

Education

Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation services the city of Greenfield and surrounding areas in central Hancock County. It consists of four elementary schools (Grades K - 3), two intermediate schools (Grades 4 - 6), one junior high school (Grades 7 - 8), and one high school (Grades 9 - 12). Greenfield Central High School was built in the late 2000s to accommodate Greenfield's rapidly growing population. Greenfield-Central High School also has undergone renovation in 2011.

List of schools - Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation
  • 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 also serves Greenfield, offering Pre-kindergarten through Grade 8. It is a private Catholic School that won the Blue Ribbon Award.

Greenfield has a public library, a branch of the Hancock County Public Library.

Notable people

  • Adelia Pope Branham (1861-1917), writer
  • Mark Dismore, Indy Racing League and Indianapolis 500 driver
  • Yogi Ferrell, former Indiana basketball player and current Sacramento Kings player
  • Kyle Gibson, pitcher 22nd overall pick in 2009 Major League Baseball Draft
  • Henry C. Gooding, Indiana State Senator and Arizona Territorial Supreme Court Justice
  • Jaycie Phelps, member of US Women's gold medalist 1996 Olympic gymnastic team
  • James Whitcomb Riley, poet and writer
  • Will Vawter, artist

See also

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