Knightstown, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Knightstown, Indiana
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| Town of Knightstown | |
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Location of Knightstown in Henry County, Indiana.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Henry |
| Township | Wayne |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.04 sq mi (2.69 km2) |
| • Land | 1.03 sq mi (2.67 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 929 ft (283 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,140 |
| • Density | 2,077.67/sq mi (802.52/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
46148
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| Area code(s) | 765 |
| FIPS code | 18-40266 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2396694 |
| Website | http://www.knightstownonline.com |
Knightstown is a small town in Henry County, Indiana. It is located near the Big Blue River, about 32 miles east of Indianapolis. In 2020, about 2,140 people lived here.
Knightstown is famous for being a filming location for the 1986 movie Hoosiers. The Hoosier Gym, used in the film, is still a popular spot. The town also holds fun events like Jubilee Days in June and the Hoosier Fall Festival in September. There's also an annual car show and a music series on the town square.
Contents
History of Knightstown
Knightstown was started and planned by Waitsell M. Cary in 1827. It was named after Jonathan Knight. He was an engineer who worked on the National Road and a U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania. A post office has been open in Knightstown since 1833.
Some important buildings in Knightstown are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Elias Hinshaw House, the Knightstown Academy, and the Knightstown Historic District. These places are recognized for their historical importance.
Geography of Knightstown
Knightstown is located in Indiana. According to the 2010 census, the town covers about 1.04 square miles (2.69 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 1.03 square miles (2.67 square kilometers), is land. A very small part, about 0.01 square miles (0.02 square kilometers), is water.
Population Changes in Knightstown
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 1,528 | — | |
| 1880 | 1,670 | 9.3% | |
| 1890 | 1,867 | 11.8% | |
| 1900 | 1,942 | 4.0% | |
| 1910 | 2,008 | 3.4% | |
| 1920 | 1,918 | −4.5% | |
| 1930 | 2,209 | 15.2% | |
| 1940 | 2,323 | 5.2% | |
| 1950 | 2,486 | 7.0% | |
| 1960 | 2,496 | 0.4% | |
| 1970 | 2,456 | −1.6% | |
| 1980 | 2,325 | −5.3% | |
| 1990 | 2,048 | −11.9% | |
| 2000 | 2,148 | 4.9% | |
| 2010 | 2,182 | 1.6% | |
| 2020 | 2,140 | −1.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Knightstown's Population in 2010
In 2010, there were 2,182 people living in Knightstown. These people lived in 899 households, and 590 of these were families. The town had about 2,118 people per square mile. There were also 1,001 homes in the town.
Most of the people in Knightstown were White (98.0%). A small number were African American, Native American, Asian, or Pacific Islander. About 0.6% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Knightstown was 38.8 years old. About 25.4% of the residents were under 18 years old. About 16% were 65 years old or older. The town had slightly more females (52.2%) than males (47.8%).
Education in Knightstown
The schools in Knightstown are part of the Charles A. Beard Memorial School Corporation. Knightstown High School offers special classes where students can earn college credits.
The high school cheerleaders have won many State Championships. They won in 2000, 2004, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018. Knightstown also has an elementary school and an intermediate school for younger students.
The town has a public library called the Knightstown Public Library. It's a great place to borrow books and learn new things.
Famous People from Knightstown
Many notable people have connections to Knightstown:
- Monte Blue was an actor who grew up and went to school near Knightstown.
- Timmy Brown was a football player, actor, and singer. He was raised in Knightstown.
- Clifford M. Hardin was a former Secretary of Agriculture for the U.S. He grew up and went to school in Knightstown.
- Charles A. Beard was a famous historian. He also grew up and attended school in Knightstown.
- Forrest Lewis was an actor born in Knightstown. He was known for playing Officer Kelly in several movies.
- Douglas J. Morris was a Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court. He was born and raised in Knightstown.
- Ruby Green Smith was an entomologist (someone who studies insects), a peace activist, and an educator.
- William Zion was a U.S. Marine Private born in Knightstown. He received the Medal of Honor for his bravery.
Fun Things to Do in Knightstown
- The Hoosier Gym is a famous place in Knightstown. It was used as the home court for the Hickory Huskers team in the movie Hoosiers. Today, it's a community center and has a small museum. You can visit the gym and museum for free every day.
- Royal Hylands Golf Course is a public golf course in Knightstown. In 2006, the Indiana Golf Association said it was one of the top 25 public golf courses in the state.
See also
In Spanish: Knightstown (Indiana) para niños
