Matthews, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Matthews, Indiana
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Downtown Matthews
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Location of Matthews in Grant County, Indiana.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Grant |
| Township | Jefferson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.35 sq mi (0.91 km2) |
| • Land | 0.35 sq mi (0.91 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 876 ft (267 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 494 |
| • Density | 1,403.41/sq mi (541.28/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
46957
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| Area code(s) | 765 |
| FIPS code | 18-47592 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2396741 |
Matthews is a small town located in Grant County, Indiana, United States. It sits along the Mississinewa River. In 2010, about 596 people lived here.
Contents
Discovering Matthews: A Look at Its Past
Matthews was founded in 1895. It was named after the governor of Indiana at the time, Claude Matthews. The people who started the town chose a spot near the center of the Trenton Gas Field. This was a large area where natural gas was found underground.
Why Matthews Was Almost Indiana's Capital
Because of its central location in the gas field, some people hoped Matthews could become the new capital city of Indiana. The state capital was already Indianapolis, which had been chosen for that role less than 100 years earlier. However, this big plan for Matthews changed in 1903. The natural gas in the field started to run out. This meant the town could not become the capital. Even today, Matthews has a main street that is much wider than you would expect for a town its size. This wide street was built to prepare for a much larger city.
The Older Village of New Cumberland
Matthews was built close to an older village called New Cumberland. This village was founded much earlier, in 1833. Today, this area is known as the "old town" part of Matthews.
The Famous Covered Bridge
In the old town, you can find a special wooden covered bridge. It is called the Cumberland Covered Bridge. This bridge was built in 1877 and crosses the Mississinewa River. It is a very important part of the town's history.
The Cumberland Covered Bridge is the main attraction for Matthews' yearly festival. Thousands of people visit the town just to see this historic bridge.
Historic Sites: The Cumberland Covered Bridge
The Cumberland Covered Bridge was built in 1877 by a man named William Parks. It is about 181 feet (55 meters) long. It was first called the New Cumberland Bridge.
In 1913, there was a big flood. The bridge was washed about half a mile (0.8 kilometers) down the Mississinewa River. People worked together to bring it back. They rolled it on logs using horses. After that, the bridge's foundation was raised by 33 feet (10 meters). It has been stable ever since. Because of its history and unique story, the bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Geography of Matthews
Matthews covers a total area of about 0.35 square miles (0.91 square kilometers). All of this area is land. The town is located right along the Mississinewa River.
Population Changes in Matthews
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 688 | — | |
| 1920 | 502 | −27.0% | |
| 1930 | 513 | 2.2% | |
| 1940 | 468 | −8.8% | |
| 1950 | 501 | 7.1% | |
| 1960 | 627 | 25.1% | |
| 1970 | 728 | 16.1% | |
| 1980 | 745 | 2.3% | |
| 1990 | 571 | −23.4% | |
| 2000 | 595 | 4.2% | |
| 2010 | 596 | 0.2% | |
| 2020 | 494 | −17.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Who Lives in Matthews?
In 2010, there were 596 people living in Matthews. These people lived in 234 homes, with 166 of these being families. Most of the people living in Matthews were White (98%). A small number were African American or Native American.
About one-third of the homes had children under 18 living there. Most homes were made up of married couples. The average age of people in Matthews was about 40.6 years old. About 26.5% of the residents were under 18.
Education in Matthews
The town of Matthews has its own public library. It is called the Matthews Public Library. This library lends books and other materials to the community.
See also
In Spanish: Matthews (Indiana) para niños
