Mitchell, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mitchell, Indiana
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Main St., Downtown Mitchell, Indiana.
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Location of Mitchell in Lawrence County, Indiana.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Lawrence |
| Incorporated (town) | 1864 |
| Incorporated (city) | 1907 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.60 sq mi (9.32 km2) |
| • Land | 3.59 sq mi (9.31 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2) 0.30% |
| Elevation | 682 ft (208 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,933 |
| • Density | 1,094.32/sq mi (422.57/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
47446
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| Area code(s) | 812 |
| FIPS code | 18-49950 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2395357 |
| Website | http://www.mitchell-in.gov/ |
Mitchell is a city located in Lawrence County, Indiana, United States. It is part of Marion Township. In 2010, about 4,350 people lived there.
Contents
History of Mitchell, Indiana
Mitchell started as a railroad town in the mid-1800s. Two important train lines met here. The Monon Railroad was built in 1853, running north and south. The Ohio and Mississippi Railway (later part of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad) was finished in 1857. This line connected Cincinnati and St. Louis.
How Mitchell Got Its Name
The town was planned where these two rail lines crossed. Landowners asked a surveyor named Ormsby M. Mitchel to map out the new town. In return, they named the town after him. Ormsby Mitchel was a West Point graduate and a professor. He was also an attorney and a famous astronomer. During the American Civil War, he became a major general in the Union Army. He was known for ordering the Great Locomotive Chase. General Mitchel died in 1862. The second "L" in Mitchell was added later.
Growth and Industry
Mitchell became an official town in 1864 and a city in 1907. Many factories opened here. One famous company was the Carpenter Body Company. It started in 1919 and made bodies for wagons, trucks, and buses. They were well-known for making School bus bodies until 1995.
Famous People from Mitchell
Mitchell is the birthplace of two very different but famous people.
Sam Bass: The Outlaw
Sam Bass was born in the Mitchell area in 1851. He became an outlaw and train robber. He was known for robbing banks, stagecoaches, and trains. One of his most famous robberies was in 1877. He stole a large amount of gold from the Union Pacific Railroad. This was one of the biggest robberies in the railroad's history. Sam Bass died in 1878.
Gus Grissom: The Astronaut
Virgil "Gus" Grissom was born in Mitchell in 1926. He studied mechanical engineering at Purdue University. He joined the United States Air Force. Later, NASA chose him for the Project Mercury space program. Gus Grissom was the second American to fly into space. He flew on the Liberty Bell 7 mission. He also flew on Gemini 3. Sadly, he died in a launch pad fire in 1967. This happened during a training exercise for the Apollo 1 mission.
Local Attractions and Modern Times
Just east of Mitchell is Spring Mill State Park. This park has a memorial to Gus Grissom. It also features several caves and a pioneer village. The village has original buildings from an old mill town. Some buildings were moved there from other pioneer areas.
The old Monon and B&O railroads are now part of CSX Transportation. Mitchell is also served by the Union Pacific system today.
In recent times, Mitchell's downtown area became a historic district. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The town has worked to bring in new businesses and tourism. They highlight their history with antique shops. The Mitchell Opera House is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Geography of Mitchell
Mitchell covers a total area of about 3.285 square miles (8.51 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 3.28 square miles (8.49 square kilometers), is land. A very small part, about 0.005 square miles (0.01 square kilometers), is water.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 1,087 | — | |
| 1880 | 1,439 | 32.4% | |
| 1890 | 1,583 | 10.0% | |
| 1900 | 1,772 | 11.9% | |
| 1910 | 3,438 | 94.0% | |
| 1920 | 3,025 | −12.0% | |
| 1930 | 3,226 | 6.6% | |
| 1940 | 3,393 | 5.2% | |
| 1950 | 3,245 | −4.4% | |
| 1960 | 3,552 | 9.5% | |
| 1970 | 4,092 | 15.2% | |
| 1980 | 4,641 | 13.4% | |
| 1990 | 4,669 | 0.6% | |
| 2000 | 4,567 | −2.2% | |
| 2010 | 4,350 | −4.8% | |
| 2020 | 3,933 | −9.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Mitchell's Population in 2010
In 2010, Mitchell had 4,350 people living in the city. There were 1,786 households. About 1,145 of these were families. The city had about 1,326 people per square mile. Most of the people living in Mitchell were White (97.6%). About 24.9% of residents were under 18 years old. The average age in the city was 39.2 years.
Education in Mitchell
Mitchell has a public library for its residents. It is called the Mitchell Community Public Library.
Local Festival
Every September, Mitchell hosts the Persimmon Festival. During this festival, you can enjoy delicious Persimmon pudding and ice cream.
Notable People from Mitchell
- Sam Bass, a famous outlaw
- Chase Briscoe, a NASCAR driver
- Terry Cole, an NFL running back
- Gus Grissom, a Mercury Seven astronaut
See also
In Spanish: Mitchell (Indiana) para niños
