Princeton, Indiana facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Princeton, Indiana
City
Southern and western sides of Princeton's best-known landmark, the 1884 Gibson County Courthouse
Nickname(s): The Heart of Southwestern Indiana
Motto(s): "Creating A World Class Community"
Location of Princeton in Gibson County, Indiana.
Country	United States
State	Indiana
County	Gibson
Township	Patoka
Settled	1814
Named for	William Prince
Area
• Total	5.48 sq mi (14.19 km²)
• Land	5.47 sq mi (14.18 km²)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.01 km²) 0.20%
Elevation	459 ft (140 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	8,301
• Density	1,516.16/sq mi (585.39/km²)
Time zone	UTC−6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Code	47670
Area code(s)	812
FIPS code	18-62046
GNIS feature ID	2396277
U.S. Highways
Major State Roads
Website	www.princeton.in.gov

Princeton is the biggest city in Gibson County, Indiana, and it's also where the county government is located. In 2020, about 8,301 people lived here. Princeton is part of the larger Evansville area.

Princeton's Past: A Look at History

How Princeton Started

In 1800, the Indiana Territory was formed, with Vincennes as its capital. Many pioneers and settlers were drawn to the rich farmlands in the southwest, especially because they could easily reach the Ohio River. One of these settlers was William Prince, an immigrant from Ireland. He was born in 1772 and came to America when he was 22. William Prince later became a commissioner for Gibson County, and that's why Princeton is named after him!

In 1813, the capital of the Indiana Territory moved from Vincennes to Corydon. This was also when Gibson County was created. Before this, Gibson County was part of a much larger area called Knox County. By 1814, settlers wanted a "seat of justice," which means a main town for the county. Captain William Prince and three other commissioners chose the spot. They picked a place that was halfway along the stagecoach route between Evansville and Vincennes. They drew lots to decide the town's name, and it was chosen to be named after Captain Prince.

Important Buildings and Early Life

The most famous building in Princeton is the Gibson County Courthouse. It was built in 1884 and has a special architectural style called Second Empire. It's so well-known that it was even made into a collectible figurine! Princeton got its first post office way back in 1816. The local newspaper, the Princeton Daily Clarion, started publishing in 1846.

A small community called Lyles Station was founded nearby in 1849 by Joshua Lyles, a freed slave from Tennessee. It became a safe place for runaway slaves who were heading north to freedom.

Transportation and Industry Growth

The Wabash and Erie Canal used to run through nearby towns like Francisco and Port Gibson. This canal helped Princeton send its goods to faraway markets. But in the 1850s, railroads started to become popular, and canals became less important. The Evansville and Terre Haute Railroad line came through Princeton in 1852. The Princeton Depot, a train station, was built in 1875. The railroad really helped Princeton's businesses grow. The Southern Railway Shops were built in 1892. Other industries included a Heinz plant, which made ketchup from the area's famous tomatoes, and the Princeton Coal Mine.

Major Events in Princeton's History

In 1925, a very powerful storm called the Tri-State Tornado hit Princeton. It caused a lot of damage on the south side of the city. Forty-four people lost their lives, 146 were injured, and hundreds lost their homes. Princeton was the last place this historic tornado hit before it disappeared. This tornado was the deadliest in U.S. history, and almost half of the 95 people who died in Indiana were from Princeton.

On December 9, 1926, a mine explosion in or near Princeton killed 29 people.

In 1998, Toyota Motor Company opened a large truck manufacturing plant between Princeton and Fort Branch. They started building new pickup trucks and SUVs there. Toyota greatly increased production at the plant in 2000. As of 2016, the plant makes two types of SUVs and a van.

On April 18, 2008, Princeton felt an earthquake that happened nearby in Illinois.

Two important places in Princeton, the Gibson County Courthouse and the Welborn-Ross House, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are recognized for their historical importance.

Princeton's Location and Weather

Where Princeton Is Located

According to the 2010 census, Princeton covers about 5.075 square miles (13.14 square kilometers). Almost all of this area is land, with only a tiny bit being water.

Princeton's Climate

The weather in Princeton has hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. Princeton has a humid subtropical climate, which means it gets plenty of rain and has warm temperatures for much of the year.

People of Princeton: Demographics

Princeton's Post Office, built in 1913

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1840	573	—
1850	806	40.7%
1860	1,397	73.3%
1870	1,847	32.2%
1880	2,566	38.9%
1890	3,076	19.9%
1900	6,041	96.4%
1910	6,448	6.7%
1920	7,132	10.6%
1930	7,505	5.2%
1940	7,786	3.7%
1950	7,673	−1.5%
1960	7,906	3.0%
1970	7,431	−6.0%
1980	8,976	20.8%
1990	8,127	−9.5%
2000	8,175	0.6%
2010	8,644	5.7%
2020	8,301	−4.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

Princeton's Population in 2020

In the 2020 census, Princeton had 8,301 people living there. Most of the population, about 89.9%, was White. About 6.8% were Black or African American. Other groups included people of two or more races (3.1%), Hispanic or Latino (1.7%), and Asian (0.1%).

Princeton's Population in 2010

In 2010, there were 8,644 people living in Princeton. There were 3,516 households, and 2,129 families. The city had about 1,705 people per square mile. Most residents (90.4%) were White. Other groups included African American (4.6%), Native American (0.2%), Asian (0.7%), and people of other races (1.1%). About 2.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

About 32.8% of households had children under 18. The average age in the city was 37.2 years. About 25% of residents were under 18, and 16.1% were 65 or older.

Princeton's Economy: Jobs and Businesses

Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana is Princeton's largest employer

The biggest employer in Princeton is Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana (TMMI). It's located a few miles south of the city. At this plant, Toyota makes vehicles like the Sequoia, Sienna, and Highlander. Another important employer is Hansen Corporation.

Many companies that supply parts to Toyota have also built facilities near Princeton. This helps them save money on shipping. Some of these suppliers include EnovaPremier, Vuteq, TBIN, and Millennium Steel. These places were built or changed to provide parts and services to the Toyota plant.

In the past, Siemens had research and manufacturing facilities in Princeton. However, these facilities closed in the early 1990s. Now, a large hardware store is located where the Siemens plant used to be.

When Toyota announced in 1995 that it would build a large factory in Princeton, it brought a lot of economic growth. Many of Toyota's suppliers also built plants nearby. Plus, many new stores and restaurants opened to serve the new employees moving to the area.

Princeton is served by two freight train lines: CSX and Norfolk Southern. You can even watch trains online through live cameras hosted by the Gibson County Visitors and Tourism Bureau! Greyhound Bus Lines also stops in Princeton for travelers.

Fun in Princeton: Parks and Recreation

Lafayette Park

Princeton has three main city parks managed by the Department of Parks and Recreation.

Lafayette Park is the largest park and is on the north side of the city. It has a fishing pond, picnic shelters, a playground, and a stage for performances. The city swimming pool is next to Lafayette Park. There's also Kiddie Land, a playground for very young children. Gil Hodges Field, where the Princeton Community High School baseball team plays, is also in the park.
South Side Park
East End Park

Gibson County Fairgrounds

The Gibson County Fairgrounds are also located in Princeton, hosting events and the annual county fair.

News and Sounds: Media

Radio Stations

FM 98.1 WRAY-FM – Plays Country Music and other programs.
FM 94.3 WRAY – This is a repeater station for AM 1250.
AM 1250 WRAY – Features News, Talk shows, and other programs.

Newspapers

Princeton Daily Clarion – This newspaper is published from Tuesday to Friday.

Learning in Princeton: Education

Princeton is part of the North Gibson School Corporation. The schools in this district include:

Princeton Community High School
Princeton Community Middle School
Princeton Community Intermediate School
Princeton Community Primary School

Before 1965, there was a school called Princeton High School. That year, it combined with three other high schools to become Princeton Community High School.

There are also private schools in Princeton:

Bethel Christian School
St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School (part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Evansville)

The town also has a public library, the Princeton Public Library, where you can borrow books and other materials.

Famous Faces: Notable People from Princeton

Many interesting people have connections to Princeton:

Michael A. Banks – An author, born in Princeton in 1951.
Gary Burton – A famous jazz vibraphonist.
Taylor Caniff – An Internet personality.
Gary Denbo – A Vice President for the Miami Marlins baseball team.
Gil Hodges – A professional baseball player.
Jeron Criswell King – An actor and psychic.
Dave Niehaus – A play-by-play announcer for the Seattle Mariners baseball team.
William Prince – The politician the town is named after.
Orville Redenbacher – The well-known popcorn icon.
Jamie Rowe – A rock and heavy metal vocalist.
Dave Thomas – The founder of Wendy's restaurants.
Jackie Young – An American basketball player, chosen first in the 2019 WNBA draft for the Las Vegas Aces.

Getting Around: Highways and Major Roads

Main Highways

U.S. Route 41 connects Princeton to Evansville and Terre Haute.
State Road 64 is known as Broadway Avenue in Princeton. It connects to Mount Carmel and Interstate 69.
State Road 65 is also part of Broadway Avenue for a while, then turns onto Main Street. It heads towards Petersburg or Owensville.

Important Local Roads

Broadway Avenue is a major road, sometimes with four lanes. It can get blocked by trains, as over 80 trains pass through town daily.
Brumfield Avenue runs parallel to Broadway and has one of the two railroad overpasses in Princeton.
Embree Street is a key road to reach Princeton Community High School. It has a roundabout that was finished in 2009 to help traffic flow better, especially when trains are passing. The Gibson County Fairgrounds are also on Embree Street.
Main Street is the main north-south road in Princeton. It was improved in 2008 and is now very presentable. The new Princeton Community High School, opened in 2012, is located along Main Street north of town. Main Street also has a railroad overpass.
Mulberry/Spring Street Bypass is often used to get to Princeton's South Side and avoid traffic lights downtown.
Richland Creek Drive has a new roundabout, new housing, and a Deaconess Hospital Clinic. It connects to U.S. Route 41.
North Prince Street runs parallel to Main Street and has several four-way stops.
State Street runs parallel to Broadway and is often used to bypass traffic. It also has several four-way stops.
Second Avenue was extended in 2018 and now provides a bypass for workers to reach restaurants without using the busy US-41/IN-64-65 intersection. New housing and apartments have been built along this road since 2022. It now has a roundabout connecting to Richland Creek Drive, which opened in October 2024.

Global Connections: Sister City

Princeton has a special connection with Tahara, Aichi, Japan. They became sister cities on August 8, 2002.