Russiaville, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Russiaville, Indiana
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Along Main Street in Russiaville
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Location of Russiaville in Howard County, Indiana.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Howard |
| Township | Honey Creek |
| Named for | Jean Baptiste Richardville |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.90 sq mi (2.32 km2) |
| • Land | 0.90 sq mi (2.32 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 837 ft (255 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,319 |
| • Density | 1,473.74/sq mi (569.32/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
46979
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| Area code(s) | 765 |
| FIPS code | 18-66546 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2396895 |
| Website | http://www.townofrussiaville.com |
Russiaville is a small town in Howard County, Indiana, United States. It is located in Honey Creek Township. In 2020, about 1,319 people lived there. Russiaville is part of the larger Kokomo area. The town officially became a town sometime between 1860 and 1870.
Contents
Town's Name: Russiaville
The town was named after Jean Baptiste de Richardville. He was a important Miami chief. His father's last name was Richerville. He worked with the United States government on treaties in the early 1800s.
The name "Richardville" was pronounced in French as "Ri-shar-ville." Over time, this pronunciation changed. It became what we now know as "Russiaville." For a long time, people pronounced it "Roo-sha-ville."
Some people thought the town's name was linked to the country of Russia. Because of this, the high school's sports teams were called the "Cossacks." This continued until 1949. Then, Russiaville High School became Western High School.
There's a theory that during the Cold War, people changed how they said the name. They wanted to avoid sounding like "Russia" because of the Soviet Union. However, the "Roo-sha-ville" pronunciation was used long before the Cold War began. An old map from the 1840s to 1850s shows a county and town named Richardville. This was in the same spot as Russiaville today.
History of Russiaville
Russiaville was first planned out in 1845.
Quaker Settlement and the Underground Railroad
Before the Civil War, Russiaville became a settlement for Quakers. Quakers are a religious group known for their peaceful beliefs. They helped create a stop on the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom. The stop was in nearby New London.
A local story says there was a secret tunnel. It supposedly went from a safe house in New London to a cave. This cave was in the hollow of Honey Creek, near the Quaker meetinghouse.
Famous People from Russiaville
Russiaville is the birthplace of Jonathan Dixon Maxwell. He was born on September 3, 1864. He was famous for building the Maxwell automobile. He is buried in Russiaville.
Major Tornado of 1965
On April 11, 1965, a very strong tornado hit Russiaville. It was an F4 tornado. This tornado was part of the Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak. Almost the entire town was destroyed. After the town was rebuilt, its population grew.
Ryan White and HIV/AIDS Awareness
In 1985, a teenager named Ryan White lived in Russiaville. He attended the Western School District's Middle School. Ryan was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. When he tried to return to school, some parents and teachers wanted to ban him. This was because of fear and a lack of understanding about HIV.
Ryan's case became very important across the United States. It helped people learn more about HIV/AIDS. It also led to public discussions about funding for HIV treatment. The way Ryan and his family were treated by some in the community brought attention to the issue. Eventually, this led to the Ryan White CARE Act. This law provides money to help people with AIDS who have low incomes or no health insurance.
Geography
Russiaville covers an area of about 0.81 square miles (2.32 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Population Changes
The population of Russiaville has changed over the years:
- 1870: 160 people
- 1880: 419 people
- 1890: 603 people
- 1970: 844 people
- 1980: 973 people
- 1990: 1,014 people
- 2000: 1,092 people
- 2010: 1,094 people
- 2020: 1,319 people
2010 Census Information
In 2010, there were 1,094 people living in Russiaville. There were 434 households and 307 families. The town had about 1,350 people per square mile.
Most of the people (98.6%) were White. A small number were African American, Native American, or Asian. About 1.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 39.2% of households had children under 18. The average age in Russiaville was 37.1 years old.
Transportation
Highways
IN-26 is a main road that goes through Russiaville. It connects to Lafayette to the west and Hartford City to the east.
Education
School Districts
- Western School Corporation (K-12): This school district serves students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Western High School's sports teams compete in the Mid-Indiana Conference (MIC).
Public Library
Russiaville has a public library. It is a branch of the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library system.
Movies Filmed in Russiaville
- The Ryan White Story (1988): This movie was filmed in Russiaville. It starred Judith Light and Lukas Haas. The movie told the story of Ryan White.
See also
In Spanish: Russiaville (Indiana) para niños
