Vevay, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vevay, Indiana
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Main Street in Downtown Vevay
|
|
Location of Vevay in Switzerland County, Indiana.
|
|
 Vevay, Indiana
Location in Indiana
Vevay, Indiana
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Indiana |
| County | Switzerland |
| Township | Jefferson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.55 sq mi (4.01 km2) |
| • Land | 1.45 sq mi (3.76 km2) |
| • Water | 0.10 sq mi (0.26 km2) |
| Elevation | 482 ft (147 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 1,741 |
| • Density | 1,199.86/sq mi (463.37/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
47043
|
| Area code(s) | 812 |
| FIPS code | 18-79010 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2397716 |
Vevay (pronounced VEE-vee) is a small town in Indiana, United States. It is the main town, or county seat, of Switzerland County, Indiana. Vevay sits right next to the Ohio River. In 2020, about 1,741 people lived there.
Contents
History of Vevay
The first people to settle in Vevay arrived in 1802. They were immigrants from Switzerland. They came hoping to grow grapes and make wine. The town was named after a Swiss town called Vevey.
Vevay was officially planned out in 1813. When Switzerland County was created in 1814, Vevay became its county seat. This means it was chosen as the main town for the county's government.
The Vevay post office has been open since 1816. The community became an official town in 1836.
Some people thought Vevay was home to the first commercial winery in the United States. However, the first certified commercial winery actually started in Nicholasville, Kentucky, in 1799. It was also started by a Swiss immigrant.
Several important buildings in Vevay are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Edward and George Cary Eggleston House, the Old Hoosier Theatre, the Benjamin Schenck Mansion, and the Switzerland County Courthouse. These places are important because they show the town's history.
Geography and Climate
Vevay is located right along the Ohio River. You can reach it by driving on Indiana State Road 56 and Indiana State Road 156.
The town covers about 1.55 square miles (4.01 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Vevay's Climate
Vevay has a climate with hot and humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate.
Population of Vevay
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1840 | 1,200 | — | |
| 1860 | 1,198 | — | |
| 1880 | 1,884 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,663 | −11.7% | |
| 1900 | 1,588 | −4.5% | |
| 1910 | 1,256 | −20.9% | |
| 1920 | 1,175 | −6.4% | |
| 1930 | 1,183 | 0.7% | |
| 1940 | 1,209 | 2.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,309 | 8.3% | |
| 1960 | 1,503 | 14.8% | |
| 1970 | 1,463 | −2.7% | |
| 1980 | 1,343 | −8.2% | |
| 1990 | 1,393 | 3.7% | |
| 2000 | 1,735 | 24.6% | |
| 2010 | 1,683 | −3.0% | |
| 2020 | 1,741 | 3.4% | |
U.S. Decennial Census |
|||
In 2010, there were 1,683 people living in Vevay. There were 725 households, which are groups of people living together. About 393 of these were families.
Most of the people in Vevay were White (97.1%). A small number were African American, Asian, or from other backgrounds. About 1.1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Vevay was about 40.8 years old. About 20.3% of the residents were under 18 years old.
Education in Vevay
Vevay has several schools for different age groups.
Elementary Schools
- Jeff-Craig Elementary School
- Switzerland County Elementary School
Middle School
- Switzerland Middle School
High School
- Switzerland County Senior High School
Public Library
The town also has a public library called the Switzerland County Public Library. It is a great place to borrow books and learn new things.
Arts and Culture
Vevay has a special annual event that celebrates its history and culture.
The Swiss Wine Festival
Vevay hosts a yearly event called the Swiss Wine Festival. It usually takes place on the last weekend of August. The festival also includes the Thursday and Friday before. This celebration started in the 1970s and quickly became a favorite local tradition.
Festival Origin
The Swiss Wine Festival in Vevay is inspired by a much older festival. In the Swiss city of Vevey, a festival called la Fête des Vignerons (The Winegrowers' Festival) has been celebrated for centuries. It happens about every 22 years.
Places to Visit in Vevay
- "Life on the Ohio" River History Museum: This museum shows how Vevay and Switzerland County are connected to the Ohio River.
- Switzerland County Historical Museum: This museum is located in an old Presbyterian church built in 1860. It shares the history of the county.
- Switzerland County Courthouse: The first courthouse was built in 1822 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The current courthouse was built in 1865.
- Benjamin Franklin Schenck Mansion: This is a large house with 35 rooms. It was built in 1874 by Benjamin Franklin Schenck.
- U.P. Schenck House: This house was built in 1846 for Ulysses P. Schenck. He was a Swiss riverboat captain who owned many flat-bottom river boats.
- Armstrong Tavern: This is a two-story log house built in 1816 by Thomas Armstrong.
- Hoosier Theatre: This theater was built in 1837 and is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Famous People from Vevay
Some notable people have connections to Vevay:
- Lydia Moss Bradley: A kind person who gave money to help others. She also started Bradley University.
- Ebenezer Dumont: A general during the American Civil War. He also served as a U.S. Congressman.
- Julia Louisa Dumont: An educator and writer who lived from 1794 to 1857.
- Edward Eggleston: A Methodist minister and author.
- George Cary Eggleston: An author, editor, and historian of the Civil War. He was Edward Eggleston's brother.
- Bertha Fry: A very old person who lived to be almost 114 years old. She was born in Vevay in 1893.
- Ken Maynard: An actor and stuntman.
- Kermit Maynard: An actor and stuntman. He played football for Indiana University in the 1920s.
- Will Henry Stevens: An artist.
- E. S. L. Thompson: A writer who lived from 1848 to 1944.
See also
In Spanish: Vevay para niños
