West Baden Springs, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
West Baden Springs, Indiana
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Location of West Baden Springs in Orange County, Indiana.
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 West Baden Springs, Indiana
Location in Indiana
West Baden Springs, Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Indiana |
| County | Orange |
| Township | French Lick |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.10 sq mi (2.84 km2) |
| • Land | 1.09 sq mi (2.82 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 541 ft (165 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 541 |
| • Density | 496.79/sq mi (191.85/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
47469
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| Area code(s) | 812, 930 |
| FIPS code | 18-82376 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2397730 |
West Baden Springs is a town in French Lick Township, Orange County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The town is known for its natural mineral springs. These springs have special water that people believed was good for health. In 2020, the population was 541 people.
Contents
History of West Baden Springs
West Baden Springs is located near several natural mineral springs. The town was started in the 1850s. It was named after famous spa towns in Germany, like Wiesbaden or Baden-Baden. A spa town is a place where people visit to use mineral-rich waters for health or relaxation.
A post office has been open in West Baden Springs since 1861. Several important buildings in the town are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are recognized for their historical value. These include the Dixie Garage, First Baptist Church, Homestead Hotel, Oxford Hotel, West Baden National Bank, and the famous West Baden Springs Hotel.
Geography of West Baden Springs
West Baden Springs is a small town. Most of its area is land. According to the 2010 census, the town covers about 1.098 square miles (2.84 km2) of land. Only a very small part, about 0.008 square miles (0.02 km2), is water. This means almost all of the town's area is dry land.
People and Population
How Many People Live Here?
The number of people living in West Baden Springs has changed over the years. In 2010, there were 574 people living in the town. By 2020, the population was 541.
Who Lives in West Baden Springs?
In 2010, there were 251 households in the town. A household is a group of people living together in one home. About 27.9% of these households had children under 18. Many households were married couples living together.
The average age of people in West Baden Springs in 2010 was 40.4 years old. About 24% of the residents were under 18 years old. About 17.8% were 65 years or older.
Population Changes Over Time
The population of West Baden Springs has varied throughout history. Here is a look at the population over different years:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 746 | — | |
| 1920 | 832 | 11.5% | |
| 1930 | 1,174 | 41.1% | |
| 1940 | 949 | −19.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,047 | 10.3% | |
| 1960 | 879 | −16.0% | |
| 1970 | 930 | 5.8% | |
| 1980 | 796 | −14.4% | |
| 1990 | 675 | −15.2% | |
| 2000 | 618 | −8.4% | |
| 2010 | 574 | −7.1% | |
| 2020 | 541 | −5.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Economy and Local Businesses
The West Baden Springs Hotel
The West Baden Springs Hotel is a very famous and historic building. It has 243 rooms and is a luxury hotel. It is part of a larger resort complex called the French Lick Resort Casino. This complex also includes the French Lick Springs Hotel and a casino.
The West Baden Springs Hotel was built in 1902. It became well-known for its huge dome that covers its atrium. This dome is about 200-foot (61 m) wide! The hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. It became a National Historic Landmark in 1987, which means it's a very important historical site. It is also recognized as a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
The hotel was carefully restored and reopened on June 23, 2007. The renovated French Lick Springs Hotel and the new casino had opened earlier, on November 3, 2006.
Education in West Baden Springs
Students in West Baden Springs attend schools within the Springs Valley Community School Corporation. This school district was created in 1957. Before that, the schools in French Lick and West Baden were separate.
The main high school for students in West Baden Springs is Springs Valley High School. This school serves both junior high and senior high students. Before the schools joined together, West Baden High School had a mascot called the "Sprudels." This name means "springs" in German. The mascot was an elf, and the school colors were purple and white. The high schools of West Baden Springs and French Lick used to be big rivals in sports.
Notable People from West Baden Springs
- Larry Bird, a very famous professional basketball player, was born in West Baden Springs.
See also
In Spanish: West Baden Springs (Indiana) para niños
