Williamsport, Indiana Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Williamsport, Indiana
Town
Warren County courthouse in Williamsport
Williamsport, Indiana Location in Warren County, Indiana Show map of Warren County, Indiana Williamsport, Indiana Location in Indiana Show map of Indiana Williamsport, Indiana Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Indiana
County	Warren
Township	Washington
Founded	1828
Incorporated	1854
Founded by	William Harrison
Area
• Total	1.30 sq mi (3.38 km²)
• Land	1.30 sq mi (3.38 km²)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km²)
Elevation	627 ft (191 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	1,950
• Density	1,494.25/sq mi (577.11/km²)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	47993
Area code(s)	765
FIPS code	18-84410
GNIS feature ID	2397746

Williamsport is a small town in Indiana, United States. It is located in Warren County and is the biggest of the four towns there. In 2010, about 1,898 people lived in Williamsport. It is also the county seat, which means it's where the main government offices for the county are. A cool natural spot called Williamsport Falls is right in the middle of town.

History of Williamsport
- Historic Buildings in Williamsport
Geography and Nature
Population of Williamsport
Education
Economy and Jobs
Notable People
Images for kids
See also

History of Williamsport

Williamsport was started by a man named William Harrison on December 11, 1828. The town was named after him! William Harrison was the first person to live there. He built a log house and ran a ferry to help people cross the river.

Even though it was across the river from the Wabash and Erie Canal, Williamsport wanted to be part of the shipping business. So, the town built a short canal around 1852. This project earned Williamsport the nickname "Side-Cut City."

Williamsport became the county seat in June 1829. This meant it became the main town for Warren County. The town's post office opened on September 28, 1829, making it the first in the county. Williamsport officially became an incorporated town in March 1854. At that time, 552 people lived there.

James Frank Hanly was a famous person who lived in Williamsport. He was the Governor of Indiana from 1905 to 1909. He lived and worked as a lawyer here from 1879 to 1896. He is buried in Hillside Cemetery, which is on the northeast side of town.

The Williamsport-Washington Township Public Library first opened in 1917. It was a Carnegie library, which means it was built with money from Andrew Carnegie. The library moved to a new building in 2002.

Historic Buildings in Williamsport

Williamsport has several old and important buildings. These places tell us a lot about the town's past.

Williamsport Presbyterian Church

The Williamsport Presbyterian Church is located at 15 Fall Street. It was built a long time ago, in 1889. This church is listed on the Indiana Register of Historic Sites and Structures. It was closed in 1964 and was empty for many years. In 1991, people started a group to help fix it up. The church got a new roof and other repairs. It was officially listed as historic in 1998. Inside, you can still see the original stained glass windows, the bell, the pulpit, and the pews.

The Tower House

You can find the "Tower House" at 303 Lincoln Street. It was built in 1854. People call it the "Tower House" because it has a unique three-story tower on one corner. This house originally had a twin house next to it, but that one was destroyed in a fire in the 1990s. The house has changed over the years. For example, a front porch and side porch were turned into the kitchen. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

Warren County Courthouse

The Warren County Courthouse is at 125 North Monroe Street. It was built between 1907 and 1908. This building is also on the United States National Register of Historic Places. It is the fourth courthouse built for Warren County.

Map of Williamsport

Geography and Nature

Williamsport is located near State Road 28. It is also close to the Wabash River, which forms the eastern edge of the county. The most amazing natural feature in Williamsport is Williamsport Falls. It's a 90-foot waterfall right in the center of town! It's the tallest waterfall in Indiana.

The town has two main parts. The original part, called "Old Town," is down by the river. "New Town" was built on the hill above it. This was done to be closer to the railroad. A train line, run by Norfolk Southern Railway, still goes through town.

According to the 2010 census, Williamsport covers about 1.3 square miles (3.38 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the town limits.

Population of Williamsport

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1850	279	—
1860	520	86.4%
1870	988	90.0%
1880	913	−7.6%
1890	1,027	12.5%
1900	1,245	21.2%
1910	1,243	−0.2%
1920	1,088	−12.5%
1930	1,053	−3.2%
1940	1,222	16.0%
1950	1,241	1.6%
1960	1,353	9.0%
1970	1,661	22.8%
1980	1,747	5.2%
1990	1,798	2.9%
2000	1,935	7.6%
2010	1,898	−1.9%
2020	1,950	2.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2010, there were 1,898 people living in Williamsport. These people lived in 766 homes, and 513 of those were families. The town had about 1,457 people per square mile. Most people living in Williamsport are white (98.3%). A small number of people are Asian, Black, or from other backgrounds. About 1% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino origin.

The average age of people in Williamsport in 2010 was 42.5 years old. The average household had about 2.37 people. The average family had about 2.90 people.

Education

The town has a public library called the Williamsport-Washington Township Public Library. It is one of two public libraries in Warren County.

Economy and Jobs

Williamsport has several businesses that provide jobs for the community.

TMF Center makes parts for construction equipment and trucks.
GL Technologies gets tools for industrial use.
Kuri-Tec makes hoses and other items for industries.

The town also has the only hospital in the county, St. Vincent Williamsport Hospital. It is a 16-bed hospital that offers emergency medical services 24 hours a day. There is also a nursing home called "Williamsport Nursing and Rehabilitation." It helps seniors with healthcare and recovery. These healthcare places are important for jobs in Warren County. About 9.8% of all jobs in the county are in healthcare and social services.