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Woodburn, Indiana
Aerial photograph of Woodburn in 2012.
Aerial photograph of Woodburn in 2012.
Location of Woodburn in Allen County, Indiana.
Location of Woodburn in Allen County, Indiana.
Country United States
State Indiana
County Allen
Township Maumee
Area
 • Total 0.96 sq mi (2.48 km2)
 • Land 0.96 sq mi (2.48 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0%
Elevation
751 ft (229 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 1,551
 • Density 1,620.69/sq mi (626.03/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
46797
Area code(s) 260
FIPS code 18-85184
GNIS feature ID 2397367

Woodburn is a small city located in Allen County, Indiana, United States. It is part of Maumee Township. In 2010, Woodburn was the smallest city in Indiana, with a population of 1,520 people. By 2020, its population had grown slightly to 1,551 residents.

Exploring Woodburn's Past: A Brief History

Woodburn was first planned out in 1865 by Joseph Edgerton and Joseph Smith. At that time, it was called Phelps Station. They chose this spot because it had lots of trees, good soil for farming, and a river nearby. After two big fires in the area, Joseph Edgerton sent his son, Edward, to sell large pieces of land for farms.

How Woodburn Got Its Name

The area was first known as Phelps Station because of its train depot. There were only five families and a post office there. In September 1865, the town was planned again and named Woodburn. This name came from the huge fires used to clear the land for farming.

Later, in 1895, a group of local men decided to rename the town Shirley City. They did this to honor Senator Robert B Shirley. But the name didn't stick! In 1956, a special meeting was held, and everyone decided to change the name back to Woodburn. At that time, it officially became the smallest "5th class city" in Indiana.

Early Life and Growth in Woodburn

The first settlers who moved to this area worked very hard. They cleared the land for farming and built drainage systems. This hard work helped the city grow and allowed businesses to start.

Early businesses included the Stucky brothers, who sold and repaired farm tools. The grain elevator and the train station were also very important businesses in the beginning. Soon, Woodburn became a place where people could find everything they needed without leaving town. There was a bank, grocery stores, a drug store, furniture shops, doctors, a blacksmith, restaurants, and even a hotel.

Because there were not many roads back then, having everything locally was very helpful. People in Woodburn did not have to travel far for their daily needs.

Recent Events: The 2016 Tornado

On August 24, 2016, the area around Woodburn was hit by a strong tornado. This tornado was classified as an EF-3, which means it caused significant damage.

Where is Woodburn Located? Geography Facts

Woodburn has a total area of about 0.93 square miles (2.4 square kilometers), and all of it is land. The city is located right next to U.S. Route 24, which is a major highway.

Understanding Woodburn's Population: Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1900 236
1910 375 58.9%
1920 474 26.4%
1930 493 4.0%
1940 471 −4.5%
1950 540 14.6%
1960 585 8.3%
1970 688 17.6%
1980 1,002 45.6%
1990 1,321 31.8%
2000 1,579 19.5%
2010 1,520 −3.7%
2020 1,551 2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

Woodburn's Population in 2010

According to the census from 2010, there were 1,520 people living in Woodburn. These people lived in 585 households, and 406 of these were families. The city had about 1,634 people per square mile.

Most of the people living in Woodburn were White (98.6%). A small number of residents were from other racial backgrounds. About 1.1% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

In 2010, about 36.4% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average age of people in the city was 32.9 years old. About 28% of residents were under 18, and 10.5% were 65 or older. The population was almost evenly split between males (50.9%) and females (49.1%).

Learning in Woodburn: Schools and Library

Students in Woodburn attend schools that are part of the East Allen County Schools (EACS) district. The local schools are Woodlan Elementary School and Woodlan Junior/Senior High School.

There is also a private Christian school in Woodburn called Woodburn Lutheran School. It teaches students from preschool through 8th grade.

For reading and research, Woodburn has a public library. It is a branch of the Allen County Public Library.

Famous People from Woodburn

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Woodburn (Indiana) para niños

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