Paoli, Indiana

Coordinates: 38°33′26″N 86°28′12″W / 38.55722°N 86.47000°W / 38.55722; -86.47000
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Paoli, Indiana
Town Square in Paoli
Town Square in Paoli
Location of Paoli in Orange County, Indiana.
Location of Paoli in Orange County, Indiana.
Coordinates: 38°33′26″N 86°28′12″W / 38.55722°N 86.47000°W / 38.55722; -86.47000
CountryUnited States
StateIndiana
CountyOrange
TownshipPaoli
Area
 • Total3.75 sq mi (9.72 km2)
 • Land3.74 sq mi (9.68 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.04 km2)
Elevation617 ft (188 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total3,666
 • Density980.48/sq mi (378.54/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
47454
Area code(s)812, 930
FIPS code18-57780[3]
GNIS feature ID2396846[2]

Paoli (/pˈli/ pay-OH-lee) is a town within Paoli Township and the county seat of Orange County,[4] in the U.S. state of Indiana.[2] The population was 3,677 at the 2010 census.

History

Paoli was laid out and platted in 1816.[5] It was named for Pasquale Paoli Ash, the son of North Carolina governor Samuel Ashe.[6] A post office has been in operation at Paoli since 1817.[7]

In its first decades, it was noted as a Quaker town that played a role in the Underground Railroad by transporting enslaved people from the South to Canada.[8] In the 1900s, it became known as the site of the Pioneer Mothers Memorial Forest, a surviving fragment of the once-extensive virgin oak forest of southern Indiana.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, Paoli has a total area of 3.75 square miles (9.71 km2), of which 3.74 square miles (9.69 km2) (or 99.73%) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) (or 0.27%) is water.[9]

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Paoli has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[10]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1850461
1870628
188069610.8%
18907071.6%
19001,18667.8%
19101,2787.8%
19201,52018.9%
19302,01632.6%
19402,21810.0%
19502,57516.1%
19602,7547.0%
19703,28119.1%
19803,63710.9%
19903,542−2.6%
20003,8448.5%
20103,677−4.3%
20203,666−0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]

2010 census

As of the census[12] of 2010, there were 3,677 people, 1,484 households, and 923 families living in the town. The population density was 983.2 inhabitants per square mile (379.6/km2). There were 1,645 housing units at an average density of 439.8 per square mile (169.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.7% White, 0.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 1,484 households, of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.2% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.8% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the town was 39.7 years. 23.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.5% were from 25 to 44; 25% were from 45 to 64; and 17.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.

2000 census

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 3,844 people, 1,581 households, and 1,013 families living in the town. The population density was 1,016.0 inhabitants per square mile (392.3/km2). There were 1,725 housing units at an average density of 455.9 per square mile (176.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.34% White, 0.21% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.18% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.70% of the population.

There were 1,581 households, out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.7% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $26,962, and the median income for a family was $34,412. Males had a median income of $28,566 versus $20,110 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,313. About 12.8% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.2% of those under age 18 and 13.3% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Orange County Courthouse on the square in Paoli

Thomas Newby Braxtan House, Orange County Courthouse, and Paoli Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[13]

The town has a lending library, the Paoli Public Library.[14]

Media

The Paoli News-Republican is a newspaper founded in 1875, and published weekly in Paoli.[citation needed]

Notable people

See also

Paoli Peaks, a nearby ski resort.

References

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Paoli, Indiana
  3. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ^ History of Lawrence, Orange, and Washington Counties, Indiana: From the Earliest Time to the Present. Higginson Book Company. 1884. pp. 473.
  6. ^ "History of Paoli". Paoli Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  7. ^ "Orange County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved September 19, 2015.
  8. ^ Douglas Wissing (March 1, 2001). Scenic Driving Indiana. Globe Pequot. p. 6. ISBN 978-1-56044-906-5. Retrieved November 23, 2011.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  10. ^ Climate Summary for Paoli, Indiana
  11. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
  13. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  14. ^ "Indiana public library directory" (PDF). Indiana State Library. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 18, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2018.