La Fontaine, Indiana

La Fontaine is a town in Liberty Township, Wabash County, in the U.S. state of Indiana.[6] The population was 875 at the 2010 census. Its name means "The Fountain" in French.

La Fontaine, Indiana
Town
Location of La Fontaine in Wabash County, Indiana.
Coordinates: 40°40′23″N 85°43′18″W
CountryUnited States
StateIndiana
CountyWabash
TownshipLiberty
Area
 • Total0.61 sq mi (1.58 km2)
 • Land0.61 sq mi (1.58 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation801 ft (244 m)
Population
 • Total875
 • Estimate 
(2019)[4]
828
 • Density1,355.16/sq mi (523.11/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (EST)
ZIP code
46940
Area code(s)765
FIPS code18-40842[5]
GNIS feature ID449679

It is pronounced by the inhabitants as [La-Fountain].

History

The community was named after Francis La Fontaine, a Miami Indian chief.[7] According to early maps, the town was originally known as Ashland.[8]

The La Fontaine post office has been in operation since 1848.[9]

The LaFontaine Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.[10]

Geography

La Fontaine is located at 40°40′23″N 85°43′18″W (40.673048, -85.721623).[11]

According to the 2010 census, La Fontaine has a total area of 0.61 square miles (1.58 km2), of which 0.6 square miles (1.55 km2) (or 98.36%) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) (or 1.64%) is water.[12]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1880295—
1910683—
1920601−12.0%
19306040.5%
1940554−8.3%
195062713.2%
196077924.2%
19707931.8%
198094619.3%
1990909−3.9%
2000900−1.0%
2010875−2.8%
2019 (est.)828[4]−5.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]

2010 census

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 875 people, 328 households, and 223 families living in the town. The population density was 1,458.3 inhabitants per square mile (563.1/km2). There were 374 housing units at an average density of 623.3 per square mile (240.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.5% White, 0.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.1% of the population.

There were 328 households, of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.0% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.93.

The median age in the town was 41.9 years. 23.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.9% were from 25 to 44; 22.6% were from 45 to 64; and 24.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 45.6% male and 54.4% female.

2000 census

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 900 people, 352 households, and 237 families living in the town. The population density was 1,470.2 people per square mile (569.7/km2). There were 379 housing units at an average density of 619.1 per square mile (239.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.89% White, 0.22% African American, 0.67% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 1.00% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.00% of the population.

La Fontaine from the air, looking west.

There were 352 households, out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.3% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 23.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $43,393, and the median income for a family was $47,031. Males had a median income of $31,042 versus $22,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,203. About 1.2% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 1.7% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people
  • Mike "Doc" Emrick, retired television sportscaster
  • Chester E. Troyer, "The Corn King," early producer of hybrid seed corn. Troyer showed grand champion ten ears of corn at the International Grain and Hay Show in 1920, 1927, 1932 and 1939. He began experimenting with the breeding of hybrid corn in 1920 and produced and sold the first seed in Indiana in 1929.[14]

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  2. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved 2016-07-12.
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
  4. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  5. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. "La Fontaine, Indiana". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2016-07-12.
  7. "Profile for La Fontaine, IN". ePodunk. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  8. "Map of Wabash County. - David Rumsey Historical Map Collection". www.davidrumsey.com. Retrieved 2016-10-30.
  9. "Wabash County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  10. "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 9/29/14 through 10/03/14. National Park Service. 2014-10-10.
  11. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  12. "G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  13. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  14. Purdue Agriculture, Agricultural Alumni Association
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