Elwood is a city in Madison and Tipton counties in the U.S. state of Indiana. The Madison County portion, which includes most of the city, is part of the Anderson, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area while the small portion in Tipton County is part of the Kokomo, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 9,737 at the 2000 census.
Notable People
Elwood is most famous as the birthplace of Wendell Willkie, the 1940 Republican presidential candidate who unsuccessfully challenged President Franklin D. Roosevelt. An Indiana Historical Society marker sits at the site of his acceptance speech in Callaway Park.
After Willkie, Elwood's most notable political figure is James J. Davis, an immigrant from Wales who came to Elwood in 1893. He rose to become U.S. Secretary of Labor to three presidents and later served as U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania. He was also one of the original founders of Moose International.
Other notable individuals born or raised in Elwood are crusading newspaper editor Don Mellett, ten-term U.S. Congressman Philip Sharp (American politician), NBA basketball professional John Mengelt, poet Jared Carter, and actor David Canary, who plays the roles of Adam and Stuart Chandler on ABC's All My Children soap opera.
History
The annual Glass Festival, held every third weekend of August, is one way in which the city tries to promote the area's history with natural gas and glass.
Geography
Elwood is located at 40°16′27″N 85°50′17″W / 40.27417°N 85.83806°W / 40.27417; -85.83806 (40.274109, -85.838047)[3].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.5 square miles (9.2 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 9,737 people, 3,845 households, and 2,660 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,743.1 people per square mile (1,059.0/km²). There were 4,179 housing units at an average density of 1,177.3/sq mi (454.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.33% White, 0.05% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.64% of the population.
There were 3,845 households out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,986, and the median income for a family was $36,239. Males had a median income of $31,527 versus $19,947 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,402. About 11.7% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.
Business
Red Gold, one of the nations largest tomato processors, has a plant in Elwood, as well as tool and die shops and other small manufacturers.
References
External links
