Hazleton, Indiana

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Town of Hazleton, Indiana
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
mapsize = 250x200px


imagesize =
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map_caption = Location in the state of Indiana


mapsize1 =
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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
area_footnotes =
unit_pref = Imperial
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Indiana
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Gibson
subdivision_type3 = Township
subdivision_name3 = White River
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
established_date =
area_magnitude = 1 E5
area_total_km2 = 0.9
area_land_km2 = 0.9
area_water_km2 = 0.0
population_as_of = 2000
population_note =
population_total = 288
population_density_km2 = 327.1
timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
area_total_sq_mi = 0.3
area_land_sq_mi = 0.3
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0
elevation_m = 138
elevation_ft = 453
latd = 38 |latm = 29 |lats = 20 |latNS = N
longd = 87 |longm = 32 |longs = 30 |longEW = W
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 47640
area_code = 812
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 18-32728GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0435943GR|3
footnotes =
website =

Hazleton is a town in White River Township, Gibson County, Indiana, United States. The population was 288 at the 2000 census.

History

Hazleton is the second oldest town in Gibson county after Princeton. It was named in honor of Gervas Hazleton, the second white settler in the county to permanently locate, after John Severns. Gervas Hazleton first lived in a "camp," the back of which was an immense walnut log and sides of poles covered with bark, the front open to admit the heat and light of large log fires. Hazleton was famed far and wide as an entertainer and his camp was always open to the struggling settlers. Gervas Hazleton eventually operated a ferry on the White River. His remains are buried in the IOOF Hazleton cemetery.

The town of Hazleton was surveyed and platted by Lucius French in 1806. T. S. Fuller erected the first frame building in Hazleton. In about John Breedlove built a blacksmith shop. Being located on the south bank of White River, the town became a very important port in the days of flat and keel-boats. Numerous cargoes of corn, wheat and pork were shipped from Hazleton every week. New Orleans was then the best market for farm products raised, at that date, around Hazleton. The highway of travel was via the Patoka, Wabash, Ohio and Mississippi rivers and five or six weeks were required to make the round trip. A complement of five men was the usual number required with each boat. And it was no trouble to get hands, as many young men were anxious to make the trip and would do it for little pay. Imagine men shoving a keel-boat loaded with merchandise from New Orleans to Hazleton or Patoka and you will get a better idea of Gibson County's situation in its infancy. The first steamboat of any note to pass up White river was the "Cleopatria"; she made fast at the ferry where Hazleton stands and attracted big crowds of people.

Hazleton Railroad Wreck of 1897

One of the worst wrecks in the history of southern Indiana occurred on the Evansville & Terre Haute road, now the Chicago & Eastern Illinois, at three o'clock, Wednesday morning, March 10, 1897. Fast train No. 5 southbound, was wrecked at the high embankment forming the southern approach to the White River bridge about two miles (3 km) north of the town of Hazelton. Back water from White River had flooded that portion of the country up to within a few feet of the track and the water depth measured about twenty feet. The high embankment was consequently weakened and gave way under the weight of the heavy train. When the train approached the fatal bridge it was running at a speed of twenty-five miles an hour. The engineer obeyed orders and slowed his engine as he drew near the bridge, but was still running at a good speed when the embankment was reached one hundred and fifty yards front the bridge proper. Then came the catastrophe, sudden and appalling, and unavoidable as much as tragic.

Without warning the track gave in and literally slid out from under the engine. The water rushed through the opened levee, and the aperture was widened rapidly by the force. The engine turned over into the ditch ten feet east of the track, landing broadside in five feet of water. The baggage car followed and plunged headfirst into the washout. The smoker came next and was telescoped by the baggage car; the top being cut off down to the level of the windows. The ladies' coach and sleeper remained on the track and none of the occupants were injured in the least.

The death toll was numbered from the occupants of the submerged coach and baggage car. This ill-fated coach broke loose from the couplings and floated down stream, where it finally sank. Only one or two bodies were ever recovered from this car, and the number of men therein is now but a matter of conjecture. A large number, possibly a dozen, lives were lost, it is certain, among them being Conductor George A. Sears, whose arm was seen protruding from one of the windows as the coach sank. Not until April 29, more than six weeks after the wreck, did one body come to light, and that was a traveling man from Fort Wayne named W. H. Lange. Professional divers worked on the wreck for days and days, but to no avail. The toll is the secret of the quicksand and water, forever hidden to the knowledge of man.

Geography

Hazleton is located at coor dms|38|29|20|N|87|32|30|W|city (38.488953, -87.541652)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.3 square miles (0.9 km²), all of it land. Hazleton is convert|422|ft|m above sea level.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 288 people, 108 households, and 84 families residing in the town. The population density was 841.0 people per square mile (327.1/km²). There were 119 housing units at an average density of 347.5/sq mi (135.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.22% White, and 2.78% from two or more races.

There were 108 households out of which 24.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.2% were married couples living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.2% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the town the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 31.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,875, and the median income for a family was $36,406. Males had a median income of $28,750 versus $28,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,156. About 25.0% of families and 25.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.9% of those under the age of eighteen and 12.5% of those sixty five or over.

References

External links

* [http://www.rootsquest.com/~jmurphy/gibson/gibcem/wr_ioof_hazleton_old.htm Entry ata IOFF Hazleton Cemetery list of graves]