French Lick, Indiana

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


imagesize =
image_caption =


imagesize =
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map_caption = Location in the state of Indiana


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
area_note =
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Indiana
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Orange
subdivision_type3 = Township
subdivision_name3 = French Lick
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
established_date =
area_magnitude = 1 E6
area_total_km2 = 4.2
area_land_km2 = 4.2
area_water_km2 = 0.0
population_as_of = 2006
population_note =
population_total = 1924
population_density_km2 = 462.6
timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EST
utc_offset_DST = -5
area_total_sq_mi = 1.6
area_land_sq_mi = 1.6
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0
elevation_m = 152
elevation_ft = 499
latd = 38 |latm = 32 |lats = 49 |latNS = N
longd = 86 |longm = 37 |longs = 8 |longEW = W
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 47432
area_code = 812
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 18-25972GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0450938GR|3
footnotes =
website =

French Lick is a town in French Lick Township, Orange County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,941 at the 2000 census.

History

French Lick was originally a French trading post. A fortified ranger post was established near the springs in 1811. On an 1835 map of Indiana, the community was known as Salt Spring. The town was founded in 1857.

The sulfur springs were commercially exploited for medical benefits starting in 1840. By the later half of the 19th century, French Lick was famous in the United States as a spa town. In the early 20th century it also featured casinos attracting celebrities like boxer Joe Louis, composer Irving Berlin and gangster Al Capone.

In 1943, the Chicago Cubs held Spring Training camp in French Lick. In order to conserve rail transport during World War II, the 1943 Spring Training was limited to an area east of the Mississippi River and north of the Ohio River. [Suehsdorf, A. D. (1978). "The Great American Baseball Scrapbook", p. 103. Random House. ISBN 0-394-50253-1.]

The French Lick Resort Casino was the focal point of most of the entertainment; the hotel remained open well after the casinos were closed down and the heyday of the town was well past. The resort closed for renovation in 2005.

Pluto Water, a best selling laxative of the first half of the 20th century, was bottled here. It was also home to a large 7-Up bottling facility, which ceased operation in the Mid-20th Century.

Franklin D. Roosevelt announced his intention to run for president at a National Governors' Convention held at the French Lick Springs Hotel.

Ever since his professional basketball career took off, the town has been best known for being the hometown of NBA great Larry Bird. French Lick is also the hometown of former Sacramento Kings head coach Jerry Reynolds, who currently works as the team's color commentator on its television broadcasts and is the Kings' director of player personnel.

21st Century

The year 2007 marked a turning point in the decline of the town. In early 2007 the French Lick Resort and Casino, the state's tenth casino in the modern legalized era, opened drawing celebrity attention to the town. Part of the Resort Casino consisted of a renovated French Lick Springs Resort. After drawing the attention of celebrities and gamblers, new businesses opened, some of which were a movie theatre and an announced Denny's.

Also, in 2007, work on a multi-million dollar water park commenced.

Geography

French Lick is located at coor dms|38|32|49|N|86|37|8|W|city (38.546872, -86.618939)GR|1. The area has rich mineral sources ("The Lick").

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.2 km²).1.6 square miles (4.2 km²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,941 people, 849 households, and 513 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,196.3 people per square mile (462.6/km²). There were 948 housing units at an average density of 584.3/sq mi (225.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.18% White, 3.66% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.26% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.46% of the population.

There were 849 households out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the town the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $27,197, and the median income for a family was $36,583. Males had a median income of $26,046 versus $17,346 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,113. About 11.8% of families and 18.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.7% of those under age 18 and 17.8% of those age 65 or over.

Trivia

*The town was mentioned in an episode of "Home Improvement" when son Brad joked that it was the only good thing in the state of Indiana. The Taylor family was considering moving to the state after Tim quit "Tool Time" and Jill was recommended for a job at an adolescent psychology center in nearby Bloomington, Indiana.
*It was also mentioned in an episode of "Cheers" in which Woody, a native of nearby Hanover, discusses his animosity for people from French Lick, including the Celtics' Larry Bird.
*The town was also referenced by Stuart Scott in an NBA on ESPN ad.
* It was also mentioned in an episode of "Gilmore Girls" when Richard Gilmore is explaining an un-eventful business trip.
*In the appendix of "The Sound and the Fury", by William Faulkner, we are told that Candace Compson met her future husband Herbert Head while vacationing with her mother in this town, the summer of 1909.

References

External links

* [http://www.frenchlick.com/ French Lick Resort and Casino] The official site of "French Lick Resort and Casino"
* [http://www.blackhawkbrigade.com/ Springs Valley High School Blackhawk Brigade website]