Rockport, Indiana

Infobox Settlement
official_name = City of Rockport
native_name =
settlement_type = City
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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location in the state of Indiana


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Indiana
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Spencer
subdivision_type3 = Township
subdivision_name3 = Ohio
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Nedra Groves (R)
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area_magnitude = 1 E6
area_total_km2 = 3.1
area_total_sq_mi = 1.2
area_land_km2 = 3.0
area_land_sq_mi = 1.2
area_water_km2 = 0.1
area_water_sq_mi = 0.04
area_water_percent = 1.68
area_urban_km2 =
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population_as_of = 2000
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population_total = 2160
population_density_km2 = 712.8
population_density_sq_mi = 1843.6
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timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
latd = 37 |latm = 53 |lats = 1 |latNS = N
longd = 87 |longm = 3 |longs = 11 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 134
elevation_ft = 440
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 47635
website =
area_code = 812
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 18-65484GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0442223GR|3
footnotes = Rockport is a city in Ohio Township, Spencer County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. The population was 2,160 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Spencer CountyGR|6.

Geography

Rockport is located at coor dms|37|53|1|N|87|3|11|W|city (37.883742, -87.053065)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), of which, 1.2 square miles (3.0 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (1.68%) is water.

Rockport is nestled on the Ohio River across from Owensboro, Kentucky. It is connected to Owensboro by the William H. Natcher Bridge via U.S. Highway 231.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 2,160 people, 891 households, and 571 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,843.6 people per square mile (712.8/km²). There were 1,057 housing units at an average density of 902.2/sq mi (348.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.83% White, 2.59% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.25% of the population.

There were 891 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 13.5% 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 18.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,275, and the median income for a family was $37,554. Males had a median income of $30,278 versus $20,263 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,298. About 10.2% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.

Notable natives and former residents

*Thomas G. Pitcher, (1824-1895), Union general in the Civil War and was 1845 graduate of the United States Military Academy later serving as Superintendent from 1866-1871. Born in Rockport, Indiana, later lived in Mount Vernon and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Attractions

Lincoln Pioneer Village, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is located in Rockport City Park. Designed by noted Hoosier sculptor George Honig, the first phase of the Village was completed in 1935, with an addition completed the following year. The project was undertaken through grants from the Federal Emergency Relief Administration and Works Progress Administration, both programs of the "New Deal."

Historically accurate replicas of a number of Spencer County cabins and businesses from Abraham Lincoln's time are the main attraction of the Village, giving visitors the opportunity to see what it was like to live in Indiana during Lincoln's formative years. The Village was so well-known throughout the United States in its early years that it was chosen as the setting for portions of the 1955 Burt Lancaster film "The Kentuckian".

In recent years, the Village was restored by a group of committed volunteers with the help of a grant-in-aid from the state of Indiana, following up on a somewhat less historically accurate but necessary restoration in the 1980s. The most recent restoration returned the site to its original 1930s design, and included the reconstruction of the entrance cabin, the original having been demolished due to extreme deterioration when the first restoration was undertaken.
*Lincoln Pioneer Village is located in Rockport City Park, the entrance of which is at the corner of Ninth and Seminary streets on Rockport's southwest side.

Highway connections to other cities

Rockport is approximately 30 miles east of Evansville, Indiana, and is connected to that larger city by Indiana State Highway 66. Tell City lies approximately 20 miles east of Rockport, also along Indiana 66.

The Indiana Department of Transportation is planning a new route for Indiana 66, but it is not yet known how this would affect Rockport. The new highway would be a four-lane, limited-access facility connected at its west end to the existing four-lane portion of Indiana 66 near the town of Hatfield, and would also provide access to the new, limited-access U.S. 231 now being constructed from Rockport to Interstate 64.

The new U.S. 231 is already complete from Rockport across the Ohio River via the William H. Natcher Bridge to Owensboro, Kentucky. When the entire route is complete, including the new extension of the U.S. 60 by-pass around Owensboro (with which U.S. 231 is concurrent), Rockport will have non-stop access to Nashville, Tennessee and points south via the William H. Natcher Parkway and Interstate 65. This is being touted by local economic development officials as a major boon for the area's industrial and commercial future.

ee also

*List of cities and towns along the Ohio River

References

External links