Oakland City, Indiana

For other places with the same name, see Oakland City.

Oakland City, Indiana
City
Location in the state of Indiana
Coordinates: 38°20′17″N 87°20′50″W / 38.33806°N 87.34722°WCoordinates: 38°20′17″N 87°20′50″W / 38.33806°N 87.34722°W
Country	United States
State	Indiana
County	Gibson
Township	Columbia
Government
• Mayor	Hugh Wirth (D)
Area[1]
• Total	1.13 sq mi (2.93 km^2)
• Land	1.13 sq mi (2.93 km^2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km^2)  0%
Elevation	463 ft (141 m)
Population (2010)[2]
• Total	2,429
• Estimate (2012[3])	2,426
• Density	2,149.6/sq mi (830.0/km^2)
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	47660
Area code(s)	812, 930
FIPS code	18-55710[4]
GNIS feature ID	0440470[5]
Interstate Highways
Major State Roads

Oakland City is the third-largest community in Gibson County, Indiana, United States, after the city of Princeton and the town of Fort Branch. It is the home of Oakland City University. The population was 2,429 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Evansville, Indiana, Metropolitan Area.

History

Oakland City was laid out and platted in 1856.^[6][7] It was likely named for the presence of oak trees.^[8] The Oakland City post office was established in 1860.^[9]

The William M. Cockrum House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.^[10]

Geography

Oakland City is located at 38°20′17″N 87°20′50″W / 38.33806°N 87.34722°W (38.337953, -87.347356).^[11]

According to the 2010 census, Oakland City has a total area of 1.132 square miles (2.93 km²), of which 1.13 square miles (2.93 km²) (or 99.82%) is land and 0.002 square miles (0.01 km²) (or 0.18%) is water.^[1]

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	731		—
1890	1,524		108.5%
1900	1,991		30.6%
1910	2,370		19.0%
1920	2,270		−4.2%
1930	2,842		25.2%
1940	3,068		8.0%
1950	3,539		15.4%
1960	3,016		−14.8%
1970	3,289		9.1%
1980	3,301		0.4%
1990	2,810		−14.9%
2000	2,588		−7.9%
2010	2,429		−6.1%
Est. 2015	2,430	[12]	0.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]

2010 census

As of the census^[2] of 2010, there were 2,429 people, 973 households, and 568 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,149.6 inhabitants per square mile (830.0/km²). There were 1,157 housing units at an average density of 1,023.9 per square mile (395.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.2% White, 0.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.0% of the population.

There were 973 households of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.6% were non-families. 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.86.

The median age in the city was 36.1 years. 20.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 16.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.7% were from 25 to 44; 23.8% were from 45 to 64; and 17.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census^[4] of 2000, there were 2,588 people, 1,031 households, and 642 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,352.6 people per square mile (908.4/km²). There were 1,176 housing units at an average density of 1,069.0 per square mile (412.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.60% White, 0.73% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.43% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.55% of the population.

There were 1,031 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.7% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the city the population was spread out with 20.6% under the age of 18, 16.3% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 19.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 85.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,532, and the median income for a family was $37,440. Males had a median income of $30,500 versus $24,602 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,806. About 7.6% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Higher education

Oakland City is home of Oakland City University, the only General Baptist affiliated university, with a global campus providing over 40 degrees from associate, bachelor, master, and doctorate studies and Oakland City University School of Adult and Extended Learning with programs that specialize on busy adult students. Oakland City University was established in 1885 as Oakland City College. The college attained university status and changed its name in the latter part of the 20th century. Oakland City University sports teams are the Mighty Oaks.

K-12 education

Oakland City is headquarters of the East Gibson School Corporation. Oakland City Elementary School, Waldo J. Wood Memorial Junior High School, and Waldo J. Wood Memorial High School are all located on South Franklin Street in Oakland City. The Oakland City Elementary sports teams are the Acorns (relating to the Oaks above). The Waldo J. Wood Memorial Junior High teams and Waldo J. Wood Memorial High School teams are the Trojans. Other schools in the East Gibson School Corporation are Barton Township Elementary School, located in Mackey, and Francisco Elementary School, located in Francisco.

Notable people

• Edd Roush, outfielder in Baseball Hall of Fame, was born in Oakland City.^[14]
• Jeremy Spencer, Five Finger Death Punch drummer was born in Oakland City.^[15]

References

1. "G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-29.
2. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
3. "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 17, 2013. Retrieved 2013-06-25.
4. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
5. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
6. Peattie, Elia Wilkinson (1897). History of Gibson County, Indiana. Cook & McDowell Publications. p. 12.
7. Stormont, Gil R. (1914). History of Gibson County, Indiana: Her People, Industries and Institutions. B.F. Bowen. p. 360.
8. Baker, Ronald L. (October 1995). From Needmore to Prosperity: Hoosier Place Names in Folklore and History. Indiana University Press. p. 248. ISBN 978-0-253-32866-3. ...supposedly for oak groves on the town site.
9. "Fulton County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
10. National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
11. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
12. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
13. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
14. "Edd Roush". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
15. McBain, Roger (26 July 2012). "Drummer's appearance at Ford Center a homecoming of sorts: Jeremy Spencer's heavy-metal journey began in Boonville, Ind.". Courier Press.