Sweetser, Indiana
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}}Template:Main other Sweetser is a town in Franklin, Pleasant and Richland townships, Grant County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,229 at the 2010 census.
HistoryEdit
The Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad was built through the area in 1867. Around 1869, a half-mile long switch was built to haul wood to a train refueling station. This switch would become the nucleus of the town. Railroadmen began calling it "Switch" and soon thereafter, the area was known as "Switzer" and then "Sweetser".<ref name="The Sweetser Story">The Sweetser Story 1871-1971. Centennial Celebration insert (Sweetser, Indiana).</ref>
The original plat of town of Sweetser was entered on October 14, 1871, by Sanford Prater, John Hubert, James H. Vinson, Urich Mars and H.B. Bragg with the Grant County Recorder's office.<ref name="The Sweetser Story" /> The land which formed the original plat of Sweetser had been entered in the District Land Office in Fort Wayne, Indiana on May 22, 1848, by Samuel Blinn.
Additional plats to the town were Nuzum's in 1873, and the Wilcut's, McGee's, Bishop's and Nuzum's 2nd, all platted in 1874.<ref name="The Sweetser Story" />
The early business section was north of the railroad on the west side of Main Street. A sawmill was located at what is now the site of the Methodist church (413 N. Main).<ref name="The Sweetser Story" /> Sweetser had several dry goods stores, a blacksmith shop, a jeweler and a saloon.
As the population grew, the sawmill was torn down and a new schoolhouse was built where it once stood. The old schoolhouse by the railroad (104 N. Meridian) was replaced by a grain elevator built by Gilbert and William Baum.<ref name="The Sweetser Story" />
When natural gas was struck around Sweetser in 1885, the town was ready for development. The Brickner Window Glass Company, established in 1893, attracted many people not only living nearby but from other states to come to work and live here. The glass factory was located on the west side of town, being situated just west of what is now 319 W. Hubert Street. The factory was also known as Schick & Hawkins Window Glass Company.<ref name="The Sweetser Story" />
From 1884 to 1894 there were five additions platted to Sweetser, namely Thompson's, Sherron's, Sherron's 2nd, Sherron's 3rd and Hawkins.<ref name="The Sweetser Story" />
A hotel, known as the Vardaman Hotel, was located at 103 Main Street in lots number 27-29 of the original plat. This hotel was built to accommodate the number of persons working at the glass factory.<ref name="The Sweetser Story" />
The Friermood Tile Factory was started in 1888 and was located at the end of Walnut Street. It made tile for draining the lands around Sweetser into Pipe Creek.<ref name="The Sweetser Story" />
GeographyEdit
Sweetser is located on State Road 18 between the town of Converse and the city of Marion. According to the 2010 census, Sweetser has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert (or 99.7%) is land and Template:Convert (or 0.3%) is water.<ref name="census-g001">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Running through the edge of Sweetser is a small body of water, or creek, known as Pipe Creek. Pipe Creek is one of the sites that can be seen from the Sweetser Switch Trail. Known as one of Sweetser's main attractions, the trail is a walking trail that stretches throughout the whole town and is expanded three miles outside of the town's outer limits. Although this trail is intended for walking, there are signs posted that allow bicyclists, cross country skiers, runners, wheelchairs and various other ways of exercise permitted on the trail. A new addition to the trail is a statue of one of Grant County's celebrities, Garfield.
DemographicsEdit
2010 censusEdit
As of the census<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> of 2010, there were 1,229 people, 494 households, and 364 families residing in the town. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 532 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the town was 95.2% White, 0.4% African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 2.0% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.5% of the population.
There were 494 households, of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.5% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.3% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.91.
The median age in the town was 40.5 years. 25.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.2% were from 25 to 44; 29.1% were from 45 to 64; and 16.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.
2000 censusEdit
As of the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 906 people, 357 households, and 269 families residing in the town. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 371 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the town was 97.68% White, 0.44% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.33% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.10% of the population.
There were 357 households, out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.7% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 22.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.5% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $39,722, and the median income for a family was $49,327. Males had a median income of $43,542 versus $22,054 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,907. About 3.9% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.
MediaEdit
The first newspaper to be published in Sweetser was the Sun Sentinel, which began operations sometime before 1894. The editor was James Pinkerton.<ref name="The Sweetser Story" />
Currently, residents are served by the daily Marion Chronicle-Tribune and the weekly Oak Hill Times.
ChurchesEdit
The Lutheran church which pre-dated the establishment of the town first met in 1865 under the name of St. Paul's under the pastorage of Rev. T.E. Sharah with twenty-three charter members. For thirty years, the meetings were held in private homes, the Jalapa school, Cart Creek school and the Mark school house. In 1896, the members furnished materials and labor to construct a church building at 301 West Delphi Road. In 1947, this church was abandoned, and it was converted into a two-story duplex residence.<ref name="The Sweetser Story" />
The Cart Creek Church of the Brethren began in 1893 in a new church house erected on land donated by Joseph Winger Sr. at 500W & 400N, three miles north of Sweetser. This church was the nucleus of the Sweetser Church of the Brethren which was organized in 1959.<ref name="The Sweetser Story" />
First mention of Sweetser in the Methodist Church conference minutes was in 1875. Local preachers mentioned were John Hubert, Allen Meek, Andrew Green and Joseph Leazenby. The first Methodist church was located on the northwest corner of Main Street and State Road 18.<ref name="The Sweetser Story" />
Currently, the town is served by the Sweetser United Methodist Church, the Sweetser Wesleyan Church, and Liberty Baptist Church.
GovernmentEdit
Sweetser is governed by a five-member town council, all of whom serve at-large and by tradition run as independents.<ref name="New Sweetser">New Sweetser Town Council Fairly Certain", Marion Chronicle-Tribune, Marion, Indiana, November 4, 2011, p. C5.</ref>
Current council members are President Kyle Taylor, Vice-President Travis Lemaster, Warren Daily, Tyler Wineinger and one vacant seat.<ref name="New Sweetser" />
Police and fire protectionEdit
Police protection is provided by the Town Marshal and his deputies and reserve officers.
Fire protection is provided by the all-volunteer Pleasant Township Volunteer Fire Department, which operates from the fire station located at the corner of State Road 18 and Main Street.
UtilitiesEdit
Water is provided to residents of Sweetser through individual household wells.
Sewage is piped to nearby Marion for treatment. In 2011, the town announced plans to build its own $2.4 million wastewater treatment plant.
The incumbent landline telephone provider is the Sweetest Telephone Company, formerly known as the Sweetest Rural Telephone Company. It is one of Indiana's larger independent telephone companies.
Parks and recreationEdit
Sweetser is home of the Sweetser Switch Trail, a three-mile asphalt trail located in the center of town. The trailhead features two restored railcars and a statue of Garfield. Restrooms, parking and water are available at the trailhead. The trail connects one mile east of Main Street with the Cardinal Greenway in Marion.{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}
Pawadise Park,<ref>"Pawadise Park opens with ribbon cutting", Marion Chronicle-Tribune, Marion, Indiana, July 30, 2012.</ref> is a unique feature along the Sweetser Switch Trail. Completed in July 2012, the park is located one-quarter mile west of Main Street next to the trail. The park was funded totally by donations.<ref>"Marion, Sweetser compete for dog parks", Marion Chronicle-Tribune, Marion, Indiana, June 13, 2012.</ref> Dogs of all sizes can run unleashed here. The park has two separate areas, one for large dogs and one for small, and will include a small area for pet owners to memorialize their pets.<ref>"Dog park coming to Grant County", Marion Chronicle-Tribune, Marion, Indiana, May 28, 2012.</ref>
GalleryEdit
- Restored rail cars and statue of Garfield on the Sweetser Switch Trail.jpg
Restored rail cars and statue of Garfield on the Sweetser Switch Trail
- Veteran's Memorial on Sweetser Switch Trail.jpg
Veteran's Memorial on Sweetser Switch Trail
- Sweetser Cafe.jpg
Sweetser Cafe
- Sweetser Garfield and train cars.jpg
Sweetser Garfield and train cars
EducationEdit
Sweetser is part of the Oak Hill School District and home to the Sweetser Elementary school.
Sweetser residents may obtain a free library card from the Converse-Jackson Township Public Library in Converse.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Festivals and eventsEdit
Sweetser is home to the annual Pumpkin Walk, a community-wide parade down Main Street held near Halloween, which features costume judging contests and pumpkin carving contests.<ref>"Sweetser Switch Trail Pumpkin Walk Results", Marion Chronicle-Tribune, Marion, Indiana, October 15, 2011."</ref>
The Sweetser's Farmers Market runs from June through September on Saturdays at the Sweetser Elementary School.<ref>"Local farmers' markets kick off", Marion Chronicle-Tribune, Marion, Indiana, June 7, 2012.</ref>
Notable peopleEdit
- Keith O'Conner Murphy, Rockabilly Hall of Fame.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
|CitationClass=web }}</ref> Singer-songwriter, Stacy, Polydor Records, and King Records (United States)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
ReferencesEdit
<references />