In 1800, the Indiana Territory was created with
Vincennes
(Knox County) as its capital. The rich farmlands in the southwest of the territory with access to the Ohio River attracted many pioneers and settlers to the area, one of whom was an Irish immigrant named
William Prince
. Born in 1772, he immigrated to America at the age of 22. He later became a Gibson County Commissioner and the county seat of Princeton is named after him.
The year 1813 saw the move of the territorial capital east from Vincennes to
Corydon
and the creation of Gibson County. Gibson had previously been part of the vast Knox County which covered all the land of southwestern Indiana, bordered by the Wabash and Ohio Rivers. By early 1814, settlers to this area were asking for a "seat of justice," or county seat. Captain William Prince was one of four commissioners who located the seat at the half-way stand on the Evansville and Vincennes stage line. By drawing of lots, commissioners decided to name the town after Captain Prince.
[7]
The iconic symbol of Princeton is the
Gibson County Courthouse
, a structure built in the
Second Empire
style. It has been featured as a collectible figurine by the
Department 56
Original Snow Village. A post office was established in Princeton as early as 1816. The local newspaper, the Princeton Daily Clarion, was first published in 1846.
Lyles Station
, a small community just west of Princeton, was founded by freed Tennessee slave Joshua Lyles in 1849. It served as a haven for runaway slaves who braved the Ohio River on a northern trek towards freedom.
The
Wabash and Erie Canal
ran through the nearby towns of
Francisco
and
Port Gibson
, providing a means of reaching distant markets with goods from Princeton. The 1850s saw the advance of the railway system through Indiana, spelling doom for the canal system. The
Evansville and Terre Haute Railroad
line was run through town in 1852 and the Princeton Depot was constructed in 1875. The railroad became a boon to Princeton's industry as the Southern Railway Shops were constructed on the edge of town in 1892. Other industry included the Heinz plant (because of the area's famed tomatoes being good for ketchup making) and the Princeton Coal Mine.
In 1925, the
Tri-State Tornado
left its mark on the town. After hitting Griffin and narrowly missing Owensville to the southwest, the tornado devastated the southern side of Princeton, killing 44 people, injuring another 146 and leaving hundreds homeless. Princeton was the historic storm's final victim, as the tornado dissipated about 10 miles to the northeast near Petersburg. The deadliest tornado in US history claimed 95 lives in Indiana with almost half of those in Princeton.
[8]
On 9 December 1926, twenty-nine people were killed in a mine explosion in or near Princeton.
[9]
Toyota Motor Company
opened a truck manufacturing plant between Princeton and
Fort Branch
in 1998 to build a new full-size pickup and SUV. Toyota significantly increased production at the plant in 2000. As of 2016, the plant builds two SUVs and a van.
On April 18, 2008, Princeton was shaken by the
2008 Illinois earthquake
, epicentered approximately 18.5 miles (30?km) away near
West Salem, Illinois
.
The Gibson County Courthouse and
Welborn-Ross House
are listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
.
[10]
According to the 2010 census, Princeton has a total area of 5.075 square miles (13.14?km
2
), of which 5.07 square miles (13.13?km
2
) (or 99.9%) is land and 0.005 square miles (0.01?km
2
) (or 0.1%) is water.
[11]
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the
Koppen climate classification
system, Princeton has a
humid subtropical climate
, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.
[12]
Princeton's Post Office, erected 1913
Historical population
Census
| Pop.
| Note
| %±
|
1840
| 573
| | ?
|
---|
1850
| 806
| | 40.7%
|
---|
1860
| 1,397
| | 73.3%
|
---|
1870
| 1,847
| | 32.2%
|
---|
1880
| 2,566
| | 38.9%
|
---|
1890
| 3,076
| | 19.9%
|
---|
1900
| 6,041
| | 96.4%
|
---|
1910
| 6,448
| | 6.7%
|
---|
1920
| 7,132
| | 10.6%
|
---|
1930
| 7,505
| | 5.2%
|
---|
1940
| 7,786
| | 3.7%
|
---|
1950
| 7,673
| | ?1.5%
|
---|
1960
| 7,906
| | 3.0%
|
---|
1970
| 7,431
| | ?6.0%
|
---|
1980
| 8,976
| | 20.8%
|
---|
1990
| 8,127
| | ?9.5%
|
---|
2000
| 8,175
| | 0.6%
|
---|
2010
| 8,644
| | 5.7%
|
---|
2020
| 8,301
| | ?4.0%
|
---|
In the 2020 census,
[14]
the population of Princeton was 8,301. There were 3,552 households. White population was 89.9%, of which 88.2% were not Hispanic or Latino; Black or African American alone 6.8%; two or more races 3.1%; Hispanic or Latino 1.7%; and Asian alone 0.1%.
As of the census
[15]
of 2010, there were 8,644 people, 3,516 households, and 2,129 families living in the city. The population density was 1,704.9 inhabitants per square mile (658.3/km
2
). There were 3,976 housing units at an average density of 784.2 per square mile (302.8/km
2
). The racial makeup of the city was 90.4%
White
, 4.6%
African American
, 0.2%
Native American
, 0.7%
Asian
, 1.1% from
other races
, and 3.0% from two or more races.
Hispanic
or
Latino
of any race were 2.5% of the population.
There were 3,516 households, of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.0% were married couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.4% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.99.
The median age in the city was 37.2 years. 25% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.5% were from 25 to 44; 24.6% were from 45 to 64; and 16.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.
As of the
census
[4]
of 2000, there were 8,175 people, 3,451 households, and 2,146 families living in the city. The population density was 1,703.1 inhabitants per square mile (657.6/km
2
). There were 3,806 housing units at an average density of 792.9 per square mile (306.1/km
2
). The racial makeup of the city was 91.36%
White
, 5.36%
African American
, 0.17%
Native American
, 1.26%
Asian
, 0.01%
Pacific Islander
, 0.39% from
other races
, and 1.44% from two or more races.
Hispanic
or
Latino
of any race were 1.13% of the population.
There were 3,451 households, out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 24.1% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,689, and the median income for a family was $37,308. Males had a median income of $28,076 versus $19,825 for females. The
per capita income
for the city was $15,049. About 15.0% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the
poverty line
, including 23.2% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana
is Princeton's largest employer
Major employers in Princeton include
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana
(TMMI), located 3 miles to the south, nearly halfway between Princeton and
Fort Branch
, where the Toyota
Sequoia
,
Sienna
and
Highlander
are manufactured; and
Hansen Corporation
. Many Toyota suppliers have facilities between the plant site and the city. These suppliers include EnovaPremier, Vuteq,
TBIN
, Millennium Steel, DXE, SMC, Global SQ, and Trigo. All of these facilities were either built or converted from other uses to furnish supplies, part and services to TMMI.
Siemens
at one point had research and manufacturing facilities in Princeton, but the manufacturing plant was closed in the early 1990s and the research facility was closed soon after. A large hardware store currently occupies the former Siemens site.
Toyota
's announcement in late 1995 that it would be building a $1 billion manufacturing facility in Princeton created an economic boom, as many of Toyota's suppliers also built plants in or near Princeton to minimize shipping and logistical expenses. Additionally, many service businesses located in town to satisfy the needs of the employees, many of whom would be relocating to the Princeton area from elsewhere. However, the arrival of Toyota was not without controversy. Many objected to the ten-year
tax abatement
offered as part of the incentive package to induce Toyota to locate in the area, and others were worried by the fact that it would likely not be unionized (as of 2023, it is not).
More recently, many retail and restaurant chains have opened locations in Princeton. Analysts attribute much of this to the planned extension of
Interstate 69
?at the time many of these businesses were sited in Princeton, the leading proposal for the project was to upgrade
U.S. 41
(it was later decided to build Interstate 69 over a new-terrain route, which would travel between nearby
Oakland City
and
Francisco
).
Princeton is served by two freight rail lines:
CSX
and
Norfolk Southern
. For people who enjoy watching trains online, Virtual Railfan, via
YouTube
, provides northbound and southbound cams along the tracks at W. Broadway St. for 24-hour viewing when the cameras are in operation. The cams are hosted by the Gibson County Visitors and Tourism Bureau.
Greyhound Bus Lines
stops at curbside to pick up and discharge passengers outside a Burger King restaurant at 2740 W. Broadway St.
Princeton Municipal Building
Princeton is governed by a
mayor
and a five-member
city council
, all of whom are elected for four-year terms. The current mayor is Greg Wright, Republican as of January 1, 2020. City functions are divided among the Police Department, Sanitation Department, Parks and Recreation Department, Street Department, Sewer Department, Water Department, Water Treatment Plant, and the Princeton Fire Territory (formed from a merger between the Princeton Fire Department and the Patoka Township Fire Department in early 2006).
Parks and recreation
edit
Lafayette Park
Princeton has three main city parks, administered by the Department of Parks and Recreation. Lafayette Park, on the city's north side, is the largest. It features a fishing pond, shelter houses, a playground, an open general-purpose recreation area, and a stage for public performances. The city swimming pool is adjacent to Lafayette Park, as is Kiddie Land, a playground for very young children. Gil Hodges field, where the
Princeton Community High School
baseball team plays its home games, is also located on the park property.
Gibson County Fairgrounds
The other two city parks are South Side Park and East End Park
- Radio
- FM 98.1
WRAY-FM
? Country Music / Programs
- FM 94.3
WRAY ?
FM-based
repeater
for AM 1250
- AM 1250
WRAY
? News / Talk / Programs
- Newspapers
Residents are in
North Gibson School Corporation
.
[16]
Schools in this school district include:
Prior to 1965, students were zoned to Princeton High School. That year, it became Princeton Community High School, a merger of three high schools.
[17]
Private schools:
The town has a lending library, the Princeton Public Library.
[18]
- Michael A. Banks
? author, born in Princeton in 1951
- Gary Burton
(born in
Anderson, Indiana
) ?
jazz
vibraphonist
- Taylor Caniff
? Internet personality
- Gary Denbo
?
Miami Marlins
Vice President of Player Development and Scouting
- Allen J. Flannigan
?
Wisconsin
State Assemblyman
- Gil Hodges
? professional baseball player
- Agnes Kimball
? soprano
- Jeron Criswell King
? actor and alleged psychic, born in Princeton in 1907
- David J. Lawson
? pastor, played a key role establishing and developing
Africa University
, the only
U.M.C.
university
in Africa.
- Dave Niehaus
?
Seattle Mariners
play-by-play announcer
- Michael E. Pegram
(born in
Fort Knox, Kentucky
) ? thoroughbred owner; winner of 1998
Kentucky Derby
, 1998
Preakness Stakes
winner
Real Quiet
and 2010
Preakness Stakes
winner
Lookin At Lucky
- John S. Poland
, U.S. Army brigadier general
[19]
- William Prince
(born in Ireland) ? politician, town's namesake.
- Orville Redenbacher
(born in
Brazil, Indiana
) ? popcorn icon
- Jamie Rowe
(rock- heavy metal vocalist)
- Dave Thomas
(born in
Atlantic City, New Jersey
) ? founder of
Wendy's
- Mack V. Wright
? actor and film director
- Jackie Young
? American basketball player, chosen first for the 2019
WNBA
Las Vegas Aces
team
- Broadway Avenue
State Road 64
for east half,
State Road 64
/
65
for west half where it becomes a four-lane road. Because Broadway Avenue does not have an overpass, it is often blocked as over 80 trains pass through town on a daily basis, sometimes with two trains passing each other over the intersection.
- Brumfield Avenue
Runs parallel to Broadway one to four blocks north, depending on location. Site of one of the two railroad overpasses over the
CSX
/
Norfolk Southern
junction running through Princeton.
- Embree Street
Though obscure at its beginning at Broadway, Embree Street is one of the major thoroughfares used in reaching
Princeton Community High School
, now known as Princeton Community Middle School. At the junction of Embree and Brumfield there is a
roundabout
, completed in 2009 to ease flow through the intersection as trains pass through town. Embree is also frequently used to bypass the railroad to get to the Brumfield Ave. Overpass from the square. The Gibson County Fairgrounds are also located along Embree Street immediately before the high school/middle school complex.
- Main Street
Signed as
State Road 65
north of the
Gibson County Courthouse
Square, Main Street is the main north-south thoroughfare in Princeton. Main Street was also once signed as
U.S. Route 41
for nearly all of its length through Princeton. A two-year widening and rehabilitation project was completed in 2008, making what was once one of the most unpleasant-looking streets in Princeton the most presentable. Main Street is the site of the other railroad overpass in Princeton. The current campus of Princeton Community High School, opened in 2012, is located along Main Street.
- Mulberry/Spring Street Bypass
often used to get to Princeton's South Side while avoiding the stoplights on the Courthouse Square. An overpass was considered for Mulberry in 2007, but was rejected due to the costs involved. Mulberry and Spring Streets meet on a sometimes hazardous curve that sits almost 15 feet over surrounding terrain.
- Richland Creek Drive
Around a curve are two new townhouse projects and a new
Deaconess Hospital
Clinic as well as a possible new strip mall. Richland Creek meets
U.S. Route 41
about 200 feet south of the Broadway (State Roads
64
/
65
) ? US 41 Cloverleaf. At the northern end of Richland Creek Drive is Sherman Drive and the
Gibson General Hospital
campus.
- North Prince Street
The street runs parallel with Main Street, but has a number of 4-way stops near the center of town.
- State Street
Similar to Prince street, State Street runs parallel to Broadway, forming the north end of the square. State street is often used to bypass the light at Main and Brumfield, or to reach Embree Street to bypass the trains. Like Prince Street, State Street also has a number of 4-way stops near the center of town, one of which is with Prince. It forks with Broadway on the far east end of town, near the old middle school.
- ^
"The City of Princeton Indiana"
. The City of Princeton Indiana
. Retrieved
September 29,
2012
.
- ^
"2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files"
. United States Census Bureau
. Retrieved
March 16,
2022
.
- ^
a
b
U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Princeton, Indiana
- ^
a
b
"U.S. Census website"
.
United States Census Bureau
. Retrieved
January 31,
2008
.
- ^
"Find a County"
. National Association of Counties
. Retrieved
June 7,
2011
.
- ^
"Profile for Princeton, Indiana, Indiana"
. ePodunk. Archived from
the original
on May 15, 2019
. Retrieved
September 29,
2012
.
- ^
"History of Gibson County Indiana"
. Archived from
the original
on February 21, 2010
. Retrieved
July 19,
2009
.
- ^
Mason, Angela (2011). Death Rides the Sky: The Story of the 1925 Tri-State Tornado. Rockford, IL: Black Oak Media.
ISBN
978-1-61876-001-2
. p. 294
- ^
"
"Disasters"
"
. Powell Valley News. January 7, 1927
. Retrieved
August 21,
2023
.
- ^
"National Register Information System"
.
National Register of Historic Places
.
National Park Service
. July 9, 2010.
- ^
"G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1"
.
United States Census Bureau
. Archived from
the original
on February 13, 2020
. Retrieved
July 29,
2015
.
- ^
Climate Summary for Princeton, Indiana
- ^
"Census of Population and Housing"
. Census.gov
. Retrieved
June 4,
2015
.
- ^
"U.S. Census website"
. Retrieved
October 16,
2021
.
- ^
"U.S. Census website"
.
United States Census Bureau
. Retrieved
December 11,
2012
.
- ^
"2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Gibson County, IN"
(PDF)
.
U.S. Census Bureau
. Retrieved
June 12,
2024
.
-
Text list
- ^
Blackford, Nathan (July 15, 2014).
"School's Out Forever"
.
Evansville Living
.
Evansville, Indiana
. Retrieved
June 12,
2024
.
- ^
"Indiana public library directory"
(PDF)
. Indiana State Library
. Retrieved
March 7,
2018
.
- ^
"Gen. Poland Dead"
.
Pharos-Tribune
. Logansport, IN. August 9, 1898. p.?1 ? via
Newspapers.com
.