Williamsport, Indiana

Williamsport was platted by (and named for) William Harrison on December 11, 1828,[8] on the south end of the eastern fractional part of the northeast quarter of section 11, township 21, range 8. Harrison was the first to occupy the town in the fall of 1828; he built a log house at the east end of Main Street near the river and operated a ferry crossing there for several years. Though located on the opposite side of the river from the Wabash and Erie Canal, Williamsport sought to draw shipping traffic by constructing a short cut-off canal. Finished around 1852, the project led to the nickname "Side-Cut City".

Williamsport became the county seat in June 1829, taking the title away from short-lived Warrenton. Its post office was the first in the county and has operated since September 28, 1829. The town was incorporated in March 1854, at which time its population was 552.[9]

The post office at Williamsport has been in operation since 1829.[10]

James Frank Hanly, who was the Governor of Indiana from 1905 to 1909, lived and practiced law here from 1879 to 1896; he is buried at Hillside Cemetery, on the northeast side of town.[11]

The Williamsport-Washington Township Public Library opened in 1917 as a Carnegie library, and moved to a new facility in 2002.[12]

Map of Williamsport

Williamsport is located along State Road 28 near the shores of the Wabash River which forms the eastern border of the county. Its most striking natural feature is Williamsport Falls, a 90-foot waterfall near the center of town and Indiana's tallest.[7] Williamsport's original section ("Old Town") is in bottom land next to the river; "New Town" was built on the hill above it to be closer to the railroad. The rail line through town is currently operated by Norfolk Southern Railway.[15]

According to the 2010 census, Williamsport has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.37 km²), all land.[16]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 1,898 people, 766 households, and 513 families residing here.[18] The population density was 1,457.6 inhabitants per square mile (562.8/km²). There were 852 housing units at an average density of 654.3 per square mile (252.6/km²).[19] The racial makeup was 98.3% white, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.2% Pacific islander, 0.1% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.0% of the population.[18] In terms of ancestry, 22.0% were German, 10.4% were American, 9.2% were Irish, and 5.7% were English.[20]

Of the 766 households, 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.5% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.0% were non-families, and 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age was 42.5 years.[18]

The median income for a household was $37,969 and the median income for a family was $48,026. Males had a median income of $41,719 versus $28,875 for females. The per capita income was $17,487. About 16.3% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.0% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.[21]

The town is served by the Williamsport-Washington Township Public Library, one of two public libraries in Warren County.[22]

Industry in Williamsport includes TMF Center, which manufactures parts for construction equipment and trucking; GL Technologies, which procures industrial tooling; and Kuri-Tec, which manufactures industrial hoses and accessories.[23]

The town includes the county's single hospital, St. Vincent Williamsport Hospital, a 16-bed acute care facility operated by Indianapolis-based St. Vincent Health. The hospital includes a 24-hour emergency medical service and ambulance service.[24] Williamsport also has a nursing home, "Williamsport Nursing and Rehabilitation", that provides health care and rehabilitation services primarily for seniors.[25] These are important local employers, as 9.8% of Warren County's jobs relate to health care and social services.[26]

• 
  The town clock
• 
  Williamsport Falls
• 
  The Wabash River as seen from Old Town
• 
  1877 map of Williamsport

• Emily Caroline Chandler Hodgin (1838-1907), temperance reformer
• Ele Stansbury (born 1861), 23rd Indiana Attorney General