Wabash, Indiana Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Wabash, Indiana
City
City of Wabash
Wabash from the air, looking west.
Location of Wabash in Wabash County, Indiana.
Country	United States
State	Indiana
County	Wabash
Township	Noble
Area
• Total	9.87 sq mi (25.57 km²)
• Land	9.64 sq mi (24.96 km²)
• Water	0.24 sq mi (0.62 km²) 2.63%
Elevation	712 ft (217 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	10,440
• Density	1,083.44/sq mi (418.33/km²)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
ZIP code	46992
Area code(s)	260
FIPS code	18-79370
GNIS feature ID	445327
Website	www.cityofwabash.com

Wabash is a city in Noble Township, Wabash County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 10,666 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Wabash County.

Wabash is notable as claiming to be the first electrically lighted city in the world, which was inaugurated on March 31, 1880. However, closer inspection of the reference shows only the court house grounds were lighted. It is also home to the historic Eagles Theatre, Paradise Spring Treaty Grounds (1826), the Wabash and Erie Canal, Presbyterian Church (1880), and Disciples of Christ Christian Church (1865).

Geography
History
Demographics
- 2010 census
Gallery
Education
Notable people
See also

Geography

Wabash is located at 40°48′3″N 85°49′38″W / 40.80083°N 85.82722°W / 40.80083; -85.82722 (40.800799, -85.827163).

According to the 2010 census, Wabash has a total area of 9.128 square miles (23.64 km²), of which 8.89 square miles (23.02 km²) (or 97.39%) is land and 0.238 square miles (0.62 km²) (or 2.61%) is water.

History

The name Wabash derives from a Miami-Illinois term for "water over white stones." The Wabash post office has been in operation since 1839. The Miami name reflected the clarity of the river in Huntington County, Indiana where the river bottom is limestone.

On March 31, 1880, four 3,000-candle power lamps were suspended from the top of the courthouse. Two telegraph wires ran from the lamps to the courthouse basement, where they were connected to a threshing machine to provide power Wabash used a new type of carbon arc light invented by Charles Brush in 1870.

The James M. Amoss Building, Downtown Wabash Historic District, East Wabash Historic District, First Christian Church, Honeywell Memorial Community Center, Honeywell Studio, McNamee-Ford House, North Wabash Historic District, West Wabash Historic District, and Solomon Wilson Building are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Demographics

Wabash County Courthouse

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 10,666 people, 4,465 households, and 2,805 families living in the city. The population density was 1,199.8 inhabitants per square mile (463.2/km²). There were 5,068 housing units at an average density of 570.1 per square mile (220.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.3% White, 0.4% African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.0% of the population.

There were 4,465 households, of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.2% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.88.

The median age in the city was 41.3 years. 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.7% were from 25 to 44; 26.4% were from 45 to 64; and 18.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.