Versailles /vərˈslz/ is a town in Johnson Township, Ripley County, in the U.S. state of Indiana.[2] The population was 2,113 at the 2010 census. The town is the county seat of Ripley County.[4]

Versailles, Indiana
Ripley County Courthouse in Versailles is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Ripley County Courthouse in Versailles is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Location of Versailles in Ripley County, Indiana.
Location of Versailles in Ripley County, Indiana.
Coordinates: 39°03′48″N 85°15′12″W / 39.06333°N 85.25333°W / 39.06333; -85.25333
CountryUnited States
StateIndiana
CountyRipley
TownshipJohnson
Area
 • Total
1.57 sq mi (4.06 km2)
 • Land1.57 sq mi (4.06 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation984 ft (300 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
2,184
 • Density1,391.97/sq mi (537.44/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
47042
Area code812
FIPS code18-78974[3]
GNIS feature ID2397715[2]
WebsiteTown of Versailles

History

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It was decided in 1818 a county seat should be located at Versailles.[5] The town of Versailles was laid out in 1819.[6] It was named after the Palace of Versailles.[7]

A post office has been in operation at Versailles since 1823.[8]

The Ripley County Courthouse, Fernando G. Taylor House, Tyson United Methodist Church, and Versailles School and Tyson Auditorium are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[9]

Geography

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According to the 2010 census, Versailles has a total area of 1.51 square miles (3.91 km2), all land.[10] Laughery Creek is the major stream in the area, and was dammed in 1954 to form 230-acre Versailles Lake, within the Versailles State Park.

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1850412
1870495
1880455−8.1%
1890421−7.5%
190050119.0%
1910486−3.0%
1920413−15.0%
193052326.6%
194058211.3%
195088652.2%
19601,15830.7%
19701,080−6.7%
19801,56044.4%
19901,79114.8%
20001,784−0.4%
20102,11318.4%
20202,1843.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]

2010 census

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As of the census[12] of 2010, there were 2,113 people, 874 households, and 538 families living in the town. The population density was 1,399.3 inhabitants per square mile (540.3/km2). There were 999 housing units at an average density of 661.6 per square mile (255.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.2% White, 0.2% African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.4% of the population.

There were 874 households, of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.4% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.95.

 
Fernando G. Taylor House in Versailles

The median age in the town was 37.9 years. 23.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.5% were from 25 to 44; 25.4% were from 45 to 64; and 15.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.

2000 census

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As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 1,784 people, 746 households, and 492 families living in the town. The population density was 1,168.9 inhabitants per square mile (451.3/km2). There were 803 housing units at an average density of 526.1 per square mile (203.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.82% White, 0.06% African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 0.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.50% of the population.

There were 746 households, out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.4% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,144, and the median income for a family was $41,442. Males had a median income of $31,607 versus $22,237 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,352. About 8.3% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

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It is in the South Ripley Community School Corporation.[13] Most students in Versailles attend South Ripley Elementary School for grades K through 6 and South Ripley Junior/Senior High School for grades 7 through 12.

The town has a lending library, the Tyson Public Library.[14]

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Versailles, Indiana
  3. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ^ Wanda Lou Willis (October 9, 2013). More Haunted Hoosier Trails: Folklore from Indiana's Spookiest Places. Emmis Books. p. 186. ISBN 978-1-57860-182-0.
  6. ^ Charles W. Cady (1846). The Indiana annual register and pocket manual for the year 1845: containing the names and residences of all judges and clerks of courts, prosecuting attorneys, recorders, auditors, ... Printed by E. Chamberlain. p. 138.
  7. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 310.
  8. ^ "Ripley County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved November 30, 2015.
  9. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  10. ^ "G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  11. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
  13. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Ripley County, IN" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved October 18, 2024. - Text list
  14. ^ "Indiana public library directory" (PDF). Indiana State Library. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  15. ^ a b Eliason, Laura (February 2019). "Collection: Amos Wade Jackson collection". Indiana State Library Manuscripts Catalog. Indiana State Library. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
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