Editing Aurora, Indiana

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Aurora, Indiana
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = City of Spires
| image_skyline      = Aurora, Indiana.jpg
| imagesize          = 250px
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = 
| image_blank_emblem = Aurora, Indiana logo.gif
| blank_emblem_type  = <!-- defaults to Logo -->
| blank_emblem_size  = 
| blank_emblem_alt   = 
| blank_emblem_link  = 
| image_map          = Dearborn County Indiana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Aurora Highlighted 1802782.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Aurora in Dearborn County, Indiana.
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Indiana]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Indiana|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Dearborn County, Indiana|Dearborn]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[List of townships in Indiana|Townships]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Center Township, Dearborn County, Indiana|Center]], [[Lawrenceburg Township, Dearborn County, Indiana|Lawrenceburg]], [[Washington Township, Dearborn County, Indiana|Washington]]
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Mark A. Drury (R)
| area_note          = 
| established_title  = Platted
| established_date   = 1819
| established_title1 = Incorporated (town)
| established_date1  = 1822
| established_title2 = Incorporated (city)
| established_date2  = c. 1848
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_18.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 16, 2022|archive-date=March 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318023320/https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_18.txt|url-status=live}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 9.16
| area_land_km2      = 8.53
| area_water_km2     = 0.63
| population_footnotes = 
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 3479
| population_density_km2 = 408.05
| population_density_sq_mi = 1056.80
| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| area_total_sq_mi   = 3.54
| area_land_sq_mi    = 3.29
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.24
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 515
| coordinates_footnotes = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|39|04|12|N|84|53|43|W|region:US-IN_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| website            = {{URL|http://www.aurora.in.us}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 47001
| area_code_type     = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
| area_code          = [[Area code 812|812]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS]] code
| blank_info         = {{FIPS|18|02782}}
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] ID
| blank1_info        = 2394030<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2394030}}</ref>
| footnotes          = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
}}

'''Aurora''' is a city in [[Dearborn County, Indiana|Dearborn County]], [[Indiana]], United States. The population was 3,479 at the 2020 census.

==Geography==
According to the 2010 census, Aurora has a total area of {{convert|3.087|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|2.76|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 89.41%) is land and {{convert|0.327|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 10.59%) is water.<ref name="census-g001">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1802782
  |title=G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1
  |access-date=2015-07-28
  |publisher=United States Census Bureau
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213065119/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1802782
  |archive-date=2020-02-13
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

==History==
Aurora was [[plat]]ted in 1819.<ref name=shaw>{{cite book|last=Shaw|first=Archibald|title=History of Dearborn County, Indiana: Her People, Industries and Institutions|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_c080AQAAMAAJ|year=1915|publisher=Unigraphic|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_c080AQAAMAAJ/page/n264 265]}}</ref> It was named for [[Aurora (mythology)|Aurora]], the goddess of dawn in Roman mythology.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=5168 | title=Profile for Aurora, IN | publisher=[[ePodunk]] | access-date=31 August 2014 | archive-date=July 5, 2003 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030705214105/http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=5168 | url-status=live }}</ref> Aurora was incorporated as a town in 1822 and became a city in 1848, though some sources say 1845.<ref>{{cite book|last=Hellmann|first=Paul T.|title=Historical Gazetteer of the United States|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=REtEXQNWq6MC&pg=PA310|date=14 February 2006|publisher=Routledge|isbn=1-135-94859-3|page=310|via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-29 |title=City of Aurora – Good Things Happen in Aurora! |url=https://aurora.in.us/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Aurora is known for its historic downtown area and the ornate Hillforest mansion built for Thomas Gaff who earned his fortune shipping goods on the [[Ohio River]] by steamboat.<ref>Scouting New York website, http://www.scoutingny.com/?p=2335 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100717022740/http://www.scoutingny.com/?p=2335 |date=July 17, 2010 }}</ref> The mansion was designed by architect Isaiah Rogers and was completed in 1855 in the Italian Renaissance style. The design is symmetrical. Details include deep overhangs, arched windows and balconies and porches.  [[Hillforest]] was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1992.<ref>Historic Hillforest website, {{cite web|url=http://www.hillforest.org/history.php |title=History |access-date=2012-04-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726151830/http://www.hillforest.org/history.php |archive-date=2011-07-26 }}</ref>

Aurora was once a [[sundown town]], a place unwelcoming to non-whites after dark. Local newspaper ''The Aurora Journal'' reported on a reader's concern about a sign "posted somewhere along the river" that read, "Nigger, Don't Let the Sun Set on You in Aurora".<ref name="Booher">{{Cite news |last=Booher |first=L. L. |date=September 9, 1937 |title=Do You Know? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/929825586/ |newspaper=The Aurora Journal |page=8 |access-date=2024-09-09 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |archive-date=October 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003235018/https://www.newspapers.com/image/929825586/ |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the article, published on September 9, 1937, "The sign has been down for some time, but the idea still holds good."<ref name="Booher" />

In addition to Hillforest, the [[Aurora City Hall]], [[First Methodist Church (Aurora, Indiana)|Aurora Methodist Episcopal Church]], [[Aurora Public Library (Indiana)|Aurora Public Library]], [[Downtown Aurora Historic District]], [[First Evangelical United Church of Christ]], [[First Presbyterian Church (Aurora, Indiana)|First Presbyterian Church]], [[George Street Bridge (Aurora, Indiana)|George Street Bridge]], [[Lewis Hurlbert, Sr. House]], [[Leive, Parks and Stapp Opera House]], [[Levi Stevens House]], and [[George Sutton Medical Office]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 1954
|1860= 2990
|1870= 3304
|1880= 4435
|1890= 3929
|1900= 3645
|1910= 4410
|1920= 4299
|1930= 4386
|1940= 4828
|1950= 4780
|1960= 4119
|1970= 4293
|1980= 3816
|1990= 3825
|2000= 3965
|2010= 3750
|2020= 3479
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|work=census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015|archive-date=September 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922131601/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]],<ref name="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web | title = U.S. Census website | url = https://www.census.gov/ | publisher = United States Census Bureau | access-date = 2012-12-11 | archive-date = July 9, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210709054630/https://www.census.gov/ | url-status = live }}</ref> there were 3,750 people, 1,472 households, and 936 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1358.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,647 housing units at an average density of {{convert|596.7|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.5% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.5% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.3% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.5% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 0.7% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.5% of the population.

There were 1,472 households, of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.4% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.11.

The median age in the city was 36.2 years. 26.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.5% were from 25 to 44; 25.3% were from 45 to 64; and 12.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.3% male and 50.7% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/ |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709054630/https://www.census.gov/ |url-status=live }}</ref> there were 3,965 people, 1,592 households, and 1,022 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,428.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,716 housing units at an average density of {{convert|618.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 98.59% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.10% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.33% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.15% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.25% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.58% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.61% of the population.

[[Image:Aurora-indiana-from-above.jpg|thumb|left|Aurora from the air, looking northeast.]]

There were 1,592 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.9% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,500, and the median income for a family was $39,331. Males had a median income of $32,058 versus $24,671 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,587. About 9.4% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.
{{clear}}

==Government==
The government consists of a mayor and a city council. The mayor is elected in citywide vote. The city council consists of five members. Four are elected from individual districts. One is elected at-large.

===Current elected officials===
<ref>{{Cite web|title = Elected Officials {{!}} Aurora, Indiana|url = http://aurora.in.us/government.html|website = aurora.in.us|access-date = 2016-02-17|first = Jason|last = Craig|archive-date = February 24, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160224181510/http://aurora.in.us/government.html|url-status = live}}</ref>
* Mayor: Mark A. Drury
* Clerk Treasurer: Benny Turner
* Council District 1: Sherry Love
* Council District 2: Joey Turner
* Council District 3: Terry Hahn
* Council District 4: Kyle Runge
* Council At Large: Patrick Schwing

===Timeline of 19th-century mayors===
<ref name="shaw"/>
<timeline>
ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:20
PlotArea = left:100 bottom:60 top:0 right:50
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/1848 till:31/12/1880
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy

Colors =
  id:may value:red legend:Mayor

ScaleMajor = increment:1 start:1848

PlotData=

  width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
  bar:John&nbsp;D&nbsp;Haynes from:start till:31/12/1850 color:may
  bar:Solomon&nbsp;P&nbsp;Tumy from:01/01/1851 till:31/12/1855 color:may
  bar:Washington&nbsp;Stark from:01/01/1856 till:31/12/1856 color:may
  bar:Solomon&nbsp;P&nbsp;Tumy from:01/01/1857 till:31/12/1858 color:may
  bar:John&nbsp;Gaff from:01/01/1859 till:31/12/1860 color:may
  bar:Frederick&nbsp;Slater from:01/01/1861 till:31/12/1862 color:may
  bar:Dr&nbsp;George&nbsp;Sutton from:01/01/1863 till:31/12/1866 color:may
  bar:R&nbsp;Criswell from:01/01/1867 till:31/12/1868 color:may
  bar:Frederick&nbsp;Huckery from:01/01/1869 till:31/12/1870 color:may
  bar:J&nbsp;A&nbsp;Emrie from:01/01/1871 till:31/12/1872 color:may
  bar:Dr.&nbsp;Frederick&nbsp;Rectanus from:01/01/1873 till:31/12/1876 color:may
  bar:Edward&nbsp;Green from:01/01/1877 till:31/12/1880 color:may

</timeline>

==Education==
The town has a free lending library, the Aurora Public Library District.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.in.gov/library/files/countyindex13.pdf | title=Indiana public library directory | publisher=Indiana State Library | access-date=4 March 2018 | archive-date=February 18, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218220414/http://in.gov/library/files/countyindex13.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Newspapers==
* ''The Peoples' Advocate'' (1868–1870)<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Peoples Advocate Archive |url=https://www.newspapers.com/paper/the-peoples-advocate/33349/ |website=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=2024-09-09}}</ref>
* ''The Aurora Journal'' (1859–1952)<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Aurora Journal Archive |url=https://www.newspapers.com/paper/the-aurora-journal/29829/ |website=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=2024-09-09 |archive-date=March 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317060304/https://www.newspapers.com/paper/the-aurora-journal/29829/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Kirtley Baker]] (1869–1927) – Major League Baseball player.
* [[Stephen Bechtel Sr.]] (1900–1989) – former president of [[Bechtel Corporation]]
* [[Elmer Davis]] (1890–1958) – Director of the [[Office of War Information]] in World War II; [[Peabody Award]] recipient.
* [[Elias Selah Holliday]] (1842–1936) – served 4 terms in the [[United States House of Representatives]].
* [[Jesse Lynch Holman]] (1774–1842) – helped plat the town of Aurora in 1819. Appointed by [[President Andrew Jackson]] to the U.S. District Court for the District of Indiana.
* [[William S. Holman]] (1822–1897) – born in Aurora at [[Veraestau]], the home built by his father, [[Jesse Lynch Holman]]. He was elected to 10 terms in the [[United States House of Representatives]].
* [[Lonnie Mack]] (1941–2016) – influential rock guitar soloing pioneer, was born and raised in the area, and is buried in Aurora.
* [[Anna Meyer]] (Born 1928) – at age 15, one of the youngest players to sign a contract with the [[All-American Girls Professional Baseball League]].
* [[Harry Emerson Rowbottom]] (1884–1934) – served 3 terms in the [[United States House of Representatives]] from Indiana's 1st congressional district.
* [[John Q. Tufts]] (1840–1902) – born in Aurora in 1840, his family moved to Iowa in 1852.  He was elected as a Republican to represent Iowa's 2nd congressional district in the [[United States House of Representatives]].

==See also==
* [[Hillforest]]
* [[Veraestau]]
* [[List of cities and towns along the Ohio River]]
* [[List of sundown towns in the United States]]
* [[Lochry's Defeat]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.aurora.in.us/ City of Aurora, Indiana website]

{{Dearborn County, Indiana}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Indiana]]
[[Category:Cities in Dearborn County, Indiana]]
[[Category:Indiana populated places on the Ohio River]]
[[Category:1819 establishments in Indiana]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1819]]
[[Category:Sundown towns in Indiana]]