Editing Fowler, Indiana

{{distinguish|Fowlerton, Indiana}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Fowler, Indiana
| settlement_type    = [[Town]]
| image_blank_emblem = FowlerINlogo.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| nickname           = 
| image_skyline      = Fowler town hall.png
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Fowler's police department, town hall and public library
| image_map          = File:Benton County Indiana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Fowler Highlighted 1825180.svg
| mapsize            = 150px
| map_caption        = Location of Fowler in Benton County, Indiana.
| image_map1         = Map of Fowler, Indiana.svg
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = Map of Fowler
| pushpin_map        = USA Indiana Benton County
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Fowler's location in Benton County
| pushpin_mapsize    = 
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{USA}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|Indiana}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Indiana|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Benton County, Indiana|Benton]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[List of townships in Indiana|Township]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Center Township, Benton County, Indiana|Center]]
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| established_title  = Platted
| established_date   = 1872
| established_title1  = Incorporated
| established_date1   = 1875
| named_for           = The Fowler family
| population_footnotes = 
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 2337
| population_density_sq_mi = 1655.10
| population_density_km2 = 638.92
| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| 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}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 3.67
| area_land_km2      = 3.66
| area_water_km2     = 0.01
| area_total_sq_mi   = 1.42
| area_land_sq_mi    = 1.41
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.01
| area_note          = 
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 820
| coordinates        = {{coord|40|37|6|N|87|19|9|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code        = 47944, 47984, 47986
| area_code          = [[Area code 765|765]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 18-25180<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2396945<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2396945}}</ref>
| footnotes          = 
| website            = [https://www.townoffowler.com/ www.townoffowler.com]|
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
}}
'''Fowler''' is a town in, and county seat of [[Center Township, Benton County, Indiana|Center Township]], [[Benton County, Indiana|Benton County]], [[Indiana]], [[United States]]. The population was 2,337 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. It is part of the [[Lafayette, Indiana]] [[Lafayette, Indiana metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

== History ==
[[Image:Fowler time capsule.png|thumb|left|190px|[[Time capsule]] near the courthouse]]

Fowler was [[plat]]ted by husband and wife [[Moses Fowler House|Moses]] and Eliza Fowler on October 26, 1872,<ref name=jc>[https://www.jconline.com/story/news/history/2016/03/18/moses-fowler-had-far-reaching-influence/81182194/ "Moses Fowler had far-reaching influence"] - ''[[Journal & Courier]]'', March 18, 2016</ref> and originally consisted of 583 lots, though a re-platting on April 8, 1875, expanded it to 1,602 lots and 20 blocks. Several more additions were made to the town over subsequent years.

The town's first home was erected in March 1871 by Scott Shipman, and its first business opened in June of that year, a small general store run by Henry D. Clark.  Many more businesses followed over the next few years, including the Henry Jacobs & Son grocery, grain elevators built by L. Templeton, and blacksmith John E. Mitchell, who was also the town's first postmaster (succeeded by grocer Henry Jacobs).  In 1874, Fowler became the county seat, which until that time had occupied nearby [[Oxford, Indiana|Oxford]].

The town was incorporated in 1875, and its rapid growth is clear from the following list, printed in an 1883 history of Benton County:
<blockquote>
"In September, 1875, the town of Fowler contained ten lawyers, one minister, three doctors, one dentist, one baker, two barber shops, three billiard saloons, two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, three boot and shoe stores, one grain elevator, two dry goods stores, twenty carpenters, one furniture store, two stove and tin stores, one hardware store, one hotel, three restaurants, two drug stores, three millinery establishments, two saloons, two livery stables, three retail groceries, one clothing store, one merchant tailor, one graded school, two printing offices, two lumber yards, two churches and about 1,200 inhabitants."<ref>Mossman 1883, p. 311.</ref>
</blockquote>

Fowler is home to the [[Fowler Ridge Wind Farm]].

The [[Benton County Courthouse (Indiana)|Benton County Courthouse]], [[Fowler Theatre]], and [[Fraser & Isham Law Office]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

==Geography==
Fowler is located in Center Township. [[U.S. Route 52 (Indiana)|U.S. Route 52]] and State Roads [[Indiana State Road 18|18]] and [[State Road 55 (Indiana)|55]] pass through town, and [[U.S. Route 41 in Indiana|U.S. Route 41]] intersects 52 four miles to the northwest.

According to the 2010 census, Fowler has a total area of {{convert|1.41|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|1.4|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 99.29%) is land and {{convert|0.01|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 0.71%) is water.<ref name="census-g001">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1825180
  |title=G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1
  |access-date=July 16, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213084341/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1825180
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 967
|1890= 1285
|1900= 1429
|1910= 1491
|1920= 1442
|1930= 1564
|1940= 1903
|1950= 2117
|1960= 2491
|1970= 2643
|1980= 2319
|1990= 2333
|2000= 2415
|2010= 2317
|2020= 2337
|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|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 11, 2012}}</ref> of 2010, there were 2,317 people, 935 households, and 593 families living in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1655.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,062 housing units at an average density of {{convert|758.6|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 96.7% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.6% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.1% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.1% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.9% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.6% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.9% of the population.

There were 935 households, of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.6% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.08.

The median age in the town was 41.8 years. 25.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.9% were from 25 to 44; 25.9% were from 45 to 64; and 20% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 2,415 people, 948 households, and 623 families living in the town. The population density was {{convert|1,730.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,020 housing units at an average density of {{convert|730.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 98.14% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.29% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.08% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.41% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.08% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.87% of the population.

There were 949 households, out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 30.9% 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 2.43 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.0% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $40,396, and the median income for a family was $50,586. Males had a median income of $29,889 versus $21,781 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $17,881. About 4.5% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
The town has a lending library, the Benton County Public Library.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bentoncounty.in.gov/libraries | title=Benton County Libraries | publisher=Benton County, IN | access-date=March 4, 2018}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Otis Johnson (baseball)|Otis Johnson]], baseball player
*[[Robert Keith (actor)|Robert Keith]], actor

==References==
<references />

=== Bibliography ===
* {{cite book
  |title=Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper and Newton, Indiana
  |chapter=Past Events — Present Condition
  |publisher=F. A. Battey and Company
  |location=Chicago
  |year=1883
  |first=Ed
  |last=Mossman
  |pages=274–322
  |url=https://archive.org/stream/cu31924028850010#page/n277/mode/2up
  |access-date=September 19, 2010
}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.townoffowler.com/ Town website]

{{Benton County, Indiana}}
{{County Seats of Indiana}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Benton County, Indiana]]
[[Category:Towns in Indiana]]
[[Category:County seats in Indiana]]
[[Category:Lafayette metropolitan area, Indiana]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1872]]
[[Category:1872 establishments in Indiana]]