Editing Gaston, Indiana

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Gaston, Indiana
| official_name      = Town of Gaston
| settlement_type    = [[Town]]
| nickname           = 
| mapsize            = 250x200px
| image_skyline      = Gaston, Indiana.jpg
| imagesize          = 290px
| image_caption      = Downtown Gaston
| image_map          = File:Delaware County Indiana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Gaston Highlighted 1827072.svg
| map_caption        = Location of Gaston in Delaware County, Indiana.
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{USA}}
| area_note          = 
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|Indiana}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Indiana|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Delaware County, Indiana|Delaware]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[List of townships in Indiana|Township]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Washington Township, Delaware County, Indiana|Washington]]
| founder            = David L. Jones
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 1855
| established_title1 = Incorporated
| established_date1  = 1904
| population_footnotes = 
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 798<ref name="IndianaDemographics"/> {{increase}}
| pop_est_as_of      = 2025
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 796<ref name="2020census">{{Cite web|title=Gaston town, Indiana - Census Bureau Profile|page=1 |work=[[The United States Census Bureau]] |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US1827072 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502003947/http://web.archive.org/screenshot/https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US1827072 |archive-date=May 2, 2022 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>
| population_density_sq_mi = 2211.11
| population_density_km2 = 846.81
| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset_DST     = -5
| area_land_km2      = 0.94
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| 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_total_km2     = 0.94
| area_total_sq_mi   = 0.36
| area_land_sq_mi    = 0.36
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 896
| coordinates        = {{coord|40|18|49|N|85|29|57|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 47342
| area_code          = [[Area code 765|765]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 18-27072<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        = 2396955<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2396955}}</ref>
| footnotes          = 
| website            = {{URL|http://www.townofgaston.com/}}
| unit_pref          = Imperial
}}
'''Gaston''' is a town in [[Washington Township, Delaware County, Indiana|Washington Township]], [[Delaware County, Indiana|Delaware County]], [[Indiana]], United States. The population was 796 at the 2020 census. It is part of the [[Muncie, Indiana|Muncie]] [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
Gaston was originally called Snag Town and then New Corner, and under the former name was [[plat]]ted on February 27, 1855 by David L. Jones.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lasley|first=Norma|title=Delaware County|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UhqWZY1YhakC&pg=PA47|year=2012|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-0-7385-9430-9|page=47}}</ref> The name Gaston was adopted when the railroad was built through the town in 1901 during a local gas boom.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Lx4VAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA165 | title=A Twentieth Century History of Delaware County, Indiana, Volume 1 | publisher=Lewis Publishing Company | author=Kemper, William Harrison | year=1908 | pages=165}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Snagtown ~ New Corner Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=141475 |access-date=2025-04-16 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}}</ref> In late 1904, Gaston was officially incorporated as a town.<ref name=":0" />

Gaston currently has a preschool, elementary, and high school in the [[Wes-Del Community Schools Corporation|Wes-Del community school district]]. It also has a few churches, an ice cream parlor/restaurant called The Barking Cow, a funeral home and a few cemeteries located outside of the town center, a volunteer fire department and police department, a [[Dollar General]] and several small businesses. The town has also had a newspaper, [[The Voice (Gaston, Indiana newspaper)|''The Voice'']], which was released every other week until it was discontinued in May 2016 after producing a total of 8 volumes and 124 newspapers for over 10 years. [[Wes-Del Middle/High School]] has produced [[Wes-Del News|WDN]], a weekly video featuring students reporting the current events occurring in the school, and released it on [[YouTube]]. Wes-Del Middle/High School also became the first school to let students work on personal projects to be released to the school if desired and give out awards [[red carpet]] style in 2016.

The motorcade transporting Vice President [[Mike Pence]] and [[Karen Pence]] passed through Gaston on May 18, 2019. The motorcade passed in front of Wes-Del High School where contestants and volunteers in the school's first [[color run]] had gathered and the vice president was saluted by volunteer fireman and Gaston police as he made his way to deliver a speech at [[Taylor University]]'s graduation. He also delivered a speech at the nearby [[Delta High School (Muncie, Indiana)|Delta High School]].

Gaston is hoping to grow by opening new businesses and attractions. The town is hoping to reach a population goal of 2,500 by 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianaeconomicdigest.net/main.asp?SectionID=31&SubSectionID=75&ArticleID=81217|title=Gaston, rising: Small town looks to build, grow|publisher=[[The Star Press]] and [[Indiana Economic Digest]]|last=Shuey|first=Mickey|date=September 19, 2015}}</ref>

[[File:Gaston-indiana-from-above.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Gaston from the northeast.]]

==Geography==

According to the 2010 census, Gaston has a total area of {{convert|0.35|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="census-g001">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1827072
  |title=G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1
  |access-date=July 16, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213052644/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1827072
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 638
|1920= 541
|1930= 654
|1940= 677
|1950= 729
|1960= 801
|1970= 928
|1980= 1150
|1990= 979
|2000= 1010
|2010= 871
|2020= 796
|estyear=2025
|estimate=798
|estref=<ref name="IndianaDemographics">{{cite web|url=https://www.indiana-demographics.com/gaston-demographics|title=Gaston Demographic Statistics|publisher=Indiana Demographics by Cubit|accessdate=January 28, 2025}}</ref>
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="2020census"/> of 2020,  there were 796 people, 351 households, and 138 families living in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2211.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 378 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1050.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 93.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.4% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.8% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 5.3% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.3% of the population.

There were 351 households, of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 24.1% had a female householder with no husband present,  16.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 11.7% were non-families. 40.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 3.23.

24.3% of the population had never been married. 50.7% of residents were [[marriage|married]] and not [[marital separation|separated]], 7.2% were [[widowed]], 16.5% were [[divorce]]d, and 1.3% were separated.

The median age in the town was 35.9. 5.1% of residents were under the age of 5; 32.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 67.6% were age 18 or older; and 17.8% were age 65 or older. 7.4% of the population were [[veterans]].

The most common language spoken at home was [[English (language)|English]] with 97.3% speaking it at home, 1.8% spoke [[Spanish (language)|Spanish]] at home and 0.9% spoke an [[Asia]]n or [[Pacific Islander]] language at home. 1.7% of the population were [[foreign born]].

The median household income in Gaston was $47,250, 18.9% less than the median average for the state of [[Indiana]]. 16.9% of the population were in poverty, including 20% of residents under the age of 18. The poverty rate for the town was 4% higher than that of the state. 17.6% of the population were [[disabled]] and 6.5% had no [[healthcare]] coverage. 38.1% of the population had attained a [[high school]] or equivalent degree, 29.4% had attended [[college]] but received no degree, 6.5% had attained an [[Associate's degree]] or higher, 11.6% had attained a [[Bachelor's degree]] or higher, and 3.9% had a [[Graduate degree|graduate]] or [[Professional degree|professional]] degree. 10.5% had no degree. 59.6% of Gaston residents were employed, working a mean of 38.1 hours per week. The median gross rent in Gaston was $736 and the homeownership rate was 81.6%. 27 housing units were vacant at a density of {{convert|75|/sqmi|/km2|1}}.

===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 871 people, 331 households, and 230 families living in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2488.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 392 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1120.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 97.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.1% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.1% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.6% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.2% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.9% of the population.

There were 331 households, of which 42.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 18.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 30.5% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.06.

The median age in the town was 34.4 years. 29.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.4% were from 25 to 44; 23.8% were from 45 to 64; and 10.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 1,010 people, 351 households, and 261 families living in the town. The population density was {{convert|2,881.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 376 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,072.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 98.22% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.59% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], and 1.19% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.20% of the population.

There were 351 households, out of which 44.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.4% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.7% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 31.6% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,853, and the median income for a family was $37,583. Males had a median income of $28,558 versus $23,281 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $15,357. About 10.5% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 18.3% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
It is in the [[Wes-Del Community Schools]].<!--UNI 04500--><ref>{{cite map|author=Geography Division|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st18_in/schooldistrict_maps/c18035_delaware/DC20SD_C18035.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Delaware County, IN|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|date=January 12, 2021|access-date=2025-05-03}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st18_in/schooldistrict_maps/c18035_delaware/DC20SD_C18035_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> [[Wes-Del Middle/High School]] is the comprehensive secondary school.

In 1957 there was a school in Gaston, and there was proposed new elementary and high school facility to replace it.<ref>{{cite news|title=Set Public Meeting on Gaston School|newspaper=[[The Star Press]]|place=Muncie, Indiana|date=1957-03-25|volume=80|issue=331|page=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/171658131/ 1]|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

==References==
<references />

== External links ==

* [http://www.townofgaston.com/ Official website]
{{Delaware County, Indiana}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Delaware County, Indiana]]
[[Category:Towns in Indiana]]