Editing Greenville, Indiana

{{Other places|Greenville (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Greenville, Indiana
| official_name      = Town of Greenville
| settlement_type    = [[Town]]
| nickname           = 
| mapsize            = 250x200px
| image_skyline      = Simpson_Memorial_Methodist_Church_in_Greenville.jpg
| imagesize          = 290px
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = Seal of Greenville, Indiana.png
| image_map          = File:Floyd County Indiana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Greenville Highlighted 1829844.svg
| map_caption        = Location of Greenville in Floyd County, Indiana.
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| 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>
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Indiana]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Indiana|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Floyd County, Indiana|Floyd]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[List of townships in Indiana|Township]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Greenville Township, Floyd County, Indiana|Greenville]]
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| established_date   = 
| population_footnotes = 
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 1365
| population_density_sq_mi = 1509.96
| population_density_km2 = 582.88
| timezone           = [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| area_land_km2      = 2.34
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| area_total_km2     = 2.34
| area_total_sq_mi   = 0.90
| area_land_sq_mi    = 0.90
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 827
| coordinates        = {{coord|38|22|22|N|85|59|19|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 47124
| area_code          = [[Area codes 812 and 930|812 & 930]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 18-29844<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        = 0435458<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|435458}}</ref>
| blank2_name        = U.S. Highway
| blank2_info        = [[File:US 150.svg|27px|link=U.S. Route 150]]
| blank3_name        = Major State Roads
| blank3_info        = [[File:Indiana 335.svg|27px|link=Indiana State Road 335]]
| website            = {{URL|https://visitgreenvillein.com/}}
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
}}
'''Greenville''' is an incorporated [[town]] in [[Floyd County, Indiana]]. The population was 595 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].  Greenville is located in the greater [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]] metropolitan area.

== History ==
=== Founding ===
Greenville was platted in 1816 by Andrew Mundell and Benjamin Haines some three years before Floyd County was established.  During the first three years of Greenville's development, the village was a part of [[Clark County, Indiana|Clark County]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Floyd County Historical Society|title=This is Our Community|page=222}}|year=2009|Page=30</ref>

=== Notable people ===

==== John Baptiste Ford ====
[[John Baptiste Ford|Captain John Baptiste Ford]] found his way to Greenville as a 14-year-old runaway from [[Danville, Kentucky]]. Ford began as an apprentice with his future father-in-law in the local saddle shop which led him into his first business venture. Ford purchased the ''Old Mill'' and saddle shop from its owner, added a grocery and began making tin pie safes which he sold throughout the country. Later, Ford moved to New Albany and established several businesses, and became the first man to succeed in making plate glass in the United States. That success was the precursor to several glass companies, most notably the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company now known as PPG. Ford became the father of American plate glass.<ref>{{cite book|author=William Earl Aiken|title=The Roots Grow Deep|publisher=Libbey Owens Ford Glass Company|page=222}}|year=1957|Page=2-4</ref>

That original building that housed the mill, saddle shop and grocery still stands today. Historically referred to as the ''Old Mill'' and ''Ford's Flour Mill'', the Greenville Station is believed to be the oldest commercial building in Greenville. Construction on the original wooden structure began in 1810 and finished in 1812. In 1840, Ford helped to erect the present brick structure.<ref name="HistoryofOhioFallsCities">{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/historyofohiofal02will#page/286/mode/2up|publisher=[[LA Williams & Co, 1882]]|access-date=September 28, 2016|date=September 28, 2016|title=Chapter XVI Greenville Township}}</ref>  Besides housing Ford's grocery and the saddle shop, the ''Old Mill'' was the Greenville Post Office from 1823 until the early 1940s when it was relocated to H. Miller's house at the corner of East First Street and Hwy 150. The Station was a stop for the 104-mile stagecoach route that ran from Falls Cities to the [[Wabash River]]. The building also served as a stop along the [[Pony Express]] route from 1861 to 1867. The Greenville Station served as lodge hall for two civil organizations: the fraternal order of the Free and Accepted Masons and the International Order of Oddfellows. Through a majority of the early 20th century, the Greenville Station was referred to by the townspeople as the "lodge building" or the "lodge."<ref>{{cite journal |last=Roberts Family |date=1993 |title=The History of the Station Building |url=https://www.visitgreenvillein.com/documents/114/History_of_The_Station.pdf }}</ref>

Ford was on the board for the Floyd County Seminary from 1850 - 1852.  Ford was a philanthropist and always gave back to the community even after he left Greenville. He paid for the construction of the Simpson Memorial United Methodist Church in 1899.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal|url=https://www.visitgreenvillein.com/documents/114/Methodist_Church_NPS_Submission_8.11.2004.pdf|title=National Register of Historic Places Submission Form for the Simpson Memorial United Methodist Church|date=August 11, 2004|access-date=February 12, 2019}}</ref>  In 2017, the Greenville Town Council named a road "John Baptiste Ford Drive" to honor Ford's history and significant contributions to both the community and industrialism.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 13, 2017 |title=John Baptiste Ford Drive |url=https://www.visitgreenvillein.com/news-detail?item_id=1311 |work=Town of Greenville|location=Greenville, Indiana|access-date=February 12, 2019}}</ref>  The Greenville Historic Preservation Commission had a historic marker approved by the Indiana Historic Bureau in 2019.  The historic marker is the only John B. Ford specific historic marker in the country and the first IHB approved marker in Floyd County outside of New Albany.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 13, 2018 |title=Greenville Approved for Historic Marker |url=https://www.newsandtribune.com/news/greenville-approved-for-historical-marker/article_be97b4a4-9f26-11e8-8dab-739be2215d65.html |work=News and Tribune|location=New Albany, Indiana|access-date=February 12, 2019}}</ref>

===Civil War===
[[File:Battle_of_Corydon_with_Morgan%27s_Raid_in_southern_Indiana.svg|thumb]]
[[Morgan's Raid]] came through Greenville on July 10, 1863, led by Confederate General [[John Hunt Morgan]]. After the [[Battle of Corydon]], Morgan sent a column of troops through Greenville.  Confederate troops were reported east of Greenville,  at eight o'clock, and some of the scouts burned the railroad bridge at Farrabee Station, fifteen miles further north, at ten o'clock.<ref>{{cite book |last=Ewbank |first=Louis |date= September 11, 2015|title=Morgan's Raid in Indiana |url=http://archive.org/details/morgansraidinind72ewba |location=Indianapolis |publisher=C. E. PAULEY & COMPANY |isbn=978-1517286699 }}</ref>

Greenville resident Ephraim L. Girdner enlisted with the Union Army in 1861. He was captured by the Confederates during the [[Battle of Richmond, kentucky|Battle of Richmond]] in 1862, he was promoted to Captain of his regiment in 1864, and was also part of [[Sherman's March to the Sea]] engaging is several battles along the way.  Much of Girdner's communications and military documents during the Civil War were preserved by his family and donated as the "Girdner Papers" to the library at Emory University in Atlanta.<ref>{{cite census |title= Ephraim Girdner Papers |year= 1861–1866 |location= Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia |roll = 468}}</ref>

===County Seat===
Early in [[Floyd County, Indiana|Floyd County]]'s history, Greenville was initially to be the county seat. It was proposed that either [[New Albany, Indiana|New Albany]] or Greenville would become the county seat.  The contest was left up to who could make the largest donation.  The contest was animated but New Albany added the donation of a bell for the court house.  The offer of the bell was irresistible and vanquished Greenville from the contest.<ref>{{cite book|title=History of the Ohio Falls Cities and Their Counties|page=222}}|year=1882|publisher=L.A. Williams & Co.|page=293</ref>

===Incorporation===
Greenville was surveyed by George Smith, county surveyor, and incorporated October 28, 1879.<ref>{{cite book|title=History of the Ohio Falls Cities and Their Counties|page=222}}|year=1882|publisher=L.A. Williams & Co.|page=298</ref>

===Fire of 1908===
On March 26, 1908, a fire destroyed most of the town's original buildings. Today, the Station stands just two doors from one of the city's oldest home (rebuilt in 1908), which still boasts some of John B. Ford's original plate glass works.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.visitgreenvillein.com/history-of-greenville-in-pictures|title=Appeal for Aid: The Suffers from the Greenville Fire Appeal to the People in General for Assistance|date=August 31, 1908|access-date=February 12, 2019}}</ref>

===The Town Flag===
The Greenville Town Flag was designed by Glenn Burkhart in 1969, then just a 5th grader at Greenville Elementary School. The design was part of a contest held by the Greenville Town Council and the Greenville Park Board. Glenn received a $25 bond as a prize for winning the contest. His original drawing and the original flag from 1969 have been preserved. The Greenville Historic Preservation Commission held a flag re-dedication ceremony in January 2019 for the Flag's 50 year anniversary.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 16, 2019 |title=Commission Rededicates Greenville Flag|url=https://www.newsandtribune.com/news/commission-rededicates-greenville-flag/article_4d692916-191a-11e9-9449-7fd41579ac3b.html# |work=News and Tribune|location=New Albany, Indiana|access-date=February 12, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=January 9, 2019 |title=Historical Commission to Rededicate Greenville Flag|url=http://www.clarionnews.net/Articles-News-i-2019-01-09-232469.114125-Historical-Commission-to-rededicate-Greenville-flag.html |work=The Clarion|location=Corydon, Indiana|access-date=February 12, 2019}}</ref>

===Churches===
The [[Simpson Memorial United Methodist Church (Greenville, Indiana)|Simpson Memorial United Methodist Church]] was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 2004.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

==Notable residents==
* [[Norman Jay Colman]] In 1850, Colman became the first principal in Greenville.  First Secretary of Agriculture in 1889.
*[[John Baptiste Ford]] lived in Greenville from 1825 to 1854.  After leaving Greenville, Ford went on to become an influential industrialist.
* [[Roscoe Miller]] was a pitcher with the [[Detroit Tigers]], New York Giants, and [[Pittsburgh Pirates]].

== Historic buildings ==

* [[Simpson Memorial United Methodist Church (Greenville, Indiana)|Simpson Memorial United Methodist Church]]  It was designed by church plan catalog architect [[Benjamin D. Price]] and built by Capt. John Nafius in 1899.  It was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] on September 29, 2004.<ref name=":0" />
* [[Jersey Park Farm]] is a historic home and farm located just on the outskirts of Greenville. The farmhouse was built about 1875, and consists of a two-story, Federal style rectangular section with a two-story round section and one-story round section.  It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
* The Station was built in 1840 by [[John Baptiste Ford]] and is the oldest commercial building in town.

== Geography ==
[[File:GreenvilleFarmland.jpg|thumb]]

According to the 2010 census, Greenville has a total area of {{convert|0.78|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="census-g001">{{cite web
|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1829844
  |title=G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1
  |access-date=July 16, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213083026/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1829844
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

The township is situated such that, clockwise, it borders the township of Jackson Township, [[Washington County, Indiana|Washington County]] to the northwest, Wood Township, [[Clark County, Indiana|Clark County]] to the northeast, Laffayette Township in [[Floyd County, Indiana|Floyd County]] to the east, Georgetown Township to the south, Jackson Township, [[Harrison County, Indiana|Harrison County]] to the southwest, and Morgan Township, Harrison County to the west.

Big and Little Indian Creeks meander through the township, which are tributaries in the [[Ohio River]] watershed.

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
|1880= 394
|1890= 313
|1900= 309
|1910= 227
|1920= 225
|1930= 257
|1940= 285
|1950= 298
|1960= 453
|1970= 611
|1980= 537
|1990= 508
|2000= 591
|2010= 595
|2020= 1365
|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 595 people, 219 households, and 162 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|762.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 241 housing units at an average density of {{convert|309.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 95.5% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.5% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.8% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.8% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.5% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 0.8% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.0% of the population.

There were 219 households, of which 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.0% were non-families. 18.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.12.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}

The median age in the town was 40.3 years. 77% of residents were over the age of 18; 6.4% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 26.5% were from 25 to 44; 25.7% were from 45 to 64; and 14.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 46.8% male and 53.2% female.<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. Census website |url=https://www.census.gov |website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=December 9, 2019 }}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 591 people, 224 households, and 174 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|954.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 238 housing units at an average density of {{convert|384.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 97.12% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.34% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.02% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.51% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.02% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.51% of the population.

There were 224 households, out of which 39.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 19.6% 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 2.64 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.4% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $49,271, and the median income for a family was $50,972. Males had a median income of $44,464 versus $26,484 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $24,343. About 5.0% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 2.1% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
The community is within the [[New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corporation]]. Greenville is within the attendance boundaries of Greenville Elementary School,<ref>"[http://www.nafcs.k12.in.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/greenville-elementary.pdf Greenville Redistrict]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20160305105635/http://www.nafcs.k12.in.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/greenville-elementary.pdf Archive]). [[New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corporation]]. Retrieved on April 9, 2015.</ref> Highland Hills Middle School,<ref>[http://www.nafcs.k12.in.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/highland-hills-middle.pdf <Highland Hills Middle School District Map>] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20160131193522/http://www.nafcs.k12.in.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/highland-hills-middle.pdf Archive]). [[New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corporation]]. Retrieved on April 9, 2015.</ref> and [[Floyd Central High School]].<ref>[http://www.nafcs.k12.in.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/floyd-central-hs.pdf Floyd Central High School District Map] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20160129201815/http://www.nafcs.k12.in.us/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/floyd-central-hs.pdf Archive]). [[New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corporation]]. Retrieved on April 9, 2015.</ref>

Greenville Elementary School is located within the town limits.<ref>[http://greenville.nafcs.k12.in.us/ Home page]. Greenville Elementary School. Retrieved on April 9, 2015.</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* [https://visitgreenvillein.com/ Official website]
{{Floyd County, Indiana}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Floyd County, Indiana]]
[[Category:Towns in Indiana]]
[[Category:Louisville metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1816 establishments in Indiana]]