Editing Knightstown, Indiana

{{distinguish|Knightsville, Indiana}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Knightstown, Indiana
| official_name      = Town of Knightstown
| settlement_type    = [[Town]]
| nickname           = 
| mapsize            = 250x200px
| image_skyline      = Knightstown, Indiana.jpg
| imagesize          = 290px
| image_caption      = 
| image_map          = File:Henry County Indiana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Knightstown Highlighted 1840266.svg
| map_caption        = Location of Knightstown in Henry County, Indiana.
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{USA}}
| 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  = {{flag|Indiana}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Indiana|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Henry County, Indiana|Henry]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[List of townships in Indiana|Township]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Wayne Township, Henry County, Indiana|Wayne]]
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = 
| leader_name        = 
| founder            = Waitsell M. Cary
| named_for          = [[Jonathan Knight (railroader)|Jonathan Knight]]
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 1827
| established_title1  = Incorporated
| established_date1   = 1827
| population_footnotes = 
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 2166<ref name="IndianaDemographics"/> {{increase}}
| pop_est_as_of      = 2025
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 2140
| population_density_sq_mi = 2077.67
| population_density_km2 = 802.52
| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]<ref>[http://www.timetemperature.com/tzin/knightstown.shtml Knightstown, Indiana Current Local Time]. timetemperature.com</ref>
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| area_land_km2      = 2.67
| area_water_km2     = 0.02
| area_total_km2     = 2.69
| area_total_sq_mi   = 1.04
| area_land_sq_mi    = 1.03
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.01
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 929
| coordinates        = {{coord|39|47|45|N|85|31|52|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 46148
| area_code          = [[Area code 765|765]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 18-40266<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        = 2396694<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2396694}}</ref>
| footnotes          = 
| website            = {{URL|http://www.knightstown.in/}}
}}
'''Knightstown''' is a town in [[Wayne Township, Henry County, Indiana|Wayne Township]], [[Henry County, Indiana|Henry County]], [[Indiana]], adjacent to [[Rush County, Indiana|Rush County]], along the [[Big Blue River (Indiana)|Big Blue River]]. The population was 2,140 at the 2020 census. It is approximately thirty-two miles east of [[Indianapolis]].

Knightstown was used in the 1986 film ''[[Hoosiers (film)|Hoosiers]]''. The [[Hoosier Gym]] was used in the filming of the film. Knightstown hosts two annual festivals: Jubilee Days held in early-mid June and The Hoosier Fall Festival held in September. Knightstown also hosts an annual car show and a music series on the town square.

== History ==
Knightstown was founded and platted by Waitsell M. Cary in 1827, the same year Knightstown was incorporated.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The History of Knightstown, Indiana |url=http://www.knightstown.in/about_us/history.php |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=www.knightstown.in}}</ref> It was named for [[Jonathan Knight (railroader)|Jonathan Knight]], an engineer on the [[National Road]] and U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania.<ref name="Hazzard1906">{{cite book|last=Hazzard|first=George|title=Hazzard's History of Henry County, Indiana, 1822–1906|url=https://archive.org/details/hazzardshistoryo02hazz|year=1906|publisher=G. Hazzard, author and publisher|pages=[https://archive.org/details/hazzardshistoryo02hazz/page/934 934]–936}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=[[United States Government Publishing Office|Government Printing Office]] | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n176 177]}}</ref> A post office has operated in Knightstown since 1833.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=IN&county=Henry | title=Henry County | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | access-date=February 2, 2015}}</ref>

The [[Elias Hinshaw House]], [[Knightstown Academy]], and [[Knightstown Historic District]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

== Geography ==

According to the 2010 census, Knightstown has a total area of {{convert|1.04|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|1.03|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 99.04%) is land and {{convert|0.01|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 0.96%) is water.<ref name="census-g001">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1840266
  |title=G001 – Geographic Identifiers – 2010 Census Summary File 1
  |access-date=July 17, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213083701/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1840266
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
|1870= 1528
|1880= 1670
|1890= 1867
|1900= 1942
|1910= 2008
|1920= 1918
|1930= 2209
|1940= 2323
|1950= 2486
|1960= 2496
|1970= 2456
|1980= 2325
|1990= 2048
|2000= 2148
|2010= 2182
|2020= 2140
|estimate= 2166
|estyear= 2025
|estref= <ref name="IndianaDemographics">{{cite web|url=https://www.indiana-demographics.com/knightstown-demographics|title=Knightstown Demographic Statistics|publisher=Indiana Demographics by Cubit|accessdate=January 29, 2025}}</ref>
|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 2,182 people, 899 households, and 590 families living in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2118.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,001 housing units at an average density of {{convert|971.8|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 98.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.1% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.1% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.1% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.4% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.1% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.6% of the population.

There were 899 households, of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.4% were non-families. 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.5% 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 3.00.

The median age in the town was 38.8 years. 25.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.1% were from 25 to 44; 25.3% were from 45 to 64; and 16% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.8% male and 52.2% female.

=== 2000 census ===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 2,148 people, 915 households, and 595 families living in the town. The population density was {{convert|3,026.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 979 housing units at an average density of {{convert|1,379.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 99.02% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.42% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.09% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.09% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], and 0.37% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.23% of the population.

[[File:Knightstown-indiana-from-above.jpg|thumb|left|Knightstown, Indiana from the air, looking southwest.]]

There were 915 households, out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,639, and the median income for a family was $42,222. Males had a median income of $36,081 versus $22,111 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $22,466. About 7.0% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 8.6% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.

== Education ==
Knightstown is served by the [[Charles A. Beard Memorial School Corporation]].
Knightstown High School offers AP and ACP (Advanced College Project) credits.
High School Cheerleaders won the State Championship in 2000, 2004, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018.  Knightstown also has an elementary school and an intermediate school.

The town has a lending library, the Knightstown Public Library.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.in.gov/library/files/countyindex13.pdf | title=Indiana public library directory | publisher=Indiana State Library | access-date=March 7, 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>

== Notable people ==
* Actor [[Monte Blue]] grew up and was educated at the [[Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's Home]] located south of Knightstown.
* Former three-time NFL All-Pro running back/kick returner, actor, and singer [[Timothy Brown (actor)|Timmy Brown]] was raised in Knightstown.
* Astronomer [[John Charles Duncan]] (1882-1967), noted for his investigation of the [[Crab Nebula]], was born and raised in Knightstown. 
* Former Secretary of Agriculture (1969–1971) [[Clifford M. Hardin]] and historian [[Charles A. Beard]] grew up and attended school in Knightstown.
* Character actor [[Forrest Lewis]] was born in Knightstown. He is best known for the recurring role of Officer Kelly in the films ''[[The Shaggy Dog (1959 film)|The Shaggy Dog]]'', ''[[The Absent-Minded Professor]]'', and ''[[Son of Flubber]]''.
* Justice of the [[Indiana Supreme Court]] [[Douglas J. Morris]] was born and raised in Knightstown, graduating from Knightstown High School.
* [[Ruby Green Smith]] (1878-1960) entomologist, peace campaigner and home economics educator.<ref name="TCB-1961">{{cite news |title=Noted K.H.S. Grad's Death is Reported |work=Tri-County Banner |date=January 19, 1961|location=Knightstown, Indiana |page=1}}</ref>
* U.S. Marine Private [[William Zion]] was born in Knightstown. He received the [[Medal of Honor]] during the [[China Relief Expedition]].

== Recreation ==
* The gym that served as the home court for the Hickory Huskers in the movie ''[[Hoosiers (film)|Hoosiers]]'' is located in Knightstown. It is now known as the [[Hoosier Gym]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thehoosiergym.com/|title=My Site|website=www.thehoosiergym.com}}</ref> It serves as a community center and has a small museum. The gym and museum are open daily to the public free of charge.
*Knightstown also has a public golf course named Royal Hylands, which in 2006 was named among the top 25 public golf courses in the state by the Indiana Golf Association tournament players.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.royalhylands.com/ |title=Welcome to Royal Hylands |access-date=February 14, 2010 |archive-date=July 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100711064749/http://www.royalhylands.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
* [http://www.knightstown.in/ Town of Knightstown, Indiana website]

{{Henry County, Indiana}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Knightstown, Indiana| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Henry County, Indiana]]
[[Category:Towns in Indiana]]