Editing Merom, Indiana

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Merom, Indiana
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Union Christian College building in Merom.jpg
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = The former [[Union Christian College, Merom|Union Christian College]] in Merom is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Sullivan County, Indiana|National Register of Historic Places]]
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map = File:Sullivan County Indiana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Merom Highlighted 1848474.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Merom in Sullivan County, Indiana.
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
|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        = [[Sullivan County, Indiana|Sullivan]]
|subdivision_type3        = [[List of townships in Indiana|Township]]
|subdivision_name3        = [[Gill Township, Sullivan County, Indiana|Gill]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|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
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_land_km2            = 0.92
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_km2           = 0.92
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.35
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.35
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 208
|population_density_km2   = 225.91
|population_density_sq_mi = 585.92
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
|elevation_m              = 167
|elevation_ft             = 548
|coordinates              = {{coord|39|3|25|N|87|34|0|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 47861
|area_code                = [[Area code 812|812]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 18-48474<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = [http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:439023 439023]
|website                  = http://meromindiana.org/
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
}}
'''Merom''' is a town in [[Gill Township, Sullivan County, Indiana|Gill Township]], [[Sullivan County, Indiana|Sullivan County]], [[Indiana]], United States. The population was 228 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]]. It is part of the [[Terre Haute, Indiana|Terre Haute]] [[Terre Haute metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. Nearby is Hallador Energy's [[Merom Generating Station]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Hoosier Energy, Hallador Energy Company finalize ownership transfer of Merom Generating Station, multiyear PPA |url=https://www.hoosierenergy.com/press-releases/hoosier-energy-hallador-energy-company-finalize-ownership-transfer-of-merom-generating-station-multiyear-ppa/ |website=www.hoosierenergy.com |access-date=24 October 2022}}</ref>

==History==

Merom was founded by Stinnett Gettinger in 1817, and a log courthouse located there served as the first [[Sullivan County, Indiana|Sullivan County]] seat.<ref>{{cite web |title=Merom Founded 1817 |url=https://www.in.gov/history/state-historical-markers/find-a-marker/merom-founded-1817/ |website=Indiana Historical Bureau |publisher=State of Indiana |access-date=25 October 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

The town's name commemorates the [[Battle of the Waters of Merom]] in the [[Hebrew Bible]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Gannett|first=Henry|title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ|year=1905|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n205 206]}}</ref> The Merom post office has been in operation since 1818.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=IN&county=Sullivan&searchtext=&pagenum=2 | title=Sullivan County | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | accessdate=August 29, 2016}}</ref>

[[Union Christian College, Merom|Union Christian College]] existed in Merom from 1859–1924.

[[File:Merom, Indiana.jpg|thumb|Photo from Small Town Indiana photo survey.]]

==Geography==
Merom is located at {{Coord|39|3|25|N|87|34|0|W|type:city}} (39.056950, -87.566573).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the 2010 census, the town has a total area of {{convert|0.36|sqmi}}, all land.<ref name="Indiana gazetteer 2010">{{cite web
 | url = https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/2010_place_list_18.txt
 | title = Places: Indiana
 | work = 2010 Census Gazetteer Files
 | publisher = [[United States Census Bureau]]
 | accessdate = 2012-04-21
}}</ref>

The Bluff Park in Merom is the site of the type locality of the Merom Sandstone.<ref>{{cite book|last=Willman|first=H. B.|title=Handbook of Illinois Stratigraphy|publisher=Illinois State Geological Survey|series=Illinois State Geological Survey Bulletin |volume=95|year=1975|pages=261|display-authors=etal|hdl=2142/35115}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 234
|1870= 426
|1880= 407
|1890= 412
|1900= 478
|1910= 521
|1920= 503
|1930= 397
|1940= 499
|1950= 374
|1960= 352
|1970= 305
|1980= 360
|1990= 257
|2000= 294
|2010= 228
|2020= 208
|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|accessdate=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]]|accessdate=2012-12-11}}</ref> of 2010, there were 228 people, 99 households, and 59 families living in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|633.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 123 housing units at an average density of {{convert|341.7|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 100.0% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]]. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.4% of the population.

There were 99 households, of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.4% were non-families. 37.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the town was 39.4 years. 30.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.5% were from 25 to 44; 27.1% were from 45 to 64; and 16.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 50.4% male and 49.6% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 294 people, 108 households, and 81 families living in the town. The population density was {{convert|813.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 135 housing units at an average density of {{convert|373.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 98.30% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.68% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], and 1.02% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.68% of the population.

There were 108 households, out of which 43.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% 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.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 32.0% under the age of 18, 3.4% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,528, and the median income for a family was $33,333. Males had a median income of $30,250 versus $20,750 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $13,087. About 13.5% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.4% of those under the age of eighteen and 3.6% of those 65 or over.

==Education==
Merom has a [[public library]], a branch of the [[Sullivan County Public Library]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sullivan.lib.in.us/locations/ | title=Locations | publisher=Sullivan County Public Library | accessdate=15 March 2018}}</ref>

The grand opening of the Merom – Gill Township Carnegie Library was on Sep. 1, 1918. The two-story structure has beautiful oak woodwork and paintings by local artist Will Turman. The Merom Library became a part of the Sullivan County Public Library system on Dec. 28, 1967. Locals believe that Merom is the smallest town in the U.S. with a Carnegie-built library.

==Arts and culture==
The Merom Camp and Retreat Center is located on the site of the former [[Union Christian College, Merom|Union Christian College]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Merom Camp & Retreat Center |url=https://www.merom.org/ |website=Merom Camp & Retreat |publisher=Merom Camp and Retreat Center |access-date=25 October 2023 |language=en}}</ref> The Merom Bluff Park, which overlooks the Wabash River and the farm fields of Illinois, is home to the annual Merom Chautauqua.<ref>{{cite web |title=Merom Bluff Park |url=https://discoversullivan.com/merom-bluff-park/ |website=Discover Sullivan |publisher=Sullivan County Tourism Commission |access-date=25 October 2023}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://meromindiana.org/ Town website]
{{Commons category-inline}}

{{Sullivan County, Indiana}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Sullivan County, Indiana]]
[[Category:Terre Haute metropolitan area]]