Editing Roachdale, Indiana

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Roachdale, Indiana
| settlement_type    = [[Town]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = 
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = File:Putnam County Indiana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Roachdale Highlighted 1864980.svg
| mapsize            = 250x200px
| map_caption        = Location of Roachdale in Putnam 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  = [[Putnam County, Indiana|Putnam]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[List of townships in Indiana|Township]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Franklin Township, Putnam County, Indiana|Franklin]], [[Jackson Township, Putnam County, Indiana|Jackson]]
| 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      = 1.31
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| area_total_km2     = 1.31
| area_total_sq_mi   = 0.51
| area_land_sq_mi    = 0.51
| 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   = 840
| population_density_km2 = 640.07
| population_density_sq_mi = 1656.80
| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 850
| coordinates        = {{coord|39|50|57|N|86|48|02|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 46172
| area_code          = [[Area code 765|765]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 18-64980<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        = 2396883<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2396883}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|https://www.townofroachdale.org/}}
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
}}
'''Roachdale''' is a town in [[Franklin Township, Putnam County, Indiana|Franklin]] and [[Jackson Township, Putnam County, Indiana|Jackson]] townships, [[Putnam County, Indiana|Putnam County]], in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Indiana]].<ref name=gnis/> The population was 926 at the 2010 census.

==History==
Roachdale was platted in 1879, and named for Judge Roach, a railroad official.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tabernacle at Roachdale, Indiana|url=http://images.indianahistory.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/V0002&CISOPTR=1038&CISOBOX=1&REC=9|publisher=Indiana Historical Society}}</ref> A post office has been in operation at Roachdale since 1880.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=IN&county=Putnam&searchtext=&pagenum=2 | title=Putnam County | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | access-date=November 1, 2015}}</ref> Roachdale was incorporated in 1882 when the railroad was extended to that point.<ref>{{cite book|last=Weik|first=Jesse William|title=Weik's History of Putnam County, Indiana|url=https://archive.org/details/weikshistoryofpu00weik|year=1910|publisher=B.F. Bowen|page=[https://archive.org/details/weikshistoryofpu00weik/page/156 156]}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the 2010 census, Roachdale has a total area of {{convert|0.51|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="census-g001">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1864980
  |title=G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1
  |access-date=July 25, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213063359/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1864980
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 86
|1890= 428
|1900= 942
|1910= 849
|1920= 876
|1930= 631
|1940= 736
|1950= 918
|1960= 927
|1970= 1004
|1980= 958
|1990= 902
|2000= 975
|2010= 926
|2020= 840
|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 926 people, 356 households, and 240 families living in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1815.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 401 housing units at an average density of {{convert|786.3|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 99.2% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]] and 0.8% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.4% of the population.

There were 356 households, of which 40.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.6% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.16.

The median age in the town was 35.6 years. 29.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.3% were from 25 to 44; 25.9% were from 45 to 64; and 13.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.7% male and 50.3% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 975 people, 388 households, and 268 families living in the town. The population density was {{convert|1,910.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 418 housing units at an average density of {{convert|819.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 99.28% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.21% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.10% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], and 0.41% from two or more races.

There were 388 households, out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.7% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,932, and the median income for a family was $39,792. Males had a median income of $31,688 versus $22,375 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $17,112. About 9.6% of families and 12.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 22.3% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
The town has a lending library, the Roachdale-Franklin Township 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 14, 2018}}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
An annual tradition of roach races began in the town in 1981, as "a gimmick for the [[Fourth of July]] carnival". To insure large sizes the roaches are imported from [[South Carolina]] labs. Contestants put their insects in a plastic container that is placed on an oval track on a four by eight plywood board. The container is lifted at the start of the race and whichever roach reaches the perimeter of the board first is declared the winner of each heat. The popularity of the race resulted in its appearing on the television programs regionally on ''[[Across Indiana]]'' and nationally on ''[[Good Morning America]]''. In addition to being covered by ''[[The Indianapolis Star]]'' newspaper, the race was written up in ''[[Ripley's Believe It or Not!]]''. Many contestants dress their roaches by gluing paper top hats, saddles, or other apparel to their backs. At the end of racing the roaches are collected, sprayed with insecticide, and disposed of.<ref>{{cite news|title=Roach races return to Roachdale|date=June 27, 2009|author=Maribeth Ward|publisher=Greencastle Banner-Graphic|url=http://www.bannergraphic.com/story/1550766.html}}</ref>

==References==
<references />

== External links ==

* [https://www.townofroachdale.org/ Official website]
{{Putnam County, Indiana}}

{{authority control}}

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