Editing Rockport, Indiana

{{For|the community in Parke County|Rockport, Parke County, Indiana}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
<!-- Infobox begins -->{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Rockport, Indiana
| native_name        = 
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| image_blank_emblem = RockportINlogo.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| blank_emblem_size  = 120px
| nickname           = 
| motto              = 
| image_skyline      = Spencer County Courthouse in Rockport.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = [[Spencer County Courthouse (Indiana)|Spencer County Courthouse]]
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = 
| image_map          = File:Spencer County Indiana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Rockport Highlighted 1865484.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Rockport in Spencer County, Indiana.
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| 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  = [[Spencer County, Indiana|Spencer]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[List of townships in Indiana|Township]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Ohio Township, Spencer County, Indiana|Ohio]]
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Cathy Kirkpatrick ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]){{citation needed|date=January 2024}}
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| leader_title2      = 
| leader_name2       = 
| leader_title3      = 
| leader_name3       = 
| established_title  = <!-- Settled -->
| established_date   = 
| established_title2 = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
| established_date2  = 
| established_title3 = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
| established_date3  = 
| area_land_km2      = 4.29
| area_water_km2     = 0.08
| 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     = 4.37
| area_total_sq_mi   = 1.69
| area_land_sq_mi    = 1.66
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.03
| area_water_percent = 1.88
| area_urban_sq_mi   = 
| area_metro_sq_mi   = 
| population_footnotes = 
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 1984
| population_density_km2 = 462.07
| population_density_sq_mi = 1196.62
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_metro_km2 = 
| population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
| population_urban   = 
| timezone           = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset         = -6
| timezone_DST       = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = -5
| coordinates        = {{coord|37|53|22|N|87|03|15|W|region:US-IN|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 387
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 47635
| website            = [http://www.cityofrockport-in.gov/index.html Rockport, Indiana]
| area_code          = [[Area code 812|812]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 18-65484<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2396408<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2396408}}</ref>
| blank4_name        = [[U.S. Highway]]s
| blank4_info        = [[File:US 231.svg|34px|link=U.S. Route 231 in Indiana]]
| blank5_name        = Major State Roads
| blank5_info        = [[File:Indiana 66.svg|27px|link=Indiana State Road 66]]
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
}}
<!-- Infobox ends -->

'''Rockport''' is a city in [[Ohio Township, Spencer County, Indiana|Ohio Township]] and the [[county seat]] of [[Spencer County, Indiana|Spencer County]], [[Indiana]],<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=2011-06-07|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> along the [[Ohio River]].<ref name=gnis/> The population was 1,984 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. Once the largest community in Spencer County, the city has recently been surpassed by the town of [[Santa Claus, Indiana|Santa Claus]]. At 37°53'1" north, Rockport is also the southernmost city in the state, located slightly south of [[Evansville, Indiana|Evansville]], [[Cannelton, Indiana|Cannelton]], or [[Mount Vernon, Indiana|Mount Vernon]] (the westernmost city).

==History==
Lots were first sold in Rockport in 1818.<ref>{{cite book|title=History of Warrick, Spencer, and Perry Counties, Indiana: From the Earliest Time to the Present|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofwarrick00chic|year=1885|publisher=Goodspeed|page=[https://archive.org/details/historyofwarrick00chic/page/328 328]}}</ref> The town received its name from rock outcroppings on the [[Ohio River]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Bulletin - United States Geological Survey|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ix0MAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA265|year=1905|publisher=The Survey.|page=265}}</ref>

Three locations in Rockport are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]: the [[Spencer County Courthouse (Indiana)|Spencer County Courthouse]], the [[Mathias Sharp House]], and the [[Lincoln Pioneer Village]].<ref>{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

The Rockport post office has been in operation since 1823.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=IN&county=Spencer&searchtext=&pagenum=2 | title=Spencer County | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | access-date=July 9, 2016}}</ref>

Cleveland-Cliffs Rockport Works is located on the Ohio River near Rockport. The facility has an 80” wide galvanizing line which is the widest in the United States. The hot-dip galvanizing and galvannealing line incorporates revolutionary proprietary technologies, including induction transition heating, which provides rapid, accurate annealing temperature control.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.clevelandcliffs.com/operations/steelmaking/rockport-works |title=Rockport Works |website=clevelandcliffs.com |access-date=2023-10-06}}</ref> Rockport Works is one of the largest employers in Spencer County.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hoosierdata.in.gov/major_employers.asp?areaID=147 |title=Major employers |website=hoosierdata.in.gov}}</ref>

In 2013, while under the previous ownership of AK Steel, Rockport Works was reported by the EPA as the source for 70% of the pollution in the Ohio River, the nation's most polluted waterway.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tristatehomepage.com/news/epa-reports-ohio-river-most-contaminated-body-of-water-in-the-country/149752570 | title= EPA Reports Ohio River Most Contaminated Body Of Water In The Country | access-date=June 2, 2017}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the 2010 census, Rockport has a total area of {{convert|1.604|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|1.57|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 97.88%) is land and {{convert|0.034|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 2.12%) is water.<ref name="census-g001">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1865484
  |title=G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1
  |access-date=2015-07-29
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213042647/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1865484
  |archive-date=2020-02-13
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

Rockport is nestled on the [[Ohio River]] across from [[Owensboro, Kentucky]]. It is home to the [[Rockport Generating Station]], a coal power plant which is scheduled to close by 2028 due to the pollution it causes. It is connected to Owensboro by the [[William H. Natcher Bridge]] via [[U.S. Route 231 (Indiana)|U.S. Route 231]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 412
|1860= 834
|1870= 1720
|1880= 2382
|1890= 2314
|1900= 2882
|1910= 2736
|1920= 2581
|1930= 2396
|1940= 2421
|1950= 2493
|1960= 2474
|1970= 2565
|1980= 2590
|1990= 2315
|2000= 2160
|2010= 2270
|2020= 1984
|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=2012-12-11}}</ref> of 2010, there were 2,270 people, 908 households, and 564 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1445.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,026 housing units at an average density of {{convert|653.5|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.9% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.8% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.3% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.4% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.6% of the population. 
There were 908 households, of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.9% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.05.

The median age in the city was 39.1 years. 25.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.9% were from 25 to 44; 25.5% were from 45 to 64; and 17.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.5% male and 51.5% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 2,160 people, 891 households, and 571 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,843.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,057 housing units at an average density of {{convert|902.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.83% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.59% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.37% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.32% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.19% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.69% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.25% of the population.

There were 891 households, out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,275, and the median income for a family was $37,554. Males had a median income of $30,278 versus $20,263 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $14,298. About 10.2% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
It is in the [[South Spencer County School Corporation]].<!--UNI 10560--><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st18_in/schooldistrict_maps/c18147_spencer/DC20SD_C18147.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Spencer County, IN|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-06-12}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st18_in/schooldistrict_maps/c18147_spencer/DC20SD_C18147_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> Rockport Elementary School is in Rockport.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rockport Elementary|url=http://www.sspencer.k12.in.us/re-home|access-date=26 September 2020}}</ref>

Prior to 1965, it had its own high school. The school colors were blue and gold, and the mascot was the Zebras. That year, it merged into [[South Spencer High School]].<ref>{{cite web|last= Blackford|first=Nathan|url=https://www.evansvilleliving.com/schools-out-forever/|title=School's Out Forever|magazine=[[Evansville Living]]|place=[[Evansville, Indiana]]|date=2014-07-15|access-date=2024-06-12}}</ref>

There is also a Roman Catholic parochial school of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Evansville]], St. Bernard Catholic School.<ref>{{Cite web|title=St. Bernard Catholic school|url=https://stbernardschool.info/catholic-school|access-date=26 September 2020}}</ref>

Rockport has a [[public library]], a branch of Spencer County Public Library.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://spencercountypubliclibrary.org/branch-information/ | title=Branch Information | publisher=Spencer County Public Library | access-date=15 March 2018}}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
{{unreferenced section|date=April 2023}}
[[Lincoln Pioneer Village]], listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]], is located in Rockport City Park. Designed by Indiana sculptor [[George Honig]], the first phase of the Village was completed in 1935, with an addition completed the following year. The project was undertaken through grants from the [[Federal Emergency Relief Administration]] and [[Works Progress Administration]], both programs of the "[[New Deal]]".

Historically accurate replicas of a number of Spencer County cabins and businesses from [[Abraham Lincoln]]'s time are the main attraction of the Village, giving visitors the opportunity to see what it was like to live in Indiana during Lincoln's formative years. The Village was so well known throughout the United States in its early years that it was chosen as the setting for portions of the 1955 [[Burt Lancaster]] film ''[[The Kentuckian (1955 film)|The Kentuckian]]''.

==Notable people==

* [[Parrish Casebier]], collegiate & professional basketball player; was raised and attended school in Rockport.
* [[Florence Henderson]], actress, was raised and attended school in Rockport.
* [[Allen J. Payton]] (ca. 1861-62 – 1917), farmer and politician
* [[Thomas Gamble Pitcher|Thomas G. Pitcher]], Union general in the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]  born in Rockport
* [[Kate Milner Rabb]], Indiana journalist and author; lived in Rockport in 1866. Attended High School in Rockport.
* [[James C. Veatch]], Indiana state legislator and Union general during the Civil War; lived in Rockport at the time of his death.

==See also==
* [[List of cities and towns along the Ohio River]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==

* [https://rockport.in.gov/ Official website]
{{Spencer County, Indiana}}
{{County Seats of Indiana}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Rockport, Indiana| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Indiana]]
[[Category:Communities of Southwestern Indiana]]
[[Category:Cities in Spencer County, Indiana]]
[[Category:County seats in Indiana]]
[[Category:Indiana populated places on the Ohio River]]