Editing Shoals, Indiana

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

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Shoals, Indiana sign.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Shoals, Indiana 
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = File:Martin County Indiana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Shoals Highlighted 1869552.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location in Martin 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        = [[Martin County, Indiana|Martin]]
|subdivision_type3        = [[List of townships in Indiana|Townships]]
|subdivision_name3        = [[Center Township, Martin County, Indiana|Center]], [[Halbert Township, Martin County, Indiana|Halbert]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2022">{{cite web |title=2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Indiana |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2022_Gazetteer/2022_gaz_place_18.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=April 17, 2023}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 4.97
|area_land_km2            = 4.72
|area_water_km2           = 0.25
|area_total_sq_mi         = 1.92
|area_land_sq_mi          = 1.82
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.10

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=1600000US1869552&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=P1. Race – Shoals town, Indiana: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=April 17, 2023}}</ref>
|population_total         = 677
|population_est           = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|pop_est_footnotes        = 
|population_density_km2   = 143.32
|population_density_sq_mi = 371.16
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EDT]]
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 453
|coordinates              = {{coord|38|40|01|N|86|47|38|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 47581
|area_code                = [[Area code 812|812]], [[Area code 930|930]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 18-69552<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              = 2397661<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2397661}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|townofshoals.com}}
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Shoals''' is a town in [[Center Township, Martin County, Indiana|Center]] and [[Halbert Township, Martin County, Indiana|Halbert]] townships and the [[county seat]] of [[Martin County, Indiana|Martin County]],<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> in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Indiana]].<ref>{{cite gnis|443428|Shoals, Indiana|2017-06-25}}</ref> The population was 677 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census.]]<ref name="Census 2020"/>

Shoals is best known for the [[Jug Rock]], the only free-standing table rock formation east of the [[Mississippi River]].<ref name="Wissing2001">{{cite book |author=Douglas Wissing |title=Scenic Driving Indiana |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RXQgqekmP2AC |access-date=November 23, 2011 |date=March 1, 2001 |publisher=Globe Pequot |isbn=978-1-56044-906-5|page=4}}</ref>

==History==
Shoals was originally called "Memphis", and under the latter name was [[plat]]ted in 1844.<ref>{{cite book|title=Indiana Magazine of History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0CwOAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA18|year=1914|publisher=Indiana University, Department of History|page=18}}</ref> The post office at Shoals has been in operation since 1869.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=IN&county=Martin&searchtext=&pagenum=2 | title=Martin County | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | access-date=June 25, 2017}}</ref>

A [[lynching]] took place at the county courthouse and jail. The Archer boys were accused of torturing and killing a local farmer and were hanged from trees in front of the jail in 1886.<ref name="Wissing2001B">{{cite book|author=Douglas Wissing|title=Scenic Driving Indiana|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RXQgqekmP2AC|access-date=23 November 2011|date=1 March 2001|publisher=Globe Pequot|isbn=978-1-56044-906-5|page=6}}</ref>

Shoals is known for making [[mother of pearl]] buttons during the early 20th century. They were made out of [[mussel]]s from the [[White River (Indiana)|White River]].<ref name="Wissing2001B"/>

==Geography==
Shoals is located south of the center of Martin County. The East Fork of the [[White River (Indiana)|White River]] flows through the center of town, running south and west to join the White River northeast of [[Petersburg, Indiana|Petersburg]].

U.S. Routes [[U.S. Route 50|50]] and [[U.S. Route 150|150]] pass through the center of Shoals as 4th Street, leading west {{convert|7|mi|0}} to [[Loogootee, Indiana|Loogootee]], the only city in the county. US 50 leads northeast {{convert|24|mi}} to [[Bedford, Indiana|Bedford]], while US 150 leads southeast {{convert|22|mi}} to [[Paoli, Indiana|Paoli]].

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], Shoals has a total area of {{convert|1.92|sqmi|2}}, of which {{convert|1.82|sqmi|2}} are land and {{convert|0.10|sqmi|2}}, or 4.95%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2022"/>

===Climate===
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Shoals has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=630821&cityname=Shoals%2C+Indiana%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Shoals, Indiana]</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 513
|1880= 706
|1890= 738
|1900= 683
|1910= 1015
|1920= 1034
|1930= 1128
|1940= 1031
|1950= 1039
|1960= 1022
|1970= 1039
|1980= 967
|1990= 853
|2000= 807
|2010= 756
|2020= 677
|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 756 people, 376 households, and 189 families living in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|422.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 418 housing units at an average density of {{convert|233.5|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 97.4% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.3% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.1% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.3% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.4% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.6% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 376 households, of which 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 49.7% were non-families. 46.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.01 and the average family size was 2.81.

The median age in the town was 47.1 years. 20.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.8% were from 25 to 44; 27.3% were from 45 to 64; and 24.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.1% male and 50.9% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 807 people, 377 households, and 214 families living in the town. The population density was {{convert|448.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 420 housing units at an average density of {{convert|233.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 97.52% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.87% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.25% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.12% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.24% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.49% of the population.

There were 377 households, out of which 19.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.0% were non-families. 38.5% 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 2.01 and the average family size was 2.65.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 17.0% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 22.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $23,750, and the median income for a family was $31,964. Males had a median income of $30,865 versus $21,696 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $14,234. About 14.6% of families and 20.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 33.0% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
Shoals' major employers are the [[gypsum]] mines that were discovered in the mid-20th century. Two major mines employ more than 400 workers. The [[National Gypsum]] mine is located {{convert|2|mi|0}} east of Shoals and is the United States' deepest at {{convert|515|ft}}.<ref name="Wissing2001B"/>

The gypsum mine and factory in Shoals, Indiana, operated by National Gypsum. The mine, which started operations in the 1950s, is about 400–500 feet underground. It supplies gypsum for the production of drywall and other related products directly at the surface manufacturing plant. National Gypsum extracts around 80-100 truckloads of gypsum daily to produce materials like wallboard, and the facility employs around 190-200 people. This integration of mining and manufacturing is efficient, as the gypsum is mined, processed, and turned into drywall all in one location.

==Education==
The town has a lending library, the Shoals 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=10 March 2018}}</ref> Public education is administered by Shoals Public Schools.

==Notable people==
*[[Frank Gilkison]], justice of the [[Indiana Supreme Court]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|townofshoals.com}}

{{Martin County, Indiana}}
{{County Seats of Indiana}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Martin County, Indiana]]
[[Category:County seats in Indiana]]