Editing Spencer, Indiana

{{distinguish|Spencer County, Indiana}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Spencer, Indiana
| settlement_type    = [[Town]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = Owen County Indiana Courthouse.jpg
| imagesize          = 290px
| image_caption      = Owen County courthouse in Spencer
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = File:Owen County Indiana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Spencer Highlighted 1871972.svg
| mapsize            = 290px
| map_caption        = Location of Spencer in Owen 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  = [[Owen County, Indiana|Owen]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[List of townships in Indiana|Township]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Washington Township, Owen County, Indiana|Washington]]
| 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      = 4.13
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| area_total_km2     = 4.13
| area_total_sq_mi   = 1.59
| area_land_sq_mi    = 1.59
| 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   = 2454
| population_density_km2 = 594.30
| population_density_sq_mi = 1539.52
| 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|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=October 25, 2007}}</ref>
| elevation_m        = 172
| elevation_ft       = 564
| coordinates        = {{coord|39|17|13|N|86|45|51|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 47460
| area_code          = [[Area code 812|812]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 18-71972<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        = [http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:443934 443934]
| website            = {{URL|http://www.spencer.in.gov/}}
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
}}

[[File:Cinema 67.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The Cinema 67 [[Drive-in theatre]] near Spencer, IN]]

'''Spencer''' is a town in [[Washington Township, Owen County, Indiana|Washington Township]], [[Owen County, Indiana|Owen County]], in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Indiana]].<ref>{{cite gnis|444864|Spencer, Indiana|2017-04-30}}</ref> The population was 2,217 at the 2010 census. It is the [[county seat]] of Owen County.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref>

Spencer is part of the [[Bloomington, Indiana]] [[Bloomington, Indiana metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
Spencer was [[plat]]ted in 1820, and named for Captain [[Spier Spencer]], who fell at the [[Battle of Tippecanoe]], after whom [[Spencer County, Indiana|Spencer County]] is also named.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_1VLWAAAAMAAJ | title=Counties of Clay and Owen, Indiana: Historical and Biographical | publisher=F.A. Battey & Company | author=Blanchard, Charles | year=1884 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_1VLWAAAAMAAJ/page/n641 665]}}</ref> A post office has been in operation at Spencer since 1821.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=IN&county=Owen&searchtext=&pagenum=2 | title=Owen County | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | access-date=September 21, 2015}}</ref> The current building was constructed with New Deal funds in 1938.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Post Office - Spencer IN|url=https://livingnewdeal.org/locations/post-office-spencer-in/|access-date=January 4, 2021|website=Living New Deal|language=en-US}}</ref>

The [[Allison-Robinson House]], [[David Enoch Beem House]], [[Owen County Courthouse (Indiana)|Owen County Courthouse]], [[Spencer Public Library]], and [[Spencer Town Hall and Fire Station]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

Downtown events include Christmas at the Square, Apple Butter Festival, and the Rev20 Christian Music Festival.

==Geography==
According to the 2010 census, Spencer has a total area of {{convert|1.26|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.<ref name="census-g001">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1871972
  |title=G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1
  |access-date=July 25, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213062738/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1871972
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

===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, Spencer has a [[humid subtropical climate]], abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=92821&cityname=Spencer%2C+Indiana%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Spencer, Indiana]</ref>

{{Weather box
| location = Spencer, Indiana (Spencer) 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1946–present
| single line = Y
| Jan record high F = 73
| Feb record high F = 77
| Mar record high F = 85
| Apr record high F = 89
| May record high F = 95
| Jun record high F = 104
| Jul record high F = 107
| Aug record high F = 102
| Sep record high F = 104
| Oct record high F = 93
| Nov record high F = 84
| Dec record high F = 76
| year record high F = 107
| Jan high F = 37.2
| Feb high F = 41.7
| Mar high F = 52.3
| Apr high F = 64.4
| May high F = 73.9
| Jun high F = 82.1
| Jul high F = 85.4
| Aug high F = 84.4
| Sep high F = 78.8
| Oct high F = 66.9
| Nov high F = 53.0
| Dec high F = 41.9
| year high F = 63.5
| Jan mean F = 28.7
| Feb mean F = 32.1
| Mar mean F = 41.5
| Apr mean F = 52.5
| May mean F = 62.5
| Jun mean F = 71.2
| Jul mean F = 74.7
| Aug mean F = 73.2
| Sep mean F = 66.4
| Oct mean F = 54.5
| Nov mean F = 42.7
| Dec mean F = 33.4
| year mean F = 52.8
| Jan low F = 20.2
| Feb low F = 22.6
| Mar low F = 30.6
| Apr low F = 40.6
| May low F = 51.1
| Jun low F = 60.2
| Jul low F = 64.0
| Aug low F = 62.0
| Sep low F = 54.0
| Oct low F = 42.1
| Nov low F = 32.3
| Dec low F = 25.0
| year low F = 42.1
| Jan record low F = −33
| Feb record low F = −23
| Mar record low F = −12
| Apr record low F = 15
| May record low F = 26
| Jun record low F = 34
| Jul record low F = 39
| Aug record low F = 40
| Sep record low F = 28
| Oct record low F = 14
| Nov record low F = −4
| Dec record low F = −24
| year record low F = −33
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 3.45
| Feb precipitation inch = 2.64
| Mar precipitation inch = 3.65
| Apr precipitation inch = 5.34
| May precipitation inch = 5.19
| Jun precipitation inch = 5.82
| Jul precipitation inch = 4.93
| Aug precipitation inch = 3.58
| Sep precipitation inch = 3.76
| Oct precipitation inch = 3.86
| Nov precipitation inch = 4.01
| Dec precipitation inch = 3.46
| year precipitation inch = 49.69
| Jan snow inch = 6.9
| Feb snow inch = 4.2
| Mar snow inch = 1.5
| Apr snow inch = 0.1
| May snow inch = 0.0
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.0
| Oct snow inch = 0.0
| Nov snow inch = 0.3
| Dec snow inch = 2.8
| year snow inch = 15.8
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 11.7
| Feb precipitation days = 9.8
| Mar precipitation days = 11.1
| Apr precipitation days = 12.9
| May precipitation days = 13.0
| Jun precipitation days = 11.8
| Jul precipitation days = 10.3
| Aug precipitation days = 7.7
| Sep precipitation days = 7.8
| Oct precipitation days = 9.1
| Nov precipitation days = 9.9
| Dec precipitation days = 11.0
| year precipitation days = 126.1
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 3.9
| Feb snow days = 2.8
| Mar snow days = 0.8
| Apr snow days = 0.1
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.0
| Nov snow days = 0.2
| Dec snow days = 2.4
| year snow days = 10.2
| source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name=nws>
{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=ind
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = August 2, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/orders/cdo/2671123.pdf
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
| title = Station: Spencer, IN
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
| access-date = August 2, 2021}}</ref>
| date=November 2011}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 335
|1870= 971
|1880= 1655
|1890= 1868
|1900= 2026
|1910= 2150
|1920= 2066
|1930= 2179
|1940= 2375
|1950= 2394
|1960= 2557
|1970= 2553
|1980= 2732
|1990= 2609
|2000= 2508
|2010= 2217
|2020= 2454
|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 2,217 people, 1,008 households, and 554 families living in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1759.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 1,123 housing units at an average density of {{convert|891.3|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 98.1% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.1% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.5% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.2% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 0.9% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.1% of the population.

There were 1,008 households, of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.0% were non-families. 40.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.81.

The median age in the town was 41.8 years. 20.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.2% were from 25 to 44; 26.3% were from 45 to 64; and 19.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 2,508 people, 1,090 households, and 659 families living in the town. The population density was {{convert|1,984.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,193 housing units at an average density of {{convert|944.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 98.52% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.20% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.40% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.24% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.64% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.60% of the population.

There were 1,090 households, out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.0% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $28,664, and the median income for a family was $36,921. Males had a median income of $29,679 versus $21,531 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $15,843. About 8.4% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

== Education ==

[[Owen Valley Community High School]] (OVHS) is located in Spencer with 980 students and more than 100 faculty members. Built in 1971, OVHS is the result of a consolidation of several smaller schools located within [[Owen County, Indiana|Owen County]].  Owen Valley's mascot is the [[Patriot (American Revolution)|Patriot]], and the school's colors are red, white and blue. The school's yearbook is the ''Triad'', Tri- representing the three schools that were merged to create Owen Valley High School.

The town has a lending library, the Owen County 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 | 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==
{{main|List  of people from Spencer, Indiana}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Spencer, Indiana}}
* {{official website|http://www.spencer.in.gov}}

{{Owen County, Indiana}}
{{County Seats of Indiana}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Owen County, Indiana]]
[[Category:Towns in Indiana]]
[[Category:County seats in Indiana]]
[[Category:Bloomington metropolitan area, Indiana]]