Elizabeth is a town in Posey Township, Harrison County,

Indiana Indiana ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north and northeast, Ohio to the east, the Ohio River and Kentucky to the s ...

, United States. The population was 199 at the 2020 census.

History

The original plat of the town of Elizabeth was recorded on April 17, 1812. It was witnessed by Sheriff John Tipton. The land for the town was donated by Capt. Jacob Zenor and wife Suzannah Muchendorffer Zenor. The town is named after Jacob's daughter-in-law Elizabeth Lemmon Zenor wife of George Zenor. Rose Hill Cemetery, the second largest cemetery in the county, is located on the west side of the town. The land for the cemetery was donated by Jacob Zenor and wife, with the only rule being that burial be made available regardless of the religious denomination of the deceased. The town fire department was first organized by the town on December 29, 1959. The first fire engine was purchased in Corydon. It was a 1941 International Fire Truck, purchased for $200.

Geography

Elizabeth is located at (38.124158, -85.973711). According to the 2010 census, Elizabeth has a total area of , all land.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the

Köppen Climate Classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...

system, Elizabeth has a

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...

, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Government

The Town of Elizabeth is governed by a three-member Town Council. Members elected in the 2015 Election were Alan Worral, Chris Fetz, and Mike Sampson. The current Clerk-Treasurer is Hugh Burns. He was elected in 2011 and reelected in 2015 and 2019. Burns194513

Demographics

2010 census

As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2010, there were 162 people, 62 households, and 44 families living in the town. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

was . There were 73 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 96.3%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 1.2%

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 0.6% Native American, 1.2% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population. There were 62 households, of which 37.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 8.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.0% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.16. The median age in the town was 33.9 years. 27.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.8% were from 25 to 44; 18.5% were from 45 to 64; and 19.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 137 people, 53 households, and 36 families living in the town. The population density was . There were 59 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 98.54%

, 0.73% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 0.73% of the population. There were 53 households, of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were

living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.16. The age distribution of the town was 27.0% under 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 80.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.4 males. The median income for a household in the town was $31,563, and the median income for a family was $38,250. Males had a median income of $23,523 versus $19,063 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the town was $15,208. There were 8.6% of families and 10.2% of the population living below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including no under eighteens and 31.1% of those over 64.

Education

The first school in Elizabeth was a single room log cabin built around 1833. Around 1890, seminary education first became available at Clay Hill College in downtown Elizabeth. The college was later moved and the high school eventually took over the building around 1908. The first graduation was held on April 13, 1912. The high school burned down in 1935. In 1936 Posey Township completed construction of a new brick school building. The building is still in use today, owned and operated by a local civic non-profit organization. The town's school children now attend South Central Jr/Sr High School and South Central Elementary, which serve the entire south-eastern portion of Harrison County. The school's name, South Central, should not be confused with another school named South Central in Union Mills, Indiana. Elizabeth has a public library, a branch of the Harrison County Public Library.

References

{{authority control Towns in Harrison County, Indiana Towns in Indiana Louisville metropolitan area Populated places established in 1812 1812 establishments in Indiana Territory