Pittsboro is a town in Middle and

Brown Brown is a color. It can be considered a composite color, but it is mainly a darker shade of orange. In the CMYK color model used in printing and painting, brown is usually made by combining the colors Orange (colour), orange and black. In the ...

townships, Hendricks 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 3,682 at the 2020 census.

History

The town of Pittsboro was founded on December 9, 1834, by Simon T. Hadley and Wiliam L. Matlock. The town was named "Pittsborough" in honor of Hadley's home in

North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...

. The spelling was later changed to "Pittsboro". On April 6, 1906, an election was held for incorporation of the town. The result of the election was 83 favorable and 38 opposed. After incorporation came many infrastructure improvements and new services. Sidewalks were laid, street lights installed, and water service begun. In 2008 Pittsboro had a parade for Olympic silver medalist Bridget Sloan. It led to the high school in neighboring Lizton, where she thanked her fans for supporting her. Hundreds of people had lined Main Street with signs and banners. In 2009 Pittsboro celebrated its 175th birthday. The celebration was from June 26 through 28 and included a temporary museum of the town's history and historic signs on many of the town's buildings. The celebration also included food, activities, music, a parade, and fireworks.

Geography

Pittsboro is located in northeastern Hendricks County. U.S. Route 136 is the town's Main Street, leading southeast to downtown

Indianapolis Indianapolis ( ), colloquially known as Indy, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Indiana, most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana, Marion ...

and northwest to Jamestown.

Interstate 74 Interstate 74 (I-74) is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western end is at an interchange with I-80 in Davenport, Iowa; the eastern end of its Midwest segment is at an interchange with I-75 in ...

, running parallel to US-136, forms the northern border of the town, with access from Exit 61. According to the 2010 census, Pittsboro has a total area of , all land.

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 2,928 people, 1,072 households, and 832 families residing 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 1,128 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 96.7%

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 ...

, 0.4%

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 ...

, 0.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.7% 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 1.4% of the population. There were 1,072 households, of which 44.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% 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, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 22.4% were non-families. 18.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.13. The median age in the town was 36.3 years. 30.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.9% were from 25 to 44; 23.4% were from 45 to 64; and 10.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

2000 census

As of the

of 2000, there were 1,588 people, 621 households, and 465 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 643 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 98.49%

, 0.06%

, 0.13% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.25% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 0.88% of the population. There were 621 households, out of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.5% were

living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.97. In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.7% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 34.3% from 25 to 44, 17.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.5 males. The median income for a household in the town was $47,740, and the median income for a family was $56,417. Males had a median income of $41,935 versus $27,875 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 $20,904. About 1.7% of families and 3.0% of the population were 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 1.3% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Town council

A five-member town council elected by the citizens serves as both the executive and legislative branches of the local town government. The town council president and vice-president are chosen by the members of the council. the council consists of Jarod Baker (president), Melodi Ingalls, William Majeske, Jay Thompson, and Randy Price. Shari Ping serves as the elected Clerk-Treasurer and Jason Love as the Town Manager appointed by the Town Council.

Legislative duties

The town council serves as the legislative and executive branches of government for the town. The town council passes ordinances and resolutions to govern town matters. The town council also establishes salaries for town employees, appoints officeholders, passes a yearly budget, and sets utility rates.

Clerk-Treasurer

The clerk-treasurer is the fiscal officer of the town responsible for signing drafts and claims, dispersing monies on the order of the town council, maintains records, record minutes of meetings, administer oaths, and serves as a tie-breaker in votes of the town council.

Town manager

The town manager is the administrative head of town government and serves at the pleasure of the town council. The town manager runs the day-to-day operations of the town and works with the town council to set policy.

Boards and commissions

Various boards and commissions govern different aspects of the town. All seats are appointed either by the Town Council or Town Council President. They serve in either an advisory role or autonomous to the Town Council in the case of the Parks Board. All members must be citizens of the Town. The boards and commissions are as follows: Advisory Plan Commission, Parks Board, Advisory Utility Board, Redevelopment Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, and Fire Board. The Town Council also serves as the Police Safety Board.

Parks Board

The Parks Board oversees all aspects of the Parks Department. The Parks Board was created by ordinance and currently consists of six members. The Parks Board is allowed by Indiana statute to buy and sell land, enter into and sever contracts, and create a budget to name a few. The Town Council has final budget authority and sets salaries in the salary ordinance. The Parks Board appoints a Park Superintendent and oversees the Town's three parks.

Advisory Plan Commission

The Advisory Plan Commission is the building and planning authority for the Town. It consists of seven members, four of which are citizen members appointed by the Town Council President and three who must be either Town employees or appointed or elected members of another board appointed by the Town Council as a whole. The Plan Commission advises the Town Council on zoning, annexation, and various zoning ordinances. The Plan Commission can act alone in deciding street names, final plat approval, building permits, zoning violations, and addressing. The Plan Commission sets its own rules and procedures and appoints a Zoning Administrator.

Advisory Utility Board

The Advisory Utility Board serves as overseer of the Town's four utilities water, sewer, electric, and gas. The five members are appointed by the Town Council and composed of one Town Council Member. The Utility Board advises the Town Council on rates and charges by the individual utilities.

Redevelopment Commission

The Redevelopment Commission affords the Town a maximum opportunity for rehabilitation, redevelopment, or economic development areas by private enterprise and the Town. The Commission is controlled by a five-member board. The Town Council President appoints three citizen members and the whole Town Council appoints the remaining two. The Commission makes recommendations on special taxing districts for the purposes of redevelopment.

Board of Zoning Appeals

The Board of Zoning Appeals shall have exclusive subject matter jurisdiction for dimensional variances, use variances, special exceptions, and administrative appeals. The Board of Zoning Appeals serves as a sort of a judicial body that is autonomous from other town boards and commissions. The Board consists of five members. Three members are appointed by the Town Council President, of whom one must be a member of the Plan Commission and two who must not. One citizen member is appointed by the Town Council as a whole who must not be a member of the Plan Commission. The final member is appointed by the Plan Commission from its membership.

Fire Board

The Fire Board oversees the fire department and has final approval of annual budgets, hiring and firing, expenditures not previously budgeted, and future planning. The Fire Board shall consist of five members. The Town Council appoints two citizen members, the Middle Township Trustee appoints two citizen members, and the Fire Department appoints one. The Fire Department is housed in one station on Main Street in Pittsboro. The fire chief shall oversee the Fire Department and is appointed by the Fire Board. There are twelve full-time firefighters and about twenty reserve firefighters. The Fire Department protects about thirty five square miles in Pittsboro and Middle Township. They provide fire suppression, auto extrication, ambulance service, and fire prevention services.

Police Safety Board

The Town Council as a whole serves in an additional capacity as the Police Safety Board. The Safety Board chooses the Town Marshal, is in charge of hiring and firing of police officers, and serves as the disciplinary board. The Police Department consists of eight full-time Police Officers, two part-time Officers and one Reserve Officer. Their offices are located at Town Hall. The Police Department shall enforce all state laws and local ordinances. A Town Marshal appointed by the Town Council and oversees the Police Department. The Police Department provide public safety, patrols Town streets, educates the public, and maintains order at public meetings.

Departments

Police Department

The Pittsboro Police Department is established under a 5 member police commission. The town council appoints the police commission members. The police commission appoints the chief of police. There are currently 8 full time officers, 2 part-time officers and 1 reserve officer. The police department is responsible for investigating crimes, patrolling the town, traffic control, public safety and crime prevention. The department participates yearly in National Night Out.

Fire Department

The Pittsboro Fire Department serves the Town of Pittsboro and Middle Township. The department was combined into one agency in 1998 and levies a flat tax rate to both the town and township. The Middle Township Trustee sets the levy at the direction of a combined town and township fire board. The fire chief is the administrative head of the fire department and serves at the pleasure of the fire board.

Street Department

The street department is responsible for all town streets, sidewalks, curbs, and street signs. Although budgeted as a separate department the street department does not have dedicated employees. Employees from other utilities crossover to handle street duties. The street department patches holes, plows snow, installs street signs, repairs sidewalks and curbs, and paints curbs.

Parks Department

The parks department is responsible for the towns three parks and plans several different festivals throughout the year. The parks department installs and maintains park equipment, mows grass, rents buildings, and keeps the parks tidy. The park superintendent is the administrative head of the parks and carries out many of the duties listed above. The park superintendent serves at the pleasure of the parks board.

Education

It is in the North West Hendricks School Corporation.
Text list
/ref> Schools: *Pittsboro Elementary School *Pittsboro Primary School Both schools are part of the North West Hendricks School Corporation. The district's comprehensive high school is Tri-West Hendricks High School. 1883_One_Room_School

Notable people

* Niki Christoff, political operative and business executive *

Jeff Gordon Jeffery Michael Gordon (born August 4, 1971) is an American stock car racing executive and former professional stock car racing driver who currently serves as the vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports. He raced full-time from 1993 to 2015, d ...

, four-time NASCAR

Winston Cup The NASCAR Cup Series is the top racing series of the NASCAR, National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR), the most prestigious stock car racing series in the United States. The series began in 1949 as the Strictly Stock Division, ...

Series champion * Bridget Sloan, Olympic gymnast

References

External links

Town of Pittsboro official website

Pittsboro Police Department

Pittsboro Fire Department
{{authority control Towns in Hendricks County, Indiana Towns in Indiana Populated places established in 1834 Indianapolis metropolitan area 1834 establishments in Indiana