Sullivan, Indiana

Infobox Settlement
official_name = City of Sullivan
native_name = Sully
settlement_type = City
nickname = Home of the Golden Arrows
motto = Take time to care


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image_caption = Sullivan from above.


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map_caption = Location in the state of Indiana


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Indiana
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Sullivan
subdivision_type3 = Township
subdivision_name3 = Hamilton
government_type =
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = Scott Biddle (D)
leader_title1 = Chief of Police
leader_name1 = David E. Story
leader_title2 =
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area_magnitude = 1 E6
area_total_km2 = 5.0
area_total_sq_mi = 1.9
area_land_km2 = 5.0
area_land_sq_mi = 1.9
area_water_km2 = 0
area_water_sq_mi = 0
area_water_percent = 0
area_urban_km2 =
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population_as_of = 2000
population_note =
population_total = 4617
population_density_km2 = 928.5
population_density_sq_mi = 2410.1
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timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 39 |latm = 5 |lats = 49 |latNS = N
longd = 87 |longm = 24 |longs = 23 |longEW = W
elevation_m = 161
elevation_ft = 528
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 47864, 47882
website =
area_code = 812
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 18-74006GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0444366GR|3
footnotes = Sullivan is a city in Hamilton Township, Sullivan County, Indiana, United States. The population was 4,617 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Sullivan CountyGR|6.

As of 2008, the mayor is Scott Biddle (Democrat).

Geography

Sullivan is located at coor dms|39|5|49|N|87|24|23|W|city (39.096888, -87.406447)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.9 square miles (5.0 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 4,617 people, 1,958 households, and 1,176 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,410.1 people per square mile (928.5/km²). There were 2,264 housing units at an average density of 1,181.8/sq mi (455.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.92% White, 0.50% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.13% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.82% of the population.

There were 1,958 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.9% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 83.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,115, and the median income for a family was $35,042. Males had a median income of $28,773 versus $21,992 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,717. About 13.6% of families and 16.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.2% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.

History

Sullivan was founded in 1853, and is a mainly agricultural and coal mining community. The predominant political party is Republican, though many vote Democrat in state level elections. Most residents are Protestant though there is a small Catholic community and a small Jewish community. The area is well known for growing corn and mining coal, though there is a small amount of industry remaining; mainly in power production and manufacturing of car parts. Sullivan High School is relatively small for the area yet has very high ISTEP scores and has won numerous Academic Competition Awards in the last 10 years. The annual Corn Festival is held each year in September and the Four H has an annual festival each June. The Sullivan Park and Lake holds the annual July Fourth Fireworks celebration each year though most years it is held on July fifth in order to avoid competition with two larger cities events nearby, both held on July Fourth. The infrastructure of the city and the county is old and out of date. Due to Indiana regulations appropriating tax monies per person rahter than per square mile for infrastructure, the local roads and services have been in decline for over 30 years. Sullivan county is the largest county in the state and is the second lowest in population. Sullivan is also the poorest county in the state and is in the top 25 poorest counties in the United States. This is mainly due to the large number of educated young adults leaving for better paying jobs in the state capital, Indianapolis, and elsewhere in the nation. The famous 20th century comedian Red Skelton grew up 25 miles south of the city in Knox County Indiana. The director of Hollywood censorhip during the 1930's and 1940's also comes from a nearby community. Today Sullivan is a city in decline with little hope of improvement in the future. Only a dramatic shift in US economic policies or local development of large scale industrial firms will revitilize this once naturally beautiful and econmically prosperous area.

References

External links

* [http://www.GoGreeneCounty.com Greene County Indiana Resources & Discussion Forum] More Sullivan Info: http://www.npgsupport.com/lifeinsullivan/oldsos/index.shtmlSullivan Daily Times, http://sullivan-times.com/