Vevay, Indiana

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Vevay, Indiana
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
motto =

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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Vevay 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 = Switzerland
subdivision_type3 = Township
subdivision_name3 = Jefferson
government_footnotes =
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area_footnotes =
unit_pref = Imperial
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 4.0
area_land_km2 = 3.8
area_water_km2 = 0.1
area_total_sq_mi = 1.5
area_land_sq_mi = 1.5
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 1735
population_density_km2 = 452.2
population_density_sq_mi = 1171.3

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 147
elevation_ft = 482
latd = 38 |latm = 44 |lats = 45 |latNS = N
longd = 85 |longm = 4 |longs = 16 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 47043
area_code = 812
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 18-79010GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0445270GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Vevay is a town in Jefferson Township, Switzerland County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. The population was 1,735 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Switzerland CountyGR|6.

History

Vevay was founded in 1802 by Swiss immigrants intending on cultivating grapes and producing wine. It was named after the Swiss city of Vevey. Vevay has a reputation as being home of the first commercial winery in the United States. When Switzerland County was formed in 1814, Vevay was made the county seat.

Geography

Vevay is located at coor dms|38|44|45|N|85|4|16|W|city (38.745837, -85.071044)GR|1, along the Ohio River and Ohio Route 56/156.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.5 square miles (4.0 km²), of which, 1.5 square miles (3.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (3.25%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1735 people, 719 households, and 437 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,171.3 people per square mile (452.6/km²). There were 795 housing units at an average density of 536.7/sq mi (207.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.67% White, 0.23% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.69% from other races, and 0.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.44% of the population.

There were 719 households out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% were married couples living together, 16.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the town the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 82.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $27,448, and the median income for a family was $32,857. Males had a median income of $28,068 versus $20,167 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,477. About 11.4% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.2% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.

Events

The Swiss Wine Festival

Vevay holds an annual celebration called the Swiss Wine Festival. It is usually held on the last weekend in August, as well as the preceding Thursday and Friday. The festival has many fun activities such as ferry rides on the Ohio River, amusement rides, pageants, car shows, musical performances, cheerleading competitions, the famed grape stomps and both Beer and Wine Gardens. Many people also set up boothes for shopping. On Saturday night, most gather on the docks and close to the river to watch a fireworks show. People from all over Switzerland County come to enjoy the festive celebration.

Origin

Since 1797, every 22 years, in the Swiss city of Vevey, is celebrated "La fête des vignerons" The Winegrowers' Festival.

Points of Interest

*"Life on the Ohio" River History Museum reflects Vevay and Switzerland County's heritage on the Ohio River. Open April through October 12 - 4pm daily.
*Switzerland County Historical Museum is located in an old Presbyterian church, built in 1860. Open April through October 12 - 4pm daily.
*The first Switzerland County Courthouse was built in 1822. It was replaced by the one that stands today in 1865, built by contractor John Haley.
*The Benjamin Franklin Schenck Mansion is a 35 room mansion, built in 1874 by Benjamin Franklin Schenck and is currently a bed and breakfast.
*The U.P. Schenck House was built in 1846 for Ulysses P. Schenck, a Swiss riverboat captain who owned a fleet of flat bottom river boats.
*The Armstrong Tavern is a two story log house built in 1816 by Thomas Armstrong.
*The Hoosier Theatre was built in 1837 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
*The Bizarre Ladies' Uppity Gifts, located on Ferry St. in the old building known as "The She-Coon Salon" carries original art, antiques, unique accessories, and the perfect gift.

Noted natives

*Lydia Moss Bradley, Philanthropist and founder of Bradley University
*Edward Eggleston, Methodist minister and author.
*Bertha Fry, supercentenarian, born in Vevay in 1893, died in 2007 at age 113 years, 11 months, 13 days (3rd oldest living person at time of death)
*Ken Maynard, Actor and stuntman.
*David Hall

ee also

*List of cities and towns along the Ohio River
*Vevey (Switzerland)
*fr icon The Winegrowers' Festival in Vevey

References

External links

* [http://www.fetedesvignerons.ch/ The Winegrowers' Festival Website] in Vevey, Switzerland
* [http://www.swisscastles.ch/aviation/Vaud/veveyfv.html Pictures of The Winegrowers' Festival] in Vevey
* [http://www.vevayin.com/ Vevay Indiana - Switzerland County]