Royal Center is a town in Boone Township, Cass County, Indiana, United States. The population was 861 at the 2010 census.

Town of Royal Center
Royal Center Carnegie Library, 203 North Chicago St.
Royal Center Carnegie Library, 203 North Chicago St.
Location of Royal Center in Cass County, Indiana.
Location of Royal Center in Cass County, Indiana.
Coordinates: 40°51′50″N 86°29′59″W / 40.86389°N 86.49972°W / 40.86389; -86.49972
CountryUnited States
StateIndiana
CountyCass
TownshipBoone
Area
 • Total0.57 sq mi (1.48 km2)
 • Land0.57 sq mi (1.48 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation735 ft (224 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total802
 • Density1,404.55/sq mi (542.67/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
46978
Area code574
FIPS code18-66222[3]
GNIS feature ID2396892[2]

History edit

Royal Center had its start in the year 1846 by the building of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad through that territory.[4][5] It was supposedly named after a place in New York.[6]

Geography edit

According to the 2010 census, Royal Center has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.55 km2), all land.[7] Royal Center is the fourth-largest town by population in Cass County, and the third-largest town by land area.

Demographics edit

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1870306
188039930.4%
189052732.1%
190065724.7%
191090938.4%
1920900−1.0%
1930777−13.7%
194086511.3%
19508761.3%
196096610.3%
19709872.2%
1980908−8.0%
1990859−5.4%
2000832−3.1%
20108613.5%
2020802−6.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]

2010 census edit

As of the census[9] of 2010, there were 861 people, 342 households, and 234 families living in the town. The population density was 1,435.0 inhabitants per square mile (554.1/km2). There were 374 housing units at an average density of 623.3 per square mile (240.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.4% White, 0.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.5% Asian, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 342 households, of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.6% were non-families. 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.06.

The median age in the town was 38 years. 27.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.1% were from 25 to 44; 24.1% were from 45 to 64; and 15.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.9% male and 50.1% female.

2000 census edit

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 832 people, 330 households, and 235 families living in the town. The population density was 1,660.5 inhabitants per square mile (641.1/km2). There were 348 housing units at an average density of 694.5 per square mile (268.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 99.04% White, 0.24% Native American, 0.24% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.36% of the population.

There were 330 households, out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.5% were non-families. 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.7% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $40,625, and the median income for a family was $52,167. Males had a median income of $33,833 versus $19,792 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,440. About 2.8% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 1.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education edit

Education in Royal Center is currently centered on the Pioneer Regional School Corporation. A small school in an agricultural community, it has proven to be an academic leader and resource for the community.

The Pioneer Regional School Corporation consists of five townships, four of which are in Cass County-Boone, Harrison, Jefferson, and Noble-and one in White County-Cass township. The corporation has in it 153 square miles (400 km2) and includes the communities of Lucerne, Headlee, Lake Cicott, and Royal Center. The only existing and occupied building eliminated during the reorganization process was the school at Lucerne, which was closed in 1966 when the Jr.-Sr. High School building was completed and occupied. The corporation also has one elementary building, which, along with Pioneer Junior-Senior High School, is located in Royal Center.

Notable People edit

  • George E. Dunn (1927-2020), Republican member of the South Dakota House of Representatives

References edit

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Royal Center, Indiana
  3. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ Helm, Thomas B. (1878). History of Cass County, Indiana. Kingman Bros. pp. 34.
  5. ^ Powell, Jehu Z. (1913). History of Cass County Indiana: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time. Lewis Publishing Company. pp. 502.
  6. ^ Baker, Ronald L. (October 1995). From Needmore to Prosperity: Hoosier Place Names in Folklore and History. Indiana University Press. p. 287. ISBN 978-0-253-32866-3. The name is for Royal Center, New York.
  7. ^ "G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  8. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2012.