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Dana, Indiana
Maple Street (SR 71)
Maple Street (SR 71)
Location of Dana in Vermillion County, Indiana.
Location of Dana in Vermillion County, Indiana.
Map of Dana
Map of Dana
Country United States
State Indiana
County Vermillion
Township Helt
Established 1874
Area
 • Total 0.29 sq mi (0.76 km2)
 • Land 0.29 sq mi (0.76 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
640 ft (195 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 555
 • Density 1,900.68/sq mi (733.89/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (EST)
ZIP code
47847
Area code(s) 765
FIPS code 18-16732
GNIS feature ID 433305

Dana is a town in Helt Township, Vermillion County, Indiana, United States. The population was 555 at the 2020 census. It is primarily a farming community.

History

Dana was platted in 1874 when the railroad was extended to that point. The town was named for Charles Dana, a railroad promoter. A post office has been in operation at Dana since 1874. Dana was incorporated in 1886. In 1886, Dana was declared a rapidly growing and vibrant community, due to its railroad, businesses, and agriculture.

Geography

Dana is located in the central part of the county, on Indiana State Road 71 less than 0.5 miles (0.80 km) north of U.S. Route 36.

According to the 2010 census, Dana has a total area of 0.29 square miles (0.75 km2), all land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 183
1890 495 170.5%
1900 893 80.4%
1910 748 −16.2%
1920 884 18.2%
1930 859 −2.8%
1940 845 −1.6%
1950 854 1.1%
1960 811 −5.0%
1970 720 −11.2%
1980 803 11.5%
1990 612 −23.8%
2000 662 8.2%
2010 608 −8.2%
2020 555 −8.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

2020 census

While 2020 census figures are not finalized, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that Dana's population has dropped from 608 to 570. Poverty and joblessness remain an issue in the town.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 608 people, 241 households, and 173 families living in the town. The population density was 2,096.6 inhabitants per square mile (809.5/km2). There were 290 housing units at an average density of 1,000.0 per square mile (386.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.5% White, 0.2% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 241 households, of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 28.2% were non-families. 25.7% 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 2.52 and the average family size was 3.00.

The median age in the town was 40.7 years. 24.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25% were from 25 to 44; 25.4% were from 45 to 64; and 18.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 46.2% male and 53.8% female.

Parks and Recreation

In late 2020, The Tribune-Star reported that Dana is planning a downtown community center that would serve as a hub for resident services and programming for children, families, and senior adults. Dana received a $10,000 grant from the Vermillion County Community Foundation to go toward the project.

Notable people

Famed World War II war correspondent Ernie Pyle was born on a tenant farm near Dana. Pyle won the Pulitzer Prize in 1944 for his Correspondence entry. Bert Shepard, a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Washington Senators who had lost his leg in WWII, was also born in Dana. American author Dana Trent moved to Dana as an infant.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Dana (Indiana) para niños

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