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Oakland City, Indiana facts for kids

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Oakland City, Indiana
Main Street (Indiana 357) at the town center.
Main Street (Indiana 357) at the town center.
Location of Oakland City in Gibson County, Indiana.
Location of Oakland City in Gibson County, Indiana.
Country United States
State Indiana
County Gibson
Township Columbia
Area
 • Total 1.02 sq mi (2.64 km2)
 • Land 1.02 sq mi (2.64 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0%
Elevation
472 ft (144 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 2,279
 • Density 2,232.13/sq mi (861.94/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
47660
Area code(s) 812, 930
FIPS code 18-55710
GNIS feature ID 2395292
Interstate Highways I-69.svg
Major State Roads Indiana 57.svgIndiana 64.svgIndiana 357.svg

Oakland City is the second-largest city, but third largest community in Gibson County, Indiana, United States, after Princeton and the town of Fort Branch. It is the site of Oakland City University. The population was 2,279 at the 2020 census.

History

Oakland City was laid out and platted in 1856. It was probably named for the presence of oak trees. The Oakland City post office was established in 1860.

The William M. Cockrum House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, Oakland City has a total area of 1.132 square miles (2.93 km2), of which 1.13 square miles (2.93 km2) (or 99.82%) is land and 0.002 square miles (0.01 km2) (or 0.18%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 731
1890 1,524 108.5%
1900 1,991 30.6%
1910 2,370 19.0%
1920 2,270 −4.2%
1930 2,842 25.2%
1940 3,068 8.0%
1950 3,539 15.4%
1960 3,016 −14.8%
1970 3,289 9.1%
1980 3,301 0.4%
1990 2,810 −14.9%
2000 2,588 −7.9%
2010 2,429 −6.1%
2020 2,279 −6.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

At the 2010 census, there were 2,429 people, 973 households and 568 families living in the city. The population density was 2,149.6 per square mile (830.0/km2). There were 1,157 housing units at an average density of 1,023.9 per square mile (395.3/km2). The racial make-up was 97.2% White, 0.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.0% of the population.

There were 973 households, of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.6% were non-families. 37.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.86.

The median age was 36.1 years. 20.6% of residents were under the age of 18, 16.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24, 21.7% were from 25 to 44, 23.8% were from 45 to 64 and 17.5% were 65 years of age or older. The make-up of the city was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.

Education

Higher education

Oakland City is the site of Oakland City University, the only General Baptist-affiliated university, with a global campus providing over 40 degrees from associate, bachelor, master and doctorate studies and Oakland City University School of Adult and Extended Learning with programs that specialize in busy adult students. Oakland City University was established in 1885 as Oakland City College. It attained university status and changed its name in the latter part of the 20th century. Oakland City University sports teams are the Mighty Oaks.

K-12 education

Oakland City is headquarters of the East Gibson School Corporation. Oakland City Elementary School, Waldo J. Wood Memorial Junior High School and Waldo J. Wood Memorial High School are all located on South Franklin Street. The Oakland City Elementary sports teams are the Acorns (relating to the Oaks above). The Waldo J. Wood Memorial Junior High teams and Waldo J. Wood Memorial High School teams are the Trojans. Other schools in the East Gibson School Corporation are Barton Township Elementary School, located in Mackey, and Francisco Elementary School, located in Francisco.

Public library

The town has a lending library, the Oakland City-Columbia Township Public Library.

Notable people

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