Fremont, Indiana

Town of Fremont, Indiana
Town
Location in the state of Indiana
Country	United States
State	Indiana
County	Steuben
Township	Fremont
Area
• Total	2.2 sq mi (5.8 km2)
• Land	2.2 sq mi (5.8 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	1,056 ft (322 m)
Population  (2000)
• Total	1,696
• Density	760/sq mi (293.6/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (EST)
ZIP code	46737
Area code	260
FIPS code	18-25882Template:GR
GNIS feature ID	0434824Template:GR
Website	http://www.townoffremont.org

Fremont is a town in Fremont Township, Steuben County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,696 at the 2000 census. Settled in 1834 as Willow Prairie, it became the Village of Brockville when it was platted in 1837. In 1848, it was renamed to honour John C. Frémont, "the Great Pathfinder", in part because there was already a Brockville in Indiana.

In 1914, the first hospital in Steuben County was opened in Fremont by Dr. Wade.

Geography

Fremont is located at 41°43′52″N 84°55′57″W, four miles east of the interchange between Interstate 69 and the Indiana Toll Road (Interstate 80/90) on State Road 120.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.8 km²), of which, 2.2 square miles (5.8 km²) of it is land and 0.45% is water.

As an oddity, someone traveling due east from Fremont crosses into Michigan—not into Ohio. This is due to the early 19th century Ohio-Michigan boundary dispute over Toledo (qv. Toledo War for details).

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 1,696 people, 640 households, and 455 families residing in the town. The population density was 761.9 people per square mile (293.6/km²). There were 679 housing units at an average density of 305.0/sq mi (117.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.11% White, 0.18% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.47% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.95% of the population.

Fremont, Indiana from 1876 Atlas

There were 640 households out of which 43.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the town the population was spread out with 33.1% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 83.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $38,462, and the median income for a family was $42,446. Males had a median income of $31,333 versus $22,260 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,067. About 5.7% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

The Erastus Farnham House, just south of Fremont, on State Road 827. Built c. 1849, it is reported to have been a stop on the Underground Railroad.

Sites of interest

The following are National Register of Historic Places sites in or near Fremont:

• The Enos Michael House, 200 E. Toledo St, built c. 1850.
• The William L. Lords House, Clear Lake Rd., built c. 1848.
• Pokagon State Park, 4 miles west of Fremont. In addition to the park itself, the Combination Shelter (known locally as the CCC Shelter) at the park is also on the Register.

Notable Residents and Natives

File:Lisa vice.JPG

Lisa Vice of Fremont meeting with officials in Baghdad, Iraq.

Lisa Vice, Distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and recognized as the FOAF (Future of the Air Force) in 2005 by General Rand (USAF). Capt. Lisa Vice deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, as one of the first female officers in the United States Air Force to participate in ground combat operations while assigned to RFF 619. On September 12, 2006 Captain Lisa Vice was engaged by enemy small arms fire and performed her duties heroically during Operation Together Forward. An Airman witnessing Lisa Vice’s actions stated “Fremont, Indiana should be proud to have her as one of its daughters.” Throughout her time in Baghdad she negotiated with local Iraqi politicians and security leaders to deescalate pending hostile actions by Muqtada Al Sadr’s Mahdi Army. Captain Lisa was so popular among Baghdad’s leadership that an Iraqi Police Colonel requested her hand in marriage in exchange for 5,000 sheep.

See also

• Photo of Fremont High School

References

• Dodge, Dick "The Dodge Report", June 13, 2006, accessed August 18, 2008.
• Indiana Department of Natural Resources, "Underground Railroad Sites: Fremont", accessed August 24, 2009.
• McClew, Maurice (1956) "The Underground Railroad in Steuben County", Harvey Morley, editor, The 1955 History, Complete County Atlas, pictorial and Biographical Album of Steuben County, Indiana, Angola, Indiana, pp. 352–354.
• Sauer, Lee "Freedom Trail: The Underground Railroad ran through northeast Indiana, KPC News.net, accessed August 18, 2008.
• Taylor, Robert M.; Stevens, Errol Wayne; Ponder, Mary Ann (1990) Indiana: A New Historical Guide, Indiana Historical Society, ISBN 978-0871950482.

External links

• Town of Fremont, Indiana website
• Fremont Chamber of Commerce
• Fremont, Indiana - People, News and Information
• Lisa Vice and the 820th Security Forces Group