Fort Branch is the 3rd largest town and 3rd largest community in Gibson County, Indiana after Princeton and after Oakland City. The population was 2,771 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Evansville, Indiana, Metropolitan Area.
History
Fort Branch had its start in the year 1852 by the building of the railroad through that territory. The town was originally called LaGrange, for the original owner of the site, but as there was another post office of that same name in Indiana, the town was renamed in commemoration of an old fort.
On April 3, 1989, an F3 tornado passed through the town causing between 5 and 50 million dollars in damage.
On February 28, 2017, an EF3 wedge tornado, originating in Crossville, Illinois, passed to the north of the town, destroying or heavily damaging several structures along Indiana 168.
Geography
Fort Branch is located at (38.246872, -87.576003).
According to the 2010 census, Fort Branch has a total area of , of which (or 99.1%) is land and (or 0.9%) is water.
Demographics
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 2,771 people, 1,162 households, and 774 families living in the town. The population density was . There were 1,244 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 96.8% White, 0.3% African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.9% of the population.
There were 1,162 households, of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.4% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.93.
The median age in the town was 38 years. 24.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.2% were from 25 to 44; 26.9% were from 45 to 64; and 14.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.8% male and 50.2% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,320 people, 985 households, and 647 families living in the town. The population density was . There were 1,051 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 98.53% White, 0.26% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.30% from other races, and 0.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69% of the population.
There were 985 households, out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.3% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.5% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,964, and the median income for a family was $46,397. Males had a median income of $34,125 versus $21,314 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,180. About 1.6% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.
Education
South Gibson School Corporation
K-8: Fort Branch Community School
9-12: Gibson Southern High School
College: Vincennes University Center for Advanced Manufacturing
Former Schools
Fort Branch High School (merged into Gibson Southern High School in 1974)
Marlette School
Public library
Fort Branch has a public library, a branch of the Fort Branch-Johnson Township Public Library system.
Economy
Like Princeton, Fort Branch is also largely a blue-collar town although of somewhat smaller size. For a long time the town's largest employer was the Emge Foods processing and packing plant, still located along the southwest portion of the town. When the plant closed in May 1999, it had been in operation for nearly 90 years.