Official Name: | Aurora, Indiana |
Settlement Type: | City |
Nickname: | City of Spires |
Image Blank Emblem: | Aurora, Indiana logo.gif |
Mapsize: | 250px |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | United States |
Subdivision Type1: | State |
Subdivision Name1: | Indiana |
Subdivision Type2: | County |
Subdivision Name2: | Dearborn |
Subdivision Type3: | Township |
Subdivision Name3: | Center |
Leader Title: | Mayor |
Leader Name: | Mark A. Drury (R) |
Established Title: | Platted |
Established Date: | 1819 |
Established Title2: | Incorporated |
Established Date2: | 1848 |
Area Footnotes: | [1] |
Area Total Km2: | 9.16 |
Area Land Km2: | 8.53 |
Area Water Km2: | 0.63 |
Population As Of: | 2020 |
Population Total: | 3479 |
Population Density Km2: | 408.05 |
Population Density Sq Mi: | 1056.80 |
Timezone: | EST |
Utc Offset: | -5 |
Timezone Dst: | EDT |
Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
Area Total Sq Mi: | 3.54 |
Area Land Sq Mi: | 3.29 |
Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.24 |
Elevation Ft: | 515 |
Coordinates: | 39.07°N -84.8953°W |
Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
Postal Code: | 47001 |
Area Code Type: | Area code |
Area Code: | 812 |
Blank Name: | FIPS code |
Blank1 Name: | GNIS ID |
Blank1 Info: | 2394030 |
Unit Pref: | Imperial |
Aurora is a city in Center Township, Dearborn County, Indiana, United States. The population was 3,750 at the 2010 census.
According to the 2010 census, Aurora has a total area of 3.087sqmi, of which 2.76sqmi (or 89.41%) is land and 0.327sqmi (or 10.59%) is water.[2]
Aurora was platted in 1819.[3] It was named for Aurora, the goddess of dawn in Roman mythology.[4] Aurora was incorporated in 1848.[5]
Aurora is known for its historic downtown area and the ornate Hillforest mansion built for Thomas Gaff who earned his fortune shipping goods on the Ohio River by steamboat.[6] The mansion was designed by architect Isaiah Rogers and was completed in 1855 in the Italian Renaissance style. The design is symmetrical. Details include deep overhangs, arched windows and balconies and porches. Hillforest was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1992.[7]
Aurora was once a sundown town, a place unwelcoming to non-whites after dark. Local newspaper The Aurora Journal reported on a reader's concern about a sign "posted somewhere along the river" that read, "Nigger, Don't Let the Sun Set on You in Aurora".[8] According to the article, published on September 9, 1937, "The sign has been down for some time, but the idea still holds good."
In addition to Hillforest, the Aurora City Hall, Aurora Methodist Episcopal Church, Aurora Public Library, Downtown Aurora Historic District, First Evangelical United Church of Christ, First Presbyterian Church, George Street Bridge, Lewis Hurlbert, Sr. House, Leive, Parks and Stapp Opera House, Levi Stevens House, and George Sutton Medical Office are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
As of the 2010 census,[9] there were 3,750 people, 1,472 households, and 936 families living in the city. The population density was 1358.7PD/sqmi. There were 1,647 housing units at an average density of 596.7/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 97.5% White, 0.5% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5% of the population.
There were 1,472 households, of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.3% were married couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.4% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.11.
The median age in the city was 36.2 years. 26.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.5% were from 25 to 44; 25.3% were from 45 to 64; and 12.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.3% male and 50.7% female.
As of the 2000 census,[10] there were 3,965 people, 1,592 households, and 1,022 families living in the city. The population density was 1428.2sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 1,716 housing units at an average density of 618.1sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 98.59% White, 0.10% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.25% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.61% of the population.
There were 1,592 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 29.7% 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 2.48 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.9% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,500, and the median income for a family was $39,331. Males had a median income of $32,058 versus $24,671 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,587. About 9.4% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.
The government consists of a mayor and a city council. The mayor is elected in citywide vote. The city council consists of five members. Four are elected from individual districts. One is elected at-large.
[3]
Colors = id:may value:red legend:Mayor
ScaleMajor = increment:1 start:1848
PlotData=
width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4) bar:John D Haynes from:start till:31/12/1850 color:may bar:Solomon P Tumy from:01/01/1851 till:31/12/1855 color:may bar:Washington Stark from:01/01/1856 till:31/12/1856 color:may bar:Solomon P Tumy from:01/01/1857 till:31/12/1858 color:may bar:John Gaff from:01/01/1859 till:31/12/1860 color:may bar:Frederick Slater from:01/01/1861 till:31/12/1862 color:may bar:Dr George Sutton from:01/01/1863 till:31/12/1866 color:may bar:R Criswell from:01/01/1867 till:31/12/1868 color:may bar:Frederick Huckery from:01/01/1869 till:31/12/1870 color:may bar:J A Emrie from:01/01/1871 till:31/12/1872 color:may bar:Dr. Frederick Rectanus from:01/01/1873 till:31/12/1876 color:may bar:Edward Green from:01/01/1877 till:31/12/1880 color:may
The town has a free lending library, the Aurora Public Library District.[12]