Lowell (/ˈloʊəl/ LOH-əl, locally [loʊl]) is a town in West Creek and Cedar Creek townships, Lake County, Indiana, United States. The population was 10,680 at the 2020 census.
Lowell, Indiana | |
|---|---|
 Commercial Avenue in downtown Lowell | |
| Motto: "Proud Past Bright Future" | |
 Location of Lowell in Lake County, Indiana. | |
| Coordinates: 41°16′00″N 87°24′45″W / 41.26667°N 87.41250°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Lake |
| Township | West Creek, Cedar Creek |
| Settled | 1834 |
| Incorporated | 1852 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Town |
| • Body | Town Council |
| • Founder | Melvin Amos Halsted |
| • Town President | Todd Angerman (R) |
| • Town Vice President | Mike Gruszka (R) |
| • Members: | Michael Gruszka (R, 1st), Todd Angerman (R, 2nd), John Alessia (D, 3rd), Shane Tucker (R, 4th), John Yelkich (D, 5th) |
| • Clerk Treasurer | Judy Walters (D) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.58 sq mi (17.04 km2) |
| • Land | 6.50 sq mi (16.83 km2) |
| • Water | 0.08 sq mi (0.21 km2) |
| Elevation | 679 ft (207 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 10,680 |
| • Density | 1,643.84/sq mi (634.65/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 46356 |
| Area code | 219 |
| FIPS code | 18-45144[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 2396726[2] |
| Website | http://www.lowell.net/ |
History
editLowell was platted in 1853.[4] It was named after Lowell, Massachusetts.[5]
The James Brannon House, Melvin A. Halsted House, Lowell Commercial Historic District, Charles E. Nichols House, and J. Claude Rumsey House are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.[6][7]
Geography
editAccording to the 2010 census, Lowell has a total area of 5.27 square miles (13.65 km2), of which 5.18 square miles (13.42 km2) (or 98.29%) is land and 0.09 square miles (0.23 km2) (or 1.71%) is water.[8]
Located five miles (8 km) outside of the Great Lakes Basin, Lowell sought permission to pipe in lake water to replace city water drawn from its high fluoride deep wells. However, diversion of water out of the Great Lakes requires the approval of the Great Lakes Commission, which includes representatives of all the US states and Canadian provinces that border on the lakes. Lowell's request was turned down in 1991.
Lowell lies on the Valparaiso Moraine, almost on the Kankakee Outwash Plain. The town also lies near the St. Lawrence Seaway Divide.
Climate
editLowell has a Humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfa) with four distinct seasons.
| Climate data for Lowell, Indiana (1991–2020 normals, 1963–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 66 (19) |
73 (23) |
85 (29) |
91 (33) |
96 (36) |
104 (40) |
101 (38) |
104 (40) |
98 (37) |
92 (33) |
79 (26) |
70 (21) |
104 (40) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 53.9 (12.2) |
56.8 (13.8) |
70.9 (21.6) |
80.6 (27.0) |
88.6 (31.4) |
93.2 (34.0) |
92.9 (33.8) |
91.8 (33.2) |
90.3 (32.4) |
83.4 (28.6) |
68.6 (20.3) |
57.3 (14.1) |
95.2 (35.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 31.5 (−0.3) |
35.8 (2.1) |
47.4 (8.6) |
60.3 (15.7) |
71.3 (21.8) |
80.7 (27.1) |
83.5 (28.6) |
81.8 (27.7) |
76.8 (24.9) |
63.6 (17.6) |
49.1 (9.5) |
36.9 (2.7) |
59.9 (15.5) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 23.2 (−4.9) |
26.7 (−2.9) |
37.3 (2.9) |
49.0 (9.4) |
60.1 (15.6) |
69.9 (21.1) |
73.0 (22.8) |
71.1 (21.7) |
64.7 (18.2) |
52.4 (11.3) |
39.6 (4.2) |
28.9 (−1.7) |
49.7 (9.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 15.0 (−9.4) |
17.7 (−7.9) |
27.3 (−2.6) |
37.7 (3.2) |
48.9 (9.4) |
59.1 (15.1) |
62.5 (16.9) |
60.4 (15.8) |
52.5 (11.4) |
41.0 (5.0) |
30.2 (−1.0) |
20.9 (−6.2) |
39.4 (4.1) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −7.6 (−22.0) |
−3.2 (−19.6) |
9.7 (−12.4) |
23.3 (−4.8) |
34.0 (1.1) |
44.3 (6.8) |
51.0 (10.6) |
50.0 (10.0) |
38.2 (3.4) |
26.7 (−2.9) |
15.4 (−9.2) |
1.1 (−17.2) |
−12.2 (−24.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −28 (−33) |
−23 (−31) |
−9 (−23) |
7 (−14) |
24 (−4) |
33 (1) |
41 (5) |
38 (3) |
28 (−2) |
18 (−8) |
−2 (−19) |
−29 (−34) |
−29 (−34) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.33 (59) |
1.91 (49) |
2.34 (59) |
3.68 (93) |
4.24 (108) |
5.11 (130) |
4.31 (109) |
4.27 (108) |
3.27 (83) |
3.56 (90) |
2.62 (67) |
2.24 (57) |
39.88 (1,013) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 9.7 (25) |
9.3 (24) |
3.4 (8.6) |
0.3 (0.76) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0.9 (2.3) |
5.9 (15) |
29.7 (75) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 11.2 | 9.8 | 10.7 | 12.8 | 12.9 | 11.8 | 10.4 | 10.0 | 9.1 | 11.1 | 10.5 | 11.6 | 131.9 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 5.8 | 4.8 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 4.5 | 18.3 |
| Source: NOAA[9][10] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 458 | — | |
| 1890 | 761 | 66.2% | |
| 1900 | 1,275 | 67.5% | |
| 1910 | 1,235 | −3.1% | |
| 1920 | 1,197 | −3.1% | |
| 1930 | 1,274 | 6.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,448 | 13.7% | |
| 1950 | 1,621 | 11.9% | |
| 1960 | 2,270 | 40.0% | |
| 1970 | 3,839 | 69.1% | |
| 1980 | 5,827 | 51.8% | |
| 1990 | 6,430 | 10.3% | |
| 2000 | 7,505 | 16.7% | |
| 2010 | 9,276 | 23.6% | |
| 2020 | 10,680 | 15.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] | |||
2010 census
editAs of the census[12] of 2010, there were 9,276 people, 3,392 households, and 2,500 families living in the town. The population density was 1,790.7 inhabitants per square mile (691.4/km2). There were 3,620 housing units at an average density of 698.8 per square mile (269.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.9% White, 0.5% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.7% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.9% of the population.
There were 3,392 households, of which 39.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.3% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.16.
The median age in the town was 35.7 years. 26.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.8% were from 25 to 44; 25.1% were from 45 to 64; and 11.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.2% male and 50.8% female.
2000 census
editAs of the census[3] of 2000, there were 7,505 people, 2,697 households, and 2,030 families living in the town. The population density was 1,839.2 inhabitants per square mile (710.1/km2). There were 2,809 housing units at an average density of 688.4 per square mile (265.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.30% White, 0.03% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.12% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 3.53% of the population.
There were 2,697 households, out of which 39.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.2% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74, and the average family size was 3.19.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.6% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $49,173, and the median income for a family was $54,797. Males had a median income of $45,023, versus $23,378 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,752. About 5.6% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.
Schools
edit- Lowell Senior High School
- Lowell Middle School
- Lake Prairie Elementary School
- Oak Hill Elementary School
- Three Creeks Elementary School
- Lowell Christian Academy
- St.Edwards Catholic School (Pre-School Only)
Events
editLowell hosts the oldest Labor Day parade in Indiana.[13] Buckley Homestead, east of Lowell, hosts a number of events, including a World War II reenactment with authentic weapons, artillery, and tanks. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is another event that takes place in Lowell in September.
Notable people
edit- Mary Emma Allison, humanitarian and librarian
- Steve Carter, 41st Indiana Attorney General
- Corbett Davis, quarterback and top NFL draft pick in 1938 to the Cleveland Rams
- Amy Ruley, member of Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
- Jo Anne Worley, actress and comedian
References
edit- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lowell, Indiana
- ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ Howat, William Frederick (1915). A Standard History of Lake County, Indiana, and the Calumet Region, Volume 1. Lewis Publishing Company. p. 136.
- ^ Baker, Ronald L. (October 1995). From Needmore to Prosperity: Hoosier Place Names in Folklore and History. Indiana University Press. p. 204. ISBN 978-0-253-32866-3.
...the name was borrowed from Lowell, Massachusetts.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 3/21/11 through 3/25/11. National Park Service. April 1, 2011.
- ^ "G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
- ^ "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
- ^ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
- ^ "IBC: Lowell Labor Day Parade". IN.gov. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
