Seymour, Indiana

Seymour is a city in Jackson County, Indiana, United States. The population was 17,503 at the 2010 census. Seymour is called the "Crossroads of America" because the North/South and East/West railroads cross in downtown.

The North/South line, the Jeffersonville, Madison and Indianapolis Railroad, was built in the 1840s connecting Indianapolis to the Ohio River at Jeffersonville. It ran through the Shields farm at the area that is now Seymour.

In 1852 when the East/West railroad, the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad, was going to be built, Capt. Meedy Shields who was the cousin of General John Tipton talked the surveyor, John Seymour, into putting it through his land. In return he named the town Seymour. All trains had to stop at a crossroad, making Seymour a bustling community.

Seymour is the birthplace of Entertainer and Entrepreneur Fred Gill a.k.a. Two Foot Fred, Texas lawyer Paul Eggers, singer John Mellencamp, Miss America 2009, Katie Stam, and Robert Shields whose personal diary earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records. Robert William Shields was a distant cousin of Seymour founder Meedy Shields. Also Seymour is the home of rock band The Elms.

Geography
Seymour is located at °N, °W (38.956350, -85.890068).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.8 square miles (28.1 km*), all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,101 people, 7,231 households, and 4,743 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,670.3 people per square mile (644.7/km²). There were 7,709 housing units at an average density of 711.4 per square mile (274.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.40% White, 1.02% African American, 0.30% Native American, 1.43% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 2.93% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.85% of the population.

There were 7,231 households out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 28.5% 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 2.46 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,883, and the median income for a family was $43,357. Males had a median income of $30,638 versus $22,265 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,222. About 8.0% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.7% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.

Local media

 * WLCL
 * WZZB
 * WJAA
 * WJCP
 * WJLR
 * Seymour Times
 * The Tribune

History
Seymour was the site of the World's First Train Robbery, committed by the local Reno Gang, on October 6, 1866 just east of town. The gang was put into prison for the robbery, and later hanged at Hangman's Crossing outside of town.

The Freeman Field Mutiny occurred in 1945, in which African-American members of the 477th Bombardment Group attempted to integrate an all-white officers' club at Freeman Army Air Corps Base. The mutiny later led to the integration of United States Military.

Early companies

 * 1868 Seymour Businesses and Owners per Chandler & Co.
 * Blish Milling Company (aka Blish Mill or Blish Flour) Involved in a 1916 SCOTUS decision setting a Precedent. Sales Manager and Secretary Elbridge Blish Thompson who was a Hanover College and Yale University alumnus lost his life in the sinking of the RMS Lusitania.
 * Ahlbrand Carriage Company

Current companies

 * Aisin

Annual events

 * Victory over Japan Day Parade
 * Oktoberfest

Notable Residents

 * John Mellencamp

Nearby points of interest

 * Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge
 * Brown County, Indiana
 * Southern Indiana Center for the Arts (including gallery of John Mellencamp oil paintings)
 * Springhill Camps