Pence, Indiana Explained

Official Name:Pence, Indiana
Settlement Type:Unincorporated community and Census-designated place
Pushpin Map:USA Indiana Warren County#Indiana#USA
Pushpin Label:Pence
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Indiana
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Warren
Subdivision Type3:Township
Subdivision Name3:Jordan
Established Title:Founded
Established Date:1902
Founder:Frank R. Pence
Area Total Sq Mi:0.17
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:41
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Coordinates:40.3636°N -87.5128°W
Elevation Ft:689
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:47993
Area Code:765
Blank Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:2806540
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Land Km2:0.44
Area Land Sq Mi:0.17
Population Density Sq Mi:242.60
Population Density Km2:93.56

Pence is a small unincorporated community in Jordan Township, Warren County, in the U.S. state of Indiana.

History

Pence was founded in September 1902 by Frank R. Pence, who purchased 40acres of land for the purpose. In 1903, Pence became the smallest town in the United States to have a central water system. In the early part of the 20th century, Pence had numerous businesses including a grain elevator, a blacksmith shop, a welding and machine shop, a lumber yard, a coal yard, the Bank of Pence (which closed in the 1920s), a hotel (which also housed the post office for a time), restaurants, a general store, grocery stores, a hardware store, a weekly newspaper, a funeral home, a jewelry store, and various others. As of 1913, the population was about 150.[2]

Pence had a baseball team from 1910 to 1955, and also had a basketball team (the Pence Aces).

The post office operated from October 12, 1903 to April 5, 1957.

Geography

Pence is located less than a mile east of the Indiana-Illinois state line and a quarter mile from Jordan Creek, which flows southwest toward the Vermilion River. It is on County Road 300 North, which (in Illinois) runs into the town of Rossville about 9 miles to the west.

Demographics

References

  1. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. March 16, 2022.
  2. Book: Clifton. Thomas. Past and Present of Fountain and Warren Counties Indiana. B. F. Bowen and Company. 1913. Indianapolis. 326.