Otwell, Indiana

Otwell is an unincorporated census-designated place in Jefferson Township, Pike County, in the U.S. state of Indiana.^[2]

Otwell, Indiana
Census-designated place
Location of Otwell in Pike County, Indiana.
Coordinates: 38°27′24″N 87°05′45″W
Country	United States
State	Indiana
County	Pike
Township	Jefferson
Named for	Robert Otwell Brown
Area [1]
• Total	1.79 sq mi (4.63 km2)
• Land	1.78 sq mi (4.62 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation [2]	499 ft (152 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	396
• Density	221.85/sq mi (85.67/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	47564
Area code(s)	812, 930
FIPS code	18-57384[3]
GNIS feature ID	2629881[2]

History

Otwell was originally called Pierceville, being named after President Franklin Pierce, and under this name was laid out in 1855.^[4] The name was changed to Otwell in 1864 by a popular petition of its residents. The name had to be changed when the post office came because there was already a Pierceville in Indiana.^[4] The name Otwell is derived from the middle name of Robert Otwell Brown, the son of an early settler.^[5]

A post office has been in operation at Otwell since 1864.^[6]

Geography

Otwell is located along Indiana State Road 257 and is approximately 1 mile from Indiana State Road 56.

Education

There is one school district in the county, Pike County School Corporation.^[7]

Otwell has a charter school, Otwell Miller Academy,^[8] which was established in 2017,^{[citation needed]} after the Pike County school corporation closed its elementary school, Otwell Elementary School.^[9] Otwell Miller Academy currently enrolls 88 students for the 2018/19 school year. Grace College sponsors the charter.^{[citation needed]}

Prior to 1974, Otwell had its own high school. The school colors were blue and white, and the mascot was the Millers. In 1937, it took students from Velpen High School. In 1974, it merged into Pike Central High School.^[10]

Otwell has a public library, a branch of the Pike County Public Library.^[11]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2020	396		—
U.S. Decennial Census[12]

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Otwell, Indiana
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. History of Pike and Dubois Counties, Indiana. Goodspeed Brothers. p. 356. ISBN 978-5-87521-222-2.
5. Baker, Ronald L. (October 1995). From Needmore to Prosperity: Hoosier Place Names in Folklore and History. Indiana University Press. p. 254. ISBN 978-0-253-32866-3. ...Robert Otwell Brown, son of Dr. Perry Brown, who laid out the village.
6. "Pike County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
7. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Pike County, IN" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2024. - Text list
8. "Otwell Miller Academy". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved June 12, 2024. - Official website
9. Artino, Lauren (February 3, 2016). "Group plans to open Otwell Miller Academy by Fall". Evansville, Indiana: WFIE (14 News Indiana). Retrieved June 12, 2024.
10. Blackford, Nathan (July 15, 2014). "School's Out Forever". Evansville Living. Evansville, Indiana. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
11. "Hours of Operation". Pike County Public Library. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
12. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.