Attica is a city in Logan Township, Fountain County, Indiana, United States. As of the 2020 census, Attica had a population of 3,036.

History

Attica was laid out by George Hollingsworth and platted by David Stump in 1825. The completion of the Wabash and Erie Canal through the town in 1847 brought a considerable amount of growth to the area, and ended (in Attica's favor) a long-standing rivalry with the neighboring communities of Rob Roy, Williamsport and Covington.

In the summer of 1849, Attica was incorporated as a town.

Attica is the nearest town to the location where Paul Dresser is believed to have written the state song, "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away", in 1897, and the bridge over the Wabash River bears his name.

The growth of Attica led to its inclusion of neighboring unincorporated communities such as Vine, for which a post office has been established in 1895, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1900. According to one source, the name Vine had been chosen for its brevity. Modernly, the location is marked by the southern termination of North Vine School Road.

The Attica Downtown Historic District, Attica Main Street Historic District, Brady Street Historic District, Marshall M. Milford House, and Old East Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

thumb|left|Map of Attica

Attica is located along the Wabash River in Logan Township. U.S. Route 41, State Road 28, and State Road 55 intersect at Attica.

According to the 2010 census, Attica has a total area of , all land.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Attica had a population of 3,036. The median age was 40.8 years. 21.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.4 males age 18 and over.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 1,292 households in Attica, of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 41.6% were married-couple households, 22.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The population density was . There were 1,507 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 97.8% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.6% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.4% of the population.

Income and poverty

The median income for a household was $34,804 and the median income for a family was $52,669. Males had a median income of $45,682 versus $24,574 for females. The per capita income for was $21,287. About 13.3% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.0% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The city has a free lending library, the Attica Public Library.

Notable people

  • Catherine Backus (1863–1955), sculptor
  • George Dewey Hay, founder of the Grand Ole Opry
  • Fred S. Purnell (1882–1939), U.S. representative from Indiana

<gallery widths="180" heights="150" class="center">

File:Attica, Indiana house.png|A home in the historic district.

File:Attica, Indiana rooster.png|A restaurant on East Main Street.

File:Attica-Independence Bridge, 500 East over Wabash River, c1988 (Fountain Co., Ind.) - DPLA - 47d72d28226bd18c427932d22fd2573d.jpg|Independence Bridge over Wabash River

</gallery>

References

  • Attica Community Foundation