Chandler is a town straddling Ohio and Boon Township in Warrick County, Indiana, United States, located just east of Evansville, Indiana along the Ohio River. By that time, a portion of the Central Canal (a piece of the Wabash and Erie Canal) was completed just outside of town that connected nearby Evansville with present-day Worthington. The canal system was never fully completed, having met its doom with financial problems and competition from the railroad boom, but part of the canal remains today along with the old tow path, aptly named Tow Path Road.

In 1874, Lee officially became Chandler. The town got its new moniker from O.E. Chandler, the foreman of the Lake Erie, Evansville & South Western Railroad, which had completed construction on a new railway through town the year before. Using the creek bed from the failed Wabash and Erie Canal, L E E & S W RR created a rail line from Evansville through Chandler and on to Gentryville. Although the line is no longer used for passenger travel, Norfolk Southern still operates cargo trains on a portion of the railway that follows the Central Canal. The former Chandler Depot also remains, although it now serves as a private residence.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally cool to cold winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Chandler has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Chandler had a population of 3,693. The median age was 36.6 years. 25.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.6 males age 18 and over.

96.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 3.1% lived in rural areas.

There were 1,462 households in Chandler, of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 47.1% were married-couple households, 18.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. of 2010, there were 2,887 people, 1,101 households, and 791 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 1,285 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 97.9% White, 0.3% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 1,101 households, of which 37.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 28.2% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.06.

The median age in the town was 36 years. 27.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.2% were from 25 to 44; 26.2% were from 45 to 64; and 11.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.8% male and 51.2% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,094 people, 1,178 households, and 882 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 1,267 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 98.61% White, 0.36% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.06% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.58% of the population.

There were 1,178 households, out of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.5% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $36,047, and the median income for a family was $39,500. Males had a median income of $29,074 versus $21,142 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,172. About 10.1% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.3% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.

Law and government

Chandler uses the town council form of government, led by a five-member town council and a clerk-treasurer. The town council holds both legislative and executive powers while the clerk-treasurer is responsible for financial matters. Following staggered terms commencing in 2015, all are elected for four-year terms.

{| class="sortable wikitable"

! District !! Council Member !! First elected !! Term ends !! Political Party !! Other titles

|-

| 1 || Cheryl Amos || 2019 || 2023 || Democratic Party ||

|-

| 2 || Kim Burnett || 2018 || 2022 || Republican Party ||

|-

| 3 || Tonya Wester || 2019 || 2023 || Republican Party || President

|-

| 4 || Ron Whitledge || 2015 || 2022 || Republican Party || Vice-President

|-

| At-Large || Sandy Elder || 2019 || 2023 || Democratic Party ||

|}

Some of the governmental functions are handled through Warrick County officials. The county maintains a small claims court that can handle some civil cases. The judge on the court is elected to a term of four years and must be a member of the Indiana Bar Association. The judge is assisted by a constable who is also elected to a four-year term. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level circuit court.

Chandler is represented by Vaneta Becker (District 50) in the Indiana State Senate. The town is located in the 8th District of Indiana (map) and served by U.S. Representative Larry Bucshon, a resident of Newburgh.

Education

Chandler has a public library, a branch of the Ohio Township Public Library System. Chandler is apart of the Warrick County District, the school in Chandler specifically being Chandler elementary school, home of the Vikings.

Transportation

Warrick Area Transit System (WATS) provides bus service linking Chandler to the Metropolitan Evansville Transit System and the Evansville metro.

References

  • Town website