Sweetser is a town in Franklin, Pleasant and Richland townships, Grant County, Indiana, United States. As of the 2020 census, Sweetser had a population of 1,075.
History
The Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad was built through the area in 1867. Around 1869, a half-mile long switch was built to haul wood to a train refueling station. This switch would become the nucleus of the town. Railroadmen began calling it "Switch" and soon thereafter, the area was known as "Switzer" and then "Sweetser".
The original plat of town of Sweetser was entered on October 14, 1871, by Sanford Prater, John Hubert, James H. Vinson, Urich Mars and H.B. Bragg with the Grant County Recorder's office.
Running through the edge of Sweetser is a small body of water, or creek, known as Pipe Creek. Pipe Creek is one of the sites that can be seen from the Sweetser Switch Trail. Known as one of Sweetser's main attractions, the trail is a walking trail that stretches throughout the whole town and is expanded three miles outside of the town's outer limits. Although this trail is intended for walking, there are signs posted that allow bicyclists, cross country skiers, runners, wheelchairs and various other ways of exercise permitted on the trail. A new addition to the trail is a statue of one of Grant County's celebrities, Garfield.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Sweetser had a population of 1,075. The median age was 41.3 years. 24.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.8 males age 18 and over.
94.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 5.9% lived in rural areas.
There were 454 households in Sweetser, of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 54.0% were married-couple households, 18.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. of 2010, there were 1,229 people, 494 households, and 364 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 532 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 95.2% White, 0.4% African American, 0.7% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 2.0% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.5% of the population.
There were 494 households, of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.5% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 26.3% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.91.
The median age in the town was 40.5 years. 25.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.2% were from 25 to 44; 29.1% were from 45 to 64; and 16.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.
2000 census
As of the census
Current council members are President Kyle Taylor, Vice-President Travis Lemaster, Warren Daily, Tyler Wineinger and one vacant seat. is a unique feature along the Sweetser Switch Trail. Completed in July 2012, the park is located one-quarter mile west of Main Street next to the trail. The park was funded totally by donations. Dogs of all sizes can run unleashed here. The park has two separate areas, one for large dogs and one for small, and will include a small area for pet owners to memorialize their pets.
Gallery
<gallery widths="180px" class="center">
File:Restored rail cars and statue of Garfield on the Sweetser Switch Trail.jpg|Restored rail cars and statue of Garfield on the Sweetser Switch Trail
File:Veteran's Memorial on Sweetser Switch Trail.jpg|Veteran's Memorial on Sweetser Switch Trail
File:Sweetser Cafe.jpg|Sweetser Cafe
File:Sweetser Garfield and train cars.jpg|Sweetser Garfield and train cars</gallery>
Education
Sweetser is part of the Oak Hill School District and home to the Sweetser Elementary school.
Sweetser residents may obtain a free library card from the Converse-Jackson Township Public Library in Converse.
Festivals and events
Sweetser is home to the annual Pumpkin Walk, a community-wide parade down Main Street held near Halloween, which features costume judging contests and pumpkin carving contests.
The Sweetser's Farmers Market runs from June through September on Saturdays at the Sweetser Elementary School.
Notable people
- Keith O'Conner Murphy, Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Singer-songwriter, Stacy, Polydor Records, and King Records (United States)