Newpoint, Indiana
Coordinates: 39°18′34″N 85°19′46″W / 39.30944, -85.32944
Country	United States
State	Indiana
County	Decatur
Township	Salt Creek
Area
- Total	0.3 sq mi (0.7 km²)
- Land	0.3 sq mi (0.7 km²)
- Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)
Population (2000)
- Total	290
- Density	1,061.8/sq mi (410.0/km²)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	47263
Area code(s)	812
FIPS code	18-53478[1]

New Point from the air, looking northeast.

New Point is a town in Salt Creek Township, Decatur County, Indiana, United States. The population was 290 at the 2000 census.

Geography

The town is located approximately one-half mile south of Interstate 74 at Exit 143. (State Highway 46 runs parallel to the town on its north side.) Utilities include city water and city sewage. At the present there is no natural gas piped to the town. The closest connection is 5.5 miles to the east on State Highway 46.

New Point is located at 39°18′34″N, 85°19′46″W (39.309546, -85.329376)^[2].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.3 square miles (0.7 km²), all of it land.

The town is divided geographically by an active railway running east to Cincinnati, Ohio and west to Indianapolis, Indiana. Tub Creek, a tiny stream, originates just north of Newpoint and runs through it from north to south.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 290 people, 106 households, and 82 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,061.8 people per square mile (414.7/km²). There were 116 housing units at an average density of 424.7/sq mi (165.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.62% White, 0.34% African American, 0.34% Asian, 0.34% from other races, and 0.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.34% of the population.

There were 106 households out of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.2% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.7% were non-families. 17.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 116.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $39,583, and the median income for a family was $40,694. Males had a median income of $31,607 versus $28,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,116. About 6.6% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.0% of those under the age of eighteen and 5.3% of those sixty five or over.

The community boasts a small post office, community center, park, and a volunteer fire department. There is a small restaurant (referred to as "Midtown"), a convenience store, and a truck stop. There is usually one police officer employed by the town. Newpoint also has quite a few local businesses: a trucking company, several small factories (including Woodmizer), a concrete business, etc. It is surrounded by family-owned and operated farms and agricultural enterprises. Also, a local golf course and a productive stone quarry lie approximately 1-2 miles north/northwest of the town.

There are two churches: The Newpoint Christian Church and The Newpoint Baptist Church.

The town is governed by a board of elected officials.

Miscellany

The community has an annual festival called Crackaway Daze which is held on the third full weekend of September. "Crackaway" is said to be the original name of the town in historic times.

There once was a school where the park is currently located. This school was no longer used after the consolidation of community schools into a larger county school corporation (North and South Decatur Schools). The park is now used for the Crackawy Daze festival, local events, and little league.

Newpoint, like the rest of Decatur County, has seen a lot of economic development in recent years. Many small businesses and housing developments have appeared, changing the cultural landscape of the small village. A recently added mobile home park has increased the population, but has also led to an influx of new residents. The town government seems to be fairly active, but has also lead to controversy amongst the citizens of Newpoint.

Just across Highway 46, there is a convenience store called Day and Night. This store was once locally owned, but has since come under new ownership.

North of this there is a truck stop. This truck stop is owned by the G & G Oil corporation of Muncie, Indiana, who have made it part of the "Petro" franchise. This truck stop has a reputation for being a mom-and-pop truck stop. It is currently managed by Gary Copeland, who is also active in local radio and business. The truck stop features a travel store, restaurant, shower and laundry facilities, and a tiny arcade. There is also a service center for commercial trucks.

This is the hometown of Brandon L.J. Mouser, an aspiring contemporary philosopher and writer.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
2. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

External links

• New Point, Indiana is at coordinates 39°18′34″N 85°19′46″W / 39.309546, -85.329376 (New Point, Indiana)Coordinates: 39°18′34″N 85°19′46″W / 39.309546, -85.329376 (New Point, Indiana)

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