U.S. Route 6 passes through the north side of the town on a bypass; it leads east 8 miles (13 km) to Nappanee and west 18 miles (29 km) to Walkerton. Indiana State Road 331 passes through the center of Bremen on North Bowen Avenue and Plymouth Street; it leads north 15 miles (24 km) to Mishawaka and south 12 miles (19 km) to Bourbon. State Road 106 passes east to west through the center of Bremen on Plymouth Street and Douglas Road. Plymouth, the Marshall county seat, is 15 miles (24 km) to the southwest.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Bremen has a total area of 2.84 square miles (7.36 km2), of which 0.004 square miles (0.010 km2), or 0.14%, are water.[2] The Yellow River, here near its headwaters, passes along the western edge of the town, flowing south and west toward the Kankakee River, part of the Illinois River watershed.
As of the 2010 census,[11] there were 4,588 people, 1,736 households, and 1,155 families living in the town. The population density was 1,686.8 inhabitants per square mile (651.3/km2). There were 1,922 housing units at an average density of 706.6 per square mile (272.8/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 86.5% White, 0.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 11.1% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.0% of the population.
There were 1,736 households, of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.5% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.20.
The median age in the town was 36.6 years. 27.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25% were from 25 to 44; 23.2% were from 45 to 64; and 16% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.8% male and 52.2% female.
2000 census
As of the 2000 census,[12] there were 4,486 people, 1,689 households, and 1,177 families living in the town. The population density was 1,967.8 inhabitants per square mile (759.8/km2). There were 1,791 housing units at an average density of 785.6 per square mile (303.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 91.42% White, 0.16% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 6.53% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.02% of the population.
There were 1,689 households, out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.3% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,185, and the median income for a family was $47,768. Males had a median income of $32,443 versus $21,902 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,073. About 4.2% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Bremen supports light and heavy industry in the form of fiberglass and custom cabinet manufacturing, RV and van painting, and roller bearing manufacture. Much of its industry supports the large RV manufacturing in the area, especially in nearby Nappanee and Elkhart.
