Lebanon was founded in 1832.[6] It was named by a pioneer settler who saw a stand of hickory trees on the site and was reminded of the Biblicalcedars of Lebanon.[7] The first post office at Lebanon was established in 1832.[8]
Historical sites
Lebanon is the home of the Historic Cragun House. Built in 1893, it was once the home of Strange Nathaniel Cragun and his family. The family travelled the world, and their house is now a living history museum full of the pieces they collected from their travels as well as original furniture from the dwelling. This Victorian home is owned and maintained by the Boone County Historical Society and serves as headquarters for the organization.[9] The Cragun House has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.[10][11]
According to the 2010 census, Lebanon has a total area of 15.566 square miles (40.32 km2), of which 15.55 square miles (40.27 km2) (or 99.9%) is land and 0.016 square miles (0.04 km2) (or 0.1%) is water.[14]
Notable architecture
The county courthouse of Lebanon is notable for its single-piece vertical Ionic order limestone columns. They were at one time believed to be the largest single-piece limestone columns in the world.[15]
As of the census[17] of 2010, there were 15,792 people, 6,433 households, and 4,049 families living in the city. The population density was 1,014.9 inhabitants per square mile (391.9/km2). There were 7,057 housing units at an average density of 453.5 per square mile (175.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.1% White, 0.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.1% of the population.
There were 6,433 households, of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.1% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.97.
The median age in the city was 37.5 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.8% were from 25 to 44; 25.6% were from 45 to 64; and 14.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.
2000 census
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 14,222 people, 5,834 households, and 3,780 families living in the city. The population density was 1,952.9 inhabitants per square mile (754.0/km2). There were 6,202 housing units at an average density of 851.6 per square mile (328.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.67% White, 0.33% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.58% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.61% of the population.
Lebanon circa 1909.
There were 5,834 households, out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.7% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,791, and the median income for a family was $47,769. Males had a median income of $35,614 versus $22,791 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,245. About 4.4% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.
Government
The government consists of a mayor and a city council. The mayor and clerk-treasurer are elected in a citywide vote. The city council consists of seven members, five of whom are elected from individual districts, while two are elected at-large.
Current elected officials - Lebanon, Indiana
Mayor: Matt Gentry
Clerk-Treasurer: Tonya Thayer
City Council, District 1: Mike Kincaid
City Council, District 2: Keith Campbell
City Council, District 3: Morris Jones
City Council, District 4: Dick Robertson
City Council, District 5: John Copeland
City Council, At Large: Sierra Messenger
City Council, At Large: Brent Wheat
Politics
The most recent mayoral election occurred in November 2015 where Republican Matt Gentry 65.48% defeated Democrat Michele Thomas 33.46% by a 2 to 1 margin. Gentry was highly favored after defeating the incumbent Mayor Huck Lewis by a 2 to 1 margin. At age 26, Gentry became the youngest mayor in Lebanon history.
Tonya Thayer was re-elected as Clerk-Treasurer with no opposition. The only contested city council seats were the two at-large bids, where newcomer Dan Fleming (Republican) 43.42% and incumbent Jeremy Lamar (Republican) 34.86% were able to defeat Aaron Smith (Independent) 21.71%.
The mayoral election of 2011 occurred in May because no Democrats filed for the position. Incumbent Mayor Huck Lewis was able to retain his seat against Debbie Ottinger. Lewis won with 53.39% compared to Ottinger's 46.61%.
Former Mayor Jim Acton (Democratic Party) did not file to run for a fifth term, which left the 2007 election open to new candidates.
In the mayoral election of November 2007. The candidates were: Republican John Lasley, President of the Lebanon City-Council, Democrat Roger Neal, Lebanon Community School Corporation School Board member and former Lebanon Parks and Recreation Director, and independent candidate George Piper who used to be an editor at The Lebanon Reporter, which is Boone County's largest newspaper.
Republican City Council President John Lasley won the election with 48% of the vote, to Democrat Roger Neal's 27% and Independent George Piper's 25%.[18]
30% of registered voters cast votes in the 2007 election.[18]
Lasley died on May 2, 2009. He was battling a recurrence of cancer since December. City Council President Dick Robertson assumed the mayoral duties until the Republican Party precinct chairpersons met to choose Harold "Huck" Lewis as his successor.
Despite having recently elected Democratic mayors, Lebanon can be considered to be highly Republican when it comes to national and state politics. In the 2008 election, Boone County (the county in which Lebanon is located) voted 62% for Republican presidential candidate John McCain and more than 80% for Republican gubernatorial candidate Mitch Daniels.[19]
Education
Lebanon Community School Corporation has six schools under its jurisdiction: four elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. The body enrolled 3,381 students for the 2019–2020 school year, and is recognized as a “B” district by the Indiana Department of Education.[20]
List of schools - Lebanon Community School Corporation
US 52. A junction of U.S Route 52 and Interstate 65 is located in the northwest part of Lebanon, and the two routes are concurrent through most of the city.
Railroads and Trails CSX provides freight rail service in Lebanon. The Lebanon Business Park located in the southwest part of the city is designated a CSX Select Site; CSX constructed a rail spur directly into the business park.[23]
The Lafayette and Indianapolis Railroad line traversing Lebanon was owned and operated by a number of companies from its inception in 1852 until it was abandoned in 1985.[24][25] Portions of the former railroad line have been re-purposed as a shared use path currently known as Big 4 or Farm Heritage Trail. A trailhead is located at Sam Ralston Road east of Interstate 65 in Lebanon, and the trail extends 9.5 miles (15.3 km) from this point northwest to Thorntown.[26]
Notable people
Jacob M. Gile (1849–1937), architect in Colorado, born in Lebanon, Indiana[27]
