# Winchester, Indiana

Winchester is a city in White River Township, Randolph County, Indiana, United States. The city is the county seat of Randolph County. The population was 4,843 at the 2020 census. It is the home of Winchester Speedway.

## History

Winchester was laid out in 1818 as the county seat. A post office has been in operation at Winchester since 1820.
With the discovery of oil in the late 1800s, Winchester became a center for the glass industry.
The Gen. Asahel Stone Mansion, Winchester Courthouse Square Historic District, and Winchester Residential Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The town is also the home to the famous A&B Cafe.

### 2024 tornado outbreak

At 7:58pm on March 14, 2024, a quarter-mile wide EF3 tornado hit Winchester during a severe weather outbreak. Severe damage was dealt to the Goodwill, The Lodge at Summers Pointe, and Strip Mall. The Freedom Life Church and Taco Bell were flattened. Thirty-eight were injured and three were left critically injured; one of the three died 5 weeks later.
As of June 2024, 3 months after the tornado’s touchdown, the remainder of the Strip Mall has been demolished as a result of its ultimate destruction from the tornado; Summers Pointe and Taco Bell have both undergone repairs and eventually reopened.

## Geography

According to the 2010 census, Winchester has a total area of 3.343 square miles (8.66 km$^2$), of which 3.33 square miles (8.62 km$^2$) (or 99.61%) is land and 0.013 square miles (0.03 km$^2$) (or 0.39%) is water.

## Demographics
### 2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 4,935 people, 2,051 households, and 1,281 families living in the city. The population density was 1,482.0 inhabitants per square mile (572.2/km$^2$). There were 2,349 housing units at an average density of 705.4 per square mile (272.4/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 96.1% White, 0.5% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 1.3% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.6%.
Of the 2,051 households 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.5% were non-families. 32.2% of households were one person and 14.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.89.
The median age was 40.2 years. 23.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.8% were from 25 to 44; 25.4% were from 45 to 64; and 18.9% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.6% male and 52.4% female.

### 2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 5,037 people, 2,171 households, and 1,350 families living in the city. The population density was 1,623.8 inhabitants per square mile (627.0/km$^2$). There were 2,377 housing units at an average density of 766.3 per square mile (295.9/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 98.31% White, 0.24% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.32% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.41%.
Of the 2,171 households 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 33.7% of households were one person, and 16.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the city the population was spread out, with 22.2% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.
The median household income was $28,500 and the median family income was $37,607. Males had a median income of $28,947 versus $22,226 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,753. About 10.9% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.

## Education

The town has a lending library, the Winchester Community Public Library.
Schools, all part of the Randolph Central School Corporation public school district, include:
* O.R. Baker Elementary School
* Willard Elementary School
* Driver Middle School
* Winchester Community High School

## Notable people

* Thomas McLelland Browne, lawyer, prosecutor, Union Army officer, and politician
* Harold Falls (1909–2006), ophthalmologic geneticist, was born in Winchester
* James P. Goodrich, Governor of Indiana, 1917–1921, born in Winchester
* Randy Jo Hobbs, musician born in Winchester
* I. Marlene King, creator of the ABC Family original series Pretty Little Liars
* Greg Leffler, Indy car driver
* Troy Puckett, pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1911, born in Winchester
* James Eli Watson, U. S. Senator
* Robert Wise, film director, born in Winchester