Wildcat Township, Tipton County, Indiana
| Wildcat Township | |
|---|---|
| Township | |
 Location in Tipton County |
|
| Coordinates: 40°22′17″N 85°55′34″W / 40.37139°N 85.92611°WCoordinates: 40°22′17″N 85°55′34″W / 40.37139°N 85.92611°W | |
| Country |
 United States
|
| State |
 Indiana
|
| County | Tipton |
| Government | |
| • Type | Indiana township |
| Area | |
| • Total | 34.82 sq mi (90.2 km2) |
| • Land | 34.8 sq mi (90 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) 0.06% |
| Elevation | 863 ft (263 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 1,421 |
| • Density | 40.8/sq mi (15.8/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 46036, 46072, 46076 |
| Area code(s) | 765 |
| GNIS feature ID | 454059 |
Wildcat Township is one of six townships in Tipton County, Indiana, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 1,421 and it contained 644 housing units.
It was originally part of the Miami Indian reservation until 1847, when the land was available for purchase by white settlers. However, the area had begun to be settled by white squatters as early as 1845. Early farmers traveled to Lafayette to sell farm animals like hogs. Wheat was sold in Peru and settlers traveled as far as Perkinsville to have access to a mill. The earliest religious congregation founded in the township was a Baptist one, in the mid 1800s.
According to the 2010 census, the township has a total area of 34.82 square miles (90.2 km2), of which 34.8 square miles (90 km2) (or 99.94%) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.052 km2) (or 0.06%) is water.
Historically, Wildcat Township is very flat. Prior to extensive white settlement, the area had forests with spicebush, dogwood, willow, elm, poplar, beech, sugar tree, ash, and linn. By the early 1900s, the majority of timber had been cut down. The soil is made of "deep, black vegetable mold," that sits on top of "impervious clay sub-soil" and is good for agriculture.
The first school in the township was built near Mud Creek in 1848. David Decker was the first teacher. After three years the school was abandoned. A second school was built in Windfall. A former settlement, called Pierce, was the site of the first frame school. Public schools became available in the community after 1855.
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