Early Settlement and incorporation

The first non-Native American settlers arrived in what is now Bluffton in 1835. They arrived as a result of the end of the Black Hawk War as well as the completion of the Erie Canal. They consisted entirely of settlers from New England. These were "Yankee" settlers, that is to say they were descended from the English Puritans who settled New England in the colonial era. They were primarily members of the Congregational Church though due to the Second Great Awakening many of them had converted to Methodism and some had become Baptists before coming to what is now Bluffton. The Congregational Church subsequently has gone through many divisions and some factions are now known as the Church of Christ and Church of God. When the New England settlers arrived in what is now Bluffton there was nothing but a dense virgin forest and wild prairie.^[5]

Bluffton was platted in 1838, it was named for river bluffs near the original town site.^[6] The Bluffton post office has been in operation since 1839.^[7] In its early years it was a primitive, backwoods village, subject to frequent floods of the Wabash and outbreaks of malaria.^[8] Shortly after Wells Country was organized in 1837 4 commissioners were appointed to choose the county seat. The contestants for the county seat of government were Bluffton, Vera Cruz and Murray, but it was later narrowed to just two, Bluffton and Murray. the four commissioners struggled to determine the location of the county seat at first, but on March 5, 1838, Bluffton was named the county seat after final vote by the commissioners. Mr. Abraham Studabaker and Robert C. Bennet, both landowners in Bluffton set aside land for a county courthouse and donated 270$. On March 9, 1838, the commissioners chose the site for the county courthouse which used the land donated by Abrahm Studabaker and Robert C. Bennet "with a reserve of two choice lots".^[9][10][11]

The first county courthouse was erected in 1840 by David Whitman. it was a 2-story building located on the west side of Main Street, between Market and Wabash streets.

Bluffton was incorporated in 1851 with 850 people.

"We met at the house of Robert C. Bennett, in said county of Wells, on the first Monday of March, 1838, and have selected the west half of the northeast quarter of Section 4, Township 26, Range 12, for the site for the seat of justice of Wells County, which land was donated by Abram Studabaker with a reserve of two choice lots. He also donated 31.90 acres off the east end of the south half of the southwest quarter of Section 33, Town 27, Range 12 east. Robert C. Bennett donates the southeast fraction of the northeast corner. Studabaker and Bennett also donated $270 in cash."

— The report by the commissioners:, "Signed, March 9, 1838, Christopher Hanna, John Rogers, William Kizer, Zachariah Smith, Locating Commissioners."

Industrial growth

In 1848 the idea of a 10-mile planked road from Bluffton to Fort Wayne gained popularity throughout the city. In 1849 a ten-mile stretch of the plank road was constructed by city locals. From 1852 to 1856 the road was planked before being disused.

As early as the 1840s - 1850s there were plans made for railroads. However, none of them had been successful. In 1852 the first railroad known as the Fort Wayne, Cincinnati Louisville Railroad was surveyed but it was delayed due to the Civil War. From 1867 - 1868 the railroad began construction through Bluffton and by 1869 it was completed. The advent of the railroad brought great prosperity to Bluffton and would help ditch the numerous swamps that brought risks such as malaria and flooding.

In the 1890s the construction of the iconic 5 story Richardsonian Romanesque style sandstone courthouse was completed, ushering a new era for Bluffton and Wells County.

The Parlor City

The City of Bluffton is nicknamed the "Parlor City" for its history of having some of the first clean paved streets in the area during the time of the Trenton Oil boom. Most streets at the time were dirt. The nickname came from the fact that the parlor in someone's home at the time would be the cleanest room in the house because that is the first space that your guests see when they come into your home. Entering downtown today, the brand-new Parlor City Plaza acts as the first thing you see, along with the historic courthouse, justifying the "Parlor City" nickname.^[12]

The Bluffton Free Street Fair

Bluffton is home to the Bluffton Free Street Fair, the largest and oldest free street fair in Indiana. Starting in 1898, The Bluffton Free Street Fair was originally called the “Bluffton Street Fair and Wells County Agricultural Exposition.”

Bluffton was included in the corporate name of the short-lived Cincinnati, Bluffton and Chicago Railroad, founded in 1903. The railroad's Bluffton bridge collapsed on May 22, 1913, and the struggling carrier went out of business shortly thereafter.^[13]

African American history

Bluffton is one of the first towns in Indiana, and across America, to both publicly acknowledge its history of exclusion as a sundown town and to promote itself as an inclusive town. In 2006, Bluffton was featured in USA Today^[14] as an inclusive town that was putting up welcoming, inclusive signs at all local schools as well as at the entrances of three state highways. Mayor Ted Ellis was noted in the article for his helping Bluffton become one of the first to join the National League of Cities' Partnership for Working Toward Inclusive Communities.^[15]

Historic Places

The Stewart-Studebaker House, Villa North Historic District, and Wells County Courthouse are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.^[16] The John A. Grove House is formerly listed.^[17]

Climate

2010 census

As of the 2010 census,^[22] there were 9,897 people, 4,112 households, and 2,585 families living in the city. The population density was 1,202.6 inhabitants per square mile (464.3/km²). There were 4,532 housing units at an average density of 550.7 per square mile (212.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.0% White, 0.7% African American, 0.4% 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 3.3% of the population.

There were 4,112 households, of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.9% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.1% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.93.

The median age in the city was 38.3 years. 24.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.3% were from 25 to 44; 25.3% were from 45 to 64; and 16.9% 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 2000 census,^[23] there were 9,536 people, 3,922 households, and 2,517 families living in the city. The population density was 1,442.7 inhabitants per square mile (557.0/km²). There were 4,197 housing units at an average density of 635.0 per square mile (245.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.65% White, 0.34% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.79% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.35% of the population.

There were 3,922 households, out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,416, and the median income for a family was $45,294. Males had a median income of $33,088 versus $22,018 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,118. About 6.4% of families and 9.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.