Needham, Indiana
Needham: Unincorporated community in Johnson County, Indiana
About
Needham is a city located in the county of Johnson in the U.S. state of Indiana. Its population at the 2010 census was 6,511. After 10 years in 2020 city had an estimated population of 7,221 inhabitants.
Needham is a small town located in Johnson County, Indiana. It was platted and settled in 1852 by Joseph Needham, for whom it is named.
Needham began as a small farming community. In the late 1860s, the local railroad expanded and created a depot in Needham, spurring commerce like grain processing and limestone quarrying.
Needham was incorporated as a town in 1875. Into the early 1900s, it was a close-knit rural Indiana community with just a few hundred residents.
In the 1950s, Needham declined as railroad usage waned. Commercial activity shifted away and population dwindled. Only a few dozen residents remain today.
Needham Today
Now essentially a ghost town, Needham contains an abandoned 19th century commercial block with a general store, blacksmith shop, and mills.
The Needham Cemetery and Needham Friends Meeting House still stand as reminders of the tight-knit Quaker origins of the town.
Though small, Needham represents a snapshot of early rural Indiana life before industrialization and urbanization changed the landscape. Its few structures hark back to frontier times.
Conclusion
Needham emerged through local railroad expansion but faded when transportation patterns changed. At its peak, it exemplified close-knit Indiana farm towns of the 1800s. Needham now serves as a unique time capsule into early Midwestern history and culture.
Quick Facts about Needham
| Population : | 7,221 (2020) |
| Country : | United States of America |
| State : | Indiana (United States) |
| County : | Johnson County |
| Altitude : | 2,421 feet / 738 meters |
| Time Zone : | America/Indiana/Indianapolis |
| Local time : | 23:12:12 (25th December 2024) |
| Postal code : | 46162 |
| Population growth : | 9.83% (2010-2020) |
Geography
Needham is located at 39°31'48"N 85°58'16"W (39.5300500, -85.9710900).
Needham map
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Demographics
The population of Needham increased by 9.83% in 10 years.
| Year | Population | % Change | Method |
| 2010 | 6,511 | - | census |
| 2011 | 6,568 | 0.87% | estimation process |
| 2012 | 6,629 | 0.92% | estimation process |
| 2013 | 6,695 | 0.99% | estimation process |
| 2014 | 6,743 | 0.71% | estimation process |
| 2015 | 6,814 | 1.04% | estimation process |
| 2016 | 6,916 | 1.47% | estimation process |
| 2017 | 6,993 | 1.1% | estimation process |
| 2018 | 7,061 | 0.96% | estimation process |
| 2019 | 7,151 | 1.26% | estimation process |
| 2020 | 7,221 | 0.97% | estimation process |
Schools in Needham
College & universities near Needham, IN
| Code | Name | City | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150604 | Franklin College | Franklin (IN) | 46131-2623 |
| 461917 | Paul Mitchell the School-Indianapolis | Indianapolis (IN) | 46227-6252 |
| 151652 | Empire Beauty School-Indianapolis | Indianapolis (IN) | 46237-3249 |
| 151263 | University of Indianapolis | Indianapolis (IN) | 46227-3697 |
| 449889 | American College of Education | Indianapolis (IN) | 46204 |
Stations (4)
Amtrak & bus stations near Needham, IN
| Code | Name | Address | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| IND | Indianapolis Union Station | 350 South Illinois Street | RAIL |
| COI | Connersville station | 1012 Eastern Avenue | RAIL |
| CRF | Crawfordsville | Spring and Green Streets | RAIL |
| CRB | Crawfordsville (Bus), Indiana | 1000 Smith Ave | BUS |
Post offices near Needham
| Post Office Name | City | ZIP |
|---|---|---|
| Boggstown Post Office | Boggstown (IN) | 46110 |
Other places with the same name (3)
- Needham , Massachusetts town in Massachusetts with a population of 31,537 people.
- Needham , Alabama human settlement in Choctaw County, Alabama, United States of America with a population of 79 people.
Other cities in Johnson County
Cities, towns, neighborhoods & other populated places in Johnson County , IN.
| City Name | Population | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Greenwood | 60,279 | The most populous city in Johnson County, Indiana. |
| Franklin | 24,598 | City in Johnson County, Indiana, United States |
| Bargersville | 8,620 | City in Johnson County, Indiana, United States of America |
| New Whiteland | 6,350 | City in Johnson County, Indiana, United States of America |
| Whiteland | 4,697 | City in Johnson County, Indiana, United States of America |
| Edinburgh | 4,615 | Town in Indiana, United States |
| Nineveh | 4,526 | Township in Johnson County, Indiana |
| Trafalgar | 1,430 | Human settlement in Johnson County, Indiana, United States of America |
| Princes Lakes | 1,330 | City in Johnson County, Indiana, United States of America |
| Hendricks | 1,282 | County in Indiana, United States |
| Spring Hill | 106 | Included town in Indianapolis |
Distance to Other Cities
Needham distances to largest Indiana cities
