the town, the population was spread out, with 27.1% under the age of 18, 4.0% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males. The median income for a household in the town was $33,125, and the median income for a family was $40,139. Males had a median income of $29,911 versus $23,214 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,283. About 4.5% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over. History Matthews was founded in 1895 and named in honor of then-governor Claude Matthews. Founders located the town near the center of the Trenton Gas Field, and it was hoped that this geographically central location could become the future capital of Indiana, moving it from Indianapolis, which had been laid out for that specific reason less than one hundred years earlier in 1825. The plan was abandoned in 1903 when the gas field was depleted, leaving the town with a main street unusually wide for its size. Matthews was placed near an older village called New Cumberland, founded in 1833. Now the "old town" of Matthews, the village has a wooden covered bridge, the Cumberland Covered Bridge, built in 1877 which crosses the Mississinewa River. This bridge is the centerpiece of the town's annual festival and draws thousands of people every year. Historic sites The Cumberland Covered Bridge was built in 1877, and is 181 feet (55 m) long. It was originally named the New Cumberland Bridge and was built by a man named William Parks. It was flooded 0.5 miles (80 km) down the Mississinewa River in the 1913 flood. It was brought back on logs rolled by horses. The foundation was raised 33 feet (10 m) and has been stable since. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Education The town has a lending library, the Matthews Public Library. References Towns in Indiana Towns in Grant County, Indiana