Aurora

History

Aurora was platted in 1819. It was named for Aurora, the goddess of dawn in Roman mythology. Aurora was incorporated as a town in 1822 and became a city in 1848, though some sources say 1845. Aurora is known for its historic downtown area and the ornate Hillforest mansion built for Thomas Gaff who earned his fortune shipping goods on the Ohio River by steamboat. The mansion was designed by architect Isaiah Rogers and was completed in 1855 in the Italian Renaissance style. The design is symmetrical. Details include deep overhangs, arched windows and balconies and porches. Hillforest was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1992. Aurora was once a sundown town, a place unwelcoming to non-whites after dark. The Aurora Journal reported on September 9, 1937, a reader's concern about a sign posted along the river that read, "Don't Let the Sun Set on You in Aurora" with the inclusion of a common racial slur for a Black person. The article concluded, "The sign has been down for some time, but the idea still holds good."

Geography

According to the 2010 census, Aurora has a total area of , of which (or 89.41%) is land and (or 10.59%) is water.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Lawrenceburg High School
  High · Lawrenceburg · 740 students · 20:1 ratio
• South Dearborn High School
  High · Aurora · 672 students · 16.4:1 ratio
• Bright Elementary School
  Elementary · Lawrenceburg · 554 students · 16.8:1 ratio
• Aurora Elementary School
  Elementary · Aurora · 533 students · 14.4:1 ratio
• Lawrenceburg Primary School
  Elementary · Lawrenceburg · 481 students · 16:1 ratio
• Greendale Middle School
  Middle · Lawrenceburg · 473 students · 17.5:1 ratio
• Central Elementary School
  Elementary · Lawrenceburg · 426 students · 14.7:1 ratio
• South Dearborn Middle School
  Middle · Aurora · 328 students · 13.1:1 ratio