The town of Boswell was first laid out by Charles Moore, but Moore sold the land it occupied to Tippecanoe County-native Elizabeth H. Scott who, with her husband Charles, replatted it in its present form on July 18, 1872. A small general store run from a "rough board shanty" just north of the railroad was the town's first business, but this was joined by many more as the town grew. The town was named for Parnaham Boswell and was platted with streets bearing the names of the founders, Charles and Elizabeth, and their five children, Grace, Emma, Clinton, Harold and Jennie.
The town's business is presided over by a three-person town board and a town clerk. These positions are elected every four years. The town of Boswell employees a full-time town marshal as well as a part-time deputy marshal. The Marshal is charged with providing law enforcement service in the town limits and surrounding area. The town marshal is a sworn police officer under Indiana statute.
Demographics
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 778 people, 310 households, and 205 families living in the town. The population density was. There were 362 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the town was 87.9% White, 0.6% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 10.2% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.0% of the population. There were 310 households, of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couplesliving together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.9% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.08. The median age in the town was 38.1 years. 27.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.3% were from 25 to 44; 22% were from 45 to 64; and 16.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.9% male and 52.1% female.
As of the 2000 census, there were 827 people, 329 households, and 224 families living in the town. The population density was 1,743.3 people per square mile. There were 361 housing units at an average density of 761.0 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 92.14% White, 0.24% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 4.84% from other races, and 2.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.79% of the population. There were 329 households, out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.9% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.08. In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.7% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 16.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males. The median income for a household in the town was $33,224, and the median income for a family was $36,136. Males had a median income of $28,839 versus $19,792 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,401. About 5.5% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.
