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Muncie, Indiana

Muncie is an incorporated city and the seat of Delaware County, Indiana, United States. Previously known as Buckongahelas Town, named after the prominent Delaware Chief, it is located in East Central Indiana, about 50 mi northeast of Indianapolis. At the 2020 United States Census, the city's population was 65,195, down from 70,085 in the 2010 Census. It is the principal city of the Muncie Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Delaware County. The city is also included in the Indianapolis–Carmel–Muncie, IN Combined Statistical Area.

The Lenape (Delaware) people, led by Buckongahelas arrived in the area in the 1790s, founding several villages, including one known as Munsee Town, along the White River. The trading post, renamed Muncietown, was selected as the Delaware County seat and platted in 1827. Its name was officially shortened to Muncie in 1845 and incorporated as a city in 1865. Muncie developed as a manufacturing and industrial center, especially after the Indiana gas boom of the 1880s. It is home to Ball State University. As a result of the Middletown studies, sociological research that was first conducted in the 1920s, Muncie is said to be one of the most studied United States cities of its size.

Early settlement
The area was first settled in the 1790s by the Lenape (Delaware) people, who were forced west from their tribal lands in the Mid-Atlantic region (all of New Jersey, southeastern New York, eastern Pennsylvania, and northern Delaware) to new lands in present-day Ohio and eastern Indiana. The Lenape founded several towns along the White River, including Munsee Town, near the site of present-day Muncie.

Contrary to popular legend, the city's early name of Munsee Town is derived from the "Munsee" clan of Lenape people, the white settlers' name for a group of Native Americans whose village was once situated along the White River. There is no evidence that a mythological Chief Munsee ever existed. ("Munsee" means a member of or one of their languages.)

In 1818, the area's native tribes ceded their lands to the federal government under the terms of the Treaty of St. Mary's and agreed to move farther west by 1821. New settlers began to arrive in what became Delaware County, Indiana, about 1820, shortly before the area's public lands were formally opened for purchase. The small trading village of Munsee Town, renamed Muncietown, was selected as the Delaware County seat and platted in 1827. On January 13, 1845, Indiana's governor signed legislation passed by the Indiana General Assembly to shorten the town's name to Muncie. Soon, a network of roads connected Muncie to nearby towns, adjacent counties, and to other parts of Indiana. The Indianapolis and Bellefontaine Railroad, the first to arrive in Muncie in 1852, provided the town and the surrounding area with access to larger markets for its agricultural production, as well as a faster means of transporting people and goods into and out of the area.

Muncie incorporated as a town on December 6, 1854, and became an incorporated city in 1865. John Brady was elected as the city's first mayor. Muncie's early utility companies also date to the mid-1860s, including the city's waterworks, which was established in 1865.

After the American Civil War, two factors helped Muncie attract new commercial and industrial development: the arrival of additional railroads from the late 1890s to the early 1900s and the discovery of abundant supplies of natural gas in the area. Prior to the discovery of nearby natural-gas wells and the beginning of the gas boom in Muncie in 1886, the region was primarily an agricultural area, with Muncie serving as the commercial trading center for local farmers.

Industrial and civic development
The Indiana gas boom of the 1880s ushered in a new era of prosperity to Muncie. Abundant supplies of natural gas attracted new businesses, industries, and additional residents to the city. Although agriculture continued to be an economic factor in the region, industry dominated the city's development for the next 100 years. One of the major manufacturers that arrived early in the city's gas-boom period was the Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Company, which was renamed the Ball Corporation in 1969. The Ball brothers, who were searching for a new site for their glass manufacturing business that was closer to an abundant natural-gas supply, built a new glass-making foundry in Muncie, beginning its glass production on March 1, 1888. In 1889 the company relocated its metal manufacturing operations to Muncie.

In addition to several other glass factories, Muncie attracted iron and steel mills. Kitselman Steel & Wire Company was the largest employer in Indiana in 1900 with 11,000 employees; it later became Indiana Steel & Wire. Others included Republic Iron and Steel Company and the Midland Steel Company. (Midland became Inland Steel Company and later moved to Gary, Indiana.) Indiana Bridge Company was also a major employer. By the time the natural gas supply from the Trenton Gas Field had significantly declined and the gas boom ended in Indiana around 1910, Muncie was well established as an industrial town and a commercial center for east-central Indiana, especially with several railroad lines connecting it to larger cities and the arrival of automobile industry manufacturing after 1900. Numerous civic developments also occurred as a result of the city's growth during the 1870s, 1880s, and 1890s, when Muncie citizens built a new city hall, a new public library, and a new high school. The city's gasworks also began operations in the late 1870s. The Muncie Star was founded in 1899 and the Muncie Evening Press was founded in 1905. A new public library, which was a Carnegie library project, was dedicated on January 1, 1904, and served as the main branch of the city's public library system.

The forerunner to Ball State University also arrived in the early twentieth century. Eastern Indiana Normal School opened 1899, but it closed after two years. Several subsequent efforts to establish a private college in Muncie during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries also failed, but one proved to be very successful. After the Ball brothers bought the school property and its vacant buildings and donated them to the State of Indiana, the Indiana State Normal School, Eastern Division, the forerunner to Ball State University, opened in 1918. It was named Ball Teachers College in 1922, Ball State Teachers College in 1929, and Ball State University in 1965.

Beginning in the late nineteenth century, in tandem with the gas boom, Muncie developed an active cultural arts community, which included music and art clubs, women's clubs, self-improvements clubs, and other social clubs. Hoosier artist J. Ottis Adams, who came to Muncie in 1876, later formed an art school in the city with fellow artist, William Forsyth. Although their school closed with a year or two, other art groups were established, most notably the Art Students' League (1892) and the Muncie Art Association (1905).

By the early twentieth century several railroads served Muncie, which helped to establish the city as a transportation hub. The Cincinnati, Richmond and Muncie Railroad (later known as the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway) reached Muncie in 1903. The Chicago, Indiana, and Eastern Railroad (acquired by a subsidiary of the Pennsylvania Railroad system) and the Chicago and Southeastern (sometimes called the Central Indiana Railroad) also served the city. In addition to the railroads, Muncie's roads connected to nearby towns and an electric interurban system, which arrived in the early 1900s, linked it to smaller towns and larger cities, including Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Dayton, Ohio.

With the arrival of the auto manufacturing and the related auto parts industry after the turn of the twentieth century, Muncie's industrial and commercial development increased, along with its population growth. During World War I local manufacturers joined others around the county in converting their factories to production of war material. In the 1920s Muncie continued its rise as an automobile-manufacturing center, primarily due to its heavy industry and skilled labor force. During this time, the community also became a center of Ku Klux Klan activity. Muncie's Klan membership was estimated at 3,500 in the early 1920s. Scandals within the Klan's leadership, divisions among its members, and some violent confrontations with their opponents damaged the organization's reputation. Increasing hostility toward the Klan's political activities, beliefs, and values also divided the Muncie community, before its popularity and membership significantly declined by the end of the decade.

Muncie residents also made it through the challenges of the Great Depression, with the Ball brothers continuing their role as major benefactors to the community by donating funds for construction of new facilities at Ball State and Ball Memorial Hospital. (The hospital, which opened in 1929, later affiliated with Indiana University Health. ) The Works Progress Administration (WPA) also provided jobs such as road grading, city sewer improvements, and bridge construction.

Middletown studies
In the 1920s, Robert and Helen Lynd led a team of sociologists in a study of a typical middle-American community. The Lynds chose Muncie as the locale for their field research, although they never specifically identified it as "Middletown" the fictional name of the town in their study. Muncie received national attention after the publication of their book, Middletown: A Study in Contemporary American Culture (1929). The Lynds returned to Muncie to re-observe the community during the Depression, which resulted in a sequel, Middletown in Transition: A Study in Cultural Conflicts (1937). The Lynds' Middletown study, which was funded by the Rockefeler Institute of Social and Religious Research, was intended to study "the interwoven trends that are the life of a small American city."

The Lynds were only the first to conduct a series of studies in Muncie. The National Science Foundation funded a third major study that resulted in two books by Theodore Caplow, Middletown Families (1982) and All Faithful People (1983). Caplow returned to Muncie in 1998 to begin another study, Middletown IV, which became part of a Public Broadcasting Service documentary titled "The First Measured Century", released in December 2000. The Ball State Center for Middletown Studies continues to survey and analyze social change in Muncie. A database of Middletown surveys conducted between 1978 and 1997 is available online from the Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA). Due to the extensive information collected from the Middletown studies during the twentieth century, Muncie is said to be one of the most studied cities of its size in the United States.

In addition to being called a "typical American city", as the result of the Middletown studies, Muncie is known as Magic City or Magic Muncie, as well as the Friendly City.

World War II to the present
During World War II, the city's manufacturers once again turned their efforts to wartime production. Ball State and Muncie's airport also trained pilots for the U.S. Navy. The postwar era was another period of expansion for Muncie, with continued growth and development of industries, construction of new homes, schools, and businesses. A population boom brought further development, especially from 1946 to 1965.

Since the 1950s and 1960s, Muncie has continued as an education center in the state and emerged as a regional health center. As enrollment at Ball State increased, new buildings were erected on the college's campus. Ball Memorial Hospital also expanded its facilities. However, by the 1960s, industrial trends had shifted. Beginning in the 1970s several manufacturing plants closed or moved elsewhere, while others adapted to industrial changes and remained in Muncie. Ball Corporation, for example, closed its Muncie glass manufacturing facilities in 1962 and its corporate headquarters relocated to Broomfield, Colorado in 1998. Muncie was also home to other manufacturing operations, including Warner Gear (a division of BorgWarner), Delco Remy, General Motors, Ontario Corporation, A. E. Boyce Company, and Westinghouse Electric, among others.

In 2017, the Muncie Community Schools system was declared a "distressed political subdivision", and put in direct control of the state government. In 2018, the school district was reformed and a new board was appointed by Ball State's Board of Trustees.

In 2021, following the Fall of Kabul and the U.S. withdrawal from the War in Afghanistan, several Afghan refugees arrived in Camp Atterbury, near Edinburgh, Indiana. Munsonian members of the nationwide organization, Afghan Women's and Kids' Education and Necessities (AWAKEN) formed the Muncie Afghan Refugee Resettlement Committee (MARRC) to help Afghan refugees resettle in Muncie. Afghan refugees began arriving in Muncie soon after. As the AWAKEN organization wanted to continue work directly in Afghanistan, the temporary MARRC organization was closed. However, the presence of 130 Afghan refugees in Muncie in late 2022 compelled continued work in medical advocacy, employment, legal aid, and financial and reading education. A new organization, Refugee Alliance of Delaware County (RADC), was formed to welcome any refugees in Muncie and help them in establishing and building a new life.

African-American history

The black population in Muncie grew from 3.7% in 1890, to 5.6% in 1920, and to 13.2% in 2013. In 1920, the city had the fifth-largest black population in Indiana with 2,054 black residents. Two major parades were held by the Ku Klux Klan in 1922 and 1924, with the mayor and police chief attending the 1924 parade. The first black police officer in Muncie was hired in 1899, and the city's first black police chief took his position in 1995. The first black teacher in the city was hired in 1952, and the first black principal was appointed in 1956.

According to Hurley Goodall, the first serious black political candidate in Muncie was Wayne Brooks, who ran for the Republican nomination for mayor in 1934. Ray Armstrong was elected as the first black member of the city council in 1951 and Alice McIntosh was elected as the first black female member of the city council in 1983. Goodall was the first black person elected to the city's school board and later to represent the area in the state house. No other black person served Muncie's school board after Goodall's election to the state house until Carl Kizer Jr.'s appointment to the board in 1993. The school board became majority black for the first time after the 2008 election.

Geography
According to the 2010 census, Muncie has a total area of 27.392 sqmi, of which 27.2 sqmi (or 99.3%) is land and 0.192 sqmi (or 0.7%) is water.

Climate
Muncie has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfa) experiencing four distinct seasons.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 67,430 people, 27,322 households, and 14,589 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,788.2 PD/sqmi. There were 30,205 housing units at an average density of 1,248.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 83.72% White, 12.97% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.79% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 1.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.44% of the population.

There were 27,322 households, out of which 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.4% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.6% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 19.8% under the age of 18, 24.6% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,613, and the median income for a family was $36,398. Males had a median income of $30,445 versus $21,872 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,814. About 14.3% of families and 23.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.2% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 70,085 people, 27,722 households, and 13,928 families residing in the city. The population density was 2576.7 PD/sqmi. There were 31,958 housing units at an average density of 1174.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 84.0% White, 10.9% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.8% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.3% of the population.

There were 27,722 households, of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.5% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 49.8% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.85.

The median age in the city was 28.1 years. 17.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 27.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.4% were from 25 to 44; 20.2% were from 45 to 64; and 13% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.

2020 census
As of the census of 2020, there were 65,194 people, 26,692 households and 6,179 families residing in the city. The population density was 2577.0 PD/sqmi. There were 31,183 housing units at an average density of 1129.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 78.0% White, 11.6% African American, 0.3% Native American or Alaskan Native, 1.5% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 2.1% from other races and 6.5% were from two or more races. Hispanic and Latino of any race were 4.2% of the population.

There were 26,692 households, of which 16.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.6% were married couples living together, 35.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 26.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 8.5% were non-families. 61.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.09.

Just over half (50.1%) of the population had never been married, 29.6% were married and not separated, 5.7% were widowed, 13.1% were divorced, and 1.6% were separated.

The median age of the city was 28.8. 4.4% of residents were under the age of 5, 16.2% were under 18 years, 83.8% were age 18 or older, and 14.0% were age 65 or older. 5.8% of the population were veterans.

The most common language spoken at home was English with 95.5% speaking it at home, 1.7% spoke Spanish at home, 1.4% spoke an Asian or Pacific Islander language at home, 1.3% spoke another Indo-European language at home, and 0.1% spoke some other language. 2.6% of the population were foreign born.

The median household income in Muncie was $34,602, 38.4% less than the median average for the state of Indiana. 30.2% of the population were in poverty, including 32.6% of residents under the age of 18. The poverty rate for the town was 17.3% higher than that of the state. 18.6% of the population was disabled and 8.7% had no healthcare coverage. 34.3% of the population had attained a high school or equivalent degree, 19.7% had attended college but received no degree, 8.9% had attained an Associate's degree or higher, 14.0% had attained a Bachelor's degree or higher, and 11.6% had a graduate or professional degree. 20.4% had no degree. 53.2% of Muncie residents were employed, working a mean of 34.0 hours per week. The median gross rent in Muncie was $714 and the homeownership rate was 50.0%. 4,491 housing units were vacant at an average density of 162.7 /sqmi.

Economy

From its early days as a regional trading center for the surrounding agricultural community to its first wave of industrial development brought on by the Indiana gas boom in the mid-1880s, Muncie has retained its ties to an industrial economy, and to a lesser extent its agricultural roots. In addition, the arrival of the forerunner to Ball State in the early twentieth century contributed to Muncie's development as an educational center, while Ball Memorial Hospital, established in 1929, led to the city's reputation as a healthcare center for east-central Indiana.

Muncie's major industrial development included glass manufacturing, iron and steel mills, and automobile manufacturing and auto parts factories. Among its early major employers was the Ball Corporation, established by the Ball brothers of Buffalo, New York, who opened a glass factory in Muncie in 1888. Other notable manufacturers in addition to the Ball Corporation with operations in Muncie have included BorgWarner, The Broderick Company (aformer division of Harsco), Dayton-Walther Corporation, Delco Remy, General Motors, New Venture Gear, Hemingray Glass Company, Ontario Corporation, A. E. Boyce Company, Indiana Steel and Wire, and Westinghouse Electric.

Changing industrial trends caused shifts in the city's economic development. As in many mid-sized cities in the Rust Belt, deindustrialization, which began in the 1960s, impacted Muncie's economy. Several manufacturing plants closed or moved elsewhere. From 2001 to 2011, Muncie lost thousands of jobs as the city continued transitioning from a blue-collar workforce to a white-collar service economy primarily based on health care, education, and retail.

Muncie has attracted some new manufacturers, while older factories have been converted to other industrial uses. In 2009, Muncie became the U.S. headquarters for Brevini Wind, an Italian-based company that manufactures gearboxes for wind turbines. In 2011, locomotive maker Progress Rail (a subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc) opened in a former Westinghouse facility that had been vacant since 1998.

The local economy is a controversial topic among Munsonians. While many older unemployed or underemployed residents strongly identify with the manufacturing identity of the city, newer residents identify with the city's shift towards educational and health services. Contention is greatest among residents living in the once-industrialized sections of the city's south side, as much of the economic growth over that last few decades has taken place on Muncie's north side. The city also struggles to retain college graduates. Despite Ball State's presence, only 32.2 percent of Delaware County's working-age adults (ages 25–64) hold a two-year or four-year college degree, which is below the national average.

The first decade of the 21st century saw a cultural shift toward local businesses and economic empowerment, boosted by the Muncie Downtown Development Partnership and the residents, patrons, and business owners of the downtown community. In 2007, Muncie was rated the most affordable college town in America by real estate company Coldwell Banker. In 2015, Forbes ranked Muncie 27th among small places for business and careers and 18th for cost of doing business. First Merchants Corporation is based in Muncie, and the first Scotty's Brewhouse location opened in the city in 1996.

, the largest employers in the city were:

Arts and culture
The David Owsley Museum of Art collection, which includes over 11,000 works, has been in the Fine Arts Building on the Ball State University campus since 1935. The Horizon Convention Center, located downtown, offers 47000 sqft of exhibition space and houses the Muncie Children's Museum. The city also has a large group of independent art galleries.

Three of the city's largest performing arts centers belong to Ball State University: the 3,581-seat Emens Auditorium, the 600-seat Sursa Performance Hall, and the 410-seat University Theatre. Downtown performing arts spaces include the Muncie Civic Theatre and Canan Commons, an outdoor amphitheater and greenspace that opened in 2011. In addition, the Muncie Ballet and the Muncie Symphony Orchestra are prominent in the city's arts community.

Minnetrista Museum & Gardens, just north of downtown along the White River, is a cultural heritage museum featuring exhibits and programs focusing on nature, local history, and art. The 40 acre campus includes historic homes that were once owned by the Ball family, themed gardens, outdoor sculptures, and a portion of the White River Greenway. The Cardinal Greenway, Indiana's longest rail trail project, stretches 60 mi from Richmond to Marion, Indiana. Designated a National Recreation Trail in 2003, it is part of the American Discovery Trail. The Ball State campus is home to Christy Woods, an 18 acre arboretum, three greenhouses, and the Wheeler Orchid Collection and Species Bank.

Passing of the Buffalo and Appeal to the Great Spirit are public sculptures in Muncie by Cyrus Edwin Dallin.

Muncie's music scene has been home to such acts as Brazil, Everything, Now!, and Archer Avenue (ex-Margot & the Nuclear So and So's). Muncie MusicFest. Muncie also has a network of craft beer enthusiasts.

Libraries

 * Carnegie Library
 * Kennedy Library
 * Maring–Hunt Library
 * Connection Corner
 * Shafer Library (Ivy Tech)
 * Bracken Library (Ball State)

Sports
Muncie is home to the NCAA Division I Ball State Cardinals which is a member of the Mid-American Conference. Notable sports include football (played at Scheumann Stadium), men's basketball (played at John E. Worthen Arena), and baseball (played at Ball Diamond).

Muncie was once home to the Muncie Flyers, also known as the Congerville Flyers, the city's professional football team from 1905 to 1925. The Muncie team was one of the eleven charter members of National Football League (NFL). It played in the league in 1920 and 1921.

Muncie was also home to the Muncie Flyers, a minor league hockey team. The team played in the International Hockey League for a single season in 1948–1949.

Muncie Central High School is home to the Muncie Fieldhouse, the fifth-largest high school gym in the United States.

Government
The county government is a constitutional body and is granted specific powers by the Constitution of Indiana, and by the Indiana Code.

As a second class city in Indiana (pop. 35,000 to 599,999), Muncie is governed by a Mayor and a nine-member city council as well as a city clerk and city judge. City elections for Mayor, city council, city judge, and city clerk are held in odd years immediately preceding presidential elections (2015, 2019, etc.). The current mayor is Dan Ridenour, a Republican first elected in 2019. The current city clerk is Belinda Munson and the current city judge is Amanda Dunnuck. The nine-members of the city council are divided into six members elected from districts and three members elected at-large. The current members of the city council are:

 * District 1: Jeff Green (R)
 * District 2: Nora Evans Powell (D)
 * District 3: Brandon Garrett (D)
 * District 4: Sara Gullion (D)
 * District 5: Jerry D. Dishman (D)
 * District 6: Harold D. Mason Jr. (D)
 * At-Large: Dale Basham (R)
 * At-Large: Ro Selvey (R)
 * At-Large: William (Billy Mac) McIntosh (D)

School district

 * Muncie Community Schools Corporation - 5,141 (2022)

Higher education

 * Ball State University - 24,441 students (2022)
 * Ivy Tech Community College - 12,400 students (2021)
 * Scuba Educators International

Elementary schools

 * Burris Laboratory School - 228 elementary students (2022)
 * Cowan Elementary School - 435 elementary students (2022)
 * East Washington Academy - 469 elementary students (2022)
 * Grissom Memorial Elementary School - 469 elementary students (2022)
 * Heritage Hall Christian School - 112 elementary students (2022)
 * Inspire Academy - 113 elementary students (2022)
 * Longfellow Elementary School - 328 elementary students (2022)
 * North View Elementary School - 315 elementary students (2022)
 * Royerton Elementary School - 575 elementary students (2022)
 * South View Elementary School - 448 elementary students (2022)
 * St. Lawrence Catholic School - 48 elementary students (2022)
 * West View Elementary School - 422 elementary students (2022)

Middle schools

 * Burris Laboratory School - 187 middle school students (2022)
 * Heritage Hall Christian School - 41 middle school students (2022)
 * Delta Middle School - 656 middle school students (2022)
 * Northside Middle School - 577 middle school students (2022)
 * Pope John Paul II Middle School
 * Southside Middle School - 498 middle school students (2022)

High schools

 * Burris Laboratory School - 217 high school students (2022)
 * Heritage Hall Christian School - 30 high school students (2022)
 * Cowan High School - 379 high school students (2022)
 * Delta High School - 783 high school students (2022)
 * Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities - 206 high school students (2022)
 * Muncie Area Career Center
 * Muncie Central High School - 1,437 high school students (2022)

Newspapers

 * The Star Press

Television
As part of the Indianapolis market, Muncie receives Indianapolis' network affiliates. East Central Indiana's PBS member station, WIPB, is located in Muncie. The Joy of Painting was filmed at WIPB.

Radio stations

 * WCRD
 * WERK
 * WMXQ
 * WLBC-FM
 * WMUN
 * WNAP-FM
 * WBST
 * WXXC

Air

 * Delaware County Regional Airport (not a commercial airport)
 * Fort Wayne International Airport at 74.4 mi and Indianapolis International Airport at 75.4 mi are the nearest commercial airports.

Highways

 * I-69.svg Interstate 69
 * US 35.svg U.S. Route 35
 * Indiana 3.svg State Road 3
 * Indiana 32.svg State Road 32
 * Indiana 67.svg State Road 67
 * Indiana 332.svg State Road 332

Rail
Until 1986, Muncie's Wysor Street Depot at 700 East Wysor Street was a passenger train stop on the Chicago-Cincinnati service of Amtrak's Cardinal. Until 1971, Muncie Union Station was a stop on the Penn Central's Indianapolis-Cleveland on the route of the New York Central's former Southwestern Limited (St. Louis-New York City) and Cleveland Special (Indianapolis-Cleveland).

Freight service is provided by CSX and Norfolk Southern. Railroad equipment supplier Progress Rail opened a manufacturing facility in 2011.

Mass transit
Muncie Indiana Transit System (MITS) provides 14 fixed bus routes daily, except Sundays.

Notable people
Note: This list does not include Ball State University graduates. Please see List of Ball State University alumni for notable alumni.

General

 * Jolly Blackburn, cartoonist, creator of the comic strip Knights of the Dinner Table, writer for and creator of the magazine Shadis and Alderac Entertainment Group. Current partner with Kenzer & Company.
 * Ray Boltz, Contemporary Christian musical artist
 * Minnie Thomas Boyce, writer, poet, playwright, lived in Muncie
 * Ball Brothers, industrialists and philanthropists, founders of the Ball Corporation
 * Francis Focer Brown, American impressionist painter that also served as the head of the Fine Arts Department at the David Owsley Museum of Art at Ball State University.
 * Angelin Chang, Grammy Award-winning classical pianist
 * Trevor Chowning, pop artist and former Hollywood talent agent/producer
 * Benjamin Victor Cohen, key figure in the administrations of Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman
 * Mary Jane Croft, actress
 * George R. Dale, editor of Muncie Post-Democrat (1920–1936), gained national attention speaking out against the Ku Klux Klan
 * Jim Davis, cartoonist, creator of the comic strip Garfield
 * Bertha Fry, supercentarian, third oldest person on earth at time of death, November 14, 2007 (113 years)
 * Maybelle Goodlander, photographer
 * Ida Husted Harper, suffragette and writer
 * Emily Kimbrough, author and magazine editor, Our Hearts Were Young and Gay and How Dear to My Heart
 * F. William Lawvere, mathematician and philosopher known for his seminal contributions to category theory and mathematical philosophy
 * Cheryl Anne Lorance, artist
 * E. S. L. Thompson (1848-1944), writer
 * Anna Augusta Truitt (1837–1920), philanthropist, temperance reformer, essayist
 * Gregory H. Williams, Lawyer and Author of Life on the Color Line: The True Story of a White Boy Who Discovered He Was Black; 27th President of the University of Cincinnati, and the 11th President of the City College of New York

Sports

 * Cliff Baldwin, football player
 * Ron Bonham, former All-American Muncie Central basketball standout, Cincinnati Bearcats, Indiana Pacers, and NBA champion Boston Celtics
 * Zora G. Clevenger, coach in College Football Hall of Fame
 * Buck Crouse, professional baseball player, Chicago White Sox
 * Bill Dinwiddie, professional basketball player
 * Dave Duerson, All-American defensive back for Notre Dame; played 11 seasons for NFL's Chicago Bears, New York Giants, and Phoenix Cardinals
 * Hod Eller, professional baseball player for 1919 World Series champion Cincinnati Reds
 * Brandon Gorin, professional football player, New England Patriots, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, and Denver Broncos
 * Jeremy Hazelbaker, professional baseball player, Arizona Diamondbacks
 * Ryan Kerrigan, Purdue University football standout defensive end, professional football player with Philadelphia Eagles Football Team
 * Richie Lewis, professional baseball player, Baltimore Orioles, Florida Marlins, Detroit Tigers, Oakland Athletics, and Cincinnati Reds
 * Adam Lind, professional baseball player, Seattle Mariners
 * Matt Painter, Purdue University men's basketball head coach
 * John Paul Jr., Indy Car driver
 * Frank Thomas, Notre Dame quarterback and roommate of George "the Gipper" Gipp; head football coach of University of Alabama 1931–46, won two national championships
 * Bonzi Wells, former Muncie Central High School and Ball State University standout, professional basketball player, playing for the Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, and Sacramento Kings

Sister cities
Muncie has five sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International:
 * 🇹🇼 Changhua, Taiwan
 * 🇨🇳 Deyang, China
 * 🇹🇷 Isparta, Turkey
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title: Muncie, Indiana


text:
Selma, Indiana

Selma is a town in Liberty Township, Delaware County, Indiana, United States. As of the 2020 census, the town had a total population of 747. It is part of the Muncie, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Selma was platted in 1852 when the railroad was extended to that point. The Selma post office was established in 1853.

Affected by the Indiana Gas Boom, gas and oil were the primary industries of Selma in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Selma was incorporated as a town in 1907.

On March 14, 2024, Selma was hit by a strong EF2 tornado, which mainly hit northern areas of Selma.

Geography
Indiana State Road 32 runs along the northern edge of the town.

According to the 2010 census, Selma has a total area of 0.912 sqmi, of which 0.91 sqmi (or 99.78%) is land and 0.002 sqmi (or 0.22%) is water.

2020 census
As of the census of 2020, there were 747 people, 313 households, and 91 families living in the town. The population density was 830 PD/sqmi. There were 345 housing units at an average density of 383.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 93.3% White, 0.5% African American, 0.4% Native American or Alaskan Native, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.2% from other races, and 5.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9% of the population.

There were 313 households, of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were married couples living together, 28.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 11.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 9.7% were non-families. 40.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.07.

38.6% of the population had never been married. 47.1% of residents were married and not separated, 5.4% were widowed, 7.7% were divorced, and 1.2% were separated.

The median age in the town was 35.5. 4.8% of residents were under the age of 5; 25.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 74.6% were age 18 or older; and 11.7% were age 65 or older. 6.3% of the population were veterans.

The most common language spoken at home was English with 99.1% speaking it at home, 0.4% spoke Spanish at home and 0.4% spoke another Indo-European language at home. 0.4% of the population were foreign born.

The median household income in Gaston was $48,036, 14.5% less than the median average for the state of Indiana. 21.6% of the population were in poverty, including 24.8% of residents under the age of 18. The poverty rate for the town was 8.7% higher than that of the state. 18.4% of the population was disabled and 9.2% had no healthcare coverage. 50.0% of the population had attained a high school or equivalent degree, 23.5% had attended college but received no degree, 6.9% had attained an Associate's degree or higher, 10.0% had attained a Bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.6% had a graduate or professional degree. 9.0% had no degree. 58.6% of Selma residents were employed, working a mean of 35.4 hours per week. The median gross rent in Selma was $611 and the homeownership rate was 65.5%. 32 housing units were vacant at a density of 35.6 /sqmi.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 866 people, 337 households, and 239 families living in the town. The population density was 951.6 PD/sqmi. There were 377 housing units at an average density of 414.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.2% White, 0.7% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.9% of the population.

There were 337 households, of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.1% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.98.

The median age in the town was 39 years. 26% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.7% were from 25 to 44; 24.8% were from 45 to 64; and 14.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 880 people, 336 households, and 250 families living in the town. The population density was 1,037.2 PD/sqmi. There were 349 housing units at an average density of 411.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.84% White, 0.57% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.00% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. 0.34% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 336 households, out of which 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.2% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.3% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.4% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $44,423, and the median income for a family was $50,357. Males had a median income of $35,333 versus $23,625 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,361. 4.7% of the population and 4.5% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 7.1% of those under the age of 18 and 3.8% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Notable People

 * Jeremy Hazelbaker, professional baseball player

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Selma, Indiana


text:
Yorktown, Indiana

Yorktown is a town in Mount Pleasant Township, Delaware County, Indiana, United States. The population was 11,548 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Muncie, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
During the Woodland period Native Americans built an earthen enclosure just to the east of Yorktown, still visible on Google Earth at 40.1805°N, -85.4694°W. Yorktown lies at the junction of the White River and Buck Creek. According to local legend, the Miami Indians believed that the peculiar configuration of the junction made Yorktown immune from tornadoes.

Yorktown was platted in 1837 by Oliver H. Smith who represented Indiana in the U.S. Senate from 1837 to 1843 and was a member of the Committee on Public Lands. Smith eventually became involved in the railroad business, and Yorktown was joined to Indianapolis by railroad in the early 1850s. Yorktown's main street bears Smith's name.

Yorktown benefited from the 1880s natural gas boom in the area, and was the site of several glass factories in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. (The gas gave names to nearby the towns of Gaston and Gas City and drew the Ball Brothers to Muncie.)

In 1892, a developer platted "West Muncie" on land immediately adjacent to Yorktown (but roughly ten miles from Muncie). Buck Creek was dammed to form "Lake Delaware" which became the focus of a 73-room resort hotel opened in 1893. However, the dam ruptured within a few years and the entire West Muncie project was abandoned. Its most enduring legacy was perhaps that Yorktown was erroneously labeled "West Muncie" on some road maps into the 1960s and perhaps later, puzzling most local residents, who had neither seen nor heard the name in any other context.

The town has been served by the Big Four Railroad and its successors: the New York Central, Penn Central, Conrail and CSX. The town was also served by an electric interurban line, the Union Traction Company of Indiana and its successor Indiana Railroad, in the early twentieth century.

In the mid twentieth century, many residents found employment in automotive plants in nearby Muncie and Anderson, most associated with General Motors. General Motors in Muncie, closed down in 2003. Borg Warner in Yorktown closed in 2009. Yorktown also served as corporate headquarters of the Marsh Supermarkets chain from 1952 until 1991, a fact reflected in the chain's "Yorktown" store brand. Marsh Supermarkets and Village Pantry headquarters relocated in Indianapolis until Marsh went bankrupt and shut down in 2017.

Former Yorktown Clerk-Treasurer Beth Neff was the defendant in high-profile court proceedings (State of Indiana v. Beth A. Neff, 18S-IF-478) that saw the Indiana Supreme Court clarify state statutes relating to the conditions under which Indiana judiciaries may remove publicly elected municipal officials from office.

Geography
According to the 2010 census, Yorktown has a total area of 8.863 sqmi, of which 8.78 sqmi (or 99.06%) is land and 0.083 sqmi (or 0.94%) is water.

2020 census
As of the census of 2020, there were 11,548 people, 4,568 households, and 2,832 families living in the town. The population density was 353.1 PD/sqmi. There were 4,817 housing units at an average density of 147.31 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 90.2% White, 1.9% African American, 2.4% Asian, 0.1% Native American or Alaskan Native, 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races, and 4.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.0% of the population.

There were 4,568 households, of which 25.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.1% were married couples living together, 21.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 15.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 4.4% were non-families. 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.91.

18.6% of the population had never been married. 60.6% of residents were married and not separated, 4.7% were widowed, 15.7% were divorced, and 0.5% were separated.

The median age in the town was 40.3. 6.5% of residents were under the age of 5; 25.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 74.9% were age 18 or older; and 18.4% were age 65 or older. 7.2% of the population were veterans.

The most common language spoken at home was English with 97.0% speaking it at home, 1.5% spoke another Indo-European language at home and 1.5% spoke an Asian or Pacific Islander language at home. 2.7% of the population were foreign born.

The median household income in Gaston was $66,785, 18.9% greater than the median average for the state of Indiana. 8.7% of the population were in poverty, including 14.2% of residents under the age of 18. The poverty rate for the town was 4.2% lower than that of the state. 11.7% of the population was disabled and 4.2% had no healthcare coverage. 21.3% of the population had attained a high school or equivalent degree, 27.1% had attended college but received no degree, 12.9% had attained an Associate's degree or higher, 18.6% had attained a Bachelor's degree or higher, and 14.0% had a graduate or professional degree. 6.1% had no degree. 63.0% of Yorktown residents were employed, working a mean of 36.8 hours per week. The median gross rent in Yorktown was $755 and the homeownership rate was 85.6%. 249 housing units were vacant at a density of 7.7 /sqmi.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 9,405 people, 3,648 households, and 2,726 families living in the town. The population density was 1071.2 PD/sqmi. There were 3,929 housing units at an average density of 447.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 95.3% White, 1.6% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 3,648 households, of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 25.3% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.95.

The median age in the town was 41.2 years. 25.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.9% were from 25 to 44; 27.7% were from 45 to 64; and 17% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,785 people, 1,842 households, and 1,368 families living in the town. The population density was 1,357.0 PD/sqmi. There were 1,940 housing units at an average density of 550.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.64% White, 0.96% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.23% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.73% of the population.

There were 1,842 households, out of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.5% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.7% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $50,974, and the median income for a family was $58,784. Males had a median income of $41,346 versus $26,611 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,065. About 3.9% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

Elementary schools

 * Pleasant View Elementary (Grade K-3)
 * Yorktown Elementary School (Grades 4–5)

Middle schools

 * Yorktown Middle School (Grades 6–8)

High schools

 * Yorktown High School

Alternative Schools

 * Youth Opportunity Center

The town has a free lending library, the Yorktown Public Library.

Notable People

 * Ted Haggard, prominent Evangelical Christian, grew up in Yorktown.
 * Jack Parkinson, All-American (2nd Team) Basketball player at the University of Kentucky.
 * Jonathon Newby, founding member of music group Brazil grew up in Yorktown.

title: Yorktown, Indiana


text:
Birdseye, Indiana

Birdseye is a town in Jefferson Township, Dubois County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. At the 2020 census, the town population was 417.

Birdseye is part of the Jasper Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Birdseye was platted in 1880. Popular tradition says the town was first known as Bird, after Rev. "Bird" Johnson, who was helping to select a location for the first post office when he said "this spot suits Bird's eye". The Birdseye post office has been in operation since 1856.

Geography
According to the 2010 US census, Birdseye has a total area of 0.64 sqmi, all land.

2010 census
At the 2010 census, there were 416 people, 173 households and 110 families living in the town. The population density was 650.0 /sqmi. There were 199 housing units at an average density of 310.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 98.8% White, 0.5% African American, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.5% of the population.

There were 173 households, of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.4% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.09.

The median age was 38 years. 26.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.1% were from 25 to 44; 26.7% were from 45 to 64; and 14.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup was 46.9% male and 53.1% female.

2000 census
At the 2000 census, there were 465 people, 204 households and 125 families living in the town. The population density was 724.8 PD/sqmi. There were 213 housing units at an average density of 332.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 97.63% White, 0.22% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 1.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.51% of the population.

There were 204 households, of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.7% were non-families. 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.98.

26.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.

The median household income was $30,156 and the median family income was $45,125. Males had a median income of $29,250 and females $21,953. The per capita income was $13,690. About 8.8% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.7% of those under age 18 and 18.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education
The community is in the Southeast Dubois County School Corporation. It operates Forest Park High School.

Prior to 1971, the community had its own high school. The mascot was the yellowjackets, and the school colors were black and gold. In 1971 the school merged into Forest Park High.

The town has a public library, a branch of the Jasper-Dubois County Public Library.

Notable people

 * Frank Nash, renowned bank robber of the 1920s; killed in the Kansas City Massacre

title: Birdseye, Indiana


text:
Ferdinand, Indiana

Ferdinand is a town in Ferdinand Township, Dubois County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 2,157 at the 2020 census.

History
Ferdinand was founded in 1840 by Fr. Joseph Kundek, OSB and was named after the Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria. The town was settled by mostly German-speaking people from central Europe. At one time Ferdinand was known as the wooden shoe village. At the end of the 19th century, Ferdinand contained many businesses, including a machine works, a brick works, brewery, several taverns, and a dairy.

The Ferdinand post office has been in operation since 1850.

In 1867, the Monastery of Immaculate Conception was founded in Ferdinand.

Ferdinand was incorporated as a town in 1905.

In 1906, the Ferdinand News was established as the local newspaper.

Just prior to World War II the Civilian Conservation Corps created the Ferdinand State Forest.

The Monastery Immaculate Conception and Dr. Alois Wollenmann House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography
Ferdinand is located at 38.22528°N, -86.86111°W (38.225392, -86.860996).

According to the 2010 census, Ferdinand has a total area of 2.31 sqmi, of which 2.27 sqmi (or 98.27%) is land and 0.04 sqmi (or 1.73%) is water.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 2,157 people, 823 households, and 566 families residing in the town. The population density was 950.2 PD/sqmi. There were 866 housing units at an average density of 381.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 98.2% White, 0.1% African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.

There were 823 households, of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.2% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.89.

The median age in the town was 45.1 years. 21% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.6% were from 25 to 44; 25% were from 45 to 64; and 25.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 44.5% male and 55.5% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,277 people, 808 households, and 569 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,017.3 PD/sqmi. There were 845 housing units at an average density of 377.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 99.03% White, 0.04% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 0.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.61% of the population.

There were 808 households, out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 27.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.0% 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 3.09.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.8% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 78.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $41,326, and the median income for a family was $52,065. Males had a median income of $34,205 versus $23,646 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,335. About 3.4% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 16.1% of those age 65 or over.

Attractions
Attractions in Ferdinand include:
 * Monastery Immaculate Conception, the monastery of The Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand
 * Ferdinand State Forest

Education

 * Forest Park Jr./Sr. High School
 * Ferdinand Elementary School
 * Cedar Crest Intermediate School

The town has a public library, a branch of the Jasper-Dubois County Public Library.

Churches

 * St. Ferdinand Catholic Church

title: Ferdinand, Indiana


text:
Holland, Indiana

Holland is a town in Cass Township, Dubois County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 619 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Jasper Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Holland was platted in 1859 by Henry Kunz, a native of Germany. It was named for Holland (The Netherlands).

The Holland post office has been in operation since 1856.

Geography
According to the 2010 census, Holland has a total area of 0.31 sqmi, all land.

2010 census
At the 2010 census, there were 626 people, 252 households and 168 families living in the town. The population density was 1956.3 PD/sqmi. There were 277 housing units at an average density of 865.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 96.0% White, 0.2% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 2.2% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.7% of the population.

There were 252 households, of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.3% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.04.

The median age was 37.9 years. 26% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.4% were from 25 to 44; 24.1% were from 45 to 64; and 16.6% were 65 years of age or older. The population was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.

2000 census
At the 2000 census, there were 695 people, 270 households and 190 families living in the town. The population density was 1,988.5 PD/sqmi. There were 287 housing units at an average density of 821.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup was 98.13% White, 0.29% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.86% from other races, and 0.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.16% of the population.

There were 270 households, of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.12.

28.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.6 males.

The median household income was $35,500 and the median family income was $44,271. Males had a median income of $30,833 females $21,563. The per capita income was $16,179. About 5.0% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.2% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Holland is in the Southwest Dubois County School Corporation school district. Southridge High School in Huntingburg is the district's comprehensive, and only, high school.

Prior to 1972, the community had its own high school. The school colors were red and white, and the mascot was the Dutchmen. That year, the high school merged into Southridge High School.

title: Holland, Indiana


text:
Huntingburg, Indiana

Huntingburg is a city in Patoka Township, Dubois County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 6,362 at the 2020 census.

Located in southwestern Indiana, the city is known for its downtown with numerous antique shops. It is part of the Jasper Micropolitan Statistical Area. The city is also known as the "Hollywood of the Midwest." The movies A League of Their Own (1992), Hard Rain (1998), and the HBO film Soul of the Game (1996) were filmed in Huntingburg. Columbia Pictures renovated the grandstand at League Stadium that was to become part of the set for A League of Their Own.

History
Huntingburg was platted in 1837 by Colonel Jacob Geiger who purchased 1920 acre of land and became one of the city's first permanent settlers. It was likely so named because the site had been a popular hunting ground. Huntingburg was incorporated as a town in 1866.

The Huntingburg Commercial Historic District and Huntingburg Town Hall and Fire Engine House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Huntingburg post office has been in operation since 1842.

As part of Dubois County, Huntingburg re-entered the Eastern Time Zone on November 4, 2007, after 15 months on the Central Time Zone.

On May 14, 2020, during the 2019-20 coronavirus pandemic, the city's local meat processing plant run by Farbest Foods reported 42 cases of COVID-19 among the employees, resulting in an 2-day closure beginning on May 18.

Geography
According to the 2010 census, Huntingburg has a total area of 5.273 sqmi, of which 5.06 sqmi (or 95.96%) is land and 0.213 sqmi (or 4.04%) is water.

Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Huntingburg, IN has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

2020 census
As of the census of 2020, there were 6,362 people residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 79.4% White, 6.2% Black or African American, 0.7% American Indiana and Alaska Native, 2.5% Asian, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic and Latino of any race were 28.6% of the population.

Regarding age, persons under 5 years were 7.1% of the population, persons under 18 years were 31.1%, and persons 65 years and over were 15.3%. The gender makeup of the city was 49.8% male and 50.2% female.

Persons in poverty were 15.2% of the population.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 6,057 people, 2,334 households, and 1,554 families residing in the city. The population density was 1197.0 PD/sqmi. There were 2,492 housing units at an average density of 492.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 87.3% White, 0.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 9.9% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.5% of the population.

There were 2,334 households, of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.4% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.11.

The median age in the city was 35.1 years. 27.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.3% were from 25 to 44; 23.6% were from 45 to 64; and 13.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,598 people, 2,162 households, and 1,444 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,543.3 PD/sqmi. There were 2,267 housing units at an average density of 625.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city is mostly White, 92.2%, Hispanic 9.8%, African American 0.2% two races or more 0.8%.

There were 2,162 households, out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% 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 3.05.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.2% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,415, and the median income for a family was $41,925. Males had a median income of $29,756 versus $22,167 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,882. About 6.8% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education
It is in the Southwest Dubois County School Corporation school district. In 1972, Holland, a town west of Huntingburg along State Road 161, was consolidated into that of Huntingburg, resulting in the formation of Southwest Dubois County School Corporation, which includes the following schools:
 * Southridge High School
 * Southridge Middle School
 * Huntingburg Elementary School
 * Holland Elementary School

Prior to 1972, the community had its own high school. The school colors were black and red, and the mascot was the Happy Hunters.

The town has a free lending library, the Huntingburg Public Library.

Culture
League Stadium was home to the Dubois County Dragons who played in the Heartland League (1996–1998) and the Frontier League (1999–2002). From 1996 to 2001, Huntingburg was the smallest city to host a professional baseball team. After the Dragons franchise moved, Jeff Martindale League Stadium stood empty in the summers until the Bluff City Bombers of the Central Illinois Collegiate League moved to Huntingburg in 2005 and were renamed the Dubois County Bombers. The CICL then merged with the Prospect League. As the Prospect League has a larger geographical footprint, the Bombers moved to the Ohio Valley League as of the 2013 season.

Transportation
Huntingburg Airport is a public use airport located three nautical miles (6 km) south of the central business district of Huntingburg. It is owned by the Dubois County Airport Authority.

The Dubois County Railroad connects to the Norfolk Southern mainline in Huntingburg.

Notable people

 * Tim Barrett, Major and minor league baseball player
 * Ray Blemker, Major and minor league baseball player
 * John L. Bretz, member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 2nd district
 * Don Buse, ABA Champion (1973) and NBA player; NCAA Champion (1971)
 * Bob Coleman, Major League Baseball player and minor league manager
 * Alex Graman, Major League Baseball pitcher for New York Yankees and others
 * Bill Menke, basketball player for 1940 national champion Indiana Hoosiers
 * Benjamin F. Miessner, engineer and inventor
 * W. Otto Miessner, composer and music teacher
 * Colson Montgomery, professional baseball shortstop, Chicago White Sox
 * Gordon St. Angelo, former Indiana Democratic Party chairman
 * Mitch Stetter, pitcher for Milwaukee Brewers; coach in Kansas City Royals organization

title: Huntingburg, Indiana


text:
Jasper, Indiana

Jasper is a city in and the county seat of Dubois County, Indiana, United States, located along the Patoka River. The population was 16,703 at the 2020 census making it the 48th largest city in Indiana. On November 4, 2007, Dubois County returned to the Eastern Time Zone, after having moved to the Central Time Zone the previous year. Land use in the area is primarily agricultural. The Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame, which honors players and others associated with the national pastime who were born or lived in Indiana, is located in Jasper.

History
Jasper was founded in 1818. The Enlow family were the first settlers of the town. Jasper was originally going to be named "Eleanor" after the wife of early settler Joseph Enlow, but she opted to suggest a name herself, and named the city after a passage in the Bible (Revelation 21:19).

Jasper was not officially platted until 1830. That year, the community became the new county seat of Dubois County, succeeding Portersville.

The Jasper post office has been in operation since 1832. During the New Deal era, Jessie Hull Mayer won a federal commission to paint a mural as part of the Section of Painting and Sculpture′s projects, later called the Section of Fine Arts, of the Treasury Department. Indiana Farming Scene in Late Autumn depicts a harvest scene on a farmstead, with no indication of the town. In 1975, the painting was featured as part of a film, Art for Main Street: The Indiana Post Office Murals, produced by the Indiana Historical Society.

Jasper was incorporated as a town in 1866, and was incorporated into a city in 1915.

Geography
According to the 2010 census, Jasper has a total area of 13.191 sqmi, of which 13.1 sqmi (or 99.31%) is land and 0.091 sqmi (or 0.69%) is water.

The city is located in the townships of Bainbridge, Madison and Boone.

Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Jasper, IN has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Demographics
Jasper is the principal city of the Jasper Micropolitan Statistical Area, a micropolitan area that covers Dubois and Pike counties and had a combined population of 54,734 at the 2010 census.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, the population of Jasper was 15,038 and there were 5,994 households. The gender makeup of the city is 49.2% male and 50.8% female.

Ethnicities
The racial makeup of the city was:
 * 93.6% white
 * 7.7% Hispanic (of any race)
 * 0.4% African American
 * 0.9% Asian
 * 0.2% Native American
 * 4.0% from other races
 * 0.9% from two or more races.

Age
Of the total Jasper population:
 * 14.0% were 0–9
 * 12.9% were 10–19
 * 12.1% were 20–29
 * 11.9% were 30–39
 * 14.4% were 40–49
 * 13.6% were 50–59
 * 9.1% were 60–69
 * 6.1% were 70–79
 * 5.4% were 80 or older
 * Median age was 39.3 years. For males it was 36.9 years and for females, 41.6 years.

Income

 * Overall median household income in Jasper is $53,968
 * Median income for a family is $65,903
 * Males had a median income of $37,432
 * Females had a median income of $32,218
 * The per capita income for the city is $28,540
 * About 5.7% of families and 7.6% of the population are below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 and over.

Economy
Jasper is a regional center in Southwestern Indiana, with German Catholic ancestral roots. Jasper has been called the "Wood Capital of the World", with furniture companies such as Jasper Group, Kimball International, and Masterbrand Cabinets are located here. Also located in Jasper are Southern Indiana Education Center, Jasper Engines and Transmissions, and a satellite campus of Vincennes University.

In 2022, Jasper won the annual Strong Towns "Strongest Town" competition.

The largest industry sectors by employment in Jasper are manufacturing, retail, and health care and social services.

Arts and culture
Jasper has the only municipally supported Arts Council in Indiana; it is part of city government. The City of Jasper and the Jasper Community Arts Commission won the Governor's Arts Award in 1987 and 2007.

The Jasper Strassenfest is a four-day event held annually during the first weekend in August. The "Fest" is a celebration between Jasper and its German sister-city Pfaffenweiler, a village in southwest Germany, and some citizens of Pfaffenweiler travel to Jasper around this time of year. The street festival encompasses the city square, and features food stands, rides, a beer garden, parade, fireworks, golf tournament, beauty pageant (Miss Strassenfest), fishing tournament, and a network of German "Polka Masses" at the three Roman Catholic parishes. On average, over 1300 lb of bratwurst are consumed during the event.

In 2021, the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center and public lending library opened.

Sites listed on National Register of Historic Places

Sites in Jasper listed on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Dubois County, Indiana include:
 * Dubois County Courthouse
 * Gramelspacher-Gutzweiler House
 * John Opel House
 * St. Joseph Catholic Church
 * Louis H. Sturm Hardware Store

Parks and recreation

Jasper has 18 city parks covering 355 acre.

Government
The following persons have held the office of mayor of Jasper, Indiana.

Education

In 1970, the school system of Ireland, Indiana, was consolidated into that of Jasper.

Schools in Jasper include:
 * Jasper High School (public, grades 9 to 12)
 * Jasper Middle School (public 6 to 8)
 * Ireland Elementary School (public pre-K to 5)
 * Jasper Elementary School (public pre-K to 5)
 * Holy Trinity Catholic School
 * West Campus at St. Mary's Ireland (private pre-K)
 * Central Campus at Precious Blood (private pre K to 2)
 * East Campus at Holy Family (private 3 to 8)
 * Vincennes University (Jasper Campus)

Newspapers

 * The American Eagle, Jasper's first newspaper, operated from 1846 to 1848.
 * The Democrat (1857), the Times (1865), and another Times (1879–1891).
 * The Jasper Weekly Courier, a Democratic newspaper, served Dubois County from 1858 to 1921.
 * The Dubois County Herald, founded in 1895, currently circulates about 10,000 copies per day to residents of Dubois, Spencer, and Pike counties. The Herald is one of only 300 independently owned newspapers in the United States.
 * The Jasper News Journal is a free newspaper.

Radio
The following stations are licensed in the city of Jasper
 * 91.7 FM WJPR
 * 93.7 FM WJWS "The Curve"
 * 104.7 FM WITZ-FM
 * 990 AM WITZ-AM

Highways

 * US 231.svg U.S. Route 231
 * indiana 164.svg Indiana State Road 164
 * indiana 162.svg Indiana State Road 162
 * indiana 56.svg Indiana State Road 56

Notable people

 * Mike Braun, U.S. Senator and former member of the Indiana House of Representatives
 * Daniel M. Buechlein, former Roman Catholic Archbishop of Indianapolis
 * Brad Ellsworth, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives
 * Spike Gehlhausen, Indy car driver
 * Paul Hoffman, Purdue All-American, NBA Rookie of the Year, NBA Champion
 * Shane Lindauer, member of the Indiana House of Representatives
 * Matt Mauck, National Football League quarterback; led the LSU Tigers to the 2003 national championship
 * Mark Messmer, member of the Indiana State Senate
 * Frank W. Milburn, World War II and Korean War general
 * Richard M. Milburn, Indiana Attorney General
 * Edith Pfau, artist
 * Scott Rolen, Major League Baseball player
 * Ralph K. Rottet, Lieutenant general, U.S. Marine Corps
 * William J. Schroeder, longest lived person on a Jarvik-7
 * Bernard V. Vonderschmitt, most noted as a co-founder of leading FPGA producer Xilinx.
 * Wilfrid Worland, Washington, D.C.–area architect

In popular culture
The fictional town of Orson, Indiana, from the TV series The Middle, is based on Jasper.

Sister cities
Jasper participates in the sister cities program, as designated by Sister Cities International, and is a sister city of Pfaffenweiler, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

title: Jasper, Indiana


text:
Bristol, Indiana

Bristol is a town in Washington Township, Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,602 at the 2010 census.

History
Bristol was platted about 1835, making it one of the oldest towns in Elkhart County. It was named after the city of Bristol, in England.

The Bristol-Washington Township School, Solomon Fowler Mansion, and St. John of the Cross Episcopal Church, Rectory and Cemetery are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography
According to the 2010 census, Bristol has a total area of 3.82 sqmi, of which 3.69 sqmi (or 96.6%) is land and 0.13 sqmi (or 3.4%) is water.

2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 1,602 people, 608 households, and 429 families living in the town. The population density was 434.1 PD/sqmi. There were 737 housing units at an average density of 199.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 87.9% White, 2.1% African American, 0.7% Native American, 1.5% Asian, 4.7% from other races, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.2% of the population.

There were 608 households, of which 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.4% were non-families. 22.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.04.

The median age in the town was 36.4 years. 27% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.3% were from 25 to 44; 26% were from 45 to 64; and 14.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.6% male and 50.4% female.

2000 census
As of the 2000 census, there were 1,382 people, 539 households, and 368 families living in the town. The population density was 579.8 PD/sqmi. There were 559 housing units at an average density of 234.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 90.09% White, 1.16% African American, 0.36% Native American, 1.23% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 4.27% from other races, and 2.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.67% of the population.

There were 539 households, out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.6% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and ovffer, there were 101.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $46,136, and the median income for a family was $54,125. Males had a median income of $35,568 versus $24,938 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,373. About 5.1% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Bristol is served by Elkhart Community Schools.

Bristol-Washington Township Public Library
The town has a free independent lending library, the Bristol-Washington Township Public Library. The current 10,000 square foot building was constructed in 1984. In 2016, it served a population of 6,945 patrons and had 39,000 annual visits. In 2016 the library had a holding of 44,576 items which circulated 77,799 times. The library provides and receives interlibrary loans through the Indiana Share program. The library is home to many adult and children programs alike.

Notable Buildings

 * The Bristol Opera House, once known as the Moiser Opera House, was built in 1896. The Elkhart Civic Theatre currently presents plays there.
 * The Elkhart County Historical Museum, founded in 1968 as a partnership between Elkhart's Historical Society and County Parks Department, occupies the former Bristol-Washington Township School (AKA Bristol High School). It is home to 30,000 artifacts and receives around 10,000 visits each year.

title: Bristol, Indiana


text:
Dunlap, Indiana

Dunlap is a census-designated place (CDP) in Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. The population was 6,235 at the 2010 census. Once a small farming community, by the 1980s it had become a suburb of Elkhart and Goshen, Indiana. Most of the town was destroyed by two violent F4 tornadoes during the Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak on April 11, 1965.

History
A post office was established at Dunlap in 1886, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1902.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 12.7 sqkm, of which 0.20% is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,887 people, 2,087 households, and 1,657 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,390.4 PD/sqmi. There were 2,147 housing units at an average density of 507.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 91.69% White, 2.87% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.93% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 3.04% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.65% of the population.

There were 2,087 households, out of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.3% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.6% were non-families. 16.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 28.8% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $52,083, and the median income for a family was $55,522. Males had a median income of $40,802 versus $25,500 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $19,733. About 5.0% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Dunlap is served by Concord Community Schools, including Concord High School.

The community has a public library, a branch of the Elkhart Public Library.

Transportation
The Interurban Trolley Concord and Elkhart-Goshen routes run through Dunlap, connecting the town to the nearby cities Elkhart and Goshen.

title: Dunlap, Indiana