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Elkhart, Indiana

Elkhart is a city in Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. The city is located 15 mi east of South Bend, Indiana. Elkhart has the larger population of the two principal cities of the Elkhart-Goshen Metropolitan Statistical Area, which in turn is part of the South Bend-Elkhart-Mishawaka Combined Statistical Area, in a region commonly known as Michiana. The population was 53,923 at the 2020 census. Despite the shared name and being the most populous city in the county, it is not the county seat of Elkhart County; that position is held by the city of Goshen, located about 10 mi southeast of Elkhart.

History
When the Northwest Territory was organized in 1787, the area now known as Elkhart was mainly inhabited by the Ottawa, Chippewa, and Potawatomi Indian tribes. In 1829, the Village of Pulaski was established, consisting of a post office, mill, and a few houses on the north side of the St. Joseph River. Dr. Havilah Beardsley moved westward from Ohio, and on August 9, 1821, purchased one square mile of land from Pierre Moran (a half-French, half-Native American Potawatomi Chief) in order to establish a rival town named Elkhart. The town of Elkhart was first plotted with 48 lots on April 30, 1832. In 1839, the Pulaski Post Office was officially changed to Elkhart.

Elkhart County was founded exclusively by immigrants from New England. These were old-stock "Yankee" immigrants, that is to say, they were descended from the English Puritans who settled New England in the 1600s. The completion of the Erie Canal caused a surge in New England immigration to what was then the Northwest Territory. The end of the Black Hawk War led to an additional surge of immigration, once again coming almost exclusively from the six New England states as a result of overpopulation combined with land shortages in that region. Some of these later settlers were from upstate New York and had parents who had moved to that region from New England shortly after the Revolutionary War. New Englanders and New England transplants from upstate New York were the vast majority of Elkhart County's inhabitants during the first several decades of its history. These settlers were primarily members of various Protestant religions.

Correspondingly, many inhabitants of Elkhart County fought in the Union Army during the Civil War. In the late 1880s and early 1890s Irish and German migrants began moving into Elkhart County, most of these later immigrants did not move directly from Ireland and Germany, but rather from other areas in the Midwest where they had already been living, particularly the state of Ohio.

By the late 19th and early 20th century, musical instrument factories, Miles Medical Company, and numerous mills set up shop and became the base of the economy. In 1934, the first recreational vehicle factory opened in Elkhart. Similar companies followed suit for the remainder of the decade, and the economy continued to grow until the rationing of materials in World War II. After the war, growth picked back up, and, by 1949, Elkhart was dubbed the "RV Capital of the World."

Infrastructure
In 1851, the Michigan Southern & Northern Indiana Railroad Company built the first rail line through the city, and by 1852 the first passenger train passed through town. This, in turn, caused major population growth. Today, Norfolk Southern has the biggest railroad presence in town, although Elkhart has two other railroads: Shortline-Elkhart and Western (operated by Pioneer Railcorp) and Regional-Grand Elk (operated by Watco). Amtrak has two trains that stop in Elkhart, Lake Shore Limited and Capitol Limited, both of which stop at the Elkhart station. Canadian Pacific runs 6-8 trains through town on Norfolk Southern's trackage.

In 1867, Elkhart Hydraulic Company built the first hydraulic dam across the St. Joseph River which would power the city's machinery. Unfortunately, the hydraulics were prone to flooding as was common in those days, the wooden structures were eventually destroyed by fire. The hydraulics were purchased by the Indiana & Michigan Electric Company and they soon reconstructed the dam and by 1913, it powered the city. Today, the dam still produces electric power and is operated by Indiana Michigan Power, a subsidiary of American Electric Power.

In 1889, the world's second electric streetcar system began operating on the city's streets. It has since been decommissioned.

The Beardsley Avenue Historic District, Albert R. Beardsley House, Dr. Havilah Beardsley House, Emmanuel C. Bickel House, Bridge Street Bridge, Charles Gerard Conn Mansion, Elkhart Downtown Commercial Historic District, Green Block, William and Helen Koerting House, Lerner Theatre, Mark L. and Harriet E. Monteith House, Morehous Residential Historic District, State Street-Division Street Historic District, and Young Women's Christian Association are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Name
The name Elkhart is a deliberate misspelling or corruption of "Elks-heart", which refers to the now extinct Eastern elk. The name has been attached to the Elkhart River and surrounding area since at least 1749, when it was recorded in French as Coeur de cerf ("elk's heart") as the name of a Miami village there. The place name in Miami-Illinois is mihšiiwiateehi ("elk's heart"). Later in the 18th century the area was inhabited by the Potawatomi; in the Potawatomi language, the place is likewise known as mzewəodeʔig, "at the elk heart".

The name may reflect a prehistoric association of the Elkhart area with the Kaskaskia people, whom the Miami called "elk hearts". The Kaskaskia are not associated with the area in any historical records, however, having been pushed further south and west by the wars of the 17th century.

Other explanations have been suggested. According to an account by two Miami leaders (Jean Baptiste Richardville and Le Gros) recorded in 1824, the name arose from two women fighting over an elk's heart that had been hung up to dry. Alternatively, some historians including Jacob Piatt Dunn have associated the name with the shape of an island in the Elkhart River that is stated to resemble an elk's heart.

Geography
According to the 2010 census, Elkhart has a total area of 24.417 sqmi, of which 23.45 sqmi (or 96.04%) is land and 0.967 sqmi (or 3.96%) is water.

The city sits on the St. Joseph and Elkhart Rivers. The Elkhart River drains into the St. Joseph at Island Park just north of downtown. There are also numerous small lakes around the city.

Climate
Elkhart has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa), with cold, snowy winters and warm, humid summers.

2020 census
''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.''

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 50,949 people, 19,261 households, and 11,942 families residing in the city. The population density was 2172.7 PD/sqmi. There were 22,699 housing units at an average density of 968.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 66.1% White, 15.4% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 12.9% from other races, and 4.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.5% of the population.

There were 19,261 households, of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.7% were married couples living together, 18.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.0% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60, and the average family size was 3.25.

The median age in the city was 32.7 years. 29.1% of residents were under 18; 9.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.5% were from 25 to 44; 22.5% were from 45 to 64, and 11.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.

2000 census
As of the 2000 census, 51,874 people, 20,072 households, and 12,506 families reside in the city. The population density was 2,428.0 PD/sqmi. There were 21,688 housing units at an average density of 1,015.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 71.5% White (predominantly German American), 14.7% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 9.2% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.8% of the population.

Of the 20,072 households, 62.3% were occupied by families, 33.4% had children under 18 living with them, 40.9% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.7% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% 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 3.16.

Of the city's population, 28.4% was under 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 94.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,863, and the median income for a family was $40,514. Males had a median income of $30,674 versus $22,760 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,890. About 11.1% of families and 13.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
Due to its proximity to the South Bend metropolitan area, the city's commercial sectors are small. The city's main shopping mall is the Concord Mall, located on the city's south side. A second shopping mall, Pierre Moran Mall, was partially demolished in 2006 for a new development called Woodland Crossing.

Industry
Elkhart is best known for two industries: recreational vehicles and musical instruments (for example, Stephanhöuser Saxophones). For decades, it has been referenced as the "RV Capital of the World" and the "Band Instrument Capital of the World". Other notable industries in Elkhart include; pharmaceuticals, electronic components, manufactured housing and mobile homes. Numerous manufacturers of musical instruments and accessories, of which most of the surviving companies have been absorbed into the Conn-Selmer conglomerate, have a long history in the city. Elkhart is also home to the Robert Young Rail Yards, which are the second-largest freight classification yards in the world.

In 1884, Franklin Miles launched the Miles Medical Co. in Elkhart, which in later decades produced products such as Alka-Seltzer and Flintstones Vitamins. The Miles Medical Co. was purchased by the German company Bayer in 1978, and was consolidated into the larger Pittsburgh-based Bayer, Inc. in 1994. In 1999, Bayer Consumer Care moved out of Elkhart. By 2006, Bayer had pulled all manufacturing out of Elkhart. Most of the facilities were torn down while just a few buildings remained, mostly unused.

Manufacturers in Elkhart include Forest River Inc, Hy-Line, Keystone, and Thor Motor Coach.

NIBCO INC. (Northern Indiana Brass Company), has called Elkhart home for over 100 years and is now a fifth-generation family business. NIBCO Inc. manufactures and markets flow control products.

Elkhart Brass Manufacturing manufactures fire-fighting equipment.

The unemployment rate reached 18.8% in April 2009 and due to Elkhart's economic troubles, the city and some of its unemployed residents were featured on the February 8, 2009, edition of ABC News. The unemployment rate rebounded over the next decade and has remained below the national average since 2013.

Theater

In 1884, the Bucklen Opera House opened its doors for the first time, with a seating capacity of 1200. It was common for one performance to take place every week. Elkhart's location on the railroad made it a good stopping point for shows traveling from New York to Chicago. In 1896, the first movie was shown in the theater, which was also used as Elkhart High School's auditorium until 1924. The Bucklen was demolished in 1986.

The Lerner Theatre, formerly the ELCO Performing Arts Center, is a small theater located downtown. After being built in 1924 and undergoing two name changes, it became the ELCO in 1934. Ownership switched hands several times, but the end of the Lerner appeared to be in sight when owner William Miller died in 1987. In 1990, the city bought the theater to prevent further deterioration due to vacancy. Also, that year, some locals formed a commission to oversee the restoration. Funding issues led the city to get involved further in the form of getting a federal grant. The grant helped with major upgrades and the hiring of full-time staff.

The ELCO was renamed The Lerner when it reopened after an $18 million renovation and expansion in June 2011. It is now used for a wide range of concerts, special events, and local productions.

Museums
There are many different museums located in the city.

 * Woodlawn Nature Center is a small natural history museum and activity center that includes 10 acres of woods.
 * The Midwest Museum of American Art has over 6,000 works in its collection and offers 8-10 temporary showings per year.
 * The National New York Central Railroad Museum tells the history of the New York Central, Penn Central, Amtrak and Conrail railroads. Conrail established the Rail Yards in Elkhart which is now owned by Norfolk Southern.
 * The RV/MH Hall of Fame & Museum was once located in the city but has now been moved to a new facility along the toll road. Elkhart County is known as the RV Capital of the World.
 * The Ruthmere Museum was the mansion once occupied by Albert R. and Elizabeth Baldwin Beardsley, the descendants of the city's founder. This museum features a world-class fine arts collection and a historical recreation of the home as it was in the 1910s and 20s.
 * The Havilah Beardsley House is also part of the Ruthmere Museum Campus. Built in 1848, this home once belonged to the founder of Elkhart, Havilah Beardsley. Today, it has been restored to the style of the 1870s, at which time Havilah's son, James Rufus Beardsley, gutted and remodeled the entire home into its current Italianate style.

Events
The Elkhart Jazz Festival is a three-day event that takes place in late June on the banks of the Elkhart River. It is known as one of the premier Jazz festivals in the nation. In 2007, the festival celebrated its 20th anniversary.

Each June, the Elkhart Parks and Recreation Department presents Rhapsody Arts & Music Festival (formally called Rhapsody in Green). It is a weekend event put on at the city's Island Park. It is a typical summer festival with live music and food.

Also, the Elkhart Air Show was an annual event that took place at the Elkhart Municipal Airport at the end of July. It featured a wide variety of airplanes old and new. The event was canceled in 2007 due to financial issues. It is unclear whether the show is on hiatus or gone for good.

Public library
The city is served by the Elkhart Public Library, which operates four branches.

Sports
The Elkhart Miracle is a proposed independent minor league baseball team that was scheduled to begin to play in the Northern League in 2015. The stadium was to be located on the city's southwest side on State Road 19. As of December 2017, the stadium had not yet been built, and the team was not formed, due to construction delays. As of May 2023, the team is playing out of NorthWood Field of Dreams in Nappanee, IN

The Elkhart Express was a semi-professional men's basketball team in the International Basketball League. Their home games were played at North Side Gymnasium, located inside Elkhart's North Side Middle School. The franchise began operation in 2006 and won the International Title in 2006 and 2007. The Elkhart Express officially released news that they were folding under bankruptcy on January 5, 2009. In January 2010, head coach and founder Daimon Beathea announced that the Express would return for the 2010 season, but those plans never came to fruition.

Parks and recreation

The city has 35 different facilities including parks, pavilions, a waterpark, a public pool, a softball complex, two skateparks, greenways, and the downtown riverwalk, which now features an ice-skating/roller-blading path (depending on the time of year).

The NIBCO Water and Ice Park in downtown Elkhart was dedicated in 2007. It is a year-round park with an ice skating path in the winter and a splash pad in the summer. A spray park was built at McNaughton Park in 2007.

Rainbow Park is notable because it is both a park and a residential front yard. It is a popular recreation destination for the house owners and their houseguests.

Wellfield Botanic Gardens on North Main Street is a 36-acre "living museum" offering over 20 individually themed gardens and public events throughout the year.

Government
The mayor of Elkhart is Rod Roberson, a Democrat, and the first African American to be elected mayor. The government consists of a mayor and a city council. The mayor is elected in a citywide vote. The city council consists of nine members—six are elected from individual districts, while three are elected at large.

Public schools
Three school districts serve sections of Elkhart:
 * The Baugo Community Schools serve the southwest side of the city and the west central part of the county. That system is made up of one elementary school (Jimtown Elementary), an intermediate, a junior high, and a high school each named Jimtown.
 * The Concord Community Schools serve the southeast side of the city of Elkhart and northwest Goshen. This system consists of four elementary schools (East Side, Ox Bow, South Side, and West Side), an intermediate school, a junior high school, and a high school, all named Concord.
 * The Elkhart Community Schools, the largest district, serve most of the city and the populated northwest side of the county. The system includes fourteen elementary schools (Beardsley, Bristol, Cleveland, Eastwood, Hawthorne, Mary Beck, Mary Daly, Mary Feeser, Monger, Oslo, Pinewood, Riverview, Roosevelt, and Woodland), three middle schools (North Side, Pierre Moran, and West Side), one high school, split between two buildings (Elkhart High School and The Freshman Division), one alternative school (L.I.F.E / Tipton Street Center), and the Elkhart Area Career Center.

Private schools
In addition to the public schools, four private religious schools serve the city. Elkhart Christian Academy (grades K-12), Trinity Lutheran School (K-8), St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School (grades K-8), and St. Thomas the Apostle School (grades K-8) are located in Elkhart. Additionally, Two private secular schools exist: The Montessori School of Elkhart on Montessori Drive runs from pre-K through Grade 6. Cornerstone Christian Montessori School (K-6)

Higher education

 * Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary has been at its south-side location since 1958.
 * Bethel College of neighboring Mishawaka has a small location on the city's south side.
 * Beulah Bible College & Seminary has been at its southwest location since 1995. It is the first H.B.C. in Elkhart.
 * Indiana Institute of Technology has a small operation on Middlebury Street on the city's east side.
 * Indiana University South Bend, which is the third largest of the Indiana University campuses, operates an Elkhart Center located in the city's downtown area. The center moved to its downtown location in August 2007.
 * Ivy Tech Community College is a statewide system of community colleges, as well as the second largest institution of higher education in the state of Indiana, and has a campus directly off County Road 17, which is a fast-growing commercial and industrial corridor.

Media
The Elkhart Truth is the main newspaper that serves the city of Elkhart and the county.

Elkhart lies in the South Bend-Elkhart television market, the 89th largest in the United States as of 2008. One television station, WSJV-TV (Heroes & Icons Network) is located in the city, along with a number of radio stations including WTRC, WAOR, WCMR, WFRN-FM, and WVPE (NPR). Elkhart is also served by CBS affiliate WSBT-TV, based in Mishawaka, and six stations in South Bend: WNDU-TV (NBC), WNIT-TV (PBS), WHME-TV (LeSEA), WBND-LD (ABC), WCWW-LD (CW) and WMYS-LD (My Network TV).

Major roads
Elkhart is located on the Indiana Toll Road (Interstates 80/90) at exits 92 and 96 and on the eastern portion of the St. Joseph Valley Parkway (U.S. Route 20) which bypasses the southern side of the city. State Road 19 runs through the city while U.S. Route 33 and State Road 120 terminate in the city. U.S. 33 used to run through the city, and that route was part of the original Lincoln Highway.

Rail
Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, serves the Elkhart Train Station. Two routes, the Capitol Limited and Lake Shore Limited stop at the station, along the former New York Central Railroad line. The Capitol Limited connects Chicago to Washington, DC and the Lake Shore Limited connects Chicago to New York City and Boston. Both lines connect to their eastern destinations via Cleveland with one train offered for each direction on each route daily.

Airports
Elkhart Municipal Airport (EKM) is located on the city's northwest side. No commercial flights are offered, but two charter flight services operate out of the airport. South Bend International Airport (SBN) is the closest airport with commercial airline service.

The Mishawaka Pilots Club Airport (3C1) is just outside the southwest edge of the city of Elkhart. Mishawaka Pilots Club Airport is a privately owned, public-use facility.

Interurban Trolley
Elkhart is a central hub for the Interurban Trolley regional public bus service, which stops at various destinations throughout the city and connects it to neighboring Goshen, Osceola, Dunlap and Mishawaka. It was originally known as the BUS system. The system's name is derived from its use of vintage-trolley-style buses that run between several different cities and towns, evoking the interurban train networks that were common in the United States during the first half of the 20th century. The Interurban Trolley operates each day, except Sundays or major holidays.

Connections to other transit systems
Bittersweet/Mishawaka Route links up with TRANSPO's Route 9 in Mishawaka, which in turn connects riders to downtown South Bend and the South Shore Station, TRANSPO's transit hub. North Pointe Route stops at Elkhart's Greyhound station. Elkhart-Goshen and Concord route both stop near the Elkhart Train Station.

Notable people

 * Erich Barnes, football player
 * Harold S. Bender, theologian
 * Lindsay Benko, gold medalist Olympic swimmer
 * Charles G. Conn, founder of Conn Musical Instruments
 * Lou Criger, first Opening Day catcher in Boston Red Sox history
 * David Darling, classical cellist
 * Nancy DeShone, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
 * Andrea Drews, United States women's national volleyball team
 * Ernestine Evans, prominent journalist, editor, and literary agent
 * Tracy Ferrie, musician
 * Ric Flauding, classical composer
 * Farrah Forke, actress
 * Bill Frink, sportscaster
 * John F. Funk, publisher and Mennonite leader
 * Charles Gordone, Pulitzer Prize dramatist
 * David Gundlach, an insurance company founder and film producer
 * Jean Hagen, actress, lead role in Singin' in the Rain
 * Thomas Hampson, baritone
 * Amber Jacobs, WNBA basketball player
 * Ernie Jones, NFL player (wide receiver)
 * Shawn Kemp, former NBA basketball player
 * Paul W. Klipsch, founder, Klipsch Audio Technologies
 * Alan Kreider, church historian
 * Robert Lim (1897 – 1969) Chinese doctor and Lieutenant General in the Republic of China Army
 * Deirdre Lovejoy, actress
 * Ted Luckenbill, NBA basketball player
 * Clarence C. Moore, engineer, supporter of HCJB and founder of Crown International
 * Philip Myers, principal horn player with the New York Philharmonic
 * Carrie Newcomer, musician, singer, songwriter
 * Peter Reckell, actor
 * Gale Sayers, Chicago Bears, Elkhart County resident.
 * Joe Schoen, NFL general manager
 * Connie Smith, country musician, singer, songwriter
 * Robert Spano, music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Brooklyn Philharmonic
 * Shafer Suggs, Ball State and NFL player
 * George Terlep, professional football player, coach, and general manager
 * Enock Hill Turnock, architect
 * Georgy Vins, pastor, human right activist, Soviet dissident
 * Rich Wingo, linebacker for the Green Bay Packers
 * John Howard Yoder, theologian and ethicist

Twin towns - sister cities
Elkhart has four sister cities as designated by Sister Cities International.

 * Burton upon Trent, England, United Kingdom
 * 🇧🇬 Kardzhali, Bulgaria
 * Tongxiang, China
 * 🇲🇽 Apan, México

title: Elkhart, Indiana


text:
Middlebury, Indiana

Middlebury is a town in Middlebury Township, Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. It is located approximately 35 miles east of South Bend, 130 miles east of Chicago, Illinois and 165 miles north of Indianapolis. Middlebury is nestled in Northern Indiana's Amish country. As of the 2010 census, the town population was 3,420.

Geography
Middlebury sits on the banks of the Little Elkhart River in the middle of a mix of rolling hills and rural farm land.

According to the 2010 census, Middlebury has a total area of 3.78 sqmi, of which 3.76 sqmi (or 99.47%) is land and 0.02 sqmi (or 0.53%) is water.

History
Before the Europeans came to the region, the Miami and later the Potawatomi ruled the area. That changed in 1832, when the first settlers came from Middlebury, Vermont. They chose this specific area because the rolling hills reminded them of Vermont. Later, in 1841, the first Amish families came from Somerset County, Pennsylvania and settled in the countryside surrounding the town. Middlebury Township was organized in 1834 and the town of Middlebury was finally incorporated in 1868.

In 1888, the railroad came to Middlebury and began to diversify the town's economy to include manufacturing as well as farming.

2010 census
As of the census,  of 2010, there were 3,420 people, 1,263 households, and 822 families residing in the town. The population density was 911.1 PD/sqmi. There were 1,341 housing units at an average density of 357.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 95.6% White, 0.6% African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.1% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.2% of the population.

There were 1,263 households, of which 35.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.11.

The population was spread out, with 29.0% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $54,714, and the median income for a family was $68,273. Males had a median income of $48,894 versus $34,688 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,825. 2.5% of families and 4.0% of the population were living below the poverty line, including 6.3% under eighteens and 7.1% of those over 65.

Education
The Middlebury Community School system attracts many families to the area. The grade alignment is K-3, 4-5, 6-8, and 9-12. Northridge opened in 1969 and replaced the aging Middlebury and Jefferson Township High Schools. The high school moved into a new building for the 2008-09 school year; the old high school became Northridge Middle School and Heritage Middle School became an intermediate school.

Jefferson Elementary was torn down and replaced in 1998 shortly after Orchard View had opened in 1995.

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

Economy
Middlebury's economy is based on farming, manufacturing, and tourism. A $95,000 earmark was included in the federal FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations Bill to fund "Middlebury Economic Development, IN for development of a comprehensive plan for economic development that takes into account infrastructure needs, land use planning, and downtown redevelopment while balancing the needs of the large Amish population with that of the broader community."

Industry
Four major manufacturers of recreational vehicles, Grand Design, Winnebago, Jayco and Coachmen RV, have production facilities in Middlebury. Culver Duck Farms, the 2nd largest white pekin duck producer in the United States is located in Middlebury, shipping 70,000+ ducks a week worldwide. Syndicate Systems' largest facility, for the manufacture of retail shelving is also located in town. Middlebury is home to bus manufacturer ARBOC Specialty Vehicles. The Meijer Central Kitchen produces deli salads, deli sandwiches, cookies, and sub buns for the entire Meijer department store chain and is also a distribution center.

Tourism
Much of Middlebury's tourism revolves around Das Dutchman Essenhaus. The Amish-themed restaurant, inn, conference center, and shops serve over 750,000 people every year. The facility also has a wholesale food operation on site which ships various home-made products.

The town is also home to Krider World's Fair Garden and the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail.

Notable people

 * Joanna King, member of the Indiana House of Representatives
 * Eric Stults, pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers
 * Justin Yoder, soapbox driver

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

title: Middlebury, Indiana


text:
Nappanee, Indiana

Nappanee is a city in Elkhart and Kosciusko counties in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 6,648 as of the 2010 U.S. Census and had grown to 6,913 by the 2020 U.S. Census. The name Nappanee is thought to mean "flour" in the Algonquian language.

History
Several hundred years ago, the indigenous Mound Builders built their settlements in an area to the north of the city's marshes. Pottawatomi arrived in the area from near Green Bay, Wisconsin in the 1700s, partially displacing the previous Miami inhabitants. The Pottawatomis had settlements on the Elkhart River at Elkhart, Goshen, and Waterford, and at Monoquet between Leesburg and Warsaw in what became Kosciusko County, Indiana. Thus, the Plymouth-Goshen Road near Nappanee probably follows the course of an old Indian Trail. The first European settlers came to the area in 1830, as various treaties and a process the Pottawatomi call the "Trail of Death" led to the relocation of Native Americans away from their traditional territories.

Railroad town
By 1870, seven farms had been established and forty people were settled around Nappanee. Locke Township had been founded in 1836 and named after Samuel Lockwood, and by 1863 a settlement called Wisler Town existed, but the actual platting of the village of Locke Town, approximately six miles from Nappanee, took place in December 1867. It would receive its last addition in 1874, the year that Nappanee was platted (on December 12, 1874).

The B&O Railroad sought a route westward from Sandusky, Ohio to the booming inland port of Chicago, Illinois in 1872. While the land around what became Nappanee and nearby Bremen was flat, permitting a straight crossing from Walkerton, it was also marshy, which led to various engineering challenges. The section through Nappanee was finally completed as a single track in the late summer of 1874 and replaced by steel rails in 1882. Farmers sold the railroad land so that its tracks would run right next to Nappanee on its route to Chicago, although the railroad was unable to acquire the five acres needed to build a side track to the existing town of Locke. Nonetheless, on December 6, 1874, about three weeks after the railroad reached the outskirts of Chicago, it commenced service to what it first called Locke's Station. By the month's end, Daniel Metzler, Henry Stahly, and John Culp Jr. had platted the town of Nappanee; Culp gave the railroad three acres for a station and Metzler two acres. By 1875, trains arrived almost daily at the new depot and discharged freight and passengers. The Eby brothers of Locke said they suggested the name because they came from Napanee, Ontario; one of the Metzlers said their father selected the name in part because of its native American connotations. Over time the B&O Railroad eventually became CSX.

Development
The town's first industry was a sawmill, and later additions were box-making, charcoal, and furniture businesses. The first brickyard (using local resources) was established before 1879. The first canning company was established in 1894, and a hemp factory was built by 1913. The hemp factory never reached full capacity, and was burned down in 1920, not rebuilt. Mobile home construction had started in Elkhart and Goshen by World War II, and the Walco and Franklin Coach Company were built in Nappanee after the war. Once the land was cleared, corn and wheat were planted, and agriculture has long been important in the area. By the early 20th century, onions had become a major crop (inspiring an autumn festival), and other farmer-entrepreneurs grew hemp, spearmint and peppermint.

Nappanee was governed as a township from 1874 until 1889 when it incorporated as a town (then electing a town marshal and establishing a fire company and soon a waterworks). The town library was started as a ladies' subscription service in 1895 and became a public library in 1925 after sufficient building funds were amassed to purchase an existing house, although a dedicated building wasn't opened until 1937. In 1895, some tried to establish a college in Nappanee, but unlike various fellowships and fraternal and literary societies, the proposal never was implemented. In 1925 Nappanee incorporated as a city. Early in the 20th century, various Nappanee natives became noted cartoonists, including Merrill Blosser, Max Gwin, Bill Holman, Fred Neher and Henry Maust, and political cartoonist Francis (Mike) Parks was educated in Nappanee before working for New York, Omaha and San Francisco newspapers. A marker outside the public library notes Nappanee's cartooning history. The Frank and Katharine Coppes House, Downtown Nappanee Historic District, Arthur Miller House, Nappanee Eastside Historic District, Nappanee West Park and Pavilion, and Stahly-Nissley-Kuhns Farm are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

A tornado touched down in Nappanee around 10:30 PM on 18 October 2007, injuring at least five people and damaging 200 to 250 buildings, half of them severely. The tornado was classified as an EF3. The damage included three recreational vehicle factories that are among the community's largest employers: Fairmont Homes, Franklin Coach, and Gulf Stream Coach.

Amish migration to Nappanee
The Amish religious group that broke off from the Mennonites was formed in 1525 in Switzerland as part of the Radical Reformation and quickly spread to Germany and the Netherlands. As a more radical branch of the wider Protestant Reformation against Catholic practices, the Mennonites were vigorously persecuted by religious and worldly authorities. During the last decade of the 17th century a group from the Mennonites led by Jakob Ammann separated to form the Amish group which was named after its leader.

During the 18th century, the Amish were attracted to the promise of religious freedom in William Penn's colony and thus settled in Pennsylvania. Amish then migrated to Middlebury in 1841 coming from Holmes County, Ohio, where they had migrated to from Pennsylvania, starting in 1809. Nappanee's Amish originate from the early Amish immigrants from southwest Germany, notably the Palatinate, to Pennsylvania in the middle of the 18th century.

Amish families who became Old Order Amish in the second half of the 19th century first arrived in southwest Elkhart County in the early 1840s, and various other religious conservative denominations followed them. The First Mennonite Church in the area was founded in 1854, but members worshiped in homes, then built a schoolhouse in 1867 and also used it for services for several years (as did other denominations with their permission).

The first permanent building was erected in 1878, two years after the United Brethren Church moved from the schoolhouse into its own building (only to sell it and build a new building in 1888 and remodel it in 1928). Nappanee is still surrounded by family farms of conservative Anabaptists, including the Amish, Mennonites, and the Schwarzenau Brethren.

National Register of Historic Places

 * Arthur Miller House
 * Frank and Katharine Coppes House
 * Downtown Nappanee Historic District
 * Nappanee Eastside Historic District
 * Nappanee West Park and Pavilion
 * Stahly–Nissley–Kuhns Farm

Geography
According to the 2010 census, the city has a total area of 4.15 sqmi of land.

Nappanee is now surrounded by fertile farmland as the headwaters of the Wabash River in northern Indiana, but initially was one of the least desirable areas of what became Elkhart County, due to dense woods and widespread swamps, particularly tamarack marshes. The water drains into two watersheds—precipitation south of what became Market Street drains into the Wabash River, thence to the Ohio River, Mississippi River, and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico. Precipitation north of Market Street drains into the Great Lakes, and ultimately the St. Lawrence River and the Atlantic Ocean.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 6,648 people, 2,545 households, and 1,792 families residing in the city. The population density was 1601.9 PD/sqmi. There were 2,852 housing units at an average density of 687.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 94.8% White, 0.7% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.4% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.2% of the population.

There were 2,545 households, of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.6% were non-families. 24.6% 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 2.60 and the average family size was 3.09.

The median age in the city was 34.8 years. 27.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.6% were from 25 to 44; 23.4% were from 45 to 64; and 12.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.9% male and 51.1% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,710 people, 2,521 households, and 1,792 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,818.9 PD/sqmi. There were 2,647 housing units at an average density of 717.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 95.48% White, 0.28% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 2.52% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.98% of the population.

There were 2,521 households, out of which 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 23.9% 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 2.65 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the city the population was spread out, with 29.7% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 17.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,988, and the median income for a family was $53,329. Males had a median income of $36,200 versus $21,733 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,229. About 4.5% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.

Amish community
There is a large Amish community founded in 1842, centered around the Nappanee. It is the sixth largest of all Amish settlements with 5,910 people (in 43 congregations) in 2017.

Education
The Wa-nee group of schools is the combination of Wakarusa, a neighboring town, and Nappanee area schools. Over 375 teachers and staff are employed with Wa-nee Community Schools. Throughout the state, Wa-nee is known for its strong academic, extracurricular, and athletic programs.

 * NorthWood High School - Recently given the Indiana Chamber of Commerce “Best Buy Schools” distinction for quality education with conscientious use of taxpayer dollars.
 * NorthWood Middle School and Wakarusa Elementary - Both schools are part of the Wa-nee Community Schools, and are located in Wakarusa.
 * Nappanee Elementary - Located within Nappanee
 * Woodview Elementary - Constructed as a structural mirror image to Wakarusa Elementary. Sits on the outskirts of Nappanee.

The Nappanee Public Library serves as a free lending library.

Transportation
Until train service ceased on March 7, 2005, Nappanee station was a stop on Amtrak's Three Rivers train with service to Chicago and New York.

Economy
Nappanee is a regional center for both the recreational vehicle manufacturing industry and the Amish craft and tourism industry. Many Amish and Mennonite families live in the area, employed in the farming industry as well as working in the recreational vehicle industry or woodworking trade. Following a devastating tornado in 2007, Nappanee suffered a sluggish economy and slow recovery, resulting in significant job losses for the city. It has since recovered. Since 2014, the town has been home to a major bus assembly plant owned by British maker Alexander Dennis.

Amish Acres
Amish Acres was founded by Richard Pletcher. It is a historic farm and heritage resort which embodies a preserved barn and Amish house that help to "Embrace the Pace" as Nappanee's slogan implies. Amish Acres celebrates the Amish and shows features of their lifestyle. Amish Acre's original preserved Round Barn was relocated to it current location, and within it was constructed a theater in order to present shows. In addition to viewing plays at Amish Acres, tourists can also experience authentic Amish-style cooking. Amish Acres offers other activities such as tours of an Amish house and a horse-drawn carriage ride. Amish Acres is home to Nappanee's Arts and Crafts Festival.

The Nappanee Apple Festival
The Nappanee Apple Festival is held annually on the third week of September, lasting 3½ days. It consists of 100 craft booths, 50 commercial booths, 20 food vendors, two stages for entertainment, a large parade and an airplane flyover on Saturday morning. Nappanee annually bakes a seven-foot-wide apple pie that weighs 600 pounds. Every year an Apple Blossom Queen is chosen from NorthWood High School. The Nappanee Apple Festival attracted over 76,000 people in 2011 and is one of the largest festivals in the State of Indiana. Over 200 people from Nappanee volunteer to help with the Apple Festival each year. Other events include an apple peeling contest, 5K road run, half marathon, apple pie eating contests, goldfish races, wings & wheels show (cars and airplanes), tractor pull, farm tractor and antique farm equipment show, apple baking contest, kids and adult pedal pull contests, talent show, and a scholarship pageant.

Amish Acres Arts & Crafts Festival
Richard Pletcher, founder of the festival and Amish Acres, remains CEO and Jennifer Pletcher Wysong is the festival director. The festival and marketplace takes place around Amish Acre's pond. Amish Acres has received many awards, making its way onto The American Bus Association's list of TOP 100 Events in North America in 2012. This achievement was awarded four times in seven years. Readers of Sunshine Artist magazine rank the Art and Crafts Festival as the third-best Classic and Contemporary Craft Show in America. The Art festival was also listed at the number one in the category of "best attractions for group travel in Indiana" in Travel Trade Magazine. Senior Group Traveler selected the Arts and Craft Festival as one of only seventy "Editor's Choice of Outstanding Festivals and Major Events"; the Art and Craft Festival being the only one chosen from Indiana. Amish Acre's Art and Craft Festival attracts people from areas as far as Chicago, Indianapolis, Toledo, and Detroit. Amish Acre's grounds can support up to 300 booths which consist of 250 different cities from all 50 states, as well as over 40 different countries.

Parks
There are nine parks in the City of Nappanee. They are:

 * Borkholder Nature Center & Wetlands
 * Callander Sportsplex
 * McCormick Creek Golf Course
 * Nappanee Dog Park
 * Recovery Park
 * South Park
 * Stauffer Park
 * Wellfield Park
 * West Park

Notable people

 * Merrill Blosser, (Freckles and His Friends)
 * David Crane, creator of Pitfall! and co-founder of Activision
 * Vance George, conductor of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus from 1982 to 2006
 * Bill Holman, (Smokey Stover)
 * Fred Neher, (Life’s Like That)
 * Bob Rensberger, (1921–2007), a professional basketball player for the Chicago Stags
 * Diane Meyer Simon, environmental activist and former wife of Herbert Simon

Twin city

 * 🇨🇦 Greater Napanee, Ontario

title: Nappanee, Indiana


text:
New Paris, Indiana

New Paris is a census-designated place (CDP) in Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,494 at the 2010 census.

History
New Paris was laid out in 1839 by settlers from Preble County, Ohio. It was likely named after New Paris, Ohio. By the 1890s, New Paris had become a shipping point at the junction of two railroads.

Geography
New Paris is located in Jackson Township (T35N R6E).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.5 km2, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,006 people, 377 households, and 286 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,209.3 PD/sqmi. There were 390 housing units at an average density of 468.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.71% White, 0.10% Native American, 1.19% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.99% of the population.

There were 377 households, out of which 34.7% had children over the age of 18 living with them, 63.1% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.9% were non-families. 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 29.7% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $42,446, and the median income for a family was $47,917. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $24,038 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,270. About 4.3% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Schools
New Paris Elementary School was built in 1920 and served originally as a K-12 school. Fairfield Junior-Senior High School was created in 1968, and subsequently served as the secondary school fed by New Paris and Millersburg Elementary School. In 1999, a new elementary school named Benton Elementary School opened to serve the rural areas of New Paris and Millersburg. The enrollment at New Paris Elementary dropped as a result of Benton, but over time enrollment returned to historic levels. In 2004, construction began on a new elementary school that was in a more rural area of New Paris.

Sunnyside Park
The park is a lightly stocked fishing and recreational pond with a nearby park building and several veterans' memorials. There is also a playground and outdoor pavilion.

In 2007, the park building was renovated and the parking areas were paved.

title: New Paris, Indiana


text:
Simonton Lake, Indiana

Simonton Lake is a census-designated place (CDP) in Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. The population was 4,678 at the 2010 census.

History
The community takes its name from the lake. Simonton Lake was named for Samuel Simonton, a 19th-century farmer.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 10.5 km2, of which 9.2 km2 is land and 1.2 km2, or 11.68%, is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,053 people, 1,567 households, and 1,181 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,243.0 PD/sqmi. There were 1,636 housing units at an average density of 501.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.77% White, 1.63% African American, 0.25% Native American, 1.55% Asian, 0.64% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.52% of the population.

There were 1,567 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.2% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.6% were non-families. 19.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% 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 2.96.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 24.6% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $56,539, and the median income for a family was $58,359. Males had a median income of $41,688 versus $26,901 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $27,327. About 2.4% of families and 2.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.8% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education
It is served by Elkhart Community Schools.

title: Simonton Lake, Indiana


text:
Wakarusa, Indiana

Wakarusa is a town in Harrison and Olive townships in Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,758 at the 2010 census.

Wakarusa is a small farming and manufacturing community located on Indiana 19 just north of Indiana 119. The town is 12 mi south of Elkhart, 25 mi southeast of South Bend, 120 mi east of Chicago, and 140 mi north of Indianapolis.

Geography
According to the 2010 census, Wakarusa has a total area of 2.277 sqmi, of which 2.2 sqmi (or 96.62%) is land and 0.077 sqmi (or 3.38%) is water.

History
In 1836, rural Olive Township was formed in western Elkhart County, and in 1849, as the population grew, a post office named Mt. Olive opened. After more population growth, a new village named Salem was established to prevent people from having to travel to either Goshen or Elkhart to conduct business. Since there is already a town named Salem in Indiana, the name was changed to Wakarusa in 1859. The Mt. Olive Post Office was renamed for Wakarusa a year later.

Railroad - In 1891 work began on the Wabash Railroad line through town, with the official opening of the line in the spring of 1893. The line, which connected Chicago with Montpelier, Ohio, became part of the Norfolk & Western Railway in 1964 and lasted until the 1980s. Today, the original Wabash depot along with two Norfolk & Western rail cars are featured along with many other displays at the Wakarusa Historical Museum.

The etymology of the name "Wakarusa" is not known. According to tradition, the name Wakarusa is from a Native American language, meaning "knee-deep in mud". A more recent source claims a settler named it after a location in Kansas.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,758 people, 665 households, and 448 families residing in the town. The population density was 799.1 PD/sqmi. There were 717 housing units at an average density of 325.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 96.0% White, 1.0% African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.4% of the population.

There were 665 households, of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.6% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17% 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 3.09.

The median age in the town was 42 years. 24.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.1% were from 25 to 44; 23.7% were from 45 to 64, and 22.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 45.8% male and 54.2% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,618 people, 595 households, and 427 families residing in the town. The population density was 716.0 PD/sqmi. There were 618 housing units at an average density of 273.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.34% White, 0.49% African American, 0.19% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.48% of the population.

There were 595 households, out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% 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 3.04.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $41,515, and the median income for a family was $50,833. Males had a median income of $36,014 versus $25,300 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,615. About 3.2% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Neighboring Nappanee and Wakarusa combined their school systems in the 1970s to create the Wa-Nee Community Schools.

The town has a free lending library, the Wakarusa-Olive & Harrison Township Public Library.

Religion
Wakarusa has Wakarusa Missionary Church, which is the Missionary Church denomination based out of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Other churches include a Bible Baptist Church, a Methodist church, Holdemen Mennonite Church, and Olive Mennonite Church just outside Wakarusa.

Notable people

 * J. Wayne Fredericks, American diplomat
 * Gale Sayers, Chicago Bears Hall of Fame running back

Economy
Originally solely a farming community, a lumber mill opened in 1866. By the 1880s, several factories and businesses existed, despite the fact that the railroad would not roll into town until 1893. At one point, three different lumber mills operated in the town, though none exist today.

Today, Wakarusa continues to have a thriving farming economy and has two grain mills within the town's limits. Wakarusa's location in Elkhart County places it within a strong industrial area, and because of this, multiple manufacturers are located in the area. Recreational vehicle manufacturing, modular home manufacturing and custom truck production are the base of the industrial economy. Forest River employs nearly 600 in the RV industry.

It was announced in February 2012 that Utilimaster, a manufacturer of walk-in vans and commercial truck bodies, was moving all of its manufacturing and headquarters to nearby Bristol, about 20 minutes to the northeast in Elkhart County. Since then, RV company Forest River has purchased nearly all of the buildings and currently employs around 600 in Wakarusa.

On July 17, 2008, Monaco Coach Corporation announced the closing of its Wakarusa production plant and laid off its approximately 1400 workers. Since then, the massive complex has been bought by Thor Industries, and they are using it for multiple operations for some of their RV brands. Currently, they employ around 700.

Today, the historic town center has several antique shops, hair salons, a furniture store, a hardware store, a general contractor, a florist, an I.T. business, a mechanic, insurance companies, restaurants, and a dime store candy shop that sells locally made maple syrup and jumbo jelly beans to a small but growing number of regional tourists.

Festivals
Once a year, the town hosts the Maple Syrup Festival and holds a parade as well as other activities associated with small-town celebrations. The festival was started in 1969 by the then Chamber of Progress. Originally held in March, the festival now occurs during the end of April.

title: Wakarusa, Indiana


text:
Connersville, Indiana

Connersville is a city in Fayette County, Indiana, United States, 66 mi east by southeast of Indianapolis. The population was 13,324 at the 2020 census. The city is the county seat of and the largest and only incorporated town in Fayette County. The city is in the center of a large rural area of east central Indiana; the nearest significant city is Richmond, 26 mi to the northeast by road. Connersville is home to the county's only high school. The local economy relies on manufacturing, retail, and healthcare to sustain itself. However, there has been a consistent decline in both employment and population since the 1960s, placing it among the least affluent areas in the state, as indicated by measures such as median household income and other economic indicators.

The city is among the oldest cities in Indiana and the former Indiana Territory, having been established in 1813 by its namesake, John Conner.

History
Connersville is named for settler John Conner, older brother of William Conner, an early Indiana settler and politician. There was also, at least through 1795, Connerstown, a small Shawnee village near Lancaster, Ohio, named for John's father, Richard Conner.

Whitewater Valley and pre-European inhabitants
The Whitewater River valley running north-south through eastern Indiana and southwestern Ohio was created by the Late Wisconsin Glaciation ending 13,600 years ago. Fayette County was at the southern fringe of the glaciation at that time. The Ice Age was punctuated by several prolonged warm periods during which the glaciers disappeared entirely from the temperate latitudes and a climate similar to today or even warmer prevailed. The flood waters produced resulted in lakes; breaching of the lakes resulted in rivers and streams carving the hills and valleys seen today.

In the Northwest Territory during the latter half of the 18th century, the Miami Indians were dominant in the region, but the Potawatomi and Shawnee had a significant presence. Delaware Indians, displaced from their eastern homelands by European settlement, migrated west and settled along the forks of the Whitewater River. The Whitewater and Ohio River valleys had also been inhabited earlier by other Native Americans called mound builders for their characteristic large burial mounds still in evidence today.

The geological aspects of the Whitewater River Valley contributed to early settlement after defeat of the Delaware Indians by General Anthony Wayne at Fallen Timbers in 1794, followed on August 3, 1795, by the Treaty of Greenville ceding most of Ohio and a sliver of southeastern Indiana to the United States. The valley, running south and southeasterly from east central Indiana to the Ohio River Valley, provided a convenient conduit for migration through Fort Washington (Cincinnati) from points east, settlements on the Ohio River, and settlers from Kentucky to northern and central Indiana Territory. Squatters engaged in agriculture and trading were occupying federal lands well before land sales in Indiana Territory began in 1801. An Indian trail paralleled the river from the Ohio Valley northward to the forks, then went along the East Fork to Eli Creek, thence taking a northwesterly direction passing through what was later Connersville, and then on to the Delaware villages strung along the White River from north of present-day Indianapolis to modern Muncie.

Conner's Post
John Conner, his brother William, and others arrived in the Whitewater Valley from south central Ohio in 1802, establishing a fur trading post in an unpopulated area near what was later to become Cedar Grove on the Whitewater River (Franklin County) at the very fringe of the European penetration into the wilderness of Indiana. By 1808, as a result of reduction of Indian hunting grounds by treaty, the trading post, known as "Conner's Post", had been relocated 20 mi north at the Whitewater River junction with an Indian trail between the Ohio River 70 mi to the southeast and hunting grounds to the north. According to research by J. L. Heineman, the trading post was located in the middle of what is now Eastern Avenue, at the west end of Charles Street. At that time, the region was inhabited by Delaware Indians. In 1809, the Treaty of Fort Wayne was signed, by the terms of which the land locally known as the "Twelve Mile Purchase" was ceded by the Indians to the government. This tract included a strip 12 mi in width lying west of the 1795 Greenville treaty line that ran from the midpoint of the Indiana/Ohio border southwest to the Ohio River, cutting off a thin wedge of southeastern Indiana. The strip included most of Fayette County except the extreme northern portion (part of the later "New Purchase"). Sales of public land by the United States government in Indiana began in 1801. In that year the Cincinnati, Ohio, Land Office began selling land in a wedge of government land in southeastern Indiana known as the "Gore" (organized as Dearborn County in 1803) which included all of what is today Fayette County. Conner obtained title to his plat in 1811.

First 50 years – through the Civil War
The exodus of the Delaware Indians from Indiana after the War of 1812, completed by June 1813, deprived John Conner of his field for trading. After 1812, Indian resistance to settlement in the Indiana Territory became nearly non-existent, so Conner busied himself with another task.

John Conner laid out the town on the north side of the west fork of the Whitewater River in March 1813, adjacent to the fur trading post. The original plat was for 62 lots bounded by what are today Central Avenue to the west and Water Street to the east, Third Street to the south, and Sixth Street to the north. The first constructions in the town were a saw mill and grist mill north of town utilizing water power, and a general store and distillery in town. The influx of settlers was initially sparse – as late as 1815, there were only four cabins in the town. The boundary lines for Fayette County were established in December 1818, and Connersville was chosen as the county seat.

Conner served briefly as sheriff of the newly organized Fayette County. In 1820, he helped plat the new capital of Indianapolis, and in 1822 relocated his fur trading business to Noblesville, north of Indianapolis. He also served as state senator and representative. He died in Indianapolis in April 1826 and was buried there. No trace remains of his grave.

The first post office in Connersville opened in January, 1818. The first courthouse was started in 1819 and finished in 1822. The first newspaper, the Indiana Statesman, was started in 1824. The first church in the village was Presbyterian, constructed in 1824. A seminary building was constructed in 1828, later razed, and the first regular school building in Connersville was constructed on the site in 1858. The Indiana Gazetteer in 1833 stated the population of Connersville as 500. The village was incorporated as a town in 1841. Connersville served as an important link on the Whitewater Canal that opened in1847and connected the Whitewater River and the Ohio River. The canal ceased to be used for through traffic in 1849, though limited local commerce continued. The first railroad, the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Indianapolis Railroad, reached Connersville in 1862. It extended from Rushville through Connersville and Oxford to Hamilton, Ohio.

For many years prior to the Civil War, and even for some time after, the main industries of the town were milling, pork packing, and woolen manufacturing.

In 1857, a separate village, East Connersville, was platted on the south bank of the west fork of the Whitewater River, and had its own government. It was annexed by Connersville some time in the 1920s.

Early growth – pre-industrial age
The Roots blower, a type of air turbine, was invented by the Roots brothers in Connersville in the 1850s, patented in 1859, and manufactured in Connersville for over 150 years.

The town of Connersville became a chartered city in June 1869, and William H. Beck was chosen as its first mayor. The first high school opened in 1875. In 1882, James H. Fearis of Connersville started the Bell telephone exchange. The Connersville Electric Light Company commenced operations in August 1890 as the first supplier of electric power in the city. Central Avenue was paved with brick in 1902, and became the first paved street in the city.

Prior to the advent of automotive manufacturing, Connersville for decades was colloquially known as the "furniture and buggy town" because of the dominance of those two industries in the town.

In 1898, Stant was founded in Connersville, and became the world's largest producer of piano tuning pins.

During the school year 1906–07, Dr. W. Otto Miessner established the first public high school band in the U.S. at Connersville High School.

Automotive and industrial age to 1960s
In the early 20th century, the town became known as "Little Detroit" because of its importance to the automobile industry, with over 500,000 jeep bodies produced in the town during the Second World War. Automobiles manufacturing in Connersville began as early as 1909 and included Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg, Ansted, Empire, Lexington, and McFarlan. The Willys MB Jeep body was manufactured in Connersville during the 1940s. Much of the western portion of town was occupied by light industry for the 150 years prior to 1990. Companies included Roots Blower (later Dresser Industries), Stant, McQuay-Norris, Design & Manufacturing Co. (D&M), H. H. Robertson, Visteon, and Philco Ford.

McQuay-Norris, manufacturer of auto parts based in St. Louis, got its start in Connersville in 1921 by the acquisition of Wainwright Engineering, a privately held local company manufacturing automotive engines. In 1969, it was acquired by Eaton, Yale & Towne, and closed its Connersville and Indianapolis plants in 1983.

Design & Manufacturing (D&M) company got its start when Rex Regenstrief purchased American Kitchens in 1958 and renamed the company. By 1972, D&M controlled 25% of the nation’s dishwasher market. Design & Manufacturing’s assets were sold to White Consolidated Industries in 1987 and the firm was dissolved in 1990.

Architectural Products Division of H. H. Robertson purchased land owned by the defunct Lexington Motor Car Company in February 1960. Robertson was a victim of hard times for the industry in the late 1980s and the Connersville plant was merged with operations in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, starting in 1986.

Decline from 1960s onward
The 1980s were the beginning of the end for Connersville automotive manufacturing, which had been on the wane for more than a decade. Due to high cost of local union labor and economies of scale elsewhere, most industry departed in the 1980s and 1990s. Connersville union labor decreased from a high of 10,000 to about 600 workers in 2012. Connersville’s role in automobile manufacturing ceased when the Visteon factory shut down in 2007. Part of the decline may be logistical – with the construction of the interstate highway system in the 1950s, Connersville found itself not directly in line with routes between major cities: Interstate 70 from Indianapolis to Columbus, Ohio, Interstate 74 from Indianapolis to Cincinnati, and U.S. Route 40 from Indianapolis to Richmond, none intersecting Connersville. The former Roots Blower/Dresser Industries, now GE Energy, remains, but with a skeleton staff of fewer than 100 full-time employees. Stant also remains with a little over 200 employees. There are still some furniture making, machine shops, and other local manufacturing establishments.

In March 2014, the city declared a fiscal emergency when revenue fell short of expenses, and the city nearly fell into bankruptcy.

Geography
Connersville is oriented roughly north-south. The center of town is roughly Central Ave and 5th street in the southern portion.

According to the 2010 census, Connersville has a total area of 7.755 sqmi, of which 7.74 sqmi (or 99.81%) is land and 0.015 sqmi (or 0.19%) is water.

Demographics

As of 2019, the population is estimated to be 12,796 people. About 55% of Fayette county's population lives in the town.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 13,481 people, 5,582 households, and 3,506 families residing in the city. The population density was 1739.5 PD/sqmi. There were 6,450 housing units at an average density of 832.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 95.7% White, 2.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.0% of the population.

There were 5,582 households, of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.9% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.2% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.95.

The median age in the city was 39.4 years. 24.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.3% were from 25 to 44; 25.6% were from 45 to 64; and 17.7% 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 15,411 people, 6,382 households, and 4,135 families residing in the city.

Religion
About 44% of the population is affiliated with a religious congregation. 25% are Roman Catholic, followed by United Methodist, Southern Baptist, and non-denominational Christian. In town, there are churches representing Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Reformed Episcopal and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint faiths, as well as about a dozen non-denominational Christian churches. There are also a number of Pentecostal (including Charismatic and Revival) churches and organizations.

Culture
Fayette County Public Library is located in the city.

A golf course west of town is known as Willowbrook Country Club.

Connersville has an indoor movie theater, Showtime Cinemas.

A football field at the high school on Ranch Road hosts high school events like gymnastics, track and field, etc.

Overnight and long-term camping are available at the Whitewater River Campground south of town. The Heritage MusicFest takes place every year in June at the campground. Local bands ranging in style from bluegrass to rock perform.

Parks and preserves
Roberts Park, located in the northeast corner of town, contains a public pool, community center, grandstand, and racetrack. It hosts the annual Fayette County Free Fair, a week-long event held late in the summer.

Whitewater Memorial State Park is located adjacent to 5260 acre Brookville Lake about 10 mi southeast by east of Connersville near Liberty, Indiana.

Manlove Park, about 8 mi northwest of downtown near Milton, is a recreation area around Manlove Lake.

Shrader-Weaver Woods Nature Preserve, about 4 mi northwest of Connersville, is 108 acre of pristine old growth woodland offering hiking, sightseeing and bird watching.

The Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary, over 700 acre of forest, meadow, prairie, and ponds, provides hiking, picnicking, camping. and bird watching. It is located about 5 mi southwest of Connersville.

Doc-O-Lake, a 50 acre lake and recreation area 7 mi north of town, features camping, boating and limited fishing (not a stocked lake).

Cemeteries
Connersville City Cemetery in the middle of town, Dale Cemetery just west of downtown, and Tullis Chapel Cemetery 3 mi southwest of town, are the only local cemeteries. There are a few private and church cemeteries located in outlying unincorporated areas.

Historic places

Elmhurst, an estate south of town on State Road 121 and built in 1831, was the home of Caleb Blood Smith, who served in Abraham Lincoln's cabinet. It also serves as the site of an annual re-enactment of the American Civil War. The estate was formerly known as Conners Elm Park.

The Whitewater Valley Railroad is a 19 mi long operating scenic railroad and museum between Connersville and Metamora.

Fayette County Historical Museum is located in the city, as is the Canal House, built in 1842 as headquarters for the Whitewater Canal Company,

In addition to the Canal House and Elmhurst, the Fayette County Courthouse and Roberts Park are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Transportation
There is no commercial air or bus service to Connersville. There is Amtrak (passenger) and CSX (freight) rail service. The Whitewater River, while mostly navigable, is not commercially viable as a means of transportation.

Freight moves into and out of Connersville by truck, principally via State Road 1 north and Interstate 70 to Indianapolis, and State Road 1 south, U.S. Route 52, and Interstate 74 to Cincinnati. State Road 44 is mostly local and in-county traffic. SR 1 and SR 44 are both narrow two-lane state roads. The nearest large cities are Cincinnati 58 mi to the southeast; Indianapolis 66 mi to the west; Dayton, Ohio, 60 mi. to the east; Louisville, Kentucky, 127 mi to the south; and Columbus, Ohio, 135 mi to the east.

Airport
Mettel Field is a private aviation airport located three nautical miles (6 km) north of the central business district of Connersville. There is no commercial service. It is owned by the Connersville Board of Aviation Commissioners. The nearest commercial airport is Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, 62 mi to the southeast.

Railroad
Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Connersville. Each of two trains provides service three days a week. The westbound train provides service to Indianapolis, Lafayette, and Chicago. The eastbound train provides service to Cincinnati, cities in Kentucky, and points east ending at New York City.

Bus and taxi service
There is no transit bus service to Connersville, but local public transit is available to all residents by calling the public transit office. There is 1 local taxi service in town.

Highways

 * [[Image:indiana 1.svg|20px]] Indiana State Road 1 runs north-south through downtown Connersville north to beyond Fort Wayne and south to Lawrenceburg
 * [[Image:indiana 44.svg|20px]] Indiana State Road 44 runs east-west through downtown Connersville west to Martinsville and east to the Ohio state line
 * [[Image:indiana 121.svg|20px]] Indiana State Road 121 runs north-south from intersection with SR44 in downtown Connersville south to Metamora
 * [[Image:I-70.svg|20px]] Interstate 70, 14 mi to the north via SR1 runs east-west from Indianapolis to Columbus, Ohio
 * [[Image:US 40.svg|20px]] U.S. Route 40, 12 mi to the north via SR1 runs east-west from just south of Indianapolis to Richmond, IN

Education
All public schools belong to the Fayette County School Corporation. There are about 1,200 students in high school, 700 in middle school, 1,800 in public elementary schools, and 300 in parochial elementary schools (as of 2012). Public elementary schools and some parochial elementary schools include kindergarten. The Whitewater Technical Career Center is a secondary school including grades 10–12 with an enrollment of over 500; it prepares non-college-bound students for careers in the trades. There are no institutions of higher learning in Connersville. The Connersville Center offers extension courses through Indiana University East. The nearest four-year colleges are IU East and Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, and Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, all about 25 mi away by road.

The Fayette County School Corporation garnered national attention in November 2017 with a series of articles on CBS News on the subject of school nutrition programs, nationwide—featuring Connersville schools' partnership with a food service company, Chartwell's, to offer free breakfast, lunch and supper services to all children in their schools—integrating breakfasts with classroom learning activity, offering a "second chance" breakfast for teens, and providing after-school movies with a free supper.

Middle, high and trade schools

 * Connersville High School
 * Connersville Middle School (formerly Junior High North formerly Connersville Sr. High)
 * Whitewater Career Center (formerly Connersville Area Vocational School)

Elementary schools

 * Eastview
 * Grandview
 * Frazee
 * Fayette Central
 * Everton

Parochial elementary schools

 * St. Gabriel's (Catholic)
 * Community (Christian)
 * Faith (Christian)

Healthcare
Reid Health operates the hospital and associated entities in Connersville, having purchased most of the assets of the former Fayette Regional Health System after it filed for bankruptcy in 2018.

Media
Connersville has a daily newspaper called The News Examiner in continuous publication (including predecessor papers) since 1849.

Radio station WLPK-AM 1580, owned by Rodgers Broadcasting Corporation and licensed to Connersville, operates with local programming and a classic hits format; the station simulcasts on FM frequency 106.9. For many years Connersville simulcast AM/FM WCNB/WIFE radio. The FM which was located at 100.3 was sold to Radio One Communications for $18 million in 2006 and re-located to Cincinnati, Ohio. There is now a WIFE-FM radio station (94.3), whose tower is located in Rush County, Indiana.

Connersville High School's daily TV news program, CHS Today, was the first student-produced TV news program in the United States. It began in 1970 with presenters Dennis Sullivan and Ron Stevens. At first, it was broadcast only to the school via closed-circuit TV. Later it expanded and now airs live at 11:00 a.m. weekdays to the community and re-airs twice in the evening at 6:45 and 10:45pm via TV3 on local cable.

Notable people

 * E. L. Cord, Industrialist and automaker and founded American Airlines in Dallas, Texas.
 * Howard Garns, creator of the logic game Sudoku, was born in Connersville on March 2, 1905.
 * Finly H. Gray was a US Congressman for Indiana's 6th and 10th Districts.
 * Scott Halberstadt, television actor, born in Connersville
 * Tom T. Hall, country singer and Grand Ole Opry member, spent time in Connersville early in his career.
 * Matt Howard, basketball player and 2007 graduate of Connersville High School.
 * Bill Hunt, racing driver, born in Connersville
 * James N. Huston, Treasurer of the United States 1889–1891.
 * Virginia Claypool Meredith, "Queen of American Agriculture," born in Connersville
 * Louis T. Michener, Indiana Attorney General (1886-1890), campaign manager for Benjamin Harrison.
 * Caleb Blood Smith, Congressman and the Secretary of the Interior in the Lincoln administration.
 * Oliver H. Smith was a Congressman and Senator.
 * Joey Sturgis, music producer, sound engineer, musician, drummer.
 * Dan Toler, rock musician with the Allman Brothers Band and Gregg Allman Band
 * Robert Wise, Hollywood director and producer, graduated from Connersville High School in 1932.

title: Connersville, Indiana


text:
Glenwood, Indiana

Glenwood is a town in Union Township, Rush County and in Orange and Fairview townships, Fayette County in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 250 at the 2010 census.

History
Glenwood was originally called Vienna, and under the latter name was laid out in 1882. The Glenwood post office has been in operation since 1874.

Geography
According to the 2010 census, Glenwood has a total area of 0.18 sqmi, all land.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 250 people, 109 households, and 71 families living in the town. The population density was 1388.9 PD/sqmi. There were 130 housing units at an average density of 722.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 100.0% White. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.4% of the population.

There were 109 households, of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.9% were non-families. 30.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.83.

The median age in the town was 45.5 years. 22.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.6% were from 25 to 44; 30.8% were from 45 to 64; and 20.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 45.6% male and 54.4% female.

2000 census
At the 2000 census, there were 318 people, 124 households and 89 families living in the town. The population density was 1,839.9 PD/sqmi. There were 137 housing units at an average density of 792.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 100.00% White.

There were 124 households, of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.9% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.5% 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 3.06.

28.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.

The median household income was $33,750, and the median family income was $40,625. Males had a median income of $38,750 versus $18,929 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,171. About 8.4% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.7% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.

title: Glenwood, Indiana


text:
Galena, Indiana

Galena is a census-designated place (CDP) in Floyd County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,818 at the 2010 census. The CDP includes the town of Galena as well as the nearby town of Floyds Knobs and their immediate surroundings.

History
Galena was originally called Germantown, and under the latter name was platted in 1837. A post office was established as Galena in 1843, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1933.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.68 sqmi, of which 2.67 sqmi is land and 0.01 sqmi is water.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 1,818 people, 637 households, and 534 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 680.9 PD/sqmi. There were 659 housing units at an average density of 246.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.6% White, 0.2% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.7% of the population.

There were 637 households, of which 42.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.0% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 16.2% were non-families. 12.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.12.

The median age in the CDP was 38.2 years. 27% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.4% were from 25 to 44; 29.5% were from 45 to 64; and 9.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the CDP was 48.8% male and 51.2% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,831 people, 622 households, and 539 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 691.2 PD/sqmi. There were 638 housing units at an average density of 240.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.87% White, 0.22% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.16% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.87% of the population.

There were 622 households, out of which 48.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.3% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.3% were non-families. 10.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 31.7% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 34.7% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 6.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $60,313, and the median income for a family was $67,569. Males had a median income of $47,455 versus $31,193 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $23,824. About 3.3% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.4% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Galena is within the New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corporation.

The western half of Galena is in the attendance boundary of Greenville Elementary School, while the eastern half is assigned to Floyds Knobs Elementary School. All of Galena is within the attendance boundaries of Highland Hills Middle School, and Floyd Central High School.

title: Galena, Indiana


text:
Georgetown, Floyd County, Indiana

Georgetown is a town in Floyd County, Indiana, United States. The population was 3,805 at the 2020 census.

History
Georgetown was platted in 1833 by George W. Waltz (1767–1850), and named for him. The Georgetown post office was established in 1837.

The Georgetown Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. The Yenowine-Nichols-Collins House was listed in 1975 and delisted in 2008.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, Georgetown has a total area of 2.07 sqmi, of which 2.05 sqmi (or 99.03%) is land and 0.02 sqmi (or 0.97%) is water.

2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 2,876 people, 1,088 households, and 814 families residing in the town. The population density was 1402.9 PD/sqmi. There were 1,166 housing units at an average density of 568.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.3% White, 0.3% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9% of the population.

There were 1,088 households, of which 40.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.4% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 25.2% were non-families. 21.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.08.

The median age in the town was 35.4 years. 27.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.9% were from 25 to 44; 26.5% were from 45 to 64; and 9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,227 people, 794 households, and 655 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,242.4 PD/sqmi. There were 830 housing units at an average density of 463.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 98.61% White, 0.22% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.49% of the population.

There were 794 households, out of which 44.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.4% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.4% were non-families. 14.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.8% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $48,795, and the median income for a family was $51,667. Males had a median income of $36,204 versus $25,987 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,645. About 2.7% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.2% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education
New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corporation serves Georgetown. Georgetown is within the attendance boundaries of Georgetown Elementary School, Highland Hills Middle School, and Floyd Central High School.

Georgetown Elementary School is in the Georgetown town limits. Highland Hills Middle School is located in an unincorporated area near Georgetown.

Notable people

 * R. Carlyle Buley, who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1951, was born in Georgetown on July 8, 1893
 * David Camm, who was charged with murder of his wife and children then exonerated 13 years later and now a high-profile campaigner for victims of miscarriages of justice, was born in Georgetown on March 23, 1964.
 * Sherman Minton, United States Senator and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, was born in Georgetown on October 20, 1890.

title: Georgetown, Floyd County, Indiana