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|leader_title = [[Mayor]]
|leader_title = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name = Paul Bustion (Mayor-elect: Kris Ockomon)
|leader_name = Chris Myers (Mayor-elect: Kris Ockomon)
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Revision as of 12:49, 25 November 2007

City of Anderson, Indiana
City
Location in the state of Indiana
Location in the state of Indiana
CountryUnited States
StateIndiana
CountyMadison
Government
 • MayorChris Myers (Mayor-elect: Kris Ockomon)
Area
 • Total40.2 sq mi (104.0 km2)
 • Land40.0 sq mi (103.7 km2)
 • Water0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2)
Elevation
879 ft (268 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total59,734
 • Density1,492/sq mi (575.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
46011-46018
Area code765
FIPS code18-01468Template:GR
GNIS feature ID0430152Template:GR
Websitewww.cityofanderson.com

Anderson is a city in Madison County, Indiana, United States. The city is the county seat of Madison CountyTemplate:GR. It is the principal city of the Anderson, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses Madison county. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 59,734. This number is now decreasing because of recent factories pulling out. Anderson is the headquarters of the Church of God (Anderson) and home of Anderson University (Indiana), which is affiliated with that denomination. Highlights of the city include the historic Paramount Theatre and the Gruenwald Home.

The city is named for Chief William Anderson, whose mother was a Delaware Indian (Lenape) and whose father was of Swedish descent. Chief Anderson's Indian name was Kikthawenund (spelled in a variety of ways) meaning "making a noise" or "causing to crack."

History

Prior to the organization of Madison County, William Conner entered the land upon which Anderson is located. Conner later sold the ground to John and Sarah Berry, who donated 32 acres (129,000 m²) of their land to Madison County on the condition that the county seat would be moved from Pendleton to Anderson. John Berry laid out the first plat of Anderson on November 7, 1827. In 1828 the seat of justice was moved from Pendleton to Anderson.

Introduction of internal improvements caused a growth in the population in 1837. In December, 1838, Anderson was incorporated as a town with 350 inhabitants. The Central Canal, a branch of the Wabash and Erie Canal was planned to come through Anderson. Work continued on the canal during 1838 and the beginning of 1839, but work on the canal was soon suspended by the state. The town again became a sleepy village until 1849 when it was incorporated a second time as a town. Many new commercial ventures located around the Courthouse Square.

This incorporation was short-lived and Anderson once again went back to village status in 1852. However, with the completion of the Indianapolis Bellefontaine Railroad, as well as their station in 1852, Anderson burst to life. The third incorporation of Anderson as a town occurred on June 9, 1853. The population continued to increase. On August 28, 1865, with a population was nearly 1,300 people, Anderson was incorporated as a city.

Between 1853 and the late 1800s, twenty industries of various sizes located there. On March 31, 1887, natural gas was discovered in Anderson. With this discovery new businesses that could use natural gas, such as glass-making, moved to the city. Anderson grew to such proportions that a Cincinnati newspaper editor labeled the city "The Pittsburgh on White River." Other appellations were "Queen City of the Gas Belt" and (because of the vulcanizing and the rubber tire manufacturing business) "Puncture Proof City."

In 1897 the Interurban Railroad was born in Anderson. Charles Henry, a large stock holder, coined the term "Interurban" in 1893. It continued to operate until 1941.

The year 1912 spelled disaster for Anderson: the natural gas ran out, and several factories moved out. The whole city slowed down. The Commercial Club (formed on November 18, 1905) was the forerunner of the present chamber of commerce. This club persuaded the Remy brothers to stay in Anderson and others to locate there. For decades, Delco Remy and Guide Lamp (later Fisher Guide) were the top two employers in the city.

Among the major industries are Anderson Tool and Engineering, Barber Manufacturing, Delco Remy America, Delphi Energy and Engine, Prairie Farms Dairy, Guide Corporation, Hoosier Park, Jefferson Smurfit/CCA, and Warner Press. Guide Corporation will be closing all operations in Anderson in June 2007.

From 1913 through the 1950s, the Ward-Stilson Company was one of the country's largest producers of uniforms, regalia, furniture and props for the Freemasons, the Odd Fellows and dozens of other U.S. fraternal organizations.

The Church of God of Anderson located its world headquarters in Anderson in 1905. Anderson Bible School was opened in 1917, and this was separated from Gospel Trumpet (now known as Warner Press) in 1925. At the same time, it became known as Anderson Bible School and Seminary. In 1925, the name was changed to Anderson College and then to Anderson University in 1988.

Over the years, 17 different types of automobiles were manufactured in Anderson with the Lambert family among the leaders in the development of the automobile. Many other inventions were perfected in Anderson including: the gas regulator-Miron G. Reynolds, the stamp vending machine-Frank P. Dunn, clothes presser-H. Donald Forse, Irish Mail-Hugh Hill, flower car for funeral homes-Francis M. McClain, automatic gearshift-Von D. Polhemus, Sisson choke-Glenn Sisson, and the vulcanizing process that retreads tires-Charles E. Miller. List of mayors of Anderson, Indiana

In 2007, The Nestlé corporation opened a large factory in Anderson, with much fanfare. A large celebration was held, with free samples of an array of Nestlé products.

On November 6, 2007, Democrat Kris Ockomon defeated Republican incumbent Kevin Smith to become the mayor of Anderson.

Education

There are two public high schools in Anderson: Anderson High School (at the site of the former Madison Heights High School) and Highland High School. Originally there were three public high schools: the original Anderson High School, which dated from the early 1900s, Madison Heights High School, which was founded in 1956, and Highland High School, which was also built in 1956 and was a rural school until it was incorporated into Anderson in the 1970s. In late 1996/early 1997 Anderson Community School Corporation determined that the old Anderson High School building, located at 14th and Lincoln streets, was not in adequate condition to continue classes. It was decided that that building would close and the Madison Heights High School would be renamed Anderson High School. On June 25, 1999, there was a fire at the old Anderson High School Building as a result of arson. There are three public middle schools, South Side Middle School, North Side Middle School, and East Side Middle School. There are eight public elementary schools inside city limits, East Side, Edgewood, Erskine, Anderson, Forest Hills, Robinson, Southview, and Tenth Street Elementary Schools. Additionally, there are two located outside city limits, but have been incorporated into the Anderson Community School System. These are Killbuck and Valley Grove Elementary Schools. There are two Roman Catholic schools in Anderson, St. Ambrose and St. Mary's. St. Ambrose covers preschool to sixth grade, although at one time it covered up to eighth grade and it originally did not have a preschool. St. Mary's covers preschool to eighth grade.

Notable citizens

A number of celebrities have come from Anderson.

Among the city's noted politicians are Winfield Durbin-Governor of Indiana, James Davis-Secretary of Labor, Charles L. Henry-Congressman and coiner of the term interurban, Mack Mattingly-Senator from Georgia, Robert L. Rock-Lieutenant Governor, and Albert Vestal-Majority Whip of the House of Representatives. Others include: General Dale Crittenberger who was in charge of the District of Panama; Oswald Ryan, Chairman of the Civil Aeronautics Board; embezzler Orville Hodge; and entrepreneurs James Kilgore, Art Brady, Ike Duffy, Ward Stilson, and Earle Sefton.

Convicted murderer Lowell Amos, whose trial for the murder of his third wife was portrayed in Lifetime Network's Black Widow (2006), came from Anderson.

World War II Medal of Honor recipient Melvin E. Biddle is a native of Anderson.

Jon McLaughlin, a singer-songwriter, is from Anderson.

The composer and filmmaker Phill Niblock is from Anderson.

Geography

Anderson from the air, looking west.

Anderson is located at 40°6′0″N 85°40′53″W / 40.10000°N 85.68139°W / 40.10000; -85.68139Invalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (40.100041, -85.681525)Template:GR. The city of Anderson is located in parts of four townships: Anderson, Union, Richland, and Lafayette.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 104.0 km² (40.2 mi²). 103.7 km² (40.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.27%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 59,734 people, 25,274 households, and 15,417 families residing in the city. The population density was 575.9/km² (1,491.6/mi²). There were 27,643 housing units at an average density of 266.5/km² (690.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.99% White, 14.88% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.86% from other races, and 1.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.07% of the population.

There were 25,274 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% were married couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,577, and the median income for a family was $39,552. Males had a median income of $31,346 versus $22,736 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,142. About 10.8% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.3% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

Business

In 2007, Anderson was ranked #98 in the Forbes List for 100 Best Places for Businesses among Smaller U.S. Metro areas.

Points of Interest

Partner cities

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