Wabash, Indiana

Etymology

The name Wabash derives from a Miami-Illinois term for "water over white stones." The Miami name reflected the clarity of the river in Huntington County, Indiana, where the river bottom is limestone.

History

The first settlers to arrive in Wabash was in 1829 as a result of the treaty of Paradise Spring. The town of Wabash was platted in the spring of 1834 by Col. Hugh Hanna and Col. David Burr. The community was designated as the county seat, and it was incorporated in 1834. The town prospered due to its proximity to the Wabash and Erie Canal. In 1870 the Wabash County Courthouse and most of downtown was destroyed in a fire. However, the resilience of the city led Wabash to recover. The construction of the Big Four Railway brought even more growth to the small town but led to the neglect of the canal.

Wabash used a new type of carbon arc light invented by Charles Brush in 1870. On March 31, 1880, four 3,000-candle power lamps were suspended from the top of the courthouse. Two telegraph wires ran from the lamps to the courthouse basement, where they were connected to a generator powered by a 12-horsepower steam engine to provide power

The James M. Amoss Building, Downtown Wabash Historic District, East Wabash Historic District, First Christian Church, Honeywell Memorial Community Center, Honeywell Studio, McNamee-Ford House, North Wabash Historic District, West Wabash Historic District, and Solomon Wilson Building are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Media

The Wabash Free Trader was published in Wabash from 1871 to 1876. The Wabash Weekly Courier was published from 1876 until 1887.

Geography

The Wabash River runs through the town, on its way towards Peru, where it splits creating a series of islands, and where the sandbars are quite common on this stretch.

According to the 2010 census, Wabash has a total area of 9.128 sqmi, of which 8.89 sqmi (or 97.39%) is land and 0.238 sqmi (or 2.61%) is water.{{cite web |access-date=2015-07-29 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213050856/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1879370 |archive-date=2020-02-13 |url-status=dead

Climate

|Jan record high F = 70 |Feb record high F = 74 |Mar record high F = 82 |Apr record high F = 91 |May record high F = 98 |Jun record high F = 104 |Jul record high F = 109 |Aug record high F = 103 |Sep record high F = 102 |Oct record high F = 92 |Nov record high F = 86 |Dec record high F = 70

|Jan avg record high F = 55.3 |Feb avg record high F = 59.0 |Mar avg record high F = 71.3 |Apr avg record high F = 80.6 |May avg record high F = 87.7 |Jun avg record high F = 92.2 |Jul avg record high F = 92.1 |Aug avg record high F = 91.2 |Sep avg record high F = 89.9 |Oct avg record high F = 83.3 |Nov avg record high F = 69.0 |Dec avg record high F = 57.5 |year avg record high F = 94.1

|Jan avg record low F = -3.8 |Feb avg record low F = 0.9 |Mar avg record low F = 10.6 |Apr avg record low F = 23.4 |May avg record low F = 34.5 |Jun avg record low F = 45.2 |Jul avg record low F = 51.7 |Aug avg record low F = 50.6 |Sep avg record low F = 39.8 |Oct avg record low F = 29.0 |Nov avg record low F = 18.4 |Dec avg record low F = 4.2 |year avg record low F = -7.7

|Jan record low F = -24 |Feb record low F = -22 |Mar record low F = -13 |Apr record low F = 4 |May record low F = 23 |Jun record low F = 30 |Jul record low F = 41 |Aug record low F = 34 |Sep record low F = 25 |Oct record low F = 16 |Nov record low F = -3 |Dec record low F = -21

|access-date = March 5, 2023 |access-date = March 5, 2023

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 10,666 people, 4,465 households, and 2,805 families living in the city. The population density was 1199.8 PD/sqmi. There were 5,068 housing units at an average density of 570.1 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 96.3% White, 0.4% African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.0% of the population.

There were 4,465 households, of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.2% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.88.

The median age in the city was 41.3 years. 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.7% were from 25 to 44; 26.4% were from 45 to 64; and 18.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 11,743 people, 4,799 households, and 3,100 families living in the city. The population density was 1,319.0 PD/sqmi. There were 5,136 housing units at an average density of 576.9 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 96.85% White, 0.37% African American, 1.06% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.46% of the population.

There were 4,799 households, out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 30.9% 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 2.36 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.3% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $12,000, and the median income for a family was $14000. Males had a median income of $18000 versus $12,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,210. About 7.9% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Theater

Opened on March 30, 1906, the Eagles Theatre was built as a vaudeville theatre. In the late 1920s it was remodeled by architect Alvin M. Strauss and had switched to movies by the 1930s. further remodeling was carried out in 1939 when it was redecorated in the Art Deco style. The Eagles Theatre has one of the largest screens remaining in Indiana and has 2 balconies and a ballroom. The Eagles Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.

The Honeywell Center is a performing arts center located in downtown Wabash. Construction of the 45,000-square-foot-facilaity began in 1940 but was postponed until 1957. in 1997 a 75,000-square-foot addition included the 1,500-seat Ford Theater, Eugenia's Restaurant and an art gallery.

Economy

The Honeywell Corporation was founded in the 1880s in Wabash, Indiana. Wabash is home to The Ford Meter Box Company, a prominent manufacturer in the waterworks industry. Wabash is also home to many smaller companies. Papers industries Inc., Beacon Credit Union, The Metropolitan School District also employs many people (100 - 200)

Religion

The city's largest congregation is the United Methodist Church; other churches in the city include: Presbyterian, Church of the Nazarene, Catholic, Christian, Baptist, Wesleyan, and Pentecostal.

Government

The government consists of a mayor and a city council. The mayor is elected in citywide vote. The city council consists of 7 members with 5 elected from individual districts and two elected at-large. The current members of city council are:

• Bryan Dillion (R, AL)
• John Burnsworth (R, AL)
• David Weaver (R, 1st)
• Dave Monroe (R, 2nd)
• Terry Brewer (R, 3rd)
• Susan Bonfitto (R, 4th)
• Jan Roland (R, 5th)

The Wabash post office has been in operation since 1839.

Education

Higher education

There are 2 universities within 20 miles of Wabash. The biggest and most notable being Manchester University which is based in North Manchester and Huntington University which is located in Huntington.

Primary and secondary schools

• OJ Neighbours Elementary School
• Meroby Elementary School
• St Bernard Elementary School
• Wabash Middle School
• Wabash High School

The town has a lending library, the Wabash Carnegie Public Library.

Image gallery

File:Cortes del Condado de Wabash, Wabash, Indiana, Estados Unidos, 2012-11-12, DD 01.jpg|Wabash County Courthouse File:Wabash Indiana Paradise Springs Council Cabin.JPG|Paradise Spring Treaty Grounds (1826) File:Wabash Indiana Old Warehouse Wabash n Erie Canal.JPG|Old Warehouse, which backs up on the Wabash and Erie Canal File:Wabash Indiana Presbyterian Church.JPG|Presbyterian Church (1880) File:Iglesia de Cristo, Wabash, Indiana, Estados Unidos, 2012-11-12, DD 01.jpg|Disciples of Christ Christian Church (1865) Centro de Wabash, Indiana, Estados Unidos, 2012-11-12, DD 08.jpg|Former fire station and city hall.

Notable people

• Michael Baber - music and sound editor
• Adelaide Steele Baylor - federal education official
• Loren M. Berry – pioneer of Yellow Pages telephone directory
• Rick Brandenburg – entomologist
• John W. Corso – art director and production designer
• John P. Costas - telecommunications engineer, noted for Costas loop
• James E. Dabler - Illinois state representative and businessman
• Jimmy Daywalt – race car driver
• Charles Dingle - actor
• Gus Dorais – football player and coach of football, basketball, and baseball
• Townsend A. Ely – Michigan state senator
• Crystal Gayle - country singer
• Christopher M. Goff- Indiana's 110th Supreme Court Justice
• Larry Hall - Serial killer
• Mark Honeywell – founder of Honeywell Corporation and Honeywell Center
• Howard A. Howe - polio researcher
• O. P. Hubbard - member of the Alaska Senate (1915–1919).
• Bobby Jones – National Football League guard
• Joaquin Miller - poet and frontiersman
• George Mullin - Major League Baseball player
• Keith O'Conner Murphy - Rockabilly Hall of Fame singer and songwriter
• Margie Stewart - U.S. Army poster girl during World War II

References

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
2. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
3. {{GNIS. 2397155
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
5. Silverberg, Robert. (1967). "Light for the World: Edison and the Power Industry". D. Van Nostrand.
6. Bright, p. 537
7. "Wabash River".
8. Wabash County Report. Pdf
9. Weesner, Clarkson W.. (1914). "History of Wabash County Indiana". Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co..
10. "Wabash, Indiana {{!}} Advisory Council on Historic Preservation".
11. (March 30, 2005). "Wabash lighted the way 125 years ago". Wabash Weekly Plain Dealer.
12. The Salt Lake Herald. September 17, 1880. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85058130/1880-09-17/ed-1/seq-3
13. The Weekly Miner. November 23, 1880. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84036032/1880-11-23/ed-1/seq-7/
14. The Ottawa Free Trader. April 24, 1880. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038582/1880-04-24/ed-1/seq-7/
15. The New Northwest. May 20, 1880. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84022673/1880-05-20/ed-1/seq-4/>
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17. "Wabash weekly courier".
18. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
19. "City Council".
20. "Wabash County". Jim Forte Postal History.
21. Hay, p. 26
22. "Indiana public library directory". Indiana State Library.
23. Nunemaker, Jessica. (4 January 2016). "Little Indiana: Small Town Destinations". Indiana University Press.
24. (1909-04-19). "Earle's Successor is Alma Business Man". Grand Rapids Press.
25. "O. P. Hubbard". [[Alaska State Legislature]].
26. "Lewiston evening teller. (Lewiston, Idaho), 10 Nov. 1906.".