City of Crawfordsville, Indiana
Location in the state of Indiana
Coordinates: 40°2′20″N 86°53′48″W / 40.03889, -86.89667
County	Montgomery
Government
- Mayor	John Zumer
Area
- City	21.7 km²  (8.4 sq mi)
- Land	21.7 km² (8.4 sq mi)
- Water	0.0 km² (0 sq mi)
Population (2000)
- City	15,243
- Density	702.3/km² (1,818.9/sq mi)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Website: www.crawfordsville.org

Crawfordsville is a city in Montgomery County, Indiana, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 15,243. The city is the county seat of Montgomery County^GR6. Its current mayor is John Zumer, who took office in January, 2004. Image File history File links US-IN-Crawfordsville. ... Official language(s) English Capital Indianapolis Largest city Indianapolis Area  Ranked 38th  - Total 36,418 sq mi (94,321 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 270 miles (435 km)  - % water 1. ... List of Indiana counties: Adams County Allen County Bartholomew County Benton County Blackford County Boone County Brown County Carroll County Cass County Clark County Clay County Clinton County Crawford County Daviess County Dearborn County Decatur County DeKalb County Delaware County Dubois County Elkhart County Fayette County Floyd County Fountain County... Montgomery County is a county located in the state of Indiana. ... A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ... Area is a physical quantity expressing the size of a part of a surface. ... To help compare sizes of different geographic regions, we list here areas between 10 km² (1000 hectares) and 100 km² (10,000 hectares). ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Population density by country, 2006 Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. ... A time zone is a region of the Earth that has adopted the same standard time, usually referred to as the local time. ... Metronome, a public art installation showing the time in New York City The Eastern Time Zone (ET) of the Western Hemisphere falls mostly along the east coast of Northern America and the west coast of South America. ... -12 | -11 | -10 | -9:30 | -9 | -8 | -7 | -6 | -5 | -4 | -3:30 | -3 | -2:30 | -2 | -1 | -0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... Though DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ... Eastern Daylight Time or EDT is equal to: In North America, Eastern Standard Time + 1, or UTC − 4 hours. ... −12 | −11 | −10 | −9:30 | −9 | −8 | −7 | −6 | −5 | −4 | −3:30 | −3 | −2:30 | −2 | −1 | −0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... Montgomery County is a county located in the state of Indiana. ... Official language(s) English Capital Indianapolis Largest city Indianapolis Area  Ranked 38th  - Total 36,418 sq mi (94,321 km²)  - Width 140 miles (225 km)  - Length 270 miles (435 km)  - % water 1. ... A county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county, primarily used in the United States. ... Montgomery County is a county located in the state of Indiana. ...

Crawfordsville and the unincorporated county areas attached to it are collectively referred to as Union Township.

Geography

Crawfordsville is located at 40°2′20″N, 86°53′48″W (40.038831, -86.896755)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 21.7 km² (8.4 mi²), all land. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... A square metre (US spelling: square meter) is by definition the area enclosed by a square with sides each 1 metre long. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ...

History

Beginnings

In 1813 Williamson Dunn, Henry Ristine, and Major Ambrose Whitlock noted that the site of present-day Crawfordsville was ideal for settlement, surrounded by deciduous forest and potentially arable land, with water provided by a nearby creek, later named Sugar Creek. They returned a decade later to find at least one cabin built. In 1821, William and Jennie Offield had built a cabin on a little creek, later to be known as Offield Creek, four miles southwest of the future site of Crawfordsville.

Major Whitlock laid out the town in March 1823. Crawfordsville was named in honor of Colonel William H. Crawford, who was the cabinet officer who had issued Whitlock's commission as Receiver of Public Lands.^[1] It was successfully incorporated as a town in 1834, following a failed attempt three years earlier. William Harris Crawford (February 24, 1772 – September 15, 1834) was an important American politician, as well as a judge, during the early 19th century. ...

In November 1832, Wabash College was founded in Crawfordsville as "The Wabash Teachers Seminary and Manual Labor College". Today, it is one of only four remaining all-male liberal arts colleges in the country, and has a student body of around 900. On December 18, 1833, the Crawfordsville Record carried a paid announcement of the opening of Crawfordsville High School. ^[2] Wabash College is a small private liberal arts college for men, located in Crawfordsville, Indiana. ...

The city grew in size and amenities, adding such necessities as a bank and fire department. It gained status as a city in 1865, when Indiana granted its charters.

Late 1800s

In 1862, Joseph F. Tuttle, after whom Tuttle Grade School was named in 1906 and Tuttle Middle School was named in 1960, became President of Wabash College and served for 30 years. "He was an eloquent preacher, a sound administrator and an astute handler of public relations." Joseph Tuttle, together with his administrators, worked to improve relations in Crawfordsville between "Town and Gown".^[3]

In 1880, prominent local citizen Lew Wallace produced Crawfordsville's most famous literary work, Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ, a historical novel dealing with the beginnings of the Christianity in the Mediterranean world. Perhaps more crucial for Indiana's basketball-oriented culture, both the first official basketball game in the state (Crawfordsville versus Lafayette, March 16, 1894) and the first official intercollegiate basketball game (Wabash versus Purdue, also in 1894) occurred at the city's YMCA. Lewis Lew Wallace (April 10, 1827 – February 15, 1905) was a lawyer, governor, Union general in the American Civil War, American statesman, and author, best remembered for his historical novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. ...

In 1882 one of the first Rotary Jails in the country opened. The jail is now a museum and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A Rotary Jail (nicknamed the human squirrel cage) was a architectural design for some prisons in the Midwest during the late 19th century. ... A typical plaque showing entry on the National Register of Historic Places. ...

Early 1900s

The beginning of 20th century marked important steps for Crawfordsville, as Culver Union Hospital and the Carnegie Library were built in 1902. Culver moved from its original location near downtown in 1984 and was renamed St. Clare Medical Center in 2000. The Carnegie Library is being reverted to a local museum and the public library has since moved across the street. In 1911, Crawfordsville High School (motto: Enter to Learn, Go Forth to Serve) was founded, and promptly won the state's first high school basketball title. Crawfordsville's major employer for much of the century, commercial printer RR Donnelley, began operations in Crawfordsville in 1922. RR Donnelley NYSE: RRD is a Fortune 500 company based in Chicago, Illinois that provides print and related services. ...

Recent history

Recent history has held few nationally noteworthy events for the city, but much internal change. Nucor Steel, Alcoa CSI, Raybestos Products Company, and Golden Books all created factories in or near Crawfordsville which provided employment to much of the population. Wabash College won the Division III NCAA basketball title in 1982. In 1998 the state began a proposed project to widen U.S. 231, in an attempt to ease intrastate travel flow. Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) is one of the largest steel producers in the United States, and the largest of the mini-mill operators (those using electric arc furnaces to melt scrap steel, as opposed to companies using traditional blast furnace technology). ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

Silver Dollar fire

On May 8, 2007, approximately a quarter-block of old historic buildings in the 100 block of South Washington Street was burned in a major fire. The fire began in the middle of the night. A woman who was closing up the bar called 911 after noticing smoke.

One person died in the fire. Footage of the fire, some taken by news helicopters, is still available online. The fire was covered by the press statewide. Two buildings, built circa 1882, were completely destroyed: one that housed the Silver Dollar Bar (formerly Tommy Kummings' Silver Dollar Tavern); the other contained the New York Shoe Repair and Bargain Center at the corner of Pike and Washington streets. Above the shoe store were several apartments where residents were sleeping.

On May 22, the fire was ruled to have been an act of arson. Indianapolis Star article

A sign in front of The Silver Dollar once read, "The Silver Dollar Bar: Since 1934." It was a dance hall in the 1940s.

Industry

Crawfordsville is the home of the world's first thin-slab casting minimill (steel manufacturing plant that recycles scrap steel using an electric arc-furnace). Nucor Steel broke ground on its first sheet steel mill and first galvanizing line at its $1 B Crawfordsville facility in 1987.

Demographics

As of the 2000 census^GR2, there were 15,243 people, 6,117 households, and 3,664 families residing in the city. The population density was 702.3/km² (1,819.4/mi²). There were 6,623 housing units at an average density of 305.1/km² (790.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.02% White, 1.61% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 2.39% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.25% of the population. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males. 1870 US Census for New York City A census is the process of obtaining information about every member of a population (not necessarily a human population). ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... It has been suggested that Ethnicity (United States Census) be merged into this article or section. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ...

The median income for a household in the city was $34,571, and the median income for a family was $43,211. Males had a median income of $32,834 versus $22,093 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,945. About 10.0% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.9% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over. The per capita income for a group of people may be defined as their total personal income, divided by the total population. ... Map of countries showing percentage of population who have an income below the national poverty line The poverty line is the level of income below which one cannot afford to purchase all the resources one requires to live. ...

Notable Residents

• Joseph P. Allen - Astronaut, served as mission specialist on the first fully operational flight of the Space Shuttle in 1982. He was born in Crawfordsville in 1937. He attended Mills School and graduated from Crawfordsville High School.
• Henry S. Lane - One of the city's most prominent 19th century figures - a United States Senator and pallbearer for Abraham Lincoln, has a historical site dedicated to him in the city. He started a law practice in Crawfordsville in 1834.
• James W. Marshall - A New Jersey native who had at some point called Crawfordsville his home, was the discoverer of gold at Sutter's Mill, California in 1848 and thus set off the California Gold Rush.
• Pete Metzelaars - Professional football player, is a graduate of Wabash College.
• Richard O. Ristine, Sr- Lieutenant Governor of Indiana Gubernatorial Candidate in the 1960s. He was the great-great-grandson of Major Henry Ristine — Crawfordsville’s second settler.
• Will Shortz - New York Times puzzle writer, was born in Crawfordsville in 1952 and grew up in the city.
• Lew Wallace - the author of Ben-Hur, has a historical site dedicated to him in the city. He attended Wabash College, moved back to Crawfordsville where he wrote "Ben Hur", and died in Crawfordsville in 1905.
• Susan Wallace - author and poet; wife of Lew Wallace. Born in Crawfordsville, Indiana to Isaac and Maria Elston in 1830.
• Dick van Dyke - In 1938, just before Dick was of high school age, the Van Dyke family moved to Crawfordsville, returning to Danville, Illinois in 1940
• Bryan Barry James Hellwig - former professional wrestler known as the Ultimate Warrior was born in Crawfordsville in 1959.

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Joseph Percival Allen, Ph. ... NASAs Space Shuttle, officially called Space Transportation System (STS), is the United States governments current manned launch vehicle. ... Senator Henry Smith Lane of Indiana Henry Smith Lane (February 24, 1811 - June 18, 1881) was a United States Representative, Senator, and Governor of Indiana; he was the shortest-serving Governor of Indiana, holding that office for two days. ... The United States Senate is the upper house of the U.S. Congress, smaller than the United States House of Representatives. ... For other uses, see Abraham Lincoln (disambiguation). ... James Wilson Marshall (October 8, 1810 - August 10, 1885) was an American carpenter and sawmill operator, whose discovery of gold in the American River in California in January 1848 set the stage for the California Gold Rush. ... Sutters Mill in 1850. ... The California Gold Rush (1848–1855) began on January 24, 1848, when gold was discovered at Sutters Mill. ... Peter Henry Metzelaars (born May 24, 1960 in Three Rivers, Michigan) is a American Football tight end who played for the Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, and Detroit Lions in a sixteen year career from 1982 to 1997. ... Will Shortz (b. ... The New York Times is an internationally known daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed in the United States and many other nations worldwide. ... Lewis Lew Wallace (April 10, 1827 – February 15, 1905) was a lawyer, governor, Union general in the American Civil War, American statesman, and author, best remembered for his historical novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ. ... Susan Arnold Elston Wallace (December 25, 1830 – October 1, 1907) was an American author and poet. ... Richard Wayne Dick Van Dyke (born December 13, 1925) is an Emmy-Award winning American actor of film, stage, and screen, comedian and dancer. ... United States Illinois Vermilion 17. ... James Brian Hellwig (born 16 June 1962), is an American professional wrestler known by many as The Ultimate Warrior, who legally changed his name to Warrior in 1991. ...

Rail Transportation

Until 1967, passenger service was provided by the Monon Railroad, providing service to Chicago, Lafayette, Greencastle and Bloomington, Indiana. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Monon Railroad (AAR reporting marks CIL, MON), also known as the Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville Railway from 1897-1956, operated almost entirely within the state of Indiana. ...

Currently, Amtrak provides service to Crawfordsville. Amtrak Train 51, the westbound Cardinal, serves Lafayette, Rensselaer, Dyer, and Chicago. Amtrak Train 50, the eastbound Cardinal, serves Indianapolis, and other eastbound points, culminating in New York City. Intra-Indiana service is provided by Amtrak Trains 851 and 850. Acela Express in West Windsor, NJ Amtrak Cascades service with tilting Talgo trainsets in Seattle, Washington Amtrak train in downtown Orlando, Florida For other uses, see Amtrak (disambiguation). ... The Cardinal is a passenger train route operated by Amtrak in the Midwestern and Northeastern United States. ... Union Station is a Chicago train station that opened in 1925, replacing an earlier 1881 station, and is now the only intercity rail terminal in Chicago. ... Nickname: Location in the state of Indiana Coordinates: , County Marion Founded 1821 Government  - Mayor Bart Peterson (D) Area  - City  372 sq mi (963. ...

See also: Crawfordsville (Amtrak station)

Other information Code CRF Traffic Passengers (2006) 3,676 15% Crawfordsville Station is an Amtrak station on the Cardinal and Hoosier State line in Crawfordsville, Indiana. ...

See also

• The Crawfordsville monster
• Nucor Steel Corporation

The Crawfordsville monster is the name given to an unidentified flying creature that was allegedly sighted in the skies of the small town of Crawfordsville, Indiana[1] in 1891. ... Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) is one of the largest steel producers in the United States, and the largest of the mini-mill operators (those using electric arc furnaces to melt scrap steel, as opposed to companies using traditional blast furnace technology). ...

References

1. ^ Gronert, Ted: "Sugar Creek Saga..", page 5-6. Wabash College, 1958
2. ^ Gronert, Ted: "Sugar Creek Saga..", page 30-31. Wabash College, 1958
3. ^ Gronert, Ted: "Sugar Creek Saga..", page 205-206. Wabash College, 1958

External links

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