74-503: Delaware County is the name of six counties in the United States: Delaware County, Indiana Delaware County, Iowa Delaware County, New York Delaware County, Ohio Delaware County, Oklahoma Delaware County, Pennsylvania [REDACTED] Topics referred to by the same term This disambiguation page lists articles about distinct geographical locations with
148-510: A graduate or professional degree. 20.4% had no degree. 53.2% of Muncie residents were employed, working a mean of 34.0 hours per week. The median gross rent in Muncie was $ 714 and the homeownership rate was 50.0%. 4,491 housing units were vacant at an average density of 162.7 per square mile (62.8/km ). From its early days as a regional trading center for the surrounding agricultural community to its first wave of industrial development brought on by
222-525: A disability and 10.3% of that same age group had no health insurance. 58.5% of the population was in the civilian labor force. (54.8% of females) Total retail sales per capita was $ 12,950. The median household income in Delaware County was $ 43,512 and the per capita income from May 2019 to April 2020 was $ 25,107. 21.5% of the population was in poverty. As of the 2010 United States Census , there were 117,671 people, 46,516 households, and 27,956 families in
296-402: A four-year term. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare party affiliations and to be residents of the county. Delaware County is part of Indiana's 5th congressional district ; Indiana Senate district 26; and Indiana House of Representatives districts 33, 34 and 35. As of the 2020 United States Census , there were 111,903 people and 46,026 households in
370-580: A low of 16 °F (−9 °C) in January to a high of 85 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −29 °F (−34 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 102 °F (39 °C) was recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.06 inches (52 mm) in January to 4.28 inches (109 mm) in June. The county government is a constitutional body, granted specific powers by
444-802: A new board was appointed by Ball State's Board of Trustees. In 2021, following the Fall of Kabul and the U.S. withdrawal from the War in Afghanistan , several Afghan refugees arrived in Camp Atterbury , near Edinburgh, Indiana . Munsonian members of the nationwide organization, Afghan Women's and Kids' Education and Necessities (AWAKEN) formed the Muncie Afghan Refugee Resettlement Committee (MARRC) to help Afghan refugees resettle in Muncie. Afghan refugees began arriving in Muncie soon after. As
518-505: A new city hall, a new public library, and a new high school. The city's gasworks also began operations in the late 1870s. The Muncie Star was founded in 1899 and the Muncie Evening Press was founded in 1905. A new public library , which was a Carnegie library project, was dedicated on January 1, 1904, and served as the main branch of the city's public library system. The forerunner to Ball State University also arrived at
592-486: A new life. The black population in Muncie grew from 3.7% in 1890 to 5.6% in 1920 to 13.2% in 2013. Muncie's Riverside and Normal City neighborhoods had imposed sundown town rules by 1904, meaning "that unknown negroes who are found on the streets after nightfall are liable to be severely dealt with." In 1920, the city had the fifth-largest black population in Indiana, with 2,054 black residents. Two major parades were held by
666-552: A third major study that resulted in two books by Theodore Caplow, Middletown Families (1982) and All Faithful People (1983). Caplow returned to Muncie in 1998 to begin another study, Middletown IV, which became part of a Public Broadcasting Service documentary titled " The First Measured Century ", released in December 2000. The Ball State Center for Middletown Studies continues to survey and analyze social change in Muncie. A database of Middletown surveys conducted between 1978 and 1997
740-530: A trader, was the first white settler, arriving in the early 1810s. After formation, numerous counties were carved from the original, and a remnant retaining the original name was organized in 1827. Following the American Civil War the county experienced an economic boom caused by the discovery of natural gas, which spurred rapid industrial growth in the surrounding area. The first discovery of natural gas in Indiana occurred in 1876 near Eaton . A company
814-713: A two-year or four-year college degree, which is below the national average. The first decade of the 21st century saw a cultural shift toward local businesses and economic empowerment, boosted by the Muncie Downtown Development Partnership and the residents, patrons, and business owners of the downtown community. In 2007, Muncie was rated the most affordable college town in America by real estate company Coldwell Banker . In 2015, Forbes ranked Muncie 27th among small places for business and careers and 18th for cost of doing business. First Merchants Corporation
SECTION 10
#1732837953075888-540: Is a county in the east central portion of the U.S. state of Indiana . As of 2020, the population was 111,903. The county seat is Muncie . Delaware County is part of the Muncie metropolitan statistical area , which is part of the larger Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie CSA. Delaware County was authorized in Jan. 1820 on New Purchase lands south of the Wabash River gained with the 1818 Treaty of St. Mary's . It encompassed
962-467: Is an incorporated city and the seat of Delaware County, Indiana , United States. Previously known as Buckongahelas Town, named after the prominent Delaware Chief, it is located in East Central Indiana , about 50 miles (80 km) northeast of Indianapolis . At the 2020 United States Census , the city's population was 65,195, down from 70,085 in the 2010 Census. It is the principal city of
1036-637: Is available online from the Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA). Due to the extensive information collected from the Middletown studies during the twentieth century, Muncie is said to be one of the most studied cities of its size in the United States. In addition to being called a "typical American city", as the result of the Middletown studies , Muncie is known as Magic City or Magic Muncie, as well as
1110-589: Is based in Muncie, and the first Scotty's Brewhouse location opened in the city in 1996. As of July 2022 (compare to October 2014), the largest employers in the city were: The David Owsley Museum of Art collection, which includes over 11,000 works, has been in the Fine Arts Building on the Ball State University campus since 1935. The Horizon Convention Center, located downtown, offers 47,000 square feet (4,400 m ) of exhibition space and houses
1184-458: Is managed by the city. The soil is fertile. The county's high point is a hilly area in its SE corner, 4 miles (6.4 km) ESE from Prairie Creek Reservoir. According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 395.91 square miles (1,025.4 km ), of which 392.12 square miles (1,015.6 km ) (or 99.04%) is land and 3.78 square miles (9.8 km ) (or 0.95%) is water. In recent years, average temperatures in Muncie have ranged from
1258-518: Is said to be one of the most studied United States cities of its size. The area was first settled in the 1790s by the Lenape (Delaware) people, who were forced west from their tribal lands in the Mid-Atlantic region (all of New Jersey , southeastern New York , eastern Pennsylvania , and northern Delaware ) to new lands in present-day Ohio and eastern Indiana . The Lenape founded several towns along
1332-769: The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway ) reached Muncie in 1903. The Chicago, Indiana, and Eastern Railroad (acquired by a subsidiary of the Pennsylvania Railroad system) and the Chicago and Southeastern (sometimes called the Central Indiana Railroad) also served the city. In addition to the railroads, Muncie's roads connected to nearby towns and an electric interurban system, which arrived in the early 1900s, linked it to smaller towns and larger cities, including Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, Indiana , and Dayton, Ohio . With
1406-691: The Constitution of Indiana and the Indiana Code . County Council: The legislative branch of the county government; controls spending and revenue collection in the county. There are seven members of the county council. Three are elected county-wide and four are elected from county districts. The county-wide members are elected in presidential election years (2016, 2020, etc.) and the districted members are elected in midterm election years (2018, 2022, etc.). The current members are: The council members serve four-year terms. They are responsible for setting salaries,
1480-649: The Indiana gas boom in the mid-1880s, Muncie has retained its ties to an industrial economy, and to a lesser extent its agricultural roots. In addition, the arrival of the forerunner to Ball State in the early twentieth century contributed to Muncie's development as an educational center, while Ball Memorial Hospital, established in 1929, led to the city's reputation as a healthcare center for east-central Indiana. Muncie's major industrial development included glass manufacturing, iron and steel mills, and automobile manufacturing and auto parts factories. Among its early major employers
1554-474: The Ku Klux Klan in 1922 and 1924, with the mayor and police chief attending the 1924 parade. The first black police officer in Muncie was hired in 1899, and the city's first black police chief took his position in 1995. The first black teacher in the city was hired in 1952, and the first black principal was appointed in 1956. According to Hurley Goodall , the first serious black political candidate in Muncie
SECTION 20
#17328379530751628-556: The White River , including Munsee Town, near the site of present-day Muncie. Contrary to popular legend, the city's early name of Munsee Town is derived from the "Munsee" clan of Lenape people, the white settlers' name for a group of Native Americans whose village was once situated along the White River. There is no evidence that a mythological Chief Munsee ever existed. ("Munsee" means a member of or one of their languages . ) In 1818,
1702-533: The census of 2000, there were 67,430 people, 27,322 households, and 14,589 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,788.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,076.5/km ). There were 30,205 housing units at an average density of 1,248.9 per square mile (482.2/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 83.72% White , 12.97% African American , 0.27% Native American , 0.79% Asian , 0.09% Pacific Islander , 0.67% from other races , and 1.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.44% of
1776-631: The drainage basin of the White River , along which the Delaware , a Native American people had settled, and from which the County takes its name. The Delaware people were moved to lands west of the Mississippi River in the 1840s. The county was once home to Tenskwatawa ("The Prophet"), a brother of Tecumseh who instigated a major Indian uprising in 1811 culminating in the Battle of Tippecanoe . David Conner,
1850-539: The 1920s, Robert and Helen Lynd led a team of sociologists in a study of a typical middle-American community. The Lynds chose Muncie as the locale for their field research, although they never specifically identified it as " Middletown " the fictional name of the town in their study. Muncie received national attention after the publication of their book, Middletown: A Study in Contemporary American Culture (1929). The Lynds returned to Muncie to re-observe
1924-636: The 1950s and 1960s, Muncie has continued as an education center in the state and emerged as a regional health center. As enrollment at Ball State increased, new buildings were erected on the college's campus. Ball Memorial Hospital also expanded its facilities. However, by the 1960s, industrial trends had shifted. Beginning in the 1970s several manufacturing plants closed or moved elsewhere, while others adapted to industrial changes and remained in Muncie. Ball Corporation, for example, closed its Muncie glass manufacturing facilities in 1962 and its corporate headquarters relocated to Broomfield, Colorado in 1998. Muncie
1998-492: The AWAKEN organization wanted to continue work directly in Afghanistan, the temporary MARRC organization was closed. However, the presence of 130 Afghan refugees in Muncie in late 2022 compelled continued work in medical advocacy, employment, legal aid, and financial and reading education. A new organization, Refugee Alliance of Delaware County (RADC), was formed to welcome any refugees in Muncie and help them in establishing and building
2072-467: The Delaware County seat and platted in 1827. On January 13, 1845, Indiana's governor signed legislation passed by the Indiana General Assembly to shorten the town's name to Muncie. Soon, a network of roads connected Muncie to nearby towns, adjacent counties, and to other parts of Indiana. The Indianapolis and Bellefontaine Railroad , the first to arrive in Muncie in 1852, provided the town and
2146-503: The Friendly City. During World War II, the city's manufacturers once again turned their efforts to wartime production. Ball State and Muncie's airport also trained pilots for the U.S. Navy . The postwar era was another period of expansion for Muncie, with continued growth and development of industries, construction of new homes, schools, and businesses. A population boom brought further development, especially from 1946 to 1965. Since
2220-612: The Indiana State Normal School, Eastern Division, the forerunner to Ball State University, opened in 1918. It was named Ball Teachers College in 1922, Ball State Teachers College in 1929, and Ball State University in 1965. Beginning in the late nineteenth century, in tandem with the gas boom, Muncie developed an active cultural arts community, which included music and art clubs, women's clubs, self-improvements clubs, and other social clubs. Hoosier artist J. Ottis Adams , who came to Muncie in 1876, later formed an art school in
2294-550: The Muncie Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Delaware County. The city is also included in the Indianapolis–Carmel–Muncie, IN Combined Statistical Area . The Lenape ( Delaware ) people, led by Buckongahelas arrived in the area in the 1790s, founding several villages, including one known as Munsee Town, along the White River . The trading post , renamed Muncietown,
Delaware County - Misplaced Pages Continue
2368-569: The Muncie Children's Museum. The city also has a large group of independent art galleries. Three of the city's largest performing arts centers belong to Ball State University: the 3,581-seat Emens Auditorium , the 600-seat Sursa Performance Hall, and the 410-seat University Theatre. Downtown performing arts spaces include the Muncie Civic Theatre and Canan Commons, an outdoor amphitheater and greenspace that opened in 2011. In addition,
2442-408: The U.S. headquarters for Brevini Wind, an Italian-based company that manufactures gearboxes for wind turbines. In 2011, locomotive maker Progress Rail (a subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc ) opened in a former Westinghouse facility that had been vacant since 1998. The local economy is a controversial topic among Munsonians. While many older unemployed or underemployed residents strongly identify with
2516-611: The acts legislated by the council, collecting revenue, and managing the day-to-day functions of the county government. Court: The county maintains five circuit courts, each with its own judge. The judges are elected in staggered six-year terms on a county-wide, partisan ballot. The current judges are: In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level court of appeals. County Officials: The county has several other elected offices, including sheriff , coroner , auditor , treasurer , recorder , surveyor , prosecutor , assessor , and circuit court clerk : Each serves
2590-410: The age of 18. The poverty rate for the town was 17.3% higher than that of the state. 18.6% of the population was disabled and 8.7% had no healthcare coverage. 34.3% of the population had attained a high school or equivalent degree, 19.7% had attended college but received no degree, 8.9% had attained an Associate's degree or higher, 14.0% had attained a Bachelor's degree or higher, and 11.6% had
2664-540: The annual budget, and special spending. The council also has limited authority to impose local taxes, in the form of an income and property tax that is subject to state level approval, excise taxes, and service taxes. Board of Commissioners: The executive body of the county. Each commissioner represents a district (in which they must reside). The commissioners are elected county-wide to staggered four-year terms. The current commissioners are: One commissioners serves as president. The commissioners are charged with executing
2738-448: The area's native tribes ceded their lands to the federal government under the terms of the Treaty of St. Mary's and agreed to move farther west by 1821. New settlers began to arrive in what became Delaware County, Indiana , c. 1820 , shortly before the area's public lands were formally opened for purchase. The small trading village of Munsee Town, renamed Muncietown, was selected as
2812-488: The arrival of the auto manufacturing and the related auto parts industry after the turn of the twentieth century, Muncie's industrial and commercial development increased as the population grew. During World War I, local manufacturers joined others around the county in converting their factories to production of war materiel . In the 1920s Muncie continued its rise as an automobile-manufacturing center, primarily due to its heavy industry and skilled labor force. During this time,
2886-404: The average family size was 2.86. In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 19.8% under the age of 18, 24.6% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.5 males. The median income for a household in
2960-447: The city was $ 26,613, and the median income for a family was $ 36,398. Males had a median income of $ 30,445 versus $ 21,872 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 15,814. About 14.3% of families and 23.1% of the population were below the poverty line , including 24.2% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over. As of the census of 2010, there were 70,085 people, 27,722 households, and 13,928 families residing in
3034-522: The city with fellow artist William Forsyth . Although their school closed with a year or two, other art groups were established, most notably the Art Students' League (1892) and the Muncie Art Association (1905). By the early twentieth century several railroads served Muncie, which helped to establish the city as a transportation hub. The Cincinnati, Richmond and Muncie Railroad (later known as
Delaware County - Misplaced Pages Continue
3108-612: The city's economic development. As in many mid-sized cities in the Rust Belt , deindustrialization , which began in the 1960s, impacted Muncie's economy. Several manufacturing plants closed or moved elsewhere. From 2001 to 2011, Muncie lost thousands of jobs as the city continued transitioning from a blue-collar workforce to a white-collar service economy primarily based on health care, education, and retail. Muncie has attracted some new manufacturers, while older factories have been converted to other industrial uses. In 2009, Muncie became
3182-707: The city's gas-boom period was the Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Company, which was renamed the Ball Corporation in 1969. The Ball brothers , who were searching for a new site for their glass manufacturing business that was closer to an abundant natural-gas supply, built a new glass-making foundry in Muncie, beginning its glass production on March 1, 1888. In 1889 the company relocated its metal manufacturing operations to Muncie. In addition to several other glass factories, Muncie attracted iron and steel mills. Kitselman Steel & Wire Company
3256-423: The city. The population density was 2,576.7 inhabitants per square mile (994.9/km ). There were 31,958 housing units at an average density of 1,174.9 per square mile (453.6/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 84.0% White , 10.9% African American , 0.3% Native American , 1.2% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 0.8% from other races , and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.3% of
3330-469: The city. The population density was 2,577.0 inhabitants per square mile (995.0/km ). There were 31,183 housing units at an average density of 1,129.8 per square mile (436.2/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 78.0% White , 11.6% African American , 0.3% Native American or Alaskan Native , 1.5% Asian , 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander , 2.1% from other races and 6.5% were from two or more races. Hispanic and Latino of any race were 4.2% of
3404-435: The commercial trading center for local farmers. The Indiana gas boom of the 1880s ushered in a new era of prosperity to Muncie. Abundant supplies of natural gas attracted new businesses, industries, and additional residents to the city. Although agriculture continued to be an economic factor in the region, industry dominated the city's development for the next 100 years. One of the major manufacturers that arrived early in
3478-516: The community also became a center of Ku Klux Klan activity. Muncie's Klan membership was estimated at 3,500 in the early 1920s. Scandals within the Klan's leadership, divisions among its members, and some violent confrontations with their opponents damaged the organization's reputation. Increasing hostility toward the Klan's political activities, beliefs, and values also divided the Muncie community, before its popularity and membership significantly declined by
3552-676: The community during the Depression , which resulted in a sequel, Middletown in Transition: A Study in Cultural Conflicts (1937). The Lynds' Middletown study, which was funded by the Rockefeler Institute of Social and Religious Research, was intended to study "the interwoven trends that are the life of a small American city." The Lynds were only the first to conduct a series of studies in Muncie. The National Science Foundation funded
3626-423: The county. The population density was 300.1 inhabitants per square mile (115.9/km ). There were 52,357 housing units at an average density of 133.5 per square mile (51.5/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 89.1% white, 6.9% black or African American, 1.0% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.6% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.8% of
3700-415: The county. The population density was 300.1 inhabitants per square mile (115.9/km ). There were 52,713 housing units at an average density of 134.4 per square mile (51.9/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 88.7% white, 7.2% African American, 0.3% American Indian or Alaska Native, 1.3% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 2.6% Hispanic or Latino and 2.4% were from two or more races. 4.8% of
3774-620: The end of the decade. Muncie residents also made it through the challenges of the Great Depression , with the Ball brothers continuing their role as major benefactors to the community by donating funds for construction of new facilities at Ball State and Ball Memorial Hospital . (The hospital, which opened in 1929, later affiliated with Indiana University Health . ) The Works Progress Administration (WPA) also provided jobs such as road grading, city sewer improvements, and bridge construction. In
SECTION 50
#17328379530753848-425: The gas boom ended in Indiana c. 1910 , Muncie was well established as an industrial town and a commercial center for east-central Indiana, especially with several railroad lines connecting it to larger cities and the arrival of automobile industry manufacturing after 1900. Numerous civic developments also occurred as a result of the city's growth during the 1870s, 1880s, and 1890s, when Muncie citizens built
3922-497: The manufacturing identity of the city, newer residents identify with the city's shift towards educational and health services. Contention is greatest among residents living in the once-industrialized sections of the city's south side, as much of the economic growth over that last few decades has taken place on Muncie's north side. The city also struggles to retain college graduates. Despite Ball State's presence, only 32.2 percent of Delaware County's working-age adults (ages 25–64) hold
3996-417: The population were age 5 or younger, 18.2% were under the age of 18, 64.3% were between the ages of 18 and 64, and 17.5% were age 65 or older. 48.2% were male and 51.8% were female. The average household size was 2.34. 3.4% of households had a language other than English spoken at home. 88.1% of households had a computer present and 78.3% had a broadband Internet connection. 13.1% of the population under 65 had
4070-411: The population. There were 26,692 households, of which 16.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.6% were married couples living together, 35.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 26.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 8.5% were non-families. 61.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size
4144-408: The population. There were 27,322 households, out of which 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.4% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.6% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and
4218-441: The population. There were 27,722 households, of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.5% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 49.8% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
4292-423: The population. In terms of ancestry, 23.0% were German , 14.2% were Irish , 10.6% were American , and 10.3% were English . Of the 46,516 households, 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 39.9% were non-families, and 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size
4366-502: The same name. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Delaware_County&oldid=1178288505 " Category : United States county name disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Delaware County, Indiana Delaware County
4440-504: The state house until Carl Kizer Jr.'s appointment to the board in 1993. The school board became majority black for the first time after the 2008 election. According to the 2010 census, Muncie has a total area of 27.392 square miles (70.94 km ), of which 27.2 square miles (70.45 km ),or 99.3%, is land and 0.192 square miles (0.50 km ),or 0.7%, is water. Muncie has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification: Dfa ), experiencing four distinct seasons. As of
4514-418: The surrounding area with access to larger markets for its agricultural production, as well as a faster means of transporting people and goods into and out of the area. Muncie incorporated as a town on December 6, 1854, and became an incorporated city in 1865. John Brady was elected as the city's first mayor. Muncie's early utility companies also date to the mid-1860s, including the city's waterworks , which
SECTION 60
#17328379530754588-453: The turn of the twentieth century. Eastern Indiana Normal School opened in 1899, but it closed after two years. Several subsequent efforts to establish a private college in Muncie during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries also failed, but one proved to be very successful. After the Ball brothers bought the school property and its vacant buildings and donated them to the State of Indiana,
4662-462: Was English with 95.5% speaking it at home, 1.7% spoke Spanish at home, 1.4% spoke an Asian or Pacific Islander language at home, 1.3% spoke another Indo-European language at home, and 0.1% spoke some other language. 2.6% of the population were foreign born . The median household income in Muncie was $ 34,602, 38.4% less than the median average for the state of Indiana . 30.2% of the population were in poverty, including 32.6% of residents under
4736-438: Was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age in the city was 28.1 years. 17.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 27.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.4% were from 25 to 44; 20.2% were from 45 to 64; and 13% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.5% male and 52.5% female. As of the census of 2020, there were 65,194 people, 26,692 households and 6,179 families residing in
4810-637: Was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.87. The median age was 34.8 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 47,697 and the median income for a family was $ 51,394. Males had a median income of $ 42,346 versus $ 31,051 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 20,405. About 12.3% of families and 20.2% of the population were below the poverty line , including 22.1% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over. 40°14′N 85°24′W / 40.23°N 85.40°W / 40.23; -85.40 Muncie, Indiana Muncie ( / ˈ m ʌ n s i / MUN -see )
4884-438: Was 3.09. Just over half (50.1%) of the population had never been married, 29.6% were married and not separated , 5.7% were widowed , 13.1% were divorced , and 1.6% were separated. The median age of the city was 28.8. 4.4% of residents were under the age of 5, 16.2% were under 18 years, 83.8% were age 18 or older, and 14.0% were age 65 or older. 5.8% of the population were veterans . The most common language spoken at home
4958-505: Was Wayne Brooks, who ran for the Republican nomination for mayor in 1934. Ray Armstrong was elected as the first black member of the city council in 1951, and Alice McIntosh was elected as the first black female member of the city council in 1983. Goodall was the first black person elected to the city's school board and later to represent the area in the state house. No other black person served on Muncie's school board after Goodall's election to
5032-480: Was also home to other manufacturing operations, including Warner Gear (a division of BorgWarner ), Delco Remy , General Motors , Ontario Corporation, A. E. Boyce Company, and Westinghouse Electric , among others. In 2017, the Muncie Community Schools system was declared a "distressed political subdivision", and put in direct control of the state government. In 2018, the school district was reformed and
5106-441: Was drilling in search of coal, and when they had reaching a depth of six-hundred feet, there was a loud noise and foul-smelling fumes came from the well. After a brief investigation, it was decided they had breached the ceiling of Hell , and the hole was quickly filled in. In 1884, when natural gas was discovered in nearby Ohio, people recalled the incident. They returned to the spot and opened Indiana's first natural gas well. The gas
5180-457: Was established in 1865. After the American Civil War , two factors helped Muncie attract new commercial and industrial development: the arrival of additional railroads from the late 1890s to the early 1900s and the discovery of abundant supplies of natural gas in the area. Prior to the discovery of nearby natural-gas wells and the beginning of the gas boom in Muncie in 1886, the region was primarily an agricultural area, with Muncie serving as
5254-410: Was selected as the Delaware County seat and platted in 1827. Its name was officially shortened to Muncie in 1845 and incorporated as a city in 1865. Muncie developed as a manufacturing and industrial center, especially after the Indiana gas boom of the 1880s. It is home to Ball State University . As a result of the Middletown studies , sociological research that was first conducted in the 1920s, Muncie
5328-403: Was so abundant and strong that when the well was lit, the flames could be seen from Muncie . Delaware County consists of low rolling prairie, accented by waterways. The Mississinewa River flows westward through the northern part of the county while the White River runs westward through the central part of the county, through Muncie . A large reservoir, Prairie Creek Reservoir, SE of Muncie
5402-657: Was the Ball Corporation, established by the Ball brothers of Buffalo, New York , who opened a glass factory in Muncie in 1888. Other notable manufacturers in addition to the Ball Corporation with operations in Muncie have included BorgWarner , The Broderick Company (aformer division of Harsco ), Dayton-Walther Corporation, Delco Remy , General Motors , New Venture Gear , Hemingray Glass Company , Ontario Corporation, A. E. Boyce Company, Indiana Steel and Wire, and Westinghouse Electric . Changing industrial trends caused shifts in
5476-537: Was the largest employer in Indiana in 1900 with 11,000 employees; it later became Indiana Steel & Wire. Others included Republic Iron and Steel Company and the Midland Steel Company. (Midland became Inland Steel Company and later moved to Gary, Indiana .) Indiana Bridge Company was also a major employer. By the time the natural gas supply from the Trenton Gas Field had significantly declined and
#74925