Indianapolis Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ===Cityscape=== {{Wide image|Panoram Indy.jpg|1000px|Panorama of [[Downtown Indianapolis]] skyline and White River in daylight (2009)}}{{Wide image|NightPanoIndy.jpg|1000px|Panorama of Downtown Indianapolis skyline and White River at twilight (2009)}}{{Wide image|Panorama of downtown Indianapolis skyline, July 2016.jpg|1000px|Panorama of Downtown Indianapolis skyline, looking northeast from atop the [[Perry K. Generating Station]] (2016)}} [[File:Indiana Central Canal - 2013 June - 01.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Northern segment of the former [[Indiana Central Canal]]]] Indianapolis is a [[planned city]]. On January 11, 1820, the [[Indiana General Assembly]] authorized a committee to select a site in central Indiana for the new state capital, appointing [[Alexander Ralston]] and [[Elias Pym Fordham]] to survey and design a town plan for Indianapolis. Ralston had been a surveyor for the French architect [[Pierre L'Enfant]], assisting him with the [[L'Enfant Plan|plan for Washington, D.C.]] Ralston's original plan for Indianapolis called for a town of {{convert|1|sqmi|km2}}, near the [[confluence]] of the [[White River (Indiana)|White River]] and [[Fall Creek (Indiana)|Fall Creek]].<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Bodenhamer|editor1-first=David J.|editor2-last=Barrows|editor2-first=Robert G.|title=The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis|publisher=Indiana University Press|year=1994|location=Bloomington and Indianapolis|page=132|isbn=0-253-31222-1}}</ref> Known as the Mile Square, the plan followed a [[grid plan|grid pattern]] centered on a [[traffic circle]] called [[Monument Circle]], from which Indianapolis's "Circle City" nickname originates.<ref>{{cite journal|author=William A. Browne Jr.|title=The Ralston Plan: Naming the Streets of Indianapolis|journal=Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History|volume=25|issue=3|page=8 and 9|publisher=Indiana Historical Society|location=Indianapolis|date=Summer 2013}}</ref> Four diagonal avenues{{emdash}}[[Indiana Avenue|Indiana]] (northwest), Kentucky (southwest), [[Massachusetts Avenue, Indianapolis|Massachusetts]] (northeast), and Virginia (southwest){{emdash}}radiated a block from Monument Circle.<ref>Browne, p. 11 and 16.</ref> The city's address numbering system originates at the intersection of [[Washington Street (Indianapolis)|Washington]] (running east–west) and [[Meridian Street (Indianapolis)|Meridian]] streets (running north–south).<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|editor1-last=Bodenhamer|editor1-first=David|editor2-last=Barrows|editor2-first=Robert|title=The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis|year=1994|publisher=Indiana University Press|location=Bloomington & Indianapolis|page=1485}}</ref> Beginning construction in 1836, the {{convert|8|mi|km|adj=on}}-long [[Indiana Central Canal]] is the oldest extant artificial facility in the city. Between 1985 and 2001, nearly {{convert|1.5|mi}} of the former canal in downtown Indianapolis was redeveloped into the Canal Walk, a cultural and recreational amenity. North of 18th Street, the canal retains much of its original appearance, flowing through the northside neighborhoods of [[Riverside, Indianapolis|Riverside]], [[Butler–Tarkington, Indianapolis|Butler–Tarkington]], [[Rocky Ripple, Indiana|Rocky Ripple]], and [[Broad Ripple Village, Indianapolis|Broad Ripple]]. This segment has been recognized as an [[American Water Landmark]] since 1971.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Central Canal Corridor |encyclopedia=Digital Encyclopedia of Indianapolis |date=March 2021 |last=Verderame |first=Jyoti A. |publisher=Indianapolis Public Library |url=https://indyencyclopedia.org/central-canal-corridor/ |access-date=May 29, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Central Canal |encyclopedia=Digital Encyclopedia of Indianapolis |orig-date=1994 |year=2021 |last=Lauritz Larson |first=John |publisher=Indianapolis Public Library |url=https://indyencyclopedia.org/central-canal/ |access-date=May 29, 2022}}</ref> Compared to American cities of similar populations, Indianapolis is unique in that it contains some 200 farms covering thousands of acres of agricultural land within its municipal boundaries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/Online_Resources/County_Profiles/Indiana/cp18097.pdf|title=2012 Census of Agriculture|publisher=U.S. Department of Agriculture|access-date=September 4, 2017|archive-date=May 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504001152/https://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2012/Online_Resources/County_Profiles/Indiana/cp18097.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Equestrian farms and corn and soybean fields interspersed with suburban development are commonplace on the city's periphery, especially in [[Franklin Township, Marion County, Indiana|Franklin Township]].<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Bodenhamer|editor1-first=David J.|editor2-last=Barrows|editor2-first=Robert G.|title=The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis|publisher=Indiana University Press|year=1994|location=Bloomington and Indianapolis|pages=243–244|isbn=0-253-31222-1}}</ref> ====Architecture==== {{See also|List of tallest buildings in Indianapolis|National Register of Historic Places listings in Marion County, Indiana}} [[File:Monument Circle, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Built between 1888 and 1901, the [[Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument (Indianapolis)|Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument]] is perhaps the most prominent of the city's [[Neoclassical architecture]].]] Noted as one of the finest examples of the [[City Beautiful movement]] design in the U.S., the [[Indiana World War Memorial Plaza|Indiana World War Memorial Plaza Historic District]] began construction in 1921 in downtown Indianapolis.<ref>{{cite web|title=Indiana World War Memorial Plaza Historic District|url=https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/indianapolis/wwmemorialplaza.htm|publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior|access-date=May 20, 2016}}</ref><ref name="INDWARMEM">{{cite book|editor1-last=Bodenhamer|editor1-first=David J.|editor2-last=Barrows|editor2-first=Robert G.|title=The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis|publisher=Indiana University Press|year=1994|location=Bloomington and Indianapolis|pages=762–763|isbn=0-253-31222-1}}</ref> The district, a [[National Historic Landmark]], encompasses several examples of [[neoclassical architecture]], including the [[American Legion]], [[Central Library (Indianapolis)|Central Library]], and [[Birch Bayh Federal Building and United States Courthouse]]. The district is also home to several sculptures and memorials, ''[[Depew Memorial Fountain]]'', and open space, hosting many annual civic events.<ref name="INDWARMEM"/> After completion of the [[Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument (Indianapolis)|Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument]], an ordinance was passed in 1905 [[Height restriction laws|restricting building heights]] on the traffic circle to {{convert|86|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} to protect views of the {{convert|284|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} monument.<ref name="height">{{cite book|editor1-last=Bodenhamer|editor1-first=David J.|editor2-last=Barrows|editor2-first=Robert G.|title=The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis|publisher=Indiana University Press|year=1994|location=Bloomington and Indianapolis|page=648|isbn=0-253-31222-1}}</ref> The ordinance was revised in 1922, permitting buildings to rise to {{convert|108|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}, with an additional {{convert|42|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} allowable with a series of [[setback (architecture)|setback]]s.<ref name="height"/> A citywide height restriction ordinance was instituted in 1912, barring structures over {{convert|200|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite book|author=City of New York Board of Estimate and Apportionment|title=Commission on Building Districts and Restrictions: Final Report|publisher=M. B. Brown Printing & Binding Co.|year=1916|location=New York|page=62}}</ref> Completed in 1962, the [[City-County Building (Indianapolis)|City-County Building]] was the first high-rise in the city to surpass the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument in height.<ref>{{cite web|title=City-County Building, Indianapolis|publisher=Emporis.com|url=http://www.emporis.com/buildings/118692/city-county-building-indianapolis-in-usa|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513035046/http://www.emporis.com/buildings/118692/city-county-building-indianapolis-in-usa|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 13, 2015|access-date=June 11, 2016}}</ref> A [[building boom]], lasting from 1982 to 1990, saw the construction of six of the city's ten tallest buildings.<ref name="buildings">{{cite book|editor1-last=Bodenhamer|editor1-first=David J.|editor2-last=Barrows|editor2-first=Robert G.|title=The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis|publisher=Indiana University Press|year=1994|location=Bloomington and Indianapolis|pages=28–37|isbn=0-253-31222-1}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emporis.com/statistics/tallest-buildings/city/101039/indianapolis-in-usa|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150408010453/http://www.emporis.com/statistics/tallest-buildings/city/101039/indianapolis-in-usa|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 8, 2015|title=Tallest buildings in Indianapolis|access-date=June 11, 2016|publisher=Emporis.com}}</ref> The tallest is [[Salesforce Tower (Indianapolis)|Salesforce Tower]], completed in 1990 at {{convert|811|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.emporis.com/buildings/118700/salesforce-tower-indianapolis-in-usa|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806082116/http://www.emporis.com/buildings/118700/salesforce-tower-indianapolis-in-usa|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 6, 2016|title=Salesforce Tower, Indianapolis|access-date=September 4, 2017|publisher=Emporis.com}}</ref> [[Indiana limestone]] is the signature building material in Indianapolis, widely included in the city's many monuments, churches, academic, government, and civic buildings.<ref name="buildings"/> ====Neighborhoods==== {{See also|List of Indianapolis neighborhoods}} [[File:Webster Avenue in Irvington Terrace.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Single-family homes in [[Irvington Terrace Historic District|Irvington Terrace]]]] For statistical purposes, the consolidated city-county is organized into 99 "neighborhood areas" with most containing numerous individual historic and cultural districts, subdivisions, and some semi-autonomous towns. In total, some 500 self-identified neighborhood associations are listed in the city's Registered Community Organization system.<ref>{{cite web |title=About the Data |url=https://indyvitals.org/AboutTheData |publisher=The Polis Center at IUPUI |access-date=November 26, 2021}}</ref> As a result of the city's expansive land area, Indianapolis has a unique [[Transect (urban)|urban-to-rural transect]], ranging from dense urban neighborhoods to suburban [[tract housing]] subdivisions, to rural villages.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Bodenhamer |editor1-first=David J. |editor2-last=Barrows |editor2-first=Robert G. |title=The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis |publisher=Indiana University Press |year=1994 |location=Bloomington and Indianapolis |pages=243–244|isbn=0-253-31222-1}}</ref> Typical of American cities in the Midwest, Indianapolis urbanized in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, resulting in the development of relatively dense, well-defined neighborhoods clustered around streetcar corridors, especially in [[Center Township, Marion County, Indiana|Center Township]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Center Township |encyclopedia=Digital Encyclopedia of Indianapolis |orig-date=1994 |year=2021 |last1=Donnelly |first1=Cathleen |last2=Verderame |first2=Jyoti |publisher=Indianapolis Public Library |url=https://indyencyclopedia.org/center-township/ |access-date=November 27, 2021}}</ref> Notable [[streetcar suburb]]s include [[Broad Ripple Village, Indianapolis|Broad Ripple]], [[Irvington Historic District (Indianapolis, Indiana)|Irvington]], and [[University Heights, Indianapolis|University Heights]].<ref name="Neighborhoods and Communities">{{cite book |editor1-last=Bodenhamer |editor1-first=David J. |editor2-last=Barrows |editor2-first=Robert G. |title=The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis |publisher=Indiana University Press |year=1994 |location=Bloomington and Indianapolis |pages=132–39 |isbn=0-253-31222-1}}</ref> Starting in the mid-20th century, the [[post–World War II economic expansion]] and subsequent [[suburbanization]] greatly influenced the city's development patterns. From 1950 to 1970, nearly 100,000 housing units were built in Marion County, most outside Center Township in suburban neighborhoods such as [[Castleton, Indianapolis|Castleton]], [[Eagledale, Indianapolis|Eagledale]], and [[Nora, Indianapolis|Nora]].<ref name="Neighborhoods and Communities"/> Since the 2000s, [[downtown Indianapolis]] and surrounding neighborhoods have seen increased reinvestment mirroring nationwide market trends, driven by [[empty nesters]] and [[millennials]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Olson |first=Scott |date=November 15, 2013 |url=http://www.ibj.com/articles/44639-study-downtown-can-sustain-huge-apartment-boom |title=Study: Downtown can sustain huge apartment boom |newspaper=Indianapolis Business Journal |publisher=IBJ Media |access-date=June 11, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Russell |first=John |date=February 25, 2015 |url=http://www.indystar.com/story/money/2015/02/25/report-downtown-apartment-market-booming-units-way/24000905/ |title=Report: Downtown apartment market booming, with more units on the way |newspaper=The Indianapolis Star |publisher=Gannett Co. |access-date=June 11, 2016}}</ref> Renewed interest in urban living has been met with some dispute regarding [[gentrification]] and [[affordable housing]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Eason| first=Brian |date=August 18, 2015 |url=http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2015/07/23/tax-relief-plan-targets-gentrifying-indy-neighborhoods/30585231/ |title=Council passes resolution seeking help for owners in gentrifying areas |newspaper=The Indianapolis Star |publisher=Gannett Co. |access-date=June 11, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Courage |first=Cara |date=August 21, 2015 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/aug/21/indianapolis-gentrification-arts-big-car-jim-walker-fountain-square-garfield-park |title=Why Indianapolis is a test case for a fairer form of gentrification |work=The Guardian |access-date=June 11, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Larson |first=Annika |date=February 10, 2016 |url=http://www.nuvo.net/indianapolis/the-rent-is-too-damn-high/Content?oid=3787156|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160212100211/http://www.nuvo.net/indianapolis/the-rent-is-too-damn-high/Content?oid=3787156 |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 12, 2016 |title=The rent is too damn high! |newspaper=NUVO |access-date=June 11, 2016}}</ref> According to a Center for Community Progress report, neighborhoods like [[Cottage Home Historic District|Cottage Home]] and [[Fall Creek Place, Indianapolis|Fall Creek Place]] have experienced measurable gentrification since 2000.<ref>{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Emily |date=December 14, 2016 |url=https://www.nuvo.net/arts/general_arts/are-indy-neighborhoods-gentrifying/article_f7ef3602-5992-5043-b61a-25a88b59aabd.html |title=Are Indy neighborhoods gentrifying? |newspaper=NUVO |access-date=December 20, 2016}}</ref> The [[North Meridian Street Historic District]] is among the most affluent urban neighborhoods in the U.S., with a mean [[household income]] of $102,599 in 2017.<ref>{{citation |title=High Income Urban Neighborhoods |publisher=Higley 1000 |website=higley1000.com |url=http://higley1000.com/about-this-site/methodology/top-urban-neighborhoods-by-mean-household-income |access-date=September 17, 2017 |archive-date=September 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914124844/http://higley1000.com/about-this-site/methodology/top-urban-neighborhoods-by-mean-household-income |url-status=dead}}</ref> ====Parks==== {{See also|List of parks in Indianapolis}} [[File:"The Ruins" at Holliday Park, Indianapolis, Indiana.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|The Ruins at Holliday Park]] The city of Indianapolis maintains 212 public parks, totaling {{convert|11258|acre|ha}} or about 5.1% of the city's land area.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Parks and Greenspaces |encyclopedia=Digital Encyclopedia of Indianapolis |orig-date=1994 |year=2021 |last1=Hale |first1=Michelle |last2=Fischer |first2=Jessica |publisher=Indianapolis Public Library |url=https://indyencyclopedia.org/parks-and-greenspaces/ |access-date=January 15, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tpl.org/sites/default/files/files_upload/CityParkFacts_2017.4_7_17.FIN_.LO_.pdf |title=2017 City park facts |publisher=The Trust for Public Land |page=11 |access-date=January 16, 2022 |archive-date=January 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113034104/https://www.tpl.org/sites/default/files/files_upload/CityParkFacts_2017.4_7_17.FIN_.LO_.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Eagle Creek Park]], Indianapolis's largest and most visited park, ranks among the [[List of urban parks by size|largest municipal parks]] in the U.S., covering {{convert|4766|acre|ha}}.<ref>{{cite news |last=Eason |first=Brian |date=June 18, 2016 |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2016/06/18/indys-struggling-parks-we-have-work-do/85495128/ |title=Indy's struggling parks: 'We have work to do' |newspaper=The Indianapolis Star |publisher=Gannett Co. |access-date=July 31, 2019}}</ref> [[Garfield Park (Indianapolis)|Garfield Park]], the city's first municipal park, opened in 1876 as Southern Park.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Bodenhamer |editor1-first=David J. |editor2-last=Barrows |editor2-first=Robert G. |title=The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis |publisher=Indiana University Press |year=1994 |location=Bloomington and Indianapolis |page=608 |isbn=0-253-31222-1}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Bodenhamer |editor1-first=David J. |editor2-last=Barrows |editor2-first=Robert G. |title=The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis |publisher=Indiana University Press |year=1994 |location=Bloomington and Indianapolis |page=1008 |isbn=0-253-31222-1}}</ref> In the early 20th century, the city enlisted landscape architect [[George Kessler]] to conceive a framework for Indianapolis's modern parks system.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Bodenhamer |editor1-first=David J. |editor2-last=Barrows |editor2-first=Robert G. |title=The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis |publisher=Indiana University Press |year=1994 |location=Bloomington and Indianapolis |page=867 |isbn=0-253-31222-1}}</ref> Kessler's 1909 [[Indianapolis Park and Boulevard System|Indianapolis Park and Boulevard Plan]] linked notable parks, such as [[Brookside Park (Indianapolis)|Brookside]], [[Irvington Historic District (Indianapolis, Indiana)#Parks|Ellenberger]], Garfield, and [[Riverside Park (Indianapolis)|Riverside]], with a system of parkways following the city's waterways.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Bodenhamer |editor1-first=David J. |editor2-last=Barrows |editor2-first=Robert G. |title=The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis |publisher=Indiana University Press |year=1994 |location=Bloomington and Indianapolis |pages=868–869 |isbn=0-253-31222-1}}</ref> The system's {{convert|3474|acres}} were added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 2003.<ref>{{cite web |title=Indianapolis Park and Boulevard System |url=http://focus.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/03000149 |publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior |access-date=May 20, 2016}}</ref> Marion County is also home to parks managed by the State of Indiana, including [[Fort Harrison State Park]] and [[White River State Park]]. Established in 1996, Fort Harrison State Park covers {{convert|1744|acre|ha}} that are overseen by the [[Indiana Department of Natural Resources]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/files/ftharrison_trail.pdf |title=Fort Harrison State Park |publisher=Indiana Department of Natural Resources |date=December 2018 |access-date=January 16, 2022}}</ref> Since 1979, White River has been owned and operated by the White River State Park Development Commission, a quasi-governmental agency.<ref>{{cite web |title=White River State Park Development Commission |url=http://www.downtownindy.org/member-profile/white-river-state-park-development-commission/ |publisher=Downtown Indy Inc. |access-date=October 4, 2018}}</ref> White River's {{convert|250|acre|ha}} are home to several attractions, including the [[Indianapolis Zoo]] and [[White River Gardens]]. Two [[land trust]]s are active in the city managing several sites for [[nature conservation]] throughout the region.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://conservingindiana.org/preserves/ |title=Preserves |date=August 21, 2019 |publisher=Central Indiana Land Trust |access-date=January 17, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Miller |first=Haley |date=November 10, 2020 |url=https://youarecurrent.com/2020/11/10/preserving-property-mud-creek-conservancy-halfway-to-fundraising-goal-to-purchase-land-for-sargent-road-nature-park/ |title=Preserving property: Mud Creek Conservancy halfway to fundraising goal to purchase land for Sargent Road Nature Park |newspaper=Current |publisher=Current Publishing |access-date=January 17, 2022}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. 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