Lafayette, Indiana

Lafayette (pronounced /ˌlɑːfeɪˈɛt/) is a city in Tippecanoe County, Indiana, U.S., 63 miles (101 km) northwest of Indianapolis. Population in 1900, 18,116; in 1910, 20,081; in 1920, 22,486; and in 1940, 28,798 people. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,397. The city is the county seat of Tippecanoe County^[4]. West Lafayette, just across the Wabash River, is home to Purdue University, which has a large impact on both communities. Together, Lafayette and West Lafayette form the core of the Lafayette, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area, which, as of the 2000 census, had a total population of 183,340; Lafayette is thus the 215th largest metropolitan area in the United States. It is one of the most diverse areas in the state.

[edit] History

General Lafayette, 1792

Lafayette skyline from West Lafayette

The Court House - Downtown

The area around what is now Tippecanoe County was inhabited by a tribe of Miami Indians known as the Ouiatenon or Weas. The French government established Fort Ouiatenon in 1717 across the Wabash River and three miles (5 km) south of the location of present-day Lafayette. The fort became the center of trade for fur trappers, merchants and Indians. An annual reenactment and festival known as The Feast of the Hunters' Moon takes place there each fall.

Lafayette was platted by the river trader William Digby, in May 1825. The town was made county seat for the newly formed Tippecanoe County soon after in 1826. Like many small frontier towns, Lafayette was officially named for General Lafayette, a French military hero who fought with and significantly aided the American Army during the American Revolutionary War (September 6, 1757—May 20, 1834).

In its earliest days Lafayette was a shipping center on the Wabash River. The Wabash and Erie Canal in the 1840s further cemented Lafayette's regional prominence, which was also escalated by the arrival of the railroads in the 1850s. The Monon Railroad connected Lafayette with other sections of Indiana.

Lafayette was the site of the first official air mail delivery in the United States, which took place on August 17, 1859, when John Wise piloted a balloon starting on the Lafayette courthouse grounds. Wise hoped to reach New York; however, weather conditions forced the balloon down near Crawfordsville, Indiana, and the mail reached its final destination by train. In 1959, the U.S. Postal Service issued a 7¢ airmail stamp commemorating the centennial of the event.^[5]

Modern history owes a fair debt to Robert Kriebel, a reporter since retired from the Lafayette Journal and Courier newspaper. By way of his books and columns the curious are provided a convenient, accessible, and even colorful way to grasp the events around and preceding him. Old Lafayette in two volumes is highly recommended. For further reading, the curious might look into some other notable historians of Lafayette appearing below. These were compiled by Kriebel for his "short list" as provided in the Lafayette Bank & Trust's The Best of Lafayette (2000): Sandford C. Cox, Richard P. DeHart, Sallie Sample, Sarah M. Crockett, Thomas B. Helm, Jesse Henderson Levering, Paul K. Mavity, Logan Esarey, and Herbery H. Heimlich.

[edit] Geography

The Wabash River at Lafayette, Indiana, flowing from left to right (north to south). The Amtrak station at Riehle Plaza can be seen in the background.

Lafayette is located at 40°24′38″N, 86°52′29″W (40.410585, -86.874681)^[6] and lies in Fairfield and Wea Townships. Elevation at the court house is 550 feet (168 m), but city elevations range from a little over 500 feet at the Wabash River to approximately 700 feet (210 m) in the areas of Murdock Park and Columbian Park.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 20.1 square miles (52.0 km²), all of it land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 56,397 people, 24,060 households, and 13,666 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,806.5 people per square mile (1,083.9/km²). There were 25,602 housing units at an average density of 1,274.1/sq mi (492.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.91% White, 3.22% African American, 0.37% Native American, 1.22% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 4.61% from other races, and 1.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.11% of the population.

There were 24,060 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.2% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% 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 2.98.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 14.2% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,859, and the median income for a family was $45,480. Males had a median income of $32,892 versus $23,049 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,217. About 8.0% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.

Like most of Indiana, Lafayette has been dominated by the agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation industries.

[edit] Education

[edit] Colleges

[edit] Public

K-12 public education in the Lafayette area is provided by the Lafayette School Corporation. New Community School is a tuition-free elementary charter school (sponsored by Ball State University) located in downtown Lafayette.

[edit] Private

Faith Christian School [1]
First Assembly Christian Academy
Lafayette Christian School [2]
Central Catholic Junior/Senior High School *[3]
St. Boniface Middle School [4]
St. Lawrence Catholic School [5]
St. Mary Cathedral Elementary School [6]
St. James Lutheran School

[edit] Notes

Purdue University is located in West Lafayette, Indiana.
Public schools outside of Lafayette are administered by the West Lafayette Community School Corporation or the Tippecanoe School Corporation (suburban).

[edit] News and Media

Journal and Courier

Purdue Exponent

Newspaper

Television

Commercial Radio Stations

Non-commercial Radio Stations

[edit] Transportation

US Route 52 Lafayette

Airports

Purdue University Airport, West Lafayette. No commercial flights.

Highways

Interstate Highway 65 to Gary, Indiana (near Chicago) and Indianapolis
U.S. Highway 52 to Joliet, Illinois (also near Chicago) and Indianapolis
U.S. Highway 231
Indiana state highways 25, 26, 38, 43

Railroads
Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides passenger rail service to Lafayette through the Cardinal to Chicago, Washington D.C., and New York City. Norfolk Southern, CSX, Kankakee, Beaverville and Southern Railroad, and Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway (RailAmerica) provide freight rail service. Many of the rails lines that originally passed through the downtown were redirected in the mid-1990s to a rail corridor near the Wabash River.^[7]^[8]

See also: Lafayette, Indiana (Amtrak station)

CityBus

Bus Service

CityBus local bus service by the Greater Lafayette Public Transportation Corporation
Greyhound intercity bus service

[edit] Economy

Much of the economy of the city of Lafayette and the surrounding area is centered around the academic and industrial activities of Purdue University. The university and its associated businesses employ the largest portion of the Lafayette workforce. However, private industry and commerce independent of the university also exist in the community. Some notable examples include:

Alcoa, a producer of aluminum extrusions and tubes.
Caterpillar Large Engine Division, producer of large diesel and natural gas engines.
Fairfield Manufacturing, producer of gears.
Wabash National, world's largest manufacturer of semi-truck trailers
Subaru of Indiana Automotive, producer of Subaru and now, Toyota vehicles.
Eli Lilly and Company (Tippecanoe Laboratories) pharmaceuticals.
The Lafayette Life Insurance Company, insurance and annuity services
Tate & Lyle, manufacturer of Splenda(R) and other sweeteners
TRW Commercial Steering Systems
Landis+Gyr, manufacturer of electric meters for global ANSI markets

[edit] Notable residents and natives

For notable residents associated with Purdue University see List of Purdue University people

[edit] Entertainment

Richard Barbee - Vaudevillian stage actor, silent film comedic actor [7]
Karen Black - Actress
Jeremy Camp - Christian recording artist
Embeth Davidtz - Actress
Mitch Henck - Radio talk show host
Louise Fazenda - Silent film comic actress, character actress in the "talkies"
Kevin Galbraith - Professional Dancer on MTV's "The Grind" and "Prince" (also former guitarist of "Rattail Grenadier")
Mass Giorgini - Record producer (Alkaline Trio, Anti-Flag, Rise Against) and bassist of Screeching Weasel, bassist and vocalist of Squirtgun, and bassist and saxophonist of Common Rider
Jason Groth - Guitarist for Magnolia Electric Company
Shannon Hoon - Former singer of Blind Melon
Michael Kelsey - Solo guitarist
John Korty - Director, screenwriter, best known for Oliver's Story
Tammy Lynn Michaels - Actress
Zachariah Nagy - Musician, producer, guitar tech for Joan Jett
Justin Richard - Musician, Song Writer, Lead guitarist for local band Old School
Sydney Pollack - Actor, director, and producer
Victor Potel - Silent film actor, worked for Mack Sennett and was "Slippery Slim" in the "Snakeville" series [8]
Axl Rose - Guns N' Roses co-founder and vocalist
Churchill Ross (Ross Weigle) - actor, mostly small parts from 1924-1936
Peter Sattler - graphic designer for the feature film Walk the Line [9]
Julia Scheeres - Author, best known for ALA Alex Award winning memoir Jesus Land
Lori Sellers - Pianist, poet, philanthropist. Currently residing in Toledo, OH.
Izzy Stradlin - Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist
Adam Vanderwielen - Actor [10]

[edit] Sports

Ray Ewry - Ten-time Olympic champion
Chuckie Nwokorie - NFL defensive player and Lafayette Jefferson High School graduate
George Souders - Indy 500 Winner in 1927. Won the race in his rookie year.
Bernard "Bernie" Flowers - Purdue All American and NFL Baltimore Colts 1950s, born in the Cleveland area, made Lafayette home.
Dustin Keller - New York Jets NFL Tight end, Born and Raised in Lafayette.

[edit] Business, law, politics

Roger D. Branigin - Indiana Governor 1965-1969
Steve Carter - Indiana Attorney General
Brian Lamb - Host of "Booknotes" TV series, 1989. C-SPAN founder
John Purdue - Purdue Block, Tippecanoe County founder, founding benefactor of Purdue University
Alvah C. Roebuck - founded Sears, Roebuck and Company
Clara Shortridge Foltz (1849-1934) - first woman lawyer on the Pacific coast.

[edit] Academic, science, technology

Daniel X Freedman - pioneer in biological psychiatry, discovered link of hallucinogens to brain transmitters.
Donald E. Williams - astronaut
David L. Worland - Indianapolis Cathedral High School Principal, noted as one of Lafayette's most respected persons.

[edit] Local civic organizations

The Bach Chorale Singers
Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette
Downtown Business Center
Historic Ninth Street Hill Neighborhood Association
Lafayette Citizens Band
Lafayette Music League
Lafayette Symphony Orchestra
Opera de Lafayette
Round the Fountain Art Fair
Tippecanoe County Historical Association
Friends of BOB live Music Co-op

[edit] Points of interest

Purdue University, located in West Lafayette
Jerry E. Clegg Botanic Garden
Horticulture Gardens at Purdue University
Lafayette Farmer's Market in historic downtown (May through October)
Ninth Street Hill Historic District
Tippecanoe Battlefield (in Battle Ground, IN)
Farmer's Institute (Friends Meeting House)
Wolf Park (Battle Ground, IN)
Prophetstown State Park (Battle Ground, IN)
Columbian Park and Zoo

[edit] Community Events

The Feast of the Hunters' Moon (Mid to Late September or Early October)
A Taste of Tippecanoe (Mid June)
Colt World Series (August)
Indiana Fiddlers' Gathering (in Battle Ground in June)
First Edition's Haunted Feargrounds (October)
Lafayette Citizens Band concerts (Thursdays in the summer)
Round The Fountain Art Fair (Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend - celebrating 35 years in 2008!)
Long Center for the Performing Arts Historical theater providing Lafayette's not-for-profits and other with vibrant venue.

[edit] See also

Neighborhoods of Lafayette

[edit] References

^ USGS detail on Lafayette. Retrieved on 2007-09-21.
^ ^a ^b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ First Air Mail Flight
^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
^ Amtrak in Lafaytte, Indiana 1994 gregarnst
^ Amtrak in Lafaytte, Indiana May 1995 gregarnst

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Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2007)

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Lafayette, Indiana

Indiana Portal

Official website
Lafayette Online
Lafayette, Indiana travel guide from Wikitravel
Lafayette Journal and Courier (Local newspaper, owned by Gannett)

Lafayette, Indiana is at coordinates 40°24′38″N 86°52′29″W / 40.410585, -86.874681 (Lafayette, Indiana)Coordinates: 40°24′38″N 86°52′29″W / 40.410585, -86.874681 (Lafayette, Indiana)

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Tippecanoe County, Indiana

County seat: Lafayette

Cities and towns	Battle Ground \| Clarks Hill \| Dayton \| Lafayette \| Otterbein \| Shadeland \| West Lafayette

Townships	Fairfield \| Jackson \| Lauramie \| Perry \| Randolph \| Sheffield \| Shelby \| Tippecanoe \| Union \| Wabash \| Washington \| Wayne \| Wea

Unincorporated communities	Americus \| Ash Grove \| Buck Creek \| Colburn \| Concord \| Monroe \| Montmorenci \| Odell \| Pettit \| Romney \| Stockwell \| Westpoint