Muncie, Indiana

City of Muncie, Indiana
—  City  —
Muncie downtown from the northwest
Nickname(s): Middletown USA
Location in the state of Indiana
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Indiana
County	Delaware
Township	Center
Government
- Mayor	Sharon McShurley (R)
Area
- Total	24.2 sq mi (62.7 km2)
- Land	24.2 sq mi (62.6 km2)
- Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	932 ft (284 m)
Population (2006)
- Total	67,166
- Density	2,788.6/sq mi (1,076.7/km2)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes	47302-47308
Area code(s)	765
FIPS code	18-51876[1]
GNIS feature ID	0439878[2]
Website	www.cityofmuncie.com

Muncie (pronounced /ˈmʌnsi/) is a city in Center Township, Delaware County in east central Indiana, best known as the home of Ball State University and the birthplace of the Ball Corporation. It is the principal city of the Muncie, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 118,769. The population within city limits, as of a 2000 Census, was 65,287.^[3]

History

The area was first settled in the 1770s by the Delaware Indians, who had been transported from their tribal lands near the east coast to Ohio and eastern Indiana. They founded several towns along the White River including Munsee Town (according to historical map of "The Indians" by Clark Ray), near the site of present-day Muncie. The tribes were forced to cede their land to the federal government and move farther west in 1818, and in 1820 the area was opened to white settlers. Muncie was one of the considerations for state capital when it was moved from Corydon. It was considered by many to be a suitable location due to its location on the White River. The city of Muncie was incorporated in 1865. Contrary to popular legend, the city is not named after a mythological Chief Munsee, rather it was named after Munsee Town, the white settlers' name for the Indian village on the site, "munsee" meaning a member of the Delaware tribe.

Muncie was lightly disguised as "Middletown" by a team of sociologists, led by Robert and Helen Lynd, who were only the first to conduct a series of studies in Muncie—considered a typical Middle-American community—in their case, a study funded by the Rockefeller Institute of Social and Religious Research.^[4] In 1929, the Lynds published Middletown: A Study in Contemporary American Culture. They returned to re-observe the community during the Depression and published Middletown in Transition: A Study in Cultural Conflicts (1937). Later in the century, the National Science Foundation funded a third major study that resulted in two books by Theodore Caplow, Middletown Families (1982) and All Faithful People (1983). Caplow returned in 1998 to begin another study, Middletown IV, which became part of a PBS Documentary entitled "The First Measured Century," released in December 2000. The Ball State Center for Middletown Studies continues to survey and analyze social change in Muncie. An enormous database of the Middletown surveys conducted between 1978 and 1997 is available online from ARDA, American Religion Data Archive. Ironically, a Henry County farming community actually called Middletown, is only a 20-minute drive from Muncie.

• See also Middletown studies

Demographics

As of the 2006 census estimate, there were 65,287 people living in Muncie. As of the 2000 census, there were 27,322 households, and 14,589 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,788.2 people per square mile (1,076.7/km²). There were 30,205 housing units at an average density of 1,248.9/sq mi (482.3/km²). 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 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 the average family size was 2.86.

In the city the population was spread out with 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 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.

Federally, Muncie is part of Indiana's 6th congressional district, represented by Republican Mike Pence, elected in 2000.

The state's senior member of the United States Senate is Republican Richard Lugar, elected in 1976. The state's junior member of the United States Senate is Democrat Evan Bayh, elected in 1998. The Governor of Indiana is Republican Mitch Daniels, elected in 2004.

Economy

Since the late 19th century, Muncie’s economic backbone had been the in the industrial sector, primarily in manufacturing. Drawn to the region during the Indiana Gas Boom of the 1880s, many factories sprang up in the area that relied on the combustible natural resource. The Ball Brothers moved their glass factory from Buffalo to Muncie, beginning glass production there on March 1, 1888.^[5] This relationship with Muncie ended 110 years later, as Ball Corporation moved its corporation headquarters to Broomfield, Colorado in 1998. Other notable factories that were located in Muncie include: Delco Remy, Westinghouse (later ABB), Indiana Steel and Wire, General Motors (New Venture Gear), Warner Gear (later BorgWarner), Broderick Co. Inc., Dayton-Walter, and Ball Corporation. However, most of these factories closed during a tumultuous period for the city from the late 1980s and late 1990s. As of 2010, none of the aforementioned factories operated within Muncie. However, many smaller, non-unionized, manufacturing businesses have survived this transition such as Maxon Corporation, Duffy Tool (now North American Stamping), Reber Machine & Tool, MAGNA Powertrain, and a dozen or so other shops that employ anywhere from a few dozen to a couple of hundred workers.

Ball Memorial Hospital Complex

Like many mid-sized cities in the Rust Belt, Muncie has had to economically reinvent itself due to the collective fall of the manufacturing industry in the latter part of the 20th century. Muncie’s current economic backbone is in health care, education, retail, and other service industries. The largest employers in Muncie are Ball Memorial Hospital/Cardinal Health Services, Ball State University, Muncie Community Schools, The City of Muncie, Sallie Mae, Wal-mart, and The Youth Opportunity Center. In 2008, Italian manufacturer Brevini Power Transmission announced that Muncie will be its new U.S. headquarters and plans to create 450 jobs in Muncie by 2011.^[6]

The local economy is one of the most controversial topics for Muncie residents, and the city has at times struggled to find cohesion between older unemployed/underemployed Muncie residents who strongly identify with the manufacturing-identity of the city, and newer residents who identify with the city's shift towards educational and health services. Animosity is greatest amongst those in the older, once industrialized parts on the south and east parts of town as much of the economic growth over that last 20+ years has taken place primarily on the northwest portions of town in connection with the growth of both Ball Memorial Hospital and Ball State University. Muncie, once a factory town with a small teacher's college, is now considered by many as a college-town with a manufacturing past.

Sports

Muncie has gained notoriety as having a rich tradition in prep sports. Muncie Central High School has fielded a boys basketball team for over 100 years, and is the winningest program with more state championships (8 State Titles, 7 runner-ups) in the state noted for boys high school basketball and Hoosier Hysteria.^[7] The "Bearcats" of Muncie Central High School has called the Walnut St. Fieldhouse home since 1928. The 6,000+ (once 7,600) seat facility was one of the largest facilities of its kind when built, and still ranks in the top 20 in being the largest high school gymnasium in the world.^[8] Burris Laboratory School has also gained notoriety on a national level for its girls volleyball program. The elite program has won 21 state championships, including the last 13 2A state titles, as well as 4 national championships all under the helm of coach Steve Shondell.^[9] Muncie Southside High School also has had success in winning two Wrestling State Championships (1975 & 1990) as well as a Class 3A Boys Basketball State Championship (2001). Lost to consolidation in 1988, Muncie Northside High School also found success in athletics winning three Girls' Volleyball State Championships (1975-1978) and one Wrestling State Championship (1974). .^[10]

Professionally, Muncie was once home to a National Football League team. The Muncie Flyers (also known as the Congerville Flyers) were professional football team from 1905-1925 and were one of the 11 charter members of the NFL, playing in the league from 1920-1924.^[11] For the town of its size, Muncie has had a remarkable amount of athletes to play professional sports.

References in Pop Culture

In the 2010 movie Valentine's Day by Garry Marshall, the character "Jason" played by Topher Grace states to be from Muncie, Indiana.^[12]

Norville Barnes (played by Tim Robbins), the lead character in the 1994 movie The Hudsucker Proxy is from Muncie, Indiana.

The 1986 movie Hoosiers by David Anspaugh about a small-town Indiana high school basketball team that wins the state championship was based on the 1954 Milan High School basketball team that beat the Muncie Central High School Bearcats from Muncie.

The comic book Knights of the Dinner Table is set in a fictionalized version of Muncie, and many characters are current or former Ball State University students.

The character Jerry from the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation, set in a fictional nearby town, is derided by his coworkers for having a time-share condo and planning his retirement in Muncie.

In the television series Supernatural, the episode, "Hammer of the Gods", is set in Muncie, Indiana.

The movie, My Name is Jerry was shot in Muncie, Indiana and was produced by the Ball State University Institute for Digital Education and Entertainment (Sponsored by the Center for Media Design) and the College of Fine Arts.

In Close Encounters of the Third Kind Richard Dreyfuss' character is in Muncie, IN when he sees the UFO.

Toby Keith mentions Muncie in his song I Wanna Talk About Me.

The book The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger mentions that the main character, Henry DeTamble, visited his grandparents who happened to live in Muncie.

In the television series Gilmore Girls, the character Doyle (a friend of Rory's from Yale) claims to have worked for the "Muncie Messenger" over the summer.

Education

Bell tower on the campus of Ball State.

Muncie City Hall, 2005.

The former C&O depot, restored and now used as the office for the adjacent bicycle trail.

Elementary schools

• Burris Laboratory School
• East Washington Academy
• South View Elementary
• Grissom Elementary
• Storer Elementary
• Longfellow Elementary
• Sutton Elementary
• Mitchell Elementary
• North View Elementary
• West View Elementary
• Heritage Hall Christian School
• Hoosier Academy Muncie
• St. Lawrence Elementary School

Middle schools

• Burris Laboratory School
• Northside Middle School
• Wilson Middle School
• Heritage Hall Christian School
• Hoosier Academy Muncie

High schools

• Burris Laboratory School
• Heritage Hall Christian School
• Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities
• Muncie Central High School
• Muncie Southside High School

For other Delaware County high schools, click here.

Colleges and universities

• Ball State University
• Ivy Tech Community College
• Harrison College (Indiana)

Notable natives & residents

See also Category:People from Muncie, Indiana.

General

• Jami Ferrell, Playboy model
• Michelle Baena, Playboy model
• Ball Brothers, founders of the Ball Corporation, originally a producer of glass canning jars but now a producer of various products.
• Benjamin V. Cohen - a key figure in the administrations of Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman.
• George R. Dale, editor of the Muncie Post-Democrat (1920–1936) who gained national attention by speaking out against the Ku Klux Klan.^[13]
• Bertha Fry - At the time of her death on November 14, 2007, the 3rd oldest person living on earth at 113 years.^[14]
• Margaret Johnson "Peggy" Goldwater, first wife of U.S. Senator Barry M. Goldwater of Arizona
• Ralph S. Johnson, aviation pioneer and former member of the Wyoming House of Representatives^[15]
• David Letterman, former student at Ball State University, talk show icon, host of Late Show With David Letterman
• Gregory Howard Williams, president of the University of Cincinnati and author of Life on the Color Line: The True Story of a White Boy Who Discovered He Was Black.
• Tim Groeling, professor at University of California, Los Angeles and author of War Stories: The Causes and Consequences of Public Views of War.^[16]

Arts

• Ray Boltz - Contemporary Christian musical artist ^[17]
• Everett Bradley^[18] - Musician (solo, w/Bon Jovi, David Bowie), actor
• Angelin Chang, GRAMMY®-award winning classical pianist
• Trevor Chowning - Pop artist and former Hollywood talent agent/producer
• Mary Jane Croft - Actress; appeared in The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, I Love Lucy as "Betty Ramsey", and The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy as Mary Jane Lewis ^[19]
• Jim Davis - cartoonist, creator of the Garfield comic strip, which has become popular since its debut in June 1978.^[20] Attended Ball State.^[21]
• Jelani Eddington^[22] - internationally-touring concert theatre organist and classical pianist.
• Kemper Harreld, African-American concert violinist and founder of the Morehouse College Glee Club.
• Emily Kimbrough - Noted author and magazine editor. Author of Our Hearts Were Young and Gay and How Dear to My Heart a recount of her childhood in Muncie.^[23]
• Tom K. Ryan, cartoonist, drew Tumbleweeds (comic strip); Jim Davis (Garfield) was one-time assistant^[24]
• Whitney Spurgeon -- Actor (Eight Men Out, commercials, theater)
• Carl Storie, musician famous for song "Dancin' Shoes"^[25]
• Doug Jones -- Actor; appeared in such movies as Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth, Hocus Pocus, Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer, and My Name is Jerry. Attended and graduated from Ball State University; performed as school mascot Charlie Cardinal.^[26]

Sports

• Ron Bonham -- Former All-American Muncie Central HS basketball standout. Played on NCAA champion Cincinnati Bearcats and NBA Champion Boston Celtics teams in 1960s.
• Brian Carr, former Burris High School and University of Nebraska (1984-7) basketball standout who is in the Hall of Fame at Nebraska
• Jaime Castro - Boxing writer
• Sam Drummer, drafted and then released by Houston Rockets. Played one year for Harlem Globetrotters. Died February 4, 1995, at the age of 38.^[27]
• Dave Duerson - All-American Defensive Back for the University of Notre Dame; played 11 seasons in the NFL with the Chicago Bears.^[28]
• Brandon Gorin - National Football League offensive lineman ^[29]
• Allen Leavell - Former Muncie Central HS basketball standout. Played 10 years in the NBA for the Houston Rockets from 1979-1989.
• Richie Lewis -- Former Muncie Southside HS baseball standout. Pitched for Florida State University and 6 years in MLB from 1992-1998.
• Adam Lind - professional baseball player for the Toronto Blue Jays
• Jack Moore -- Former Muncie Central HS and University of Nebraska basketball standout. He died in a plane crash in 1984 at the age of 24.
• Matt Painter - Purdue men's basketball head coach^[30]
• Dave Shondell - Purdue women's volleyball coach^[31]
• Steve Shondell - Hall of Fame high school volleyball coach with 4 National Championships, 19 state titles and over 1,030 career wins^[32]
• Don Shondell - Member of inaugural Volleyball Hall of Fame induction class. Currently ranks second in all-time wins for NCAA Men's Volleyball.^[32]
• Preston Shumpert - Two-time All-Big East performer for the Syracuse Orange and current Euroleague prof basketball player.
• Bonzi Wells - Former Muncie Central HS and Ball State University standout. Drafted 11th overall in the 1998 NBA draft. Currently plays for the Shanxi Zhongyu of the Chinese Basketball Association ^[33]
• Gary "Iron Bear" Myers- Former Muncie Southside HS Wrestler. Gary Wrestled for the US Army 1984 to 1987 out of Ft. Hood Texas compiling a record of 225 wins against 9 losses, Gary Wrestled for Embry Riddle Aeronautical University out of Prescott,AZ. Gary was an All-American at 177 lbs in 1994. Gary also was a professional MMA Fighter Gary Myers was Indiana's first pay per view fighter. Gary fought for Penthouse Magazine's "Battlecade Extreme Fighting" Gary fought all over the world and had 6 world title fights. Career was from 1994 to 2009 record 66-9-1

See also

• Cincinnati, Richmond & Muncie Depot
• Hemingray Glass Company
• Muncie Indiana Transit System
• WCRD, Ball State University's Radio Station, 91.3 MHz FM
• WIPB, A Public Broadcasting Station owned by Ball State University
• WMUN-LP, A low power broadcast television station affiliated with TBN in Muncie
• WLBC, A Muncie Radio station 104.1 MHz FM
• WERK, A Muncie Oldies station 104.9 MHz FM

References

External links

• City of Muncie, Indiana website
• Muncie Chamber of Commerce
• The Star Press
• Downtown Muncie Website
• Muncie Weather Website
• The Muncie Scene, art/music community portal
• "The Lynds Revisited" by Richard Jensen, in Indiana Magazine of History (Dec 1979) 75: 303-319
• Delaware County Office of Geographic Information
• The Emily Kimbrough Historic District
• Muncie, Indiana travel guide from Wikitravel
•  Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). "Muncie". Encyclopædia Britannica (Eleventh ed.). Cambridge University Press. 

Municipalities and communities of Delaware County, Indiana County seat: Muncie Cities and towns Albany‡ | Chesterfield‡ | Daleville | Eaton | Gaston | Muncie | Selma | Yorktown Townships Center | Delaware | Hamilton | Harrison | Liberty | Monroe | Mount Pleasant | Niles | Perry | Salem | Union | Washington Unincorporated communities Anthony | Aultshire | Bethel | Cammack | Cowan | Cross Roads | DeSoto | Drew | Gates Corner | Granville | Hyde Park | Janney | Liberty Corners | Mayfield | Middletown Park | Morningside | Mount Pleasant | New Burlington | Oakville | Progress | Reed Station | Royerton | Shideler | Smithfield | Stockport | West Muncie | Wheeling | Woodland Park Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

State of Indiana Indianapolis (capital) Topics Demographics · Economy · Geography · Government · Governor (List) · Congressional districts (Delegations) · History · Hoosiers · City Nicknames · National Historic Landmarks · Sports · State parks · Symbols · Transportation · Visitor Attractions · Index of Indiana-related articles · Outline Regions Central Indiana · East Central Indiana · Illinois-Indiana-Kentucky Tri-State Area · Indiana-Kentucky-Ohio Tri-State Area · Michiana · Northern Indiana · Northwest Indiana · Southern Indiana · Southwestern Indiana · Wabash Valley Largest cities Indianapolis · Fort Wayne · Evansville · South Bend · Gary · Hammond · Bloomington · Muncie · Lafayette · Carmel · Anderson · Terre Haute · Elkhart · Kokomo · Mishawaka · Richmond · Columbus · Lawrence · Jeffersonville · Greenwood · New Albany · Portage · Michigan City · East Chicago · Goshen · Marion · Valparaiso · Noblesville · West Lafayette · Hobart · Crown Point · Franklin · La Porte · Seymour · Logansport · New Castle · Connersville · Vincennes · Bedford · Jasper · Washington · Princeton · Westfield Largest towns Fishers · Merrillville · Schererville · Clarksville · Plainfield · Highland · Munster Counties Adams · Allen · Bartholomew · Benton · Blackford · Boone · Brown · Carroll · Cass · Clark · Clay · Clinton · Crawford · Daviess · Dearborn · Decatur · DeKalb · Delaware · Dubois · Elkhart · Fayette · Floyd · Fountain · Franklin · Fulton · Gibson · Grant · Greene · Hamilton · Hancock · Harrison · Hendricks · Henry · Howard · Huntington · Jackson · Jasper · Jay · Jefferson · Jennings · Johnson · Knox · Kosciusko · LaGrange · Lake · LaPorte · Lawrence · Madison · Marion · Marshall · Martin · Miami · Monroe · Montgomery · Morgan · Newton · Noble · Ohio · Orange · Owen · Parke · Perry · Pike · Porter · Posey · Pulaski · Putnam · Randolph · Ripley · Rush · Saint Joseph · Scott · Shelby · Spencer · Starke · Steuben · Sullivan · Switzerland · Tippecanoe · Tipton · Union · Vanderburgh · Vermillion · Vigo · Wabash · Warren · Warrick · Washington · Wayne · Wells · White · Whitley