| Town of Fishers | |
|---|---|
| Location in the state of Indiana | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Hamilton |
| Township | Fall Creek, Delaware |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 21.8 sq mi (56.4 km2) |
| • Land | 21.7 sq mi (56.2 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2) |
| Elevation | 817 ft (249 m) |
| Population (2008) | |
| • Total | 76,794 |
| • Density | 1,949.7/sq mi (752.8/km2) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 46038, 46037 |
| Area code(s) | 317 |
| FIPS code | 18-23278[1] |
| GNIS feature ID | 0434526[2] |
| Website | http://www.fishers.in.us |
Fishers is a town located in Fall Creek and Delaware townships, Hamilton County, Indiana, with a population of 76,794, according to the 2010 census.[3] A suburb of Indianapolis, Fishers has grown rapidly in recent decades: about 350 people lived there in 1963, 2,000 in 1980, and only 7,200 as recently as 1990. In 2011, Fishers was named the number one city for families by The Learning Channel and was selected as a Green Community by the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns.[4] It was also ranked as the safest city in the nation in 2011.[5] In 2010, Fishers was ranked eighth in the best places to live according to Money,[6] America's best affordable suburb by BusinessWeek,[7] and the eleventh best place to move in the country by Forbes.[8] Fishers was also ranked the 24th best place to live in America by Money magazine in 2005,[9] 33rd in 2006,[10] and 10th in 2008.[11]
In 1802 William Conner settled what is now present-day Fishers, Indiana. Conner built a log cabin and a trading post along the White River (Indiana). The land that Conner settled is now known as Conner Prairie and is one of the nation's most respected living history museums.[12] After Indiana became a state in 1816 and the Delaware Indians gave up all their claims in Indiana and Ohio to the United States government in 1818, through the Treaty of St. Mary's, settlers started to come to the area. After the state of Indiana moved its capital to Indianapolis from Corydon, Indiana in 1820 the community started to grow. After the move, John Finch established a horse-powered grinding mill, a blacksmith shop, and the area's first school.[13] The next year the area’s first water mill was constructed.[14] In 1823 Hamilton County, Indiana was chartered by the Indiana General Assembly and Delaware Township was established and surveyed.[15] During 1826 the Ambassador House was built, and was later owned by Addison and India Harris.[16] Addison Harrison was later appointed ambassador to the Austro-Hungarian Empire by U.S. President William McKinley.[17] Today, Ambassador House sits on the grounds of Fishers' Heritage Park at White River, and plans for its restoration are being developed by Fishers' Historic Preservation Committee.[18] In 1849 Construction began on the Peru & Indianapolis Railroad extending from Indianapolis to Chicago.[19] This railroad brought several people to the area that was known as Fisher's Switch. In 1872, Fisher's Switch, also known as Fishers Station, was platted by Salathial Fisher at the present-day 116th Street and the railroad.[20] Fisher divided the land into lots where the first post office was established. Indiana's General Assembly incorporated Fisher's Station in 1891.[21]
In 1908 the Post office changed the name of Fishers Switch to Fishers by dropping "Switch."[22] After William Conner’s death in 1885 his family farm became a place of interest. The Hamilton County Historical Society placed a marker on the site of the William Conner farm in 1927 and Eli Lilly, purchased William Conner's farm in 1934 and began restoring the farm.[23] In 1943 The Indianapolis Water Company constructed Geist Reservoir in order to prevent a deficit in Indianapolis's water supply. They believed that Fall Creek (Indiana) and the White River (Indiana) would not keep up with the demand for water in Indianapolis. Later they wanted to triple the size of the lake, but the plan was rejected and a plethora of homes began to spring up around the reservoir. The Fishers population grew slowly to 388 by the 1960 census when rail shipment declined.[24] Per township referendums in 1961, provided planning services for Delaware and Fall Creek Townships and approved residential zoning for most of the undeveloped area in the two townships.[25] In 1964 Eli Lilly asked Earlham College to oversee the Conner Prairie complex. The relocation of Indiana State Road 37 to the east side of town and the connection with Interstate 69 insured the future growth of Fishers as a commercial and residential center.[26] The Town of Fishers would soon become a fast growing suburb of Indianapolis.[27] Fall Creek Township became the site of a consolidation of area schools when Hamilton Southeastern High School was formed in the 1960s.[28] In 1989 the town’s population reached 7,000 and the first Freedom Festival was held. Every year since the town has held a freedom festival. With a growing population the town needed a new government center. In 1992 The Thomas A. Weaver Municipal Complex opened as Fishers' civic and government center. The complex is home to Fishers Town Hall, the Police and Fire Department headquarter buildings, the Fishers Post Office, the Hamilton County Convention and Visitor's Bureau and the Fishers Chamber of Commerce.[29] Eventually, a library and a Bureau of Motor Vehicles were added.[30] This is still the center of government in Fishers. In 1998 with a rapidly growing population the town decided to have a referendum to change fishers from a town to a city. The voters overwhelmingly rejected the referendum.[31]
After the 2000 census the Fishers' population grew to almost 38,000.[32] With the Town’s affordable homes, growing economy, and proximity to the booming city of Indianapolis and Interstate 69 the growth in Fishers was tremendous. In 2003 the town of Fishers requested a special census from the U.S. Census Bureau to accurately measure the rapid population growth since 2000.[33] This census would put the town's population at 52,390, which is a 38 percent increase from the 2000 census.[34] Since then the town has been doing a wonderful job in building parks, maintaining roads, and managing the rapid growth of the town. In 2005 Conner Prairie Living History Museum formally split from Earlham College and would work as its own organization.[35] In July 2005, Money Magazine unveiled its annual ranking of "Best Places to Live in the United States" and rated Fishers as twenty-fourth best. Fishers ranked higher than any town or city in Indiana, and was one of only two jurisdictions in the state to crack the magazine's Top 100.[36] Since then Fishers has won numerous awards including "Best Affordable Suburb" by BusinessWeek Magazine (2007), "Best Place in the Country to Raise a Family" by Forbes Magazine (2008), "Best Place to Raise Kids" by BusinessWeek.com (2010).[37] In the fall of 2011 the town of Fishers introduced a new economic development initiative. This plan will focus on strategic marketing and partnership with members of the Fishers business community (The Fishers Advantage). The Fishers Town Council also identified the downtown district of Fishers as a key economic development area to revitalize. The town of Fishers unveiled plans in 2011 to construct a multipurpose trail in the downtown district and construct of a new amphitheater in the Thomas A. Weaver Municipal Complex.[38]
Despite being a large municipality, Fishers does not use a city form of government, unlike nearby Noblesville and Carmel, and therefore doesn't elect a mayor. Fishers instead uses the council/manager form of government. The government of Fishers is led by a seven-member town council and a clerk-treasurer. The town council holds both legislative and executive powers while the clerk-treasurer is responsible for financial matters. All are elected at-large for four-year terms. The council elects a council president, currently Scott Faultless, and vice president yearly. The council employs and oversees a town manager who is responsible for municipal personnel, budget, and day-to-day operations of the town government. Currently the town manager of Fishers is Scott Fadness, who replaced Gary Huff, ICMA-CM in 2011.
In January 2009 the Geist United Opposition conceded a four-year legal battle with Fishers of the involuntary annexation of the contiguous, unincorporated area around Geist Reservoir. This will allow Fishers to annex and incorporate the affluent area of 2,200 homes on January 2, 2010, and tax it in 2011. It will also increase Fishers's population by about 5,500 people, making the town the eighth-largest community in Indiana.[39]
In 1998, 75% voters in Fishers rejected a referendum to become a city.[40] In 2008 the CityYes Fishers group began collecting signatures that would initiate a special election to become a city.[41][42] The town has appointed a 44 member citizen study committee to review the benefits and drawbacks of a change of government type.[43]
In December 2010 the Fishers Town Council approved a referendum that would let residents decide whether to become a city. The questions, to be voted on in 2011 or 2012, will ask whether residents support making Fishers a city and, if so, whether it should be a traditional city with an elected mayor or a modified city with a mayor chosen from the expanded nine-member city council. The latter would also merge the governments of Fishers and Fall Creek Township.[44][45]
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 344 |
|
|
| 1970 | 628 | 82.6% | |
| 1980 | 2,008 | 219.7% | |
| 1990 | 7,508 | 273.9% | |
| 2000 | 37,835 | 403.9% | |
| 2010 | 76,794 | 103.0% | |
Approximately 82,000 people lived in the town in March 2011. The population density is 3,555.3 people per square mile (673.5/km2). There are 28,511 housing units at an average density of 1096.7 per square mile (271.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town is 85.60% White, 5.60% African American, 0.20% Native American, 5.50% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.55% from other races, and 2.10% from two or more races. 3.40% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the town is $86,518, and the median income for a family is $103,176.[46] Males have a median income of $58,275 versus $37,841 for females. The per capita income for the town is $31,891. 1.8% of the population and 1.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 1.6% of those under the age of 18 and 0.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Fishers is located at 39°57'22" North, 86°0'46" West (39.956177, −86.012754)[47], along the West Fork of the White River.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 21.8 square miles (56 km2), of which, 21.7 square miles (56 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it is water. The total area is 0.46% water.
Fishers has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification). Summers in Fishers are hot and humid with temperatures regularly in the 90’s °F. Autumns and springs in Fishers have very comfortable temperatures normally around 65 °F, but springs have much less predictable weather and drastic temperature changes are common. Winters are cold and filled with snow and ice storms. During winter, temperatures are normally around 32 °F and often dip below 0 °F at night.
| Month | Average High | Average Low | Average Precipitation (Inches) | Average Snowfall (Inches) | [48] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32.8°F | 16.8°F | 1.9 | 6.8 | |
| February | 38.0°F | 16.8F° | 1.9 | 5.4 | |
| March | 48.0°F | 29.5°F | 2.9 | 3.5 | |
| April | 60.9°F | 39.1°F | 3.5 | 0.5 | |
| May | 71.9°F | 50.0°F | 3.9 | 0.0 | |
| June | 80.7°F | 59.6°F | 3.9 | 0.0 | |
| July | 84.1°F | 63.5°F | 4.4 | 0.0 | |
| August | 82.3°F | 61.1°F | 3.7 | 0.0 | |
| September | 76.4°F | 53.5°F | 2.8 | 0.0 | |
| October | 64.5°F | 41.8°F | 2.6 | 0.0 | |
| November | 50.4°F | 32.6°F | 3.1 | 1.9 | |
| December | 37.9°F | 22.3°F | 2.7 | 5.3 | |
| Average | 60.7°F | 38.6°F | 37.3 | 2.0 |
According to the Fishers's Department of Development [49] and the Fishers Advantage economic development website,[50] the top employers in the city are:
| # | Employer | # of employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sallie Mae | 1,500 |
| 2 | Hamilton Southeastern Schools | 800 |
| 3 | Roche Diagnostics | 700 |
| 4 | Freedom Mortgage | 626 |
| 5 | Charles Schwab | 600 |
| 6 | Marsh Supermarkets | 525 |
| 7 | Universal Music Group | 500 |
| 8 | Indiana University Health Saxony Hospital | 460 |
| 9 | ADT | 450 |
| 10 | US Foodservice | 375 |
The Wesleyan Church has its headquarters in Fishers.[51]
The Town of Fishers is located on Interstate 69, which when completed will run from Canada to Mexico.[52] The town currently has three exits off the interstate and there are plans to build a fourth in the near future.[53] Fishers is just 15 miles northeast of Indianapolis and the Interstate 465 loop which connects Interstate 69 with Interstate 65 which runs northwest to Chicago, and southward to Louisville, Kentucky, Interstate 70 running east to Columbus, Ohio and west to St. Louis, Missouri, and Interstate 74 running northwest towards Danville, Illinois, and southeast towards Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati, Louisville, and Chicago are all within 180 miles of Fishers. Fishers also is home to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport, while this is only a small airport Fishers is located thirty minutes from Indianapolis International Airport.[54] Indiana State Road 37 runs directly through Fishers connecting Fishers with several other cities and towns. Fishers also is serviced by IndyGo bus service.[55] The Fishers bus leaves from a park-and-ride spot at Prairie View at Crosspoint, at the corner of 106th Street and Lantern Road. It makes 8 stops in downtown Indianapolis. Fishers is also featured in the first phase of the Indianapolis mass transit plan. Featuring a light rail system that will run from downtown Indianapolis through Fishers to Noblesville.[56] Fishers also has the Indiana State Fair Train which runs from Fishers Station to Indianapolis during the state fair. The town of Fishers boast a vast quantity of newly developed and traffic smart roads. The town's main road 116th Street won the American Concrete Pavement Association Main Street Award in 2006.[57] This rapidly growing community has a constant need to expand and improve the town's transportation network. Part of this improvement is found in the development of a series of roundabouts, replacing almost all of the town's busy four way stops, greatly improving traffic flow.
Fishers is served by Hamilton Southeastern School District, a district educating almost 19,000 students every day.
Fishers's quickly growing population has created a need for a similar growth in the number of schools within the Hamilton Southeastern School District as well as additions to existing schools. In 1996 there were four elementary schools, one middle school, one junior high school, and one high school. With the openings of Riverside School and Fishers High School in the 2006–2007 school year and Thorpe Creek Elementary in the 2008–2009 school year, the school district has twelve elementaries, three intermediate schools, three junior high schools and two high schools.[58] The two high schools in the district are Hamilton Southeastern High School and Fishers High School. They both compete for the Mudsock trophy, named after the town's original name, won by winning against the other school in the most sports throughout the year. Fishers High School is the home to the districts International Baccalaureate program and was ranked as the 467th best high school in the nation in Newsweek’s “2011 Best High Schools”.[59]
A new initiative under way in the district is the development of a collegiate high school that will house a growing grade 9-12 enrollment, allow seniors to complete a year of college, and save the school district and parents money.[60] The collegiate high school will open in 2015-16 in time to accommodate the growing high school's population. This high school will offer a four-year high school experience with a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) focus. Students attending will accelerate their high school credits and complete a freshman year of college credit in a STEM-related pathway during their senior year of high school.[61] This path will allow them to enter college with sophomore standing in their intended program or major, saving a year of college tuition.[62] HSE schools will partner with Indiana University in Bloomington, Purdue University in West Lafayette and Ball State in Muncie to offer high school seniors authentic college courses that link to career pathways.[63] The diploma pathways will focus on the areas of engineering, pre-health sciences or general science (pre-med, pre-optometry, pre-dental, pre-vet, pre-pharmacy, pre-biology, pre-chemistry), nursing, agriculture, technology, and business.[64]
Fishers also has several private schools including Community Montessori School (PK-5), St. Louis De Montfort (PK-8), and Eman Schools (PK-10).[65] Additional private schools are located in surrounding communities.
Fishers offers a growing number of hotels with nearby essentials for tourists. Fishers Banquet and Conference Center, the largest banquet hall in town, has been host to Michelle Obama, Robert Kennedy Jr., Ethel Kennedy and Max Kennedy.[66] One of the main attractions in Fishers is Geist Reservoir, offering attractions from fishing to waterskiing. The reservoir is located minutes away from the Hamilton Town Centre shopping complex, where people can find great shopping and restaurants. Another hot-spot in the town is the downtown area of Fishers, where several locally owned shops, boutiques, and restaurants can be found. There are also many golf courses around the town. Fishers was named the second Best Under-rated Golf Community in U.S. by Livability.com in 2010.[67] Another great thing to do in Fishers is to visit the Symphony on the Prairie, a summer concert series that takes place at Conner Prairie, presented by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. The Town also offers a free summer concert series in the Fishers town plaza, where the town is currently building a new amphitheater.[68] Fishers is located near the Klipsch Music Center, which host a plethora of concerts every year. There are also several bars and taverns in the community. Fishers also has an award winning parks system with several parks that include a disc golf course and a splash park.
Fishers has three annual festivals: the Fishers Freedom Festival, the Flavor of Fishers, and the Fishers Renaissance Faire.
The Fishers Freedom Festival (FFF) takes place every year at the end of June, right before Independence Day. The 2008 festival was the 20th annual freedom celebration. A few annual traditions of the festival are a parade, a 5k run/walk named the Freedom Run, and a fireworks show on the last night of the festival. There are art and food vendors and game booths. The FFF is located at Roy G. Holland Memorial Park.[69]
The Flavor of Fishers, presented by the Fishers Chamber of Commerce, takes place in early August. The first was held in 2008. Visitors attending the Flavor of Fishers can delight their senses through Tastes, with over 30 restaurants offering tastes of their best menu items and beer and wine; Sounds, provided by national and local bands; and Sights, a Family Fun Zone with inflatables and games.[70]
The Fishers Renaissance Faire, presented by the Sister Cities Association of Fishers Indiana, began in 2005 and is held in early October on the grounds of the Saxony development. Its purpose is to celebrate the Sister City relationship of Fishers with Billericay, England. The Faire features jousting, pirate shows, magicians, jesters, minstrels, a queen-complete with her royal court, a period village, authentic period/parody staged entertainment, period art and craft vendors, a wide variety of food and beverages as well as scripted interactions amongst the cast of 150 authentic, legendary and historic characters throughout the entire faire. Children's activities are provided by the Fishers Kiwanis and Key Clubs.[71]
The Town of Fishers is home to several parks and nature preserves that add to the wonderful quality of life in the town. These green spaces provide the community with areas of recreation and conservation in the rapidly expanding town. Fishers was recently recognized as an Indiana Association of Cities and Towns (IACT) Green Community and a "Playful City USA" Community by KaBOOM!.
Billericay Park was named after the town's sister city Billericay, England. The park is home to eight youth baseball fields, a multi-use trail through Billericay Woods, a playground, and a splash pad with a picnic facility open from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day from 10:00am–8:00pm daily.[72]
Brooks School park is a 16.5 acre park that has an ADA Accessible playground for kids of all abilities with play areas for ages 2–5 and 5-12, a multipurpose trail, a large athletic field, and a basketball court.[73]
The Cheeney Creek Natural Area is a large area of Fishers devoted to conservation. The Cheeney Creek Greenway is a soft surface woodland trail that is an ideal place for hiking, bird sighting, and fishing. The natural area features a 3-acre pond with largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish.[74]
Cumberland Park has wide open fields that are used as soccer fields. The park also has a trail along the Mud Creek Greenway, a disc golf course, and a community building used for birthday parties and other occasions.[75]
Cyntheanne Park is home to five Multi-Purpose Athletic Fields (soccer, football, rugby, lacrosse) as well as uninterrupted natural areas. The park also features two separate playground areas and over a mile in trails.[76]
Eller Fields is home to two lighted youth baseball fields and a playground.[77]
Fishers Heritage Part at White River is home to the Historic Ambassador House and Heritage Gardens. More than 170 years ago, a two-story log house was built on what is now the northwest corner of 96th Street and Allisonville Road, this was the Ambassador House.[78] The Ambassador House was carefully cut into two sections and moved to its current location in Heritage Park (106th Street and Eller Road) on November 19, 1996.[79] Today, the park is perfect for lunch on a park bench, a walk on the loop trail, or sledding on a snowy winter's day.
Hamilton Proper Park is a 19-acre park full of wide open fields. These fields are a popular spot for youth soccer games and frisbee.[80]
Harrison Thomas Park is a multi-use park featuring three baseball fields, three soccer fields and a playground. The park is also home to a 3/4 mile trail that winds through the park and a picnic shelter.[81]
Hoosier Woods is a small forest that features a soft surface trail through the woods and a deck overlooking the wetlands.[82]
Mudsock Fields contains three lighted football fields that are used by the S.P.O.R.T.S organization for youth football.[83]
Olio Fields is home to some of the most beautiful softball fields in the midwest. Olio Fields was recently named 2011 Outstanding Park by the National Softball Association Northern Region. It also is home to a playground for kids and a new restroom facility.[84]
Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve is approximately 127 acres: 42 acres is an Indiana State Designated Nature Preserve and the remaining 85 acres is under a conservation easement governed by the Department of Natural Resources. The Preserve offers five different trails totaling 2 miles. Cheeney Creek meanders through the north end of the property. The preserve is also offers guided tours and a summer camp. There is also a shelter avilable for parties and meetings that features a restroom with a state of the art composting system and hand sanitizers.[85]
Roy G. Holland Memorial Park has is one of the most popular parks in Fishers and is the site of the Fishers Freedom Festival. The park also boast soccer, baseball, and softball fields, sand volleyball courts, basketball courts, woods, picnic areas, and a community building perfect for special occasions or meetings.[86]
Wapihani Nature Preserve is a 77 acre nature preserve located along the White River in Fishers. It was purchased with White River Restoration Trust funds in early 2006 by the Central Indiana Land Trust.[87] Riverside Middle School is located immediately south of the property. The property is available for students to utilize as an outdoor educational laboratory, and the students will learn about the natural features and history of this property.[88] In Spring of 2008, 19,000 tree seedlings were planted on a portion of the property.[89] The other portion was planted with a mix of prairie grasses and forbs with islands of tree seedlings.[90]
The Fishers Trail & Greenway System is designed for the community to enjoy nature, get or stay fit, and help protect the environment. When complete, it will serve as a pedestrian/bicyclist oriented network of trails that link parks, neighborhoods, schools, the government center, work places, and other points of interest in the community.[91] More than 85 miles are currently available for use.[92]
Seattle native and Hollywood actress Frances Farmer is interred at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens in Fishers. Her grave site was widely ignored until the late 1970s and early 1980s when the media and an Academy Award nominated film, Frances, about the life of the actress shed light on her story, making Farmer somewhat of a cult figure.
Other famous residents of Fishers include former Indiana Pacers players Reggie Miller and Austin Croshere, Dahntay Jones of the Indiana Pacers, Zach Randolph of the Memphis Grizzlies, former Atlanta Hawks player Alan Henderson, NFL player Rosevelt Colvin formerly of the Houston Texans, Chicago Bears and New England Patriots, Joe Reitz of the Indianapolis Colts, Indianapolis Colts Defensive Line coach John Teerlinck, former San Diego Padres player Tony Gwynn, professional wrestler Kevin Fertig, and Cleveland Indians pitcher Justin Masterson.
The Town of Fishers is an award winning community. Below are the numerous awards and accolades the town is has achieved.
2011:
2010:
2009:
2008:
2007:
2006:
2005:
Fishers is twinned with Billericay, England, United Kingdom .[94] Billericay Park[95] is named after the sister city.
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