Danville, Indiana

Town of Danville, Indiana
—  Town  —
Hendricks County Courthouse in Danville
Location in the state of Indiana
Coordinates: 39°45′39″N 86°31′4″W / 39.76083°N 86.51778°W / 39.76083; -86.51778Coordinates: 39°45′39″N 86°31′4″W / 39.76083°N 86.51778°W / 39.76083; -86.51778
Country	United States
State	Indiana
County	Hendricks
Township	Center
Area
– Total	6.1 sq mi (15.9 km2)
– Land	6.1 sq mi (15.9 km2)
– Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	951 ft (290 m)
Population (2010)
– Total	9,001
– Density	1,466.2/sq mi (566.1/km2)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
– Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	46122
Area code(s)	317
FIPS code	18-16804[1]
GNIS feature ID	0433314[2]
Website	http://www.danvilleindiana.org/

Danville is a town in Center Township, Hendricks County, Indiana, United States. The population was 9,001 at the 2010 census. The town is the county seat of Hendricks County.^{[3] [4]}

History

Danville was founded in 1827 and was the home of Central Indiana Normal College from 1878 to 1951 (it existed under the name Canterbury College from 1946 to 1951). CNC was one of the nation's early "normal" schools, which specialized in training teachers. Tuition in 1900 was $19 for two terms. Canterbury College closed in 1951 after graduating more than 75,000 teachers. The Danville Middle School used to be on the site of the former college, and utilized part of the original campus, Hargrave Hall. It's now being used as the Town Hall and houses the offices of the Town Manager, Building/Planning, Clerk Treasurer, Utility Billing/Collections, and Police Department.

Hendricks County Historical Museum

The Hendricks County Historical Museum is located in the former Sheriff's Residence and Jail at 170 South Washington in Danville. The building was erected in 1866 and served as the county jail until 1974. The two-story brick structure, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is the only surviving example of the Second Empire style of architecture in the county. This style was popular after the American Civil War and has as defining elements a central tower and mansard roof. The Museum's collection includes items relating to domestic life, agriculture, military history, education and other aspects of our county's heritage. It also includes items relating to the history of Indiana Central Normal College (later Canterbury College), which was located in Danville from 1878 until 1951.^[5]

Geography

Danville is located at 39°45′39″N 86°31′4″W / 39.76083°N 86.51778°W / 39.76083; -86.51778 (39.760736, −86.517798)^[6].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 6.1 square miles (15.9 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 8,032 people, 2,350 households, and 1,670 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,047.7 people per square mile (404.2/km²). There were 2,506 housing units at an average density of 409.1 per square mile (157.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.38% White, 0.34% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.06% of the population.

There were 2,350 households out of which 37.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $54,330, and the median income for a family was $62,813. Males had a median income of $40,724 versus $26,678 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,209. About 2.1% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Danville Community School Corporation, the school district which serves Danville, operates Danville Community High School, a secondary school (grades 9 through 12) located just off of U.S. Route 36. The mascot of Danville Community Schools is a Warrior in American Indian clothing. The school colors are crimson and gray. Other facilities operated by the school corporation are

• Danville Middle School
• South Elementary School
• North Elementary School
• Opportunity House

Parks and recreation

The first assemblance of the town park came in 1913 when 49 acres (20 ha) were set aside to safeguard the wells that provided Danville resident's water supply. By 1971 the park was well established and was renamed Ellis Park after Harve Ellis, who served as the park superintendent for 40 years.

Today the Danville Park and Recreation Department is made up of two parks totaling 102.8 acres (41.6 ha) and an additional recreational facility in another part of town that totals 200 acres (81 ha). The whole system boasts 302.8 acres (122.5 ha).

Ellis Park

Ellis Park is located at 600 East Main Street near downtown Danville and is just over 49 acres (20 ha). The park has woods and trails but consists mainly of recreational areas. It offers basketball, football, baseball/softball, clay-court tennis, swimming, volleyball, picnicking, playgrounds, an amphitheater, shelter houses and a gazebo. Programs offered in the park include tennis, arts, softball, swimming, and an annual summer park program. It holds a Chrismas Light show called Winter Wonderland and a Haunted House.

Blanton Woods Nature Park

Longtime Danville resident Jeanette Blanton donated 53 acres (21 ha) of her woodland property on North Washington Street to the town of Danville in 1993. She requested that the land be used for nature study, so the property remains relatively unchanged other than improvements to the trails and minimal signage. The property includes upland forest, open meadows, and a lower floodplain. After Blanton's passing in 2000 the town purchased her home and 20 more acres (8.1 ha) adjoining the original donated land. The house, known as the Blanton House and Conference and Retreat Center, is available to rent for weddings, retreats, meetings, and parties. In 2003, the park department bought land to join Blanton Woods and Ellis Park off of Columbia Street and erected a bridge over White Lick Creek.

Twin Bridges Recycling and Disposal Facility

The Twin Bridges Recycling and Disposal Facility was established with the help of Waste Management, Inc. after their donation of 490 acres (200 ha). Two hundred acres (81 ha) are currently available to the town and are being used for recreational activities including soccer fields, baseball/softball diamonds, trails, shelter houses and open space. The facility is located south of the Penn Central Railroad crossing between County Road 150 East and Cartersburg Road.

Notable natives

• John Cravens – Registrar of Indiana University 1895–1936
• Sam Thompson – nineteenth century baseball player

See also

• Holistic Image VIII

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
3. ^ "Danville town, Indiana:2005–2009 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates – what's this? Data Profile Highlights". U.S. Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=Danville&_cityTown=Danville&_state=04000US18&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010. Retrieved June 18, 2011. 
4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
5. ^ hendrickscountyhistoricalmuseum.org
6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 

External links

• Town website
• Leadership Hendricks County
• Danville Community School Corporation
• Hendricks County Convention and Visitors Bureau