Mishawaka, Indiana

Official name	City of Mishawaka, Indiana
Settlement type	City
Nickname	The Princess City
Map caption	Location in the state of Indiana
Coordinates display	inline,title
Coordinates region	US-IN
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	United States
Subdivision type1	State
Subdivision name1	Indiana
Subdivision type2	County
Subdivision name2	St. Joseph
Subdivision type3	Township
Subdivision name3	Penn
Leader title	Mayor
Leader name	David Wood (R)
Established date	1833
Area magnitude	1 E7
Area total km2	41.6
Area land km2	40.7
Area water km2	0.9
Population as of	2010
Population total	48252
Population density km2	1144.2
Timezone	EST
Utc offset	-5
Timezone dst	EDT
Utc offset dst	-4
Area total sq mi	16.0
Area land sq mi	15.7
Area water sq mi	0.3
Elevation m	219
Elevation ft	719
Website	http://www.mishawaka.in.gov
Postal code type	ZIP codes
Postal code	46544-46546
Area code	574
Blank name	FIPS code
Blank info	18-49932
Blank1 name	GNIS feature ID
Blank1 info	0452691
Footnotes	|

Mishawaka () is a city on the St. Joseph River and a Twin city of South Bend in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States. The population was 48,252 as of the 2010 Census. Its nickname is "the Princess City."

Mishawaka is a principal city of the South Bend–Mishawaka, IN-MI, Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Mishawaka, Indiana, is a growing commercial city in Northern Indiana, located next to South Bend and Notre Dame, Indiana.

The city’s recorded history began with the discovery of bog iron deposits in the early 1830s. Settlers arriving to mine these deposits founded the town of St. Joseph Iron Works in 1831. Within a couple years, the town had a blast furnace, a general store, a tavern, and about 200 residents. Business prospered, and in 1833, St. Joseph Iron Works, Indiana City and two other adjacent small towns nearby were incorporated into one – Mishawaka.

In September 1872, a fire destroyed three quarters of Mishawaka’s business district. However, the persevering citizens rebuilt and attracted new industry. The Dodge Manufacturing Company, Perkins Windmills and the Mishawaka Woolen and Rubber Company (later Ball Band, then Uniroyal) all helped the town to prosper industrially. The town also grew agriculturally. In the late 19th century, the city became known as the "Peppermint Capital of the World" due to the rich black loam found in the area that yield great quantities of mint.

From 1906 to 1915, Mishawaka was the manufacturing home of the luxurious American Simplex motor car. Four American Simplex autos were entered into the 1911 Indianapolis 500. In that first Indy 500, one Simplex crashed, killing its riding mechanic and causing the first race fatality; the other three Mishawaka cars finished sixth, eighth and twentieth.

Ball Band made rubber garments and was hit by a major strike in 1931, but flourished in the 1940s, finally closing in 1997 in the face of cheaper imports. Manufacturing in Mishawaka peaked in the 1940s and began a slow decline as the economic base shifted to retail services and small industry.

In 1979, University Park Mall opened north of Mishawaka. In 1990, AM General began producing the Hummer in its Mishawaka plant.

Awards

A BusinessWeek Magazine Best Place to Raise Your Kids 2010: Indiana

Neighborhoods, leisure and sports heritage

Old fashioned neighborhoods still exist all over the city, and many of the newer residential subdivisions that have been developed within the city in recent years have attempted to replicate the community spirit and "hometown" neighborhood feel. Because neighborhoods are such a vital resource to the success of Mishawaka, the city continually upgrades and develops new neighborhood park and recreation facilities. Presently, a total of 29 parks allow Mishawaka residents to golf, play ball, fish and exercise. In 1968, the city opened an outdoor Olympic-size swimming pool and an adjacent ice skating rink at Merrifield Park. On the south side, Mishawaka's George Wilson Park is home to the city's most popular winter toboggan spot, as well as an 18-hole frisbee golf course. While some of the city's Italian immigrants play games like bocce, and some Belgian immigrants continue to raise and race homing pigeons, the city also hosts the nation's oldest and largest wiffleball tournament, the World Whiffleball Championship, held at Rose Park’s 22-field wiffleball complex. The city's three schools have won a combined 11 state championships in football since 1920.

Sister cities

Soest, Germany Shiojiri, Nagano, Japan

Points of interest

Beutter Park - The centerpiece of Mishawaka's 21st century downtown revitalization, the new park includes a river race with elliptical-shaped overlook weirs and fiber-optic underwater lighting, two connecting bridges across the St. Joseph River race to the park, the Mishawaka Riverwalk, the "Shards" sculpture, and an 800 foot perennial garden. Battell Park's historic WPA-built band shelter and terraced rock garden. Shiojiri Garden, located in Merrifield Park, is a Japanese strolling garden that symbolizes the Sister-City relationship between Mishawaka, Indiana and Shiojiri City, Japan. The Beiger Mansion, built in 1903 and beautifully restored in 1973, was gutted by arson in 1974. The building has since been re-renovated (although not to its former state) and is home to a popular area bed and breakfast. Kamm & Schellinger Brewing Company and the 100 Center Complex

AM General's manufacturing plant, where the Hummer line of vehicles are built.

Bethel College is affiliated with the Missionary Church, and serves approximately 1,700 students.

Bonnie Doon restaurant on Lincoln Way West and at Fourth Street at Main are the last of the area's original 1950s vintage drive up soda shops.

West End Bakery on West 7th Street is a Mishawaka Belgian Town institution, specializing in early morning pastries and cakes.

Notable residents

John Brademas, American politician and educator (Congress' majority whip from 1977 to 1981)

Conte Candoli, American jazz musician (played trumpet in Doc Severinsen's Tonight Show band) Pete Candoli, American jazz musician (played trumpet in Woody Herman's Big Band) Nick Catanzarite, alpine skier and member of the 2006 U.S. Paralympic Team

Norman Eddy, American military officer and Indiana Secretary of State

Tom Ehlers, American professional football player (Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills)

Freddie Fitzsimmons, American professional baseball pitcher and manager (Giants, Dodgers and Phillies)

Todd A. Fonseca, American author of juvenile fiction

Lisa Germano, American folk and alternative rock musician and composer

George Gulyanics, American professional football player (Chicago Bears)

Charles H. Kuhl, World War II soldier, famous for being slapped by General Patton, leading to Patton losing his command

Achille "Chick" Maggioli, American professional football player (Bills, Lions and Colts)

Irene Vernon, American film actress (Louise Tate in TV's Bewitched)

Sharon Versyp, Indiana's 1984 Miss Basketball (Mishawaka High School) and current Purdue women's basketball coach

Joy Lynn White, American country western musician and composer

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 46,557 people, 20,248 households, and 11,642 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,963.3 people per square mile (1,144.2/km²). There were 21,572 housing units at an average density of 1,373.0 per square mile (530.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.58% White, 3.56% African American, 0.43% Native American, 1.39% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.06% from other races, and 1.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.79% of the population.

There were 20,248 households out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.5% were non-families. 35.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.92. In the city the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males. The median income for a household in the city was $33,986, and the median income for a family was $41,947. Males had a median income of $33,878 versus $23,672 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,434. About 7.3% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Mishawaka is served by TRANSPO municipal bus system, which also serves South Bend and several smaller suburbs in South Bend-Mishawaka metropolitan region. The Interurban Trolley's Bittersweet/Mishawaka route stops at Martin's Supermarket, connecting riders to the city of Elkhart and the town of Osceola. The closest Amtrak station and the closest airport are both located in western South Bend.

Major highways

Indiana Toll Road Interstate 80 Interstate 90 U.S. Route 20 Indiana State Road 23 Indiana State Road 331 Indiana State Road 933

Education

Bethel College is an accredited evangelical Christian liberal arts school with 1,700 students.

Public schools in Mishawaka are operated by the School City of Mishawaka.

Mishawaka Public Schools:

Twin Branch Elemaentary School

Hums Elementary

Beiger Elementary

Emmons Elementary

Lasalle Elementary

Liberty Elementary

John Young Middle School

Mishawaka High School

The Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation operates schools in parts of the city. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend operates four private Catholic schools in Mishawaka.

Media

One major daily newspaper serves the Michiana Metro area, the South Bend Tribune. It is distributed throughout the Michiana region and publishes five editions including a Metro edition, Mishawaka edition, Michigan edition, Penn-Harris-Madison East edition and a Marshall edition.

Mishawaka has a wide variety of local radio broadcast available in the area. Stations' programming content contains a wide variety including public radio, classical music, religious, country, and urban contemporary among others. For more information, see List of Radio Stations in Mishawaka, Indiana.

As of 2007, the South Bend-Mishawaka-Elkhart designated market area is the 88th largest in the United States, with 334,370 (0.3% of the US population) homes. Most of the major television networks have affiliates in the Michiana area.

Mishawaka located stations include WSBT-TV (CBS), WBND-LP (ABC), WCWW-LP (CW) and WMYS-LP (My Network TV). Stations located in nearby South Bend, IN include WNDU-TV (NBC), WNIT-TV (PBS) and WHME-TV (LeSEA). WSJV (Fox) also broadcasts in the Michiana area from Elkhart, IN.

Mishawaka Common Council

First District: Dale Emmons

Second District: Mike Bellovich

Third District: Ross Deal

Fourth District: Marsha McClure

Fifth District: Mike Compton

Sixth District: Ron Banicki

At-Large: John Gleissner

At-Large: Gregg Hixenbaugh

At-Large: John Roggeman

City Clerk: Debbie Ladyga-Block

Legend of Princess Mishawaka

One legend holds that the city is named after Mishawaka, daughter of Shawnee Chief Elkhart. According to the story, the Shawnee were permitted to settle on Potawatomi lands in the late 18th century, and Potawatomi Chief Grey Wolf soon fell in love with Mishawaka. She rejected his advances and pledged her love to a white trapper, known only as Deadshot. A war between the two tribes ensued, and Grey Wolf captured Mishawaka and threatened to kill her unless she married him. Deadshot followed him, however, and the two men fought to the death. Grey Wolf died, but not before stabbing Mishawaka in the breast. She recovered, but died in 1818 at age 32. She was supposedly buried near Lincoln Park, where a bronze marker there retells the legend.

External links

City of Mishawaka, Indiana website

Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library

School City of Mishawaka

The Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County

South Bend/Mishawaka Convention and Visitors Bureau

Mishawaka's Official Business Directory

References

City of Mishawaka, Web site

Babcock, Glenn D. History of United States Rubber Company: A Case Study in Corporate Management (1966).

DeKever, Peter J. With Our Past: Essays on the history of Mishawaka (2003).

Category:Cities in Indiana Category:Populated places established in 1833 Category:Populated places in St. Joseph County, Indiana Category:South Bend – Mishawaka metropolitan area