Neighborhoods of Indianapolis

Indianapolis has several distinct neighborhoods and cultural districts throughout the city. The following is a list of neighborhoods and districts within the city limits of Indianapolis, Indiana.

New Augusta

Brendonwood

Brightwood

Brightwood is a neighborhood situated on the northeast side of Indianapolis, Indiana. The original plat for Brightwood was drawn up in 1872, when a residential community was envisioned by town planners that would surround the "Bee Line" Railroad that passed through the area. The a revised version of the Town of Brightwood was finally incorporated in 1876, in honor of John Bright, a local railroad figure. The neighborhood boundaries of Brightwood, Indiana, were: Massachusetts Avenue on the south, E. 30th Street on the north, N. Keystone Avenue on the west, and Sherman Drive on the east.

Brightwood was annexed into the City of Indianapolis in 1897. It continued to be known as a "railroad town" for many years after its annexation, despite its no longer being a separate municipality. In the 1950s and 1960s, Brightwood underwent transition, as the use of passenger trains declined and many white residents relocated to new suburbs farther out from the center of Indianapolis. The population of Brightwood went from being virtually all Caucasian to virtually all African-American. Like many inner-city Indianapolis neighborhoods, Brightwood is today struggling with poverty, urban decay, high crime, and blight.

In recent years, residents and community leaders have organized to make improvements to the neighborhood. Brightwood and an adjacent neighborhood, Martindale, are now collectively known as the Martindale-Brightwood Neighborhood Association. The boundaries for this newer association are: E. 21st Street on the south, E. 30th Street on the north, Dr. Andrew J. Brown Avenue on the west, and Sherman Drive on the east. Longtime residents and newer transplants are working together to improve the quality of life in this urban neighborhood. Brightwood-Martindale is the home of Martin University.

Broad Ripple Village

Broad Ripple is a former incorporated town, annexed by Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1922, that occupies a region of north central Marion County.

Pioneers began settling the area around 1821, but the town was not heavily populated until around 1836, after the construction of the Central Canal began. The term "Broad Ripple" was first documented in the will of Jacob Coil, who has been credited with the establishment of the town. Coil named the area such because the, "ripple in the river at this point was the largest and widest in the county." Broad Ripple enjoyed a boom from the canal construction, and then gained stature and population with the addition of a number of railroad lines that were built from 1847 on. The railroads helped establish Indianapolis' nickname as "The Crossroads of America."

Broad Ripple continued its growth throughout the 19th century, but could not keep up with its growing neighbor to the south, the City of Indianapolis, and the formerly separate town was engulfed by Indianapolis in the early 20th century.

Broad Ripple continues to maintain a unique atmosphere with historical importance and cultural value. Many annual festivals are held in Broad Ripple, including the Broad Ripple Art Fair, Midwest Music Summit, the Broad Ripple Music Fest, and the Taste of Broad Ripple. It is home for the Indianapolis Art Center, which houses art exhibits and offers art classes, from drawing and painting to printmaking and glass blowing. On May 13, 2004, publication began of the Broad Ripple Gazette, locally-run and privately-owned newspaper that chronicles current events as well as history of the village.

Broad Ripple is also home to approximately 30 bars and nightclubs and thus serves as one of Indianapolis' top neighborhoods for nightlife. It is also home to many unique ethnic eateries such as Indian, Greek, and Thai restaurants. It is even home to two brew pubs, one English, one Belgian.

The Monon Trail runs through Broad Ripple, which is also a connecting point to the Central Canal Towpath which goes by Butler University.

Broad Ripple Park was opened in 1922. Its predecessor, the grand White City Amusement Park, opened on its grounds in 1906, was in business for many years despite a disastrous fire in 1908. It included a small rollercoaster, midway games, a famous Merry-Go-Round (now housed at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis) and, for a time, the second largest swimming pool in the nation. The pool twice hosted the US Olympic trials in 1924 and 1952. Today, Indy Parks and Recreation runs the city park, offering multiple classes, family activities, outdoor swimming and a dog park.

Broad Ripple High School, established in 1886, is part of the Indianapolis Public Schools system and has graduated notable figures like David Letterman, Rosevelt Colvin, and former Indianapolis mayor Stephen Goldsmith.

Brookside

Butler-Tarkington

Butler-Tarkington is a neighborhood on the north side of Indianapolis with the following borders: 38th Street and Crown Hill Cemetery to the south, the Central Canal and Westfield Boulevard to the north, Michigan Road to the west, and Meridian Street to the east.

The neighborhood began as a farming settlement in the 1840s near what is now the intersection of 38th Street and Illinois Street. The settlement was called Mapleton due to the large number of maple trees in the area. 38th Street which now forms the southern boundary of the neighborhood was originally called Maple Road. The settlement was connected to the railway system of the City of Indianapolis in the 1860s. In 1890, the city's electric street car system ran a line up through the neighborhood. Mapleton was annexed by Indianapolis in 1902, and most of the rest of the neighborhood was annexed by 1906. Residential development took off in the 1910s and 1920s. By the end of WWII, the neighborhood was built-out.

The neighborhood's name comes from Butler University, which has its campus in the neighborhood, and the famous writer Booth Tarkington who lived in the neighborhood for 23 years in his country estate until his death in 1946. Butler University moved from Irvington on the city's Far East Side to the Butler-Tarkington neighborhood in 1928 when it acquired what had been the community's 300-acre Fairview Park. The Christian Theological Seminary was formed as an independent educational institution from Butler University in 1958, and in 1966 it opened its own campus next to Butler University.

The neighborhood was almost exclusively white up until the mid-1950s when African-Americans began moving into the southwest portion of the neighborhood. The Butler-Tarkington Neighborhood Association was formed in 1956 to help foster community and ease the tensions resulting from racial integration of the neighborhood. Today the majority of residents are white; however, approximately one-third of the residents are African-American. The community continues to be seen as an example of successful neighborhood integration.

This neighborhood consists mainly of working to upper-middle-class households, but one finds wealthier individuals inhabiting the much grander homes along the western edge of Meridian Street, and also portions of Illinois Street north of 40th Street. Butler-Tarkington is known for its attractive residential architecture.

Castleton

Castleton is a neighborhood on the northeast side of Indianapolis in Lawrence and Washington townships. The area is one of the city's main shopping districts with two large shopping malls (Castleton Square Mall and The Fashion Mall) and numerous strip malls and restaurants.

The neighborhood also has a large, mostly middle class, residential community with many subdivisions and apartment complexes that were built in the 1980s. Castleton is home to Lawrence North High School and Community Hospital North. Castleton is adjacent to the Geist and Nora areas.

Chapel Hill

Chatham Arch

Chatham Arch is a neighborhood located immediately east of Downtown Indianapolis. This neighborhood is one of the oldest in Indianapolis, dating back to the mid 19th century. Chatham Arch contains many of Indianapolis's historic homes.

Clearwater

Clermont

Clermont is a town in Indiana, United States. The population was 1,477 at the 2000 census. It has existed as an "included town" since 1970, when it was incorporated into Indianapolis as part of Unigov, losing governmental powers thereto. It is legally part of Indianapolis, according to Indiana Code 36-3-1-4 sec. 4(a)(2), which states that the territory of a consolidated city (Indianapolis/Unigov) shall include "all other territory in the county except territory of an excluded city." While it is claimed that these "included towns" retain town status as defined by the state constitution, the current constitution of the state of Indiana does not define town status.

Clermont is located at 39°48′52″N, 86°19′18″W (39.814339, -86.321575)GR1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.8 km² (0.7 mi²). None of the area is covered with water.

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 1,477 people, 598 households, and 420 families residing in the town. The population density was 838.6/km² (2,167.7/mi²). There were 626 housing units at an average density of 355.4/km² (918.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.41% White, 1.62% African American, 0.07% Native American, 1.22% Asian, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.74% of the population.

There were 598 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.4% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the town the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $51,875, and the median income for a family was $64,464. Males had a median income of $40,500 versus $27,974 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,149. About 4.0% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.

College Park

Crooked Creek

Crown Hill

Crown Hill is a neighborhood on the near Northside of Indianapolis. The neighborhood is named for Crown Hill, the steepest hill in Indianapolis. Contrary to popular belief, the neighborhood is not named after the cemetery that bears the same name (See also: Crown Hill Cemetery.)

Its boundaries consist of: 38th Street on the North, West 29th Street on the South, Martin Luther King Jr. Street on the West, and Meridian Street on the East. It is a participant of the Weed and Seed organization, which aims to combat high-crime neighborhoods in Indianapolis.

Recently, this area has become a target for revitalization. Like many inner-city Indianapolis neighborhoods, blight, urban decay, and crime have plagued this area for years.

The estimated population (as of 2005) is 6,034. The ethnic makeup of this neighborhood is nearly 100% African American.

Cumberland

Cumberland is a town split between Marion County, and Hancock County Indiana, United States. The population was 5,500 at the 2000 census. Cumberland is located at 39°47′1″N, 85°57′8″W (39.783528, -85.952308)GR1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.0 km² (1.9 mi²). 4.9 km² (1.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (1.55%) is water.

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 5,500 people, 2,030 households, and 1,565 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,123.6/km² (2,907.0/mi²). There were 2,190 housing units at an average density of 447.4/km² (1,157.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 85.20% White, 10.56% African American, 0.22% Native American, 1.76% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.45% of the population.

There were 2,030 households out of which 40.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.9% were non-families. 19.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the town the population was spread out with 30.0% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $57,875, and the median income for a family was $61,739. Males had a median income of $48,750 versus $28,239 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,746. About 5.0% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.

Downtown Indianapolis

The term Downtown Indianapolis refers to the central business district, or CBD, of Indianapolis, Indiana. The boundaries of Downtown Indianapolis vary; the original mile square of Indianapolis is considered to be the true "downtown", though some may consider downtown's boundaries to include many smaller neighborhoods nearby.

Indianapolis' downtown has undergone a dramatic transformation from being a place of vacant storefronts and no activity to that of a dynamic urban district in the United States. In the 1970s, the city suffered under the dramatic effects that plagued other nearby Rust Belt cities such as decreased economic activity, white flight, racial tension, etc. As a result, Downtown Indianapolis was not a desireable place to be in the 1970s, and often saw little to no activity. The City of Indianapolis dealt with these issues and tried to come up with solutions to help revitalize the city's downtown.

Starting in the 1980s, Downtown Indianapolis begin to develop into the state that it is today. A series of modern skyscrapers were constructed during this period, including the Chase Tower. Revitalization of the city's canal followed. This, along with plans for a new downtown mall, basketball stadium, and new attractions such as museums helped to revitalize Downtown Indianapolis.

Tourism is a large part of the economy of Downtown Indianapolis, due in large part to the presence of the Indiana Convention Center.

Downtown Indianapolis has many attractions, including the well known Circle Centre Mall, which is considered to be one of the most successful downtown malls in the country. It is home to many stores and boutiques that don't have a presence in other malls in Indiana, including the states only Nordstrom. There are also many other boutiques located throughout the central business district.

Although Indianapolis is home to the first Union Station in the world, the Indianapolis Union Station, there is no commuter rail service. This remains a problem, and many residents of the city are trying to make plans to make use of the station for public transportation. If a commuter rail service is completed, it would help releive the city of it's slowly but surely growing pollution problem.

Some of the ongoing developments in Downtown Indianapolis include proposals for a series of cultural trails throughout downtown, a series of new mid to high rise buildings, and construction of the Lucas Oil Stadium.

Notable attractions that can be found in Downtown Indianapolis include:
Canal and White River Gardens
White River State Park
Indianapolis Zoo
Circle Centre Mall
Monument Circle
Wholesale District
American Legion Mall
RCA Dome, home of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts
Conseco Fieldhouse, home of the NBA's Indiana Pacers
Indiana Convention Center
Massachusetts Avenue
Indiana Avenue

Eagle Creek Park

Garfield Park Conservatory and Sunken Gardens
Military Park
University Park

Eagle Creek

Eagledale

Eagledale is the name of a neighborhood on the west side of Indianapolis. Eagledale is primarily suburban in nature, consisting of ranch homes built in the 1950's and 1960's. This is one of the few suburban neighborhoods that the City of Indianapolis annexed prior to the 1970 consolidation of city and county governments, locally referred to as Unigov.

Eagledale is in close proximity to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway; as a result, it is not uncommon to see cars parked in the yards of homes in this neighborhood on or close to the date that the Indianapolis 500 or Allstate 400 is being held.

Eastgate

Eastgate is a neighborhood on the eastside of Indianapolis. Once a flourishing suburb, much of the neighborhood has become blighted. It is best known as the site of the now defunct Eastgate Consumer Mall.

Fall Creek Place

Fall Creek Place is one of many gentrified neighborhoods in inner Indianapolis, Indiana. The neighborhood is bounded by Meridian Street on the west, Fall Creek Parkway on the north, Central Avenue on the east, and 22nd Street on the south. The neighborhood consists of narrow, tree lined streets. Victorian homes from the late 19th century are the most prevalent house type as well as new homes built in period design. In the 1980s, the neighborhood fell into serious disrepair; entire city blocks were left abandoned. In 2001, city efforts to redevelop the area into a mixed-income residential community began. In 2003, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded Indianapolis with a Homeownership Zone Award for the way the city used a $4 million HUD grant to stimulate other public and private investment in the Fall Creek Place redevelopment. Also in 2003, the American Planning Association selected Fall Creek Place as the winner of the 2003 Outstanding Planning Award for "Implementing Smart Growth." In 2006, the National League of Cities gave Indianapolis the silver winner Award for Municipal Excellence for cities over 500,000 in population for the Fall Creek Place redevelopment project.

The area was previously nicknamed "Dodge City," referring to the fact that people had to literally dodge bullets from the frequent drive-bys that plagued the neighborhood during the 1980s and 1990s.

Five Points

Fletcher Place

"Fletcher Place" is a historic district and neighborhood in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana. The neighborhood is clearly defined by I-70/I-65 to the south. East Street defines the neighborhood to the west. The northern border of the neighborhood is South Street in some places, while it is Lord Street in others, Fletcher Avenue in some areas, and even Bates Street in a few other spots. The eastern border of the neighborhood is Virginia Avenue in some places, while it is I-65 in a few spots, and Calvary Street in a few areas.

Fletcher Place is surrounded by The Wholesale District to the north, Eli Lilly and Company to the west, Bates-Hendricks neighborhood to the south, and Fountain Square neighborhood to the east and southeast.

Fletcher Place is the home to a few of Indianapolis' keynote restaurants: The Milano Inn, The Bosphors, Nick Iaria's, and Dunaway's. Additionally, Eli Lilly and Company and Anthem have their world headquarters bordering Fletcher Place, making it a magnet neighborhood for Indianapolis' health-care industry professionals.

Fountain Square

Garfield Park

Geist

Glendale

Glendale is a neighborhood located on the northside of Indianapolis, located immediately east of Broad Ripple. Glendale is one of the oldest suburban neighborhoods in Indianapolis and is fairly residential in nature, despite being a heavy commercial district. It is best known as the home of Glendale Center, one of the region's first shopping malls.

Golden Hill Historic District

Golden Hill is an affluent and historic neighborhood on the near northwest side of Indianapolis; it is located about 4.5 miles from downtown. It is located south of 38th Street, and is immediately south of Woodstock Country Club and north of 36th Street, and it is just west of Martin Luther King, Jr. Street.

Although platted in 1872, the area was not developed until the the wealthy industrialist David Parry purchased the area around 1900 to develop into his private estate, which he called Golden Hill. Upon his death in 1915, Parry's family subdivided the estate into an elegant subdivision for the wealthy with curving streets and beautiful greenspaces. Prominent and wealthy Indianapolis families built grand homes in the area from 1915-1940. Homes in the neighborhood have generally stayed within these families or have been sold to family friends.

Golden Hill remains a very exclusive enclave for the wealthy. However, the area immediately south of Golden Hill is compromised mainly of rather modest working-class households.

Greenbriar

Haughville

Haughville is a working class neighborhood west of downtown Indianapolis. Its borders are roughly White River to the east, Tibbs Avenue to the west, Sixteenth Street to the north and Michigan Street to the south. It suffers from a high crime rate and low property values. It is inhabited mostly by African Americans. It is considered one of the most impoverished neighborhoods in the city, also has one of the highest violent crime rates in the city.

Since 1992, Haughville has been a member of Indianapolis's Weed and Seed initiative, a federal program that targets high crime areas in Indianapolis and attempts to lower the amount of crime. It was actually the first neighborhood in Indianapolis to be stamped with this title.

As of the census of 2000, there were an estimated 8,000 people, 3,146 households, and 1,964 families residing in the CDP. The racial makeup of the CDP was 23.09% White, 61.13% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 4.45% from other races, and 1.68% from two or more races. 9.10% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the Adult Population (25 and older) 40.7% do not have a High School diploma. This leads to the overall neighborhood's per capita being $12,545 and an average household income of only $25,312, making the entire neighborhood well below the average per capita and household income of Indianapolis. Unemployment plagues 16% of Haughville's population, while a third of the entire neighborhood is below the poverty line. 40% of the population are renting their household, and 66.0% of them have lived 5 years or less in the area.

Beginning since the 1970s, Haughville was one of the first neighborhoods in Indianapolis to experience a downward trend into poverty, crime, and urban blight. Many of the neighborhood's businesses began to close down as the neighborhood's population began to dwindle down and property values began to sink to new lows. Schools in and around the area began to close down and decay. During the 1980s, Haughville became one of the main focal points of crack cocaine and gang violence. The Gangster Disciples and other gangs from the Chicago area began to make their way into the area and jump-start the drug trade that has long been associated with the area. Crime was especially abundant in Concord Village, a former housing project located in the southwestern area of the neighborhood. By the 1990s, Haughville had the reputation of being one of the worst slums in the city, and a stamp for urban decay and crime, along with Fall Creek Place. The government eventually started to fund programs in the area to try to reverse the problems, starting with the federal program called the Weed and Seed organization (which eventually is now in several locations across the Indianapolis area). Hope IV funded millions of dollars to help reverse the crime in the eventually un-reversible and now demolished Concord Village. During the mid 1990s, homicides in Haughville for a span of 3-5 years, averaged around 15 per year (in an area with only 8,000 residents). However police efforts cut down homicides in 1997, where homicides went from 13 in 1996 to just 1 in 1997. In recent times, Haughville has had a mixed-bag of problems. Though crime is lower than it was in the 90s, it is still has one of the highest crime rates in Indianapolis. However the city has done a great job in starting to reverse urban blight, in addition to adding extra police patrols around the area. In addition, neighborhood figures have established many after-school programs and camps to help keep children off of the streets in efforts to keep them from being lured into the streets. Places such as Municipal Gardens offer as a safe-haven for children trying to keep away from crime.

Herron-Morton

Hillside

Hillside is a small neighborhood on the near-eastside of Indianapolis and is part of the larger Brightwood neighborhood. The neighborhood is concentrated near the intersection of East 25th Street and Hillside Avenue.

Like many Indianapolis neighborhoods, Hillside suffered from significant urban decay and blight in the 1980s and 1990s. Since then, efforts to gentrify have become a priority for this neighborhood.

Historic Meridian Park

Historic Meridian Park Neighborhood is situated north of downtown Indianapolis, and located within the larger Mapleton Fall Creek Neighborhood. While the neighborhood is fairly small, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The neighborhood began to be developed around the turn of the 20th century. It not only has a significant collection of American Craftsman or Arts & Crafts Style homes, but is also notable as one of Indianapolis' first suburbs.

Homecroft

Homecroft is a town in Indiana, United States. The population was 751 at the 2000 census. It has existed as an "included town" since 1970, when it was incorporated into Indianapolis as part of Unigov, losing governmental powers thereto. It is legally part of Indianapolis, according to Indiana Code 36-3-1-4 sec. 4(a)(2), which states that the territory of a consolidated city (Indianapolis/Unigov) shall include "all other territory in the county except territory of an excluded city." While it is claimed that these "included towns" retain town status as defined by the state constitution, the current constitution of the state of Indiana does not define town status.

Homecroft is located at 39°40′8″N, 86°7′48″W (39.668945, -86.129862)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²). None of the area is covered with water.

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 751 people, 310 households, and 227 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,260.7/km² (3,243.5/mi²). There were 316 housing units at an average density of 530.5/km² (1,364.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.67% White, 0.13% African American, 0.40% Asian, 0.27% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.

There were 310 households out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.9% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the town the population was spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $60,156, and the median income for a family was $70,859. Males had a median income of $51,563 versus $38,194 for females. The per capita income for the town was $28,888. About 1.3% of families and 2.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Irvington

Keystone at the Crossing

Keystone at the Crossing is a high class business and shopping district located in northern Indianapolis at the intersection of East 86th Street and North Keystone Avenue, which is also known as U.S. 431, along I-465. The Fashion Mall is considered the heart of the district.

The Fashion Mall is the anchor retail center of this large mixed-use development which forms the core of this Far Northside neighborhood of Indianapolis. Sometimes the area is called Keystone/Clearwater, which refers to the large neighboring Clearwater Crossing mixed-use development named after the nearby Lake Clearwater. The Fashion Mall had its original incarnation in the early 1970's as a small luxury mall of 50,000 square feet. The Fashion Mall was adjacent to its companion shopping center called The Bazaar, a building of labyrinthine corridors housing family-run stores. The Fashion Mall underwent several renovations and expansions over the years, and its neighbor the Bazaar was eventually demolished to make way for the growing shopping center. Over the years, numerous retail centers and stand-alone restaurants have been built both in the mixed-use development where the Fashion Mall is located and all along the 86th Street corridor. The Fashion Mall/Clearwater Crossing area now provides a continuous retail corridor which merges with the gigantic Castleton Square Mall shopping area located almost 3 miles to the east. The Fashion Mall has become a regional high-end shopping destination, standing two stories high and covering 680,000 square feet in two separate buildings. The building are connected by a glass archway called "The Crossing" which is also a foodcourt. The largest stores in the mall are Parisian and Saks Fifth Avenue. Crate & Barrel opened in late 2005, and Tiffany & Co. opened in 2006. There are also two Starbucks (one of which is a corporate owned store and the other which is located in the Keystone Arts Cinema, which is a licesened store and not controlled by Seattle but by the theater itself) stores. As of November 29, 2006, it was reported that this Parisian location will close (Summer 2007), and Nordstrom will take it's place [Fall 2008]. The mall had $586 of sales per square foot in 2005. The Fashion Mall is surrounded by a large mixed-use development consisting of several midrise office buildings (the tallest rises 18 stories), hotels, and stand-alone restaurants. Companion retail centers and several apartments and condominiums adjoin the Fashion Mall property.

Lafayette Square

Little Flower

Lockerbie

Mars Hill

Meridian Hills

Meridian Hills is an affluent town in Indiana, United States. It is located about 6.4 miles north of downtown Indianapolis, and it is slightly southwest of its neighbor, the even more exclusive and wealthier Town of Williams Creek. The population of Meridian Hills was 1,713 at the 2000 census. Residential construction began in the town in the early 1920's and Meridian Hills Country Club opened in 1923; however, the town did not incorporate until 1937. It has existed as an "included town" since 1970, when it was incorporated into Indianapolis as part of Unigov, losing governmental powers thereto. It is legally part of Indianapolis, according to Indiana Code 36-3-1-4 sec. 4(a)(2), which states that the territory of a consolidated city (Indianapolis/Unigov) shall include "all other territory in the county except territory of an excluded city." While it is claimed that these "included towns" retain town status as defined by the state constitution, the current constitution of the state of Indiana does not define town status.

Meridian Hills remains a wooded residential enclave for the wealthy and upper-middle class. Meridian Hills is located at 39°53′3″N, 86°9′23″W (39.884040, -86.156487)GR1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.9 km² (1.5 mi²). None of the area is covered with water.

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 1,713 people, 657 households, and 509 families residing in the town. The population density was 446.9/km² (1,154.3/mi²). There were 677 housing units at an average density of 176.6/km² (456.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.02% White, 1.58% African American, 0.76% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.06% from other races, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.82% of the population.

There were 657 households out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.0% were married couples living together, 4.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.5% were non-families. 19.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 3.0% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 30.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $107,009, and the median income for a family was $114,458. Males had a median income of $79,557 versus $56,304 for females. The per capita income for the town was $59,829. None of the families and 0.2% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.

Meridian-Kessler

Meridian-Kessler is a residential neighborhood located about 4 miles north of downtown Indianapolis. It is bounded on the north by Kessler Boulevard, on the east by the Monon Trail greenway corridor, on the south by 38th Street and to the west by Meridian Street. Meridian Street forms a shared boundary with the adjacent Butler-Tarkington neighborhood.

Beginning in the very late 1890's, a few wealthy individuals built a smattering of country estates along Meridian Street and neighboring streets north of Maple Road, which is now called 38th Street. However, the area remained mostly open farmland. Currently, a handful of the original area farmhouses still stand--with the oldest one dating back to 1832.

In 1905, the famous landscape architect George Kessler redesigned Maple Road into a grand urban parkway as part of his ambitious municipal plan to form a network of parks and boulevards to connect the City of Indianapolis. Also in 1905, Indianapolis annexed Meridian Street from 38th Street (formerly Maple Road) up to the town of Broad Ripple, a distance of almost 2 miles. The city's gradual road improvements in the area encouraged residential development. The neighborhood population boomed beginning in the early 1920's, and the area became one of the most prestigious addresses in Indianapolis. Wealthy individuals built grand homes along Meridian Street, Pennsylvania Street, and Washington Boulevard. However, the neighborhood did not develop solely as an exclusive enclave for the very wealthy, and most of the new residents were upper-middle class individuals who constructed smaller, but nonetheless stately houses throughout the neighborhood. Growth continued at a slower pace in the 1930's as the neighborhood filled up, and the wealthy continued their northern migration beyond the city limits to tony communities such as Meridian Hills and Williams Creek which expanded and incorporated during this decade. Nonetheless, Meridian-Kessler continued to be a neighborhood of choice for the affluent, and by the end of WWII it was built-out.

In 1965, the Meridian-Kessler Neighborhood Association was formed to unify the neighborhood and protect its unique character.

Today, Meridian-Kessler remains a predominately upper-middle class area and a highly desirable neighborhood. However, there are poorer working class households located mainly in the southeast quadrant of the neighborhood. Meridian-Kessler has achieved some degree of racial diversity, but it is less integrated than the neighboring Butler-Tarkington community.

Mozel Sander Projects

The Mozel Sanders Homes is a public housing development located on the near north-eastside of Indianapolis. Constructed in 1948, they were the heart of a once-flourishing, streetcar suburban neighborhood known as simply "The Meadows". Today, as of 2006, The Meadows is the most blighted neighborhood in Indianapolis and suffers from very severe urban decay and blight. All but seven of the original twenty-two buildings remain standing.

The area has suffered from extraordinarily high crime, including (at one point in time) having the reputation of being the city's worst neighborhood. Several efforts have been made in turning the area in the right direction, starting with several federal grants, and the demolition of Parkwood Projects, formerly situated to the east of Mozel Sanders. The entire neighborhood is slated for demolition, and a new, urban renewal type of neighborhood will replace it, which will be similar in nature to Fall Creek Place, also in Indianapolis.

Nora

Nora is a neighborhood on the north side of Indianapolis, generally considered to be contained by Meridian Street on the west, Castleton on the east, Ravenswood to the south, and 96th Street(which forms the border between Marion and Hamilton Counties) on the north. Nora has historically been an affluent neighborhood of Indianapolis and is home to North Central High School.

Oaklandon

Park 100

Ravenswood

Riverside

Riverside is an economically depressed neighborhood on the near westside of Indianapolis. The neighborhood consists mainly of American foursquare type homes and bungalows built in the 1910s-1920s. Riverside is so-called such because it is situated next to the White River.

Its boundaries are 30th Street on the north, and 16th Street to the south, Martin Luther King Jr. Street on the east, and the White River on the west. Many of the neighborhood's focus areas are situated along Harding street.

Historically, Riverside has fallen victim to severe urban decay, white flight, and crime. As a result, attempts to revitalize the Riverside neighborhood have become commonplace in recent years. The Riverside neighborhood is a member of the "Weed and Seed" Organization, an organization that targets deprived areas in Indianapolis to assist crime reduction.

Rocky Ripple

Rocky Ripple is a town in Indiana, United States. The population was 712 at the 2000 census. It has existed as an "included town" since 1970, when it was incorporated into Indianapolis as part of Unigov, losing governmental powers thereto. It is legally part of Indianapolis, according to Indiana Code 36-3-1-4 sec. 4(a)(2), which states that the territory of a consolidated city (Indianapolis/Unigov) shall include "all other territory in the county except territory of an excluded city." While it is claimed that these "included towns" retain town status as defined by the state constitution, the current constitution of the state of Indiana does not define town status.

Although not far from the city center, Rocky Ripple is a somewhat isolated area, located between the Central Canal and the White River; only two traffic-supporting bridges over the canal provide access to the town.

Rocky Ripple is located at 39°50′50″N, 86°10′23″W (39.847091, -86.173137)GR1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.8 km² (0.3 mi²). None of the area is covered with water.

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 712 people, 322 households, and 183 families residing in the town. The population density was 916.3/km² (2,338.5/mi²). There were 329 housing units at an average density of 423.4/km² (1,080.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 87.64% White, 9.27% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.28% from other races, and 2.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.69% of the population.

There were 322 households out of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.9% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the town the population was spread out with 20.9% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $44,464, and the median income for a family was $50,500. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $30,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,691. About 1.1% of families and 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

Rural-Sherman

Rural-Sherman is the name of a neighborhood located on the Near-Eastside of Indianapolis. Its' boundaries are East 16th Street(or Brookside Pkway)on the North, Washington Street on the South, Rural Street on the West, and Sherman Drive on the East.

It is one of Indianapolis' most blighted neighborhoods, as a significant amount of homes and buildings in this area are decayed and/or abandoned. It is a participant in the Weed and Seed organization of Indianapolis, which helps to stabilize high crime neighborhoods.

In recent years, Rural-Sherman has slipped further into blight, and statistically, for the past couple of years, has been the most violent area in Indianapolis. Crime in and around this specific area, especially in 2006, has seen much publicity and unwanted attention, including the infamous Hamiliton Avenue Massacre in which a family of 7 people were executed.

Spring Hill

Spring Hill is a town in Marion County, Indiana, United States. The population was 97 at the 2000 census. The population was 712 at the 2000 census. It has existed as an "included town" since 1970, when it was incorporated into Indianapolis as part of Unigov, losing governmental powers thereto. It is legally part of Indianapolis, according to Indiana Code 36-3-1-4 sec. 4(a)(2), which states that the territory of a consolidated city (Indianapolis/Unigov) shall include "all other territory in the county except territory of an excluded city." While it is claimed that these "included towns" retain town status as defined by the state constitution, the current constitution of the state of Indiana does not define town status.

Spring Hill is located at 39°49′58″N, 86°11′33″W (39.832911, -86.192631)GR1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²), all land.

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 97 people, 55 households, and 28 families residing in the town. The population density was 340.5/km² (881.1/mi²). There were 63 housing units at an average density of 221.1/km² (572.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.85% White and 5.15% African American.

There were 55 households out of which 3.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, and 47.3% were non-families. 36.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.76 and the average family size was 2.21.

In the town the population was spread out with 5.2% under the age of 18, 2.1% from 18 to 24, 13.4% from 25 to 44, 47.4% from 45 to 64, and 32.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 58 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $103,337, and the median income for a family was $107,033. Males had a median income of $44,063 versus $55,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $77,390. There were no families and 10.4% of the population living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.

Traders Point

Twin Brooks

Warren Park

Warren Park is a town in Marion County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,656 at the 2000 census. It has existed as an "included town" since 1970, when it was incorporated into Indianapolis as part of Unigov, losing governmental powers thereto. It is legally part of Indianapolis, according to Indiana Code 36-3-1-4 sec. 4(a)(2), which states that the territory of a consolidated city (Indianapolis/Unigov) shall include "all other territory in the county except territory of an excluded city." While it is claimed that these "included towns" retain town status as defined by the state constitution, the current constitution of the state of Indiana does not define town status.

Warren Park is located at 39°46′51″N, 86°3′8″W (39.780792, -86.052232)GR1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.2 km² (0.4 mi²), all land.

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 1,656 people, 915 households, and 373 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,420.9/km² (3,683.3/mi²). There were 996 housing units at an average density of 854.6/km² (2,215.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.15% White, 4.47% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.60% from other races, and 1.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.45% of the population.

There were 915 households out of which 16.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.5% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 59.2% were non-families. 56.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 44.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.81 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the town the population was spread out with 17.9% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 37.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 67.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 60.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $25,185, and the median income for a family was $46,384. Males had a median income of $41,607 versus $25,658 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,836. About 4.9% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.

Washington Place

Westwood

Wholesale District

The Wholesale District is one of six designated cultural districts in Indianapolis, Indiana. Located on the southern fringe of Downtown Indianapolis, the Wholesale District contains many of Indianapolis' premier attractions, such as the RCA Dome and Conseco Fieldhouse.

Prior to its designation as a cultural district, the Wholesale District was one of Downtown Indianapolis' most decayed and blighted areas.

Around the turn of the 20th century Indianapolis had one of the largest networks of railroads in the USA and hundreds of trains passed through Union Station daily, the streets local to the station were lined with businesses, hotels, warehouses, retail shops and more. Wholesale grocers sold fresh goods daily before the advent of the modern grocery store. The district had many such grocers, but also wholesalers who sold dry and finished goods. The House of Crane, whose facade remains part of Circle Centre, sold cigars; Hanson, VanCamp & Co. sold hardware. In addition, South Delaware Street became known as Commission Row, where farmers brought their produce to merchants who sold the goods for a commission fee. The Wholesale District was of primary importance in the transformation of Indianapolis from small town to big city. No longer did shoppers have to rely on retailers who sold finished goods shipped from Louisville or Cincinnati. They could now go to a central location and buy the same items at wholesale prices. With Union Station nearby, wholesalers could ship goods more cheaply and more easily. Unfortunately, the Great Depression devastated the area and few businesses remained.

Since 1995, more than $686 million has been invested in the area, transforming it into one of the city's premier arts and entertainment districts. Recent additions include more than 35 new businesses, Circle Centre, Conseco Fieldhouse, and a number of upscale restaurants. The area also includes the Hilbert Circle Theatre, home of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, which underwent a $2.5 million renovation in 2003.

Williams Creek

Woodruff Place

Woodruff Place is a neighborhood in Indianapolis located about a mile east of Downtown Indianapolis. It was established in the 1870s as an early suburb of Indianapolis. Woodruff Place's boundaries are: 10th Street on the north, West Drive on the west, Michigan Street on the south, and East Drive on the east. This community was an independent municipality and maintained autonomy, even as the City of Indianapolis grew and expanded around the neighborhood, enclosing the community well within the city limits. Woodruff Place was incorporated in 1876 and remained an independent town until 1962 when it became one of the final municipalities to be annexed by the City of Indianapolis prior to the merger of city and county governments in 1969.

Woodruff Place was once considered to be one of Indianapolis's more affluent neighborhoods before beginning a gradual decline as the automobile led to the development of newer upscale subdivisions beginning in the late 1910's. By the 1950's many of the grand homes had been subdivided into apartments; previously, the neighborhood had only a modest collection of duplexes and smaller apartment buildings which were added beginning in the early 1910's. The neighborhood reached its lowest point in the 1960's, prompting community organizing in the early 1970's to encourage neighborhood revitalization. The 1980's and 1990's saw extensive neighborhood rehabilitation, and Woodruff Place is now considered a highly desirable historic inner-city address. Its design reflects the developer's plan to build a prestigious enclave. Most of the homes in Woodruff Place are expansive, Victorian style homes from the late 19th century. The layout of the neighborhood is simple; three drives that run north-south (appropriately named East, West, and Middle) and a cross drive (not surprisingly, named Cross Drive). The streets are lined with magnolia and oak trees and have a central median. A fountain sits at each one of the intersections. Smaller fountains line the medians.

In 1972, Woodruff Place was added to the National Register of Historic Places. In 2001, the neighborhood was officially designated a local historic preservation district by the City of Indianapolis.

Wynnedale

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