Anderson is a city located in Madison County, Indiana. The city is the county seat of Madison County. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 59,734. Anderson is the headquarters of the Church of God (Anderson), and home of Anderson University, which is affiliated with that denomination. Highlights of the city include the historic Paramount Theatre and the Gruenwald Home.
The city is named for Chief William Anderson, whose mother was a Delaware Indian (Lenape) and whose father was of Swedish descent. Chief Anderson's Indian name was Kikthawenund (spelled in a variety of ways) meaning "making a noise" or "causing to crack."
Anderson is located at 40°6'0" North, 85°40'53" West (40.100041, -85.681525). The city of Anderson is located in parts of four townships: Anderson, Union, Richland, and Lafayette.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 104.0 km2 (40.2 mi2). 103.7 km2 (40.0 mi2) of it is land and 0.3 km2 (0.1 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 0.27% water.
As of the census of 2000, there are 59,734 people, 25,274 households, and 15,417 families residing in the city. The population density is 575.9/km2 (1,491.6/mi2). There are 27,643 housing units at an average density of 266.5/km2 (690.3/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 81.99% White, 14.88% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.86% from other races, and 1.45% from two or more races. 2.07% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 25,274 households out of which 27.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.4% are married couples living together, 15.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% are non-families. 33.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 14.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.28 and the average family size is 2.87.
In the city the population is spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 85.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $32,577, and the median income for a family is $39,552. Males have a median income of $31,346 versus $22,736 for females. The per capita income for the city is $19,142. 13.4% of the population and 10.8% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 20.3% of those under the age of 18 and 6.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Prior to the organization of Madison County, William Conner entered the land upon which Anderson is located. Conner later sold the ground to John and Sarah Berry, who donated 32 acres (129,000 m2) of their land to Madison County on the condition that the county seat would be moved from Pendleton to Anderson. John Berry laid out the first plat of Anderson on November 7, 1827. In 1828 the seat of justice was moved from Pendleton to Anderson.
Introduction of internal improvements caused a growth in the population in 1837. In December, 1838, Anderson was incorporated as a town with 350 inhabitants. The Central Canal, a branch of the Wabash and Erie Canal was planned to come through Anderson. Work continued on the canal during 1838 and the beginning of 1839, but work on the canal was soon suspended by the state. The town again became a sleepy village until 1849 when it was incorporated a second time as a town. Many new commercial ventures located around the Courthouse Square.
This incorporation was short-lived and Anderson once again went back to village status in 1852. However, with the completion of the Indianapolis Bellefontaine Railroad, as well as their station in 1852, Anderson burst to life. The third incorporation of Anderson as a town occurred on June 9, 1853. The population continued to increase. On August 28, 1865, with a population was nearly 1,300 people, Anderson was incorporated as a city.
Between 1853 and the late 1800s, twenty industries of various sizes located there. On March 31, 1887, natural gas was discovered in Anderson. With this discovery new businesses that could use natural gas, such as glass-making, moved to the city. Anderson grew to such proportions that a Cincinnati newspaper editor labeled the city "The Pittsburgh on White River." Other appellations were "Queen City of the Gas Belt" and (because of the vulcanizing and the rubber tire manufacturing business) "Puncture Proof City."
In 1897 the Interurban Railroad was born in Anderson. Charles Henry, a large stock holder, coined the term "Interurban" in 1893. It continued to operate until 1941.
The year 1912 spelled disaster for Anderson: the natural gas ran out, and several factories moved out. The whole city slowed down. The Commercial Club (formed on November 18, 1905) was the forerunner of the present chamber of commerce. This club persuaded the Remy brothers to stay in Anderson and others to locate there. For decades, Delco Remy and Guide Lamp (later Fisher Guide) were the top two employers in the city.
Among the major industries are Anderson Tool and Engineering, Barber Manufacturing, Delco Remy America, Delphi Energy and Engine, Prairie Farms Dairy, Guide Corporation, Hoosier Park, Jefferson Smurfit/CCA, Magnequench International, and Warner Press.
The Church of God of Anderson located their world headquarters in Anderson in 1905. Anderson Bible School was opened in 1917, and this was separated from Gospel Trumpet (now known as Warner Press) in 1925. At the same time, it became known as Anderson Bible School and Seminary. In 1925, the name was changed to Anderson College and then to Anderson University in 1988.
Over the years, 17 different types of automobiles were manufactured in Anderson with the Lambert family among the leaders in the development of the automobile. Many other inventions were perfected in Anderson including: the gas regulator-Miron G. Reynolds, the stamp vending machine-Frank P. Dunn, clothes presser-H. Donald Forse, Irish Mail-Hugh Hill, flower car for funeral homes-Francis M. McClain, automatic gearshift-Von D. Polhemus, Sisson choke-Glenn Sisson, and the vulcanizing process that retreads tires-Charles E. Miller. List of mayors of Anderson, Indiana
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Anderson, IN
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