Indianapolis Area Real Estate & Resources!

Indianapolis, IN Area Guide

Indianapolis is the capital of Indiana and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. The census estimated the city's population at 798,382 in 2008 making it Indiana's largest city and is the 14th largest city in the U.S., the third largest city in the Midwest, the second most populous state capital, and the largest state capital east of the Mississippi River. Indianapolis has always been government and industry orientated, especially manufacturing. Today, Indianapolis has a much more diversified economy, contributing to the fields of education, health care, and finance. Tourism is also a vital part of the economy of Indianapolis, and the city plays host to numerous conventions and sporting events. Of these, perhaps the most well known is the annual Indianapolis 500 mile race. Other major sporting events include the Brickyard 400 (formerly the "Allstate 400 at the Brickyard") and the Men's and Women's NCAA Basketball Tournaments. To discover more about this amazing city, please visit their official website at: http://www.indy.gov.

History

The following information on Indianapolis’ history has been directly sourced from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Indianapolis. To discover more on Indianapolis’ rich history, please click on the link provided above.

Indianapolis was founded as the site for the new state capital in 1820 by an act of the Indiana General Assembly. Prior to its official founding, Indianapolis was a swampy area called the Fall Creek Settlement sparsely settled by fur traders. The first European American settler is generally believed to be George Pogue, who on March 2, 1819, settled in a double log cabin along the creek now called Pogue's Run. However, as early as 1822, it was argued that John Wesley McCormick was the first European American settler when he built a cabin along the White River in 1820 at the site of what is now the White River State Park in downtown Indianapolis. The state capital was moved from Corydon on January 10, 1825 and the state commissioned Alexander Ralston and Elias Pym Fordham to design the new capital city. Ralston was an apprentice to the French architect Pierre L'Enfant, and he helped L'Enfant plan Washington, DC. Ralston's original plan for Indianapolis called for a city of only 1-square-mile (2.6 km2). Under Ralston's plan, at the center of the city was placed the Governor's Circle, a large circular commons, which was to be the site of the Governor's mansion. It was used as a market commons for over six years. Although an expensive Governor's mansion was finally constructed in 1827, no Governor ever lived in the house at Governor's Circle, as the site in the city center lacked any privacy. The Governor's mansion was finally demolished in 1857. (See History of Indianapolis and Marion County Indiana by B.R. Sulgrove, 1884). Later, Governor's Circle became Monument Circle after the impressive 284-foot-tall (86.5-meter-tall) neoclassical limestone and bronze Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, designed by German architect Bruno Schmitz, was completed on the site in 1901.

Parks & Recreation

The following information on Indianapolis’ parks and recreation has been directly sourced from: http://www.indy.gov/EGOV/CITY/DPR/PARKS/Pages/parks.aspx. To learn more about the wonderful parks and recreation available in Indianapolis, please click on the link provided above.

Indy Parks and Recreation currently has three Bark Parks, or Canine Companion Zones, at Broad Ripple Park, Eagle Creek Park and Paul Ruster Park where owners and their four-legged friends can enjoy the company of others, off leash.

Indy Parks has six regional parks that provide natural settings and a sense of remoteness from urban life. Regional parks feature scenic views, lakes, rivers or ponds, and cultural amenities. It is our goal to preserve these unique landscapes and open spaces in and around Indianapolis so residents may enjoy them for many years to come. Community parks are the second-largest parks within Indy Parks. Amenities include family centers, nature centers, sports facilities and more! If you are looking to take a dance class, enroll in swim lessons, or want a place to play a weekend game of baseball, check out a community park. Indy Parks has added six recreation, arts and nature centers throughout Marion County. In addition to sports, environmental education and the arts, several of these facilities also offer afterschool programs with mentoring and tutoring guidance.

Indy Parks and Recreation offers amenities as diverse as the community we serve. From ice skating to swimming, there is always something to see and do in a park, recreation facility or pool each and every day.

Attractions

The following information on Indianapolis’ attractions has been directly sourced from:
http://visitindy.com/indianapolis/web/jsp/whattodo/results.jsp?c=attractionsmuseums:attractions&m=v&p=1. To discover more about Indianapolis’ numerous attractions, please click on the link provided above.

Athenaeum
The historic Athenaeum is a 114-year-old German American Community Center--a significant architectural (German Romanesque - 1894, German Renaissance Revival - 1898) landmark listed three times on the National Register of Historic Places.

Jillian's
Jillian's is a three-floor food and entertainment megaplex featuring a full-service casual restaurant, the Video Cafe with over 30 giant screen TVs and menu specializing in classic American favorites

IMAX theatre
Indiana's first IMAX theatre experience where sound and images are larger than life