Butler-Tarkington, Indianapolis
Encyclopedia
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 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, one-third of the residents are African-American. The community continues to be seen as an example of successful neighborhood integration.
The neighborhood consists mainly of working to upper-middle-class households, with wealthier households 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.
and the famous writer Booth Tarkington
. The University has its campus in the neighborhood at 46th St and Sunset Blvd, and Tarkington 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 acres (1.2 km²) Fairview Park. The first school to come to the neighborhood was IPS School 43, which opened in the village of Mapleton in 1883. The school moved into its present building at 150 West 40th Street in 1909. IPS school 86 was built in 1928 at 49th Street and Boulevard Place, and is currently the International School of Indiana
. In 1939 St. Thomas Aquinas opened its school (which serves kindergarten through eighth grade) at 4600 North Illinois Street. 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
. Also, the Butler University Police Department
is the primary responder to 911 calls in the Butler–Tarkington neighborhood.
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
with the following borders: 38th Street and Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery, located at 700 West 38th Street in Indianapolis, is the third largest non-governmental cemetery in the United States at . It contains of paved road, over 150 species of trees and plants, over 185,000 graves, and services roughly 1,500 burials per year. It sits on the highest...
to the south, the Central Canal and Westfield Boulevard to the north, Michigan Road to the west, and Meridian Street
Meridian Street (Indianapolis)
Meridian Street is the primary north-south street in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States.Meridian Street was formerly aligned with US 31 for much of its length in the city of Indianapolis, before being re-routed to a segment of Interstate 465. The street delineates east addresses from west...
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 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, one-third of the residents are African-American. The community continues to be seen as an example of successful neighborhood integration.
The neighborhood consists mainly of working to upper-middle-class households, with wealthier households 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.
Education
The neighborhood's name comes from Butler UniversityButler University
Butler University is a private university located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university offers 60 degree programs to 4,400 students through six colleges: business, communication, education, liberal Arts and sciences, pharmacy and health...
and the famous writer Booth Tarkington
Booth Tarkington
Booth Tarkington was an American novelist and dramatist best known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning novels The Magnificent Ambersons and Alice Adams...
. The University has its campus in the neighborhood at 46th St and Sunset Blvd, and Tarkington lived in the neighborhood for 23 years in his country estate until his death in 1946. Butler University
Butler University
Butler University is a private university located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university offers 60 degree programs to 4,400 students through six colleges: business, communication, education, liberal Arts and sciences, pharmacy and health...
moved from Irvington
Irvington
- Places :United States :* Irvington, Alabama, an unincorporated community in Mobile County, Alabama* Irvington, Illinois, a village in Washington County, Illinois...
on the city's Far East Side to the Butler–Tarkington neighborhood in 1928 when it acquired what had been the community's 300 acres (1.2 km²) Fairview Park. The first school to come to the neighborhood was IPS School 43, which opened in the village of Mapleton in 1883. The school moved into its present building at 150 West 40th Street in 1909. IPS school 86 was built in 1928 at 49th Street and Boulevard Place, and is currently the International School of Indiana
International School of Indiana
The International School of Indiana is an independent school in Indianapolis, Indiana.-History:The mission of the International School of Indiana is to excel in providing a multilingual and multicultural education through a distinctive, internationally acclaimed International Baccalaureate ...
. In 1939 St. Thomas Aquinas opened its school (which serves kindergarten through eighth grade) at 4600 North Illinois Street. The Christian Theological Seminary
Christian Theological Seminary
Christian Theological Seminary is an ecumenical seminary related to the Christian Church . It is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and provides eight degree-level education courses...
was formed as an independent educational institution from Butler University in 1958, and in 1966 it opened its own campus next to Butler University
Butler University
Butler University is a private university located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Founded in 1855 and named after founder Ovid Butler, the university offers 60 degree programs to 4,400 students through six colleges: business, communication, education, liberal Arts and sciences, pharmacy and health...
. Also, the Butler University Police Department
Butler University Police Department
The Butler University Police Department is the primary law enforcement entity for the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, as well as the town of Rocky Ripple and the Butler-Tarkington neighborhood in Indianapolis. The current chief is Benjamin Hunter.- Patrols :BUPD has 3 types of...
is the primary responder to 911 calls in the Butler–Tarkington neighborhood.