Danville, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Danville is a town in Center Township
Center Township, Hendricks County, Indiana
Center Township is one of twelve townships in Hendricks County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2010 census, its population was 12,167.-Geography:Center Township covers an area of ; of this, or 0.24 percent is water...

, Hendricks County
Hendricks County, Indiana
- Towns :*Amo*Avon*Brownsburg*Clayton*Coatesville*Danville*Lizton*North Salem*Pittsboro*Plainfield*Stilesville-Townships:*Brown*Center*Clay*Eel River*Franklin*Guilford*Liberty*Lincoln*Marion*Middle*Union*Washington-Further reading:...

, Indiana, United States. The population was 9,001
at the 2010 census. The town is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....

 of Hendricks County
Hendricks County, Indiana
- Towns :*Amo*Avon*Brownsburg*Clayton*Coatesville*Danville*Lizton*North Salem*Pittsboro*Plainfield*Stilesville-Townships:*Brown*Center*Clay*Eel River*Franklin*Guilford*Liberty*Lincoln*Marion*Middle*Union*Washington-Further reading:...

.

History

Danville was founded in 1827 and was the home of Central Indiana Normal College from 1878 to 1951 (it existed under the name Canterbury College from 1946 to 1951). CNC was one of the nation's early "normal" schools, which specialized in training teachers. Tuition in 1900 was $19 for two terms. Canterbury College closed in 1951 after graduating more than 75,000 teachers. The Danville Middle School used to be on the site of the former college, and utilized part of the original campus, Hargrave Hall. It's now being used as the Town Hall and houses the offices of the Town Manager, Building/Planning, Clerk Treasurer, Utility Billing/Collections, and Police Department.

Hendricks County Historical Museum

The Hendricks County Historical Museum is located in the former Sheriff's Residence and Jail at 170 South Washington in Danville. The building was erected in 1866 and served as the county jail until 1974. The two-story brick structure, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...

, is the only surviving example of the Second Empire style of architecture in the county. This style was popular after the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

 and has as defining elements a central tower and mansard roof. The Museum's collection includes items relating to domestic life, agriculture, military history, education and other aspects of our county's heritage. It also includes items relating to the history of Indiana Central Normal College (later Canterbury College
Canterbury College (Indiana)
Canterbury College, formerly Central Normal College, was a private institution founded in the state of Indiana, United States, in 1876 as part of the larger state-wide university system. The school was located in Ladoga, Indiana, but was moved to Danville, Indiana in 1878 after purchasing the...

), which was located in Danville from 1878 until 1951.

Geography

Danville is located at 39°45′39"N 86°31′4"W (39.760736, −86.517798).

According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...

, the town has a total area of 6.1 square miles (15.9 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,032 people, 2,350 households, and 1,670 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,047.7 people per square mile (404.2/km²). There were 2,506 housing units at an average density of 409.1 per square mile (157.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.38% White, 0.34% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.06% of the population.

There were 2,350 households out of which 37.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $54,330, and the median income for a family was $62,813. Males had a median income of $40,724 versus $26,678 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,209. About 2.1% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.3% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Danville Community School Corporation
Danville Community School Corporation
Located in Danville, Indiana the Danville Community School Corporation consists of North Elementary , South Elementary , Danville Community Middle School , and Danville Community High School .The high school's mascot is the Warrior.-External links:*...

, the school district which serves Danville, operates Danville Community High School
Danville Community High School
Danville Community High School is a public high school located in Danville, Indiana, United States just off U.S. Route 36. The school nickname is the Warriors, and the school colors are crimson and gray. DCHS currently enrolls students from grades nine through twelve and consistently scores above...

, a secondary school (grades 9 through 12) located just off of U.S. Route 36
U.S. Route 36
U.S. Route 36 is an east–west United States highway that runs for from Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado to Uhrichsville, Ohio. The highway's western terminus is at Deer Ridge Junction, an intersection in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, where it meets U.S. Route 34. Its eastern...

. The mascot of Danville Community Schools is a Warrior in American Indian clothing. The school colors are crimson and gray. Other facilities operated by the school corporation are
  • Danville Middle School
  • South Elementary School
  • North Elementary School
  • Opportunity House

Parks and recreation

The first assemblance of the town park came in 1913 when 49 acres (19.8 ha) were set aside to safeguard the wells that provided Danville resident's water supply. By 1971 the park was well established and was renamed Ellis Park after Harve Ellis, who served as the park superintendent for 40 years.

Today the Danville Park and Recreation Department is made up of two parks totaling 102.8 acres (41.6 ha) and an additional recreational facility in another part of town that totals 200 acres (80.9 ha). The whole system boasts 302.8 acres (122.5 ha).

Ellis Park

Ellis Park is located at 600 East Main Street near downtown Danville and is just over 49 acres (19.8 ha). The park has woods and trails but consists mainly of recreational areas. It offers basketball, football, baseball/softball, clay-court tennis, swimming, volleyball, picnicking, playgrounds, an amphitheater, shelter houses and a gazebo. Programs offered in the park include tennis, arts, softball, swimming, and an annual summer park program. It holds a Chrismas Light show called Winter Wonderland and a Haunted House.

Blanton Woods Nature Park

Longtime Danville resident Jeanette Blanton donated 53 acres (21.4 ha) of her woodland property on North Washington Street to the town of Danville in 1993. She requested that the land be used for nature study, so the property remains relatively unchanged other than improvements to the trails and minimal signage. The property includes upland forest, open meadows, and a lower floodplain. After Blanton's passing in 2000 the town purchased her home and 20 more acres (20 acres (8.1 ha)) adjoining the original donated land. The house, known as the Blanton House and Conference and Retreat Center, is available to rent for weddings, retreats, meetings, and parties. In 2003, the park department bought land to join Blanton Woods and Ellis Park off of Columbia Street and erected a bridge over White Lick Creek.

Twin Bridges Recycling and Disposal Facility

The Twin Bridges Recycling and Disposal Facility was established with the help of Waste Management, Inc. after their donation of 490 acres (198.3 ha). Two hundred acres (200 acres (80.9 ha)) are currently available to the town and are being used for recreational activities including soccer fields, baseball/softball diamonds, trails, shelter houses and open space. The facility is located south of the Penn Central Railroad crossing between County Road 150 East and Cartersburg Road.

Notable natives

  • John Cravens
    John Cravens
    John W. Cravens was Registar of Indiana University from 1895 to 1936. He served Indiana University for forty-one years; until John Cravens, no man had served Indiana University for so long. He died in 1937 and his funeral was held in the Indiana Memorial Union at Indiana University...

     – Registrar of Indiana University 1895–1936
  • Sam Thompson
    Sam Thompson
    Samuel Luther Thompson was a 19th century Major League Baseball player. "Big Sam" was known for his offensive production and was second on the career home runs list at the time of his retirement...

    – nineteenth century baseball player

External links

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