Noblesville, Indiana

Noblesville is a city in and the county seat of Hamilton County, Indiana, United States, located just north of Indianapolis. The population was 51,969 at the 2010 census making it the 11th largest city/town in the state, up from 19th in 2007. The city is part of Delaware, Fall Creek, Noblesville, and Wayne townships.

Noblesville is also home to the Verizon Wireless Music Center, an outdoor music venue, and the Indiana Transportation Museum.

History
Noblesville's history dates back to 1818 when the land, which is now Hamilton County, was purchased by the government from Indians native to this area. William Conner, the only settler living in the area at the time, and his wife, a Delaware Indian, established the first trading post in central Indiana in 1802 and lived in the first log cabin in the area. William Conner and Josiah Polk laid out what is now downtown Noblesville in 1823, which was designated as the Hamilton County seat in 1824 and in corporated in 1851. Conner's 1823 home is now one of a village of historic buildings making up Conner Prairie Pioneer Settlement, a living history museum south of Noblesville in Fishers.

Noblesville was named either for James Noble, a state senator, or according to legend, for Lavinia Noble of Indianapolis, to whom Josiah was engaged. The Peru and Indianapolis Railroad was completed through town in 1851, strengthening the town economically and causing the population to increase. These two stories are the most likely namesakes for the city, but another local rumor says that perhaps a great woman named Kate O'linn once visited the town. The town was so impacted by her noble composure and lifestyle, they immediately changed the name of the city in her honor. This is just a rumor, but many of the older members (a.k.a. most trustworthy) swear by it.

The city's first large growth boom came in 1888 with the discovery of Noblesville's first natural gas well near 11th and Pleasant streets. Many Victorian homes, as well as the vast majority of the Downtown Commercial District, were built during this time of prosperity. The city's second large growth was particularly recent increasing its population from 28,590 in 2000 to 51,969 in 2010. This growth echos the increase in population of much of southern Hamilton County as a preferable place for people to live who enjoy a close proximity to the Indianapolis area.

Just as the rest of Indiana Noblesville has some remnants of the past that are not exactly attractive but important historically nonetheless. In 1995, a large trunk was discovered in an abandoned barn. The trunk contained over 1,000 membership cards and dues receipts revealing the names of citizens of the local chapter of the Invisible Empire of the Ku Klux Klan, as well as hoods, sashes and other equipment, according to Allen Safianow, professor of history at Indiana University's Kokomo campus.

In the lead article in the June issue of the Indiana Magazine of History, Safianow describes in detail the effects of the discovery. They ranged from calls for public disclosure of the names to comments that the finder of the trunk, a local building contractor named Don Roberts, should have burned its contents and kept his discovery secret. Instead, Roberts donated all of the Klan materials to the Hamilton County Historical Society, where they are preserved as a valuable resource for those seeking a better understanding of the Klan's operations in Indiana.

"You can't burn history," Roberts said later in explaining his decision. "That's what is wrong today. Too many people are trying to bury history, and history is history. You may have liked to change it, but it's gone, it's behind us."

Despite the strong KKK presence in Noblesville from the 1910s through 1930s, the Noblesville courthouse was the site of the 1925 trial of Ku Klux Klan Grand Dragon D. C. Stephenson, leader of the Indiana Klan, who kidnapped and raped an Indianapolis Statehouse secretary. He was found guilty and given the maximum prison sentence. Upon realizing his political allies would not come to his aid, he started revealing everyone's dirty laundry. The scandal resulted in the indictment of many Indiana politicians, including Governor Ed Jackson.

Architecture
The centerpiece of downtown Noblesville is the Courthouse Square, the location of the Hamilton County Courthouse (completed in 1879) and the Hamilton County Sheriff's Residence and Jail (constructed in 1876). Both buildings are fabulous examples of the Second Empire style featuring mansard roofs. There are also several sites and buildings in Noblesville that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places including the Hamilton County Courthouse Square, the Catherine Street Historic District, Conner Street Historic District, William Houston Craig House, Daniel Craycraft House, Holliday Hydroelectric Powerhouse and Dam, Noblesville Commercial Historic District and the Noblesville Milling Company Mill.

Geography
Noblesville is located at °N, °W (40.049935, -86.021462).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.1 square miles (49.4 km²), of which, 17.9 square miles (46.4 km²) of it is land and 1.1 square miles (3.0 km²) of it (6.03%) is water.

Noblesville is known as the middle of the Corn Belt. According to the 2000 U.S. Census the mean population of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and Iowa can be found in Noblesville. Whether Noblesville retains this distinction remains to be seen. Reduced employment and emigration from the Detroit region may shift the population towards Bloomington, IL.

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 51,969 people and 17,915 households in the city. The population density was 1,624 people per square mile (627.6/km²). There were 17,915 housing units at an average density of 559.8 per square mile (216.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.07% White, 2.15% African American, 0.25% Native American, 1.28% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.93% from other races, and 1.33% from two or more races.

There were 17,915 households out of which 40.97% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 18.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the city, the population was spread out with 28.6% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.32 years. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $73,395, and the median per capita income was $33,732. Approximately 45.22% of the population has a higher education degree with over 87.3% of the population at least having a high school diploma or GED. The median housing value is $171,272 with a total of 17,915 housing units.

Tourism
There are many recreational amenities in Noblesville including 7 public and private golf courses, the Belfry Theater, Downtown Noblesville shopping and historic siteseeing, the vast public park system including Forest Park and Dr. James A Dillon Park, the Hamilton County Artist Association Birdie Gallery, Hamilton Town Center, the Indiana Transportation Museum, Morse Park & Beach, Verizon Wireless Music Center and the White River Canoe Company.

Notable natives and residents

 * David Boudia, Olympic diver
 * Bryan Clauson, NASCAR driver
 * Conor Daly Race Car Driver
 * Derek Daly, F1, Indy 500 author, driver
 * William Dudley Pelley, leader of the Christian Party and fascist Silver Legion
 * Ashley Prange, professional golfer and winner of The Big Break
 * Roger Stern Superman Comic Book Writer: Death of Superman
 * Rex Stout, creator of Nero Wolfe, the popular detective series
 * Steve Wariner, country music singer and songwriter
 * Billy Wease, NASCAR driver
 * Wes Whisler Selected by Chicago White Sox in 2nd Round (53rd overall) of 2004 amateur entry draft

Schools
Most Noblesville students attend Noblesville Schools while some attend Hamilton Southeastern Schools and Hamilton Heights Schools.


 * Noblesville High School Main Campus [10-12]
 * Noblesville High School Freshman Campus [9]
 * Noblesville Middle School [7-8]
 * Noblesville Intermediate School [5-6]
 * Durbin Elementary [K-4] (Hamilton Southeastern Schools)
 * Forest Hill Elementary [K-4]
 * Hazel Dell Elementary [K-4]
 * Hinkle Creek Elementary [K-4]
 * Noble Crossing Elementary [K-4]
 * North Elementary [K-4]
 * Stony Creek Elementary [K-4]
 * White River Elementary [K-4]
 * Our Lady of Grace School [K-8] (private)
 * St. Theodore Guerin High School [9-12] (private)