South Bend, Indiana
Encyclopedia : S : SO : SOU : South Bend, Indiana
South Bend (IPA: [saʊθ bɛnd]) is a city in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 107,789 and 316,663 in metro. It is the fourth largest city in Indiana. The city is the county seat of St. Joseph County[Geographic references#6GR6]. It is the economic and cultural hub of the region commonly known as Michiana. While being located in Northern Indiana, South Bend takes its name from its location, at the south bend of the St. Joseph River.
Geography
South Bend is located at (41.672597, -86.255157)[Geographic references#1GR1]. It consists mainly of flat land, with some rolling hills.According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 101.3 km² (39.1 mi²). 100.2 km² (38.7 mi²) of it is land and 1.1 km² (0.4 mi²) of it (1.10%) is water.
Climate
South Bend is located approximately 25 miles from Lake Michigan which has some effect on the climate, including lake effect snow in winter and moderating the temperature in summer. Like most areas in the Midwest, extreme cold and heat can occur. Variance in weather is fairly common. For example, on February 11, 1999 the temperature reached 72°F (22 °C), when the average high temperature is normally 34°F (1 °C)
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high °F (°C) | 31 (-1) | 34 (1) | 45 (7) | 59 (15) | 70 (21) | 80 (27) | 83 (28) | 81 (27) | 74 (23) | 63 (17) | 48 (9) | 36 (2) | 50 (10) |
| Avg low °F (°C) | 17 (-8) | 19 (-7) | 28 (-2) | 38 (3) | 48 (9) | 58 (14) | 63 (17) | 61 (16) | 54 (12) | 43 (6) | 33 (1) | 22 (-6) | 40 (4) |
| Rainfall in. (mm) | 2.4 (61) | 2.0 (51) | 2.9 (74) | 3.7 (94) | 3.1 (79) | 4.0 (102) | 3.8 (97) | 3.7 (94) | 3.5 (89) | 3.3 (64) | 3.2 (82) | 3.0 (76) | 38.4 (965) |
History
South Bend was initially laid out in 1831 as the county seat and as one of the four original townships of St. Joseph County. Around 128 people lived in the area at the time, mostly fur traders, merchants, and innkeepers. South Bend was organized as a town in 1835 and was incorporated as a city in 1865.During the late 1830s through the 1850s, much of South Bend's development centered around the industrial complex of factories located on the two races (man-made canals along the St. Joseph River in South Bend). Of the two, only the East Race (now converted to an artificial whitewater course) remains as a visible reminder of the past.
The other, the West Race, was purchased in 1903 by the Oliver Chilled Plow Company and utilized to produce power for numerous structures throughout South Bend. Currently only parts of this plant and dam remain, as the Century Center Hotel and business complex converted it into a tourism and business venture.
On October 4, 1851, the first steam locomotive entered South Bend (and nearby Mishawaka, Indiana). This led to great interest in the possibility of transportation throughout South Bend by locomotives, and in 1882 the South Bend Street Railway Company attempted the first service of electrified streetcars anywhere in the world. Initially a failure, electric current problems were fixed in late 1882 to connect Mishawaka and South Bend.
These industrial connections and developments soon led the brothers Studebaker to take up shop in the city of South Bend. Founded by Henry and Clem Studebaker (and later funded and joined by J.M. Studebaker), the Studebaker Manufacturing Company was one of a handful of wagon making companies in the world to successfully transfer their business from the building of wagons to the building of automobiles. Being a major automobile manufacturing company, it often outsold in terms of numbers the Ford Motor Company in the first few decades of the 20th century.
Their connection with South Bend industry was massive, leaving a permanent imprint on the skyline of western South Bend. However, due to economic difficulties, the Studebaker Company closed its automotive manufacturing plants in South Bend in December of 1963 (leading to a general decline in the industrial sector of South Bend for decades to come).
Other companies involved in the development of South Bend include the Oliver Chilled Plow Works Company, the Birdsell Manufacturing Company, the Bendix Corporation, Honeywell, AlliedSignal, the Robert Bosch GmbH, the Singer Sewing Machine Company, the O'Brien Paint Corp. and the South Bend Toy Company.
People and culture
Demographics
As of the census[Geographic references#2GR2] of 2000, there were 107,789 people, 42,908 households, and 25,959 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,075.9/km² (2,786.4/mi²). There were 46,349 housing units at an average density of 462.7/km² (1,198.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 66.05% White, 24.61% African American, 0.41% Native American, 1.20% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 4.87% from other races, and 2.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.45% of the population.
There were 42,908 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 17.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 18.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,439, and the median income for a family was $39,046. Males had a median income of $31,958 versus $23,744 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,121. About 13.6% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.0% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.
Museums, arts and entertainment
The South Bend Regional Museum of Art is located in the Century Center in downtown South Bend. The Museum was opened to the public in March of 1996, and features a variety of artists from South Bend and the Michiana region. Currently, over 850 works are featured in the permanent collection. The museum also offers several classes and workshops for adults and children.
Copshaholm is one of the central features of the Northern Indiana Center for History. The 38 room mansion built in 1895 and is currently listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The history museum is composed of several buildings on its campus. It includes areas dedicated to the history of the St. Joseph River Valley, the University of Notre Dame, the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, and the Kidsfirst Children's Museum.[link]
The Studebaker National Museum is a large collection of wagons and automobiles from the 150 year production history of the Studebaker company. The museum began as a collection of wagons and automobiles produced by Studebaker, including the Presidential carriages of Lincoln, McKinley, Harrison and Grant. The company donated the collection to the city of South Bend in 1966. The collection was housed in various locations from the Century Center to its current location in downtown South Bend adjacent to the Northern Indiana Center for History. The two museums share one campus, and together form The Museums at Washington and Chapin. [link]
South Bend is also home to the Morris Performing Arts Center. The center was built in 1922 and included The Palace Theater which featured vaudeville acts. The theatre saw its heyday in 1940 with the premiere of Knute Rockne, All American which starred Ronald Reagan. A crowd estimated at 24,000 gathered outside the event. The theater was scheduled for demolition in 1959, when E.M. Morris purchased the facility and sold it to the city for one dollar. The Palace was then renamed the Morris Civic Auditorium. A total renovation was completed in 2000. The Morris Performing Arts Center also includes the Palais Royale Ballroom, on which restoration was recently complete. The center serves as home to the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Broadway Theater League.
Sports
The University of Notre Dame's Fighting Irish provide much of the sports action for South Bend. Football Saturdays have become a major event for the city, attracting fans who want to see the games and tailgate. Notre Dame basketball games are also popular, along with the other sports at Notre Dame. Thanks in large part to Notre Dame, the College Football Hall of Fame was moved from Kings Mill, Ohio to downtown South Bend in 1995.
South Bend is home to the South Bend Silver Hawks, a class A Minor League Baseball team. The Silver Hawks play at Coveleski Stadium in downtown South Bend. In 2005 the franchise nearly moved to Marion, Illinois. Former South Bend Mayor Joe Kernan and Indiana Governor bought the Silver Hawks, keeping the team in South Bend indefinitely.
The South Bend Motor Speedway was constructed from 1944-1946 on South Bend's west side. The speedway features a 1/4 mile track. Currently there are weekly races of Sportsman Late Models, Mini-stock cars and Thunder Cars, along with other events including concerts, car shows, and swap meets.[link]
The city is home to the first of the few artificial white water courses in the United States. In 1984 the abandoned East Race canal of the St. Joseph River was converted into North America's first artificial whitewater waterway [link]. Through the use of movable barriers and obstacles the East Race provides a configurable whitewater course for recreational and competitive canoing, kayaking and rafting.
Other points of interest
South Bend is home to the Century Center, a large convention center downtown that hosts many business, public, and private functions. Schuyler Colfax, the 17th Vice President of the United States, is interred in the city cemetery.South Bend has been revitalized in recent years as a financial center of the Michiana area. South Bend is the center of its immediate metropolitan area, with suburbs of Mishawaka, Granger, Osceola, Roseland, Ardmore, Gilmer Park and Niles, MI.
The Potawatomi Zoo opened in 1902. Potawatomi is the oldest zoo in Indiana, and features over 400 animals in its 23 acres. The zoo is run by the South Bend Parks and Recreation Department which maintains a variety of parks and facilities for the city.
Other points of interest include:
- College Football Hall of Fame
- [Morris Performing Arts Center]
- South Bend Conservatory
- University of Notre Dame
- Studebaker National Museum
- [Northern Indiana Center for History]
- [South Bend Parks and Recreation Department]
Education
Higher education
South Bend is home to several institutions of higher learning, the most famous of which is the University of Notre Dame. Notre Dame is adjacent to the north end of South Bend, occupying its own ZIP code (46556). Notre Dame was formed in 1842 before South Bend was incorporated as a city, and has been an intrinsic part of the city with great effect on culture and the economy.
Other universities include:
- Saint Mary's College (Indiana)
- Holy Cross College (Indiana)
- Indiana University South Bend
- Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana North Central
- Brown Mackie College South Bend
- Purdue University College of Technology at South Bend/Elkhart
- Tri State University South Bend Campus
- Indiana Christian University
K-12
Public schools in South Bend are operated by the South Bend Community School Corporation. The corporation runs 17 primary centers (K-4), nine intermediate centers (5-8), and four high schools, serving over 22,000 students as of 2006.Most private schools are operated by the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese.
Media
Printed media
One major newspaper serves the South Bend Metro area, the South Bend Tribune. It is distributed throughout the Michiana region and publishes five editions including a Metro edition, Michigan edition, Marshall edition, Penn-Harris-Madison East edition, and a Mishawaka edition.
Radio
South Bend has a wide variety of local radio broadcast available in the area. Stations' programming content contains a wide variety including public radio, classical, religious, country, and urban contemporary among others. For more information, see List of Radio Stations in South Bend, Indiana.
Television
According to Nielsen Media Research, South Bend-Elkhart is the 87th largest television market in the United States [link].Most major television networks have affiliates in South Bend. WNDU-TV (NBC), WSBT-TV (CBS), and WSJV (FOX) all have local news teams. WBND is the ABC affiliate while WNIT is a PBS station serving Elkhart, Indiana as well as South Bend. WHME-TV is a part of LeSEA Broadcasting a Christian television network. See List of Television Channels in South Bend, Indiana.
Transportation
Local transportation
South Bend's location around the St. Joseph River has influenced the development of its streets. While it mainly follows a grid layout, development around the river led to roads adapted to follow the river. South Bend is connected to state and national highway systems by Indiana 2, 23, 933, US 20, 31 and by Interstate 80 & 90. Original routes of both the Lincoln Highway and the Dixie Highway also pass through South Bend.
For transportation around the South Bend metro area, the St. Joseph Valley Parkway was constructed between 1960 and 1990. The road connects Benton Harbor, Michigan, South Bend, Mishawaka, and Elkhart. While segments are designated as US 20, US 31 and Indiana 331, it is simply referred to locally as "The bypass". [link]
The Indiana Toll Road (I-80 & 90) passes through northern Indiana, including South Bend and its nearby communities of Mishawaka, Roseland and Granger.
Public transportation in South Bend is controlled by Transpo, (South Bend Public Transportation Company). Transpo operates bus routes between South Bend and Mishawaka, Monday through Saturday. Transpo routes cover 183 miles with over 60 vehicles [link]. In 2006, the Transpo fleet switched to Bio-diesel fuel.
Regional transportation
South Bend serves as the transportation hub for Michiana. The South Bend Regional Airport lies off of US 31 and Indiana Toll Road in the Northwest corner of South Bend. The airport connects South Bend to larger hubs including Cleveland, Detroit, Minneapolis, Chicago, Las Vegas, Orlando, Cincinnati, and Atlanta. Over 1,000,000 passengers are served annually making it the second busiest airport in Indiana. As of 2006, land acquisition is underway for 200 acres of development. [link]
The electric commuter railroad South Shore Line connects South Bend's South Bend Regional Airport to the Randolph Street Terminal in downtown Chicago, Illinois. Due to increased ridership between Chicago and South Bend in 2005 more cars are being added. In 2008 the South Shore will be celebrating its centennial anniversary. Planning for festivities are already underway and will take place at the South Bend Regional Airport. [link]
Two Amtrak trains make daily stops at South Bend - the Capitol Limited and the Lake Shore Limited.
A bus line connects from Notre Dame and the airport to Chicago O'Hare Airport, with several northwest Indiana stops.
Famous residents
Sister Cities
- Czestochowa, Poland
- Arzberg, Germany
External links
- [City of South Bend]
- [City of South Bend Police Department]
- [Century Center]
- [Downtown South Bend]
- [South Bend Tribune]
- [WNDU News Channel 16]
- [Michiana Shopper Newspaper]
- [The Morris Performing Arts Center]
- [The Broadway Theatre League]
- [The South Bend Civic Theatre]
- [SouthBendForum.com Local news and discussion forums]
- [GMap with stats and info for South Bend Schools]
- [St. Joseph County Public Library]
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