New Haven is a city in Jefferson and Adams townships, Allen County, Indiana, United States. It is a suburb of Fort Wayne situated mostly along the southern banks of the Maumee River. The population was 12,406 at the 2000 census.
History
New Haven's history has been shaped significantly by transportation. It was located along the Wabash and Erie Canal. The historic Gronauer Lock of the canal was unearthed during construction of Interstate 469 in the late-1980s, and is now on display at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis. Later, the city was served by the Wabash and Nickel Plate Railroads. Norfolk Southern Railway maintains a significant operation in New Haven today. The city is now served by U.S. 24 and U.S. 30 (the historic Lincoln Highway), as well as Interstate 469.
The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society operates east of New Haven on Edgerton Road. The society has restored a Nickel Plate USRA Light Mikado and restored the Craigville Depot, which are housed at the New Haven site.
New Haven was platted by Henry Burgess, and was incorporated as a town under Indiana law in 1865. It became incorporated as a city in 1963. Several homes built by the Burgess family remain in New Haven. A Burgess home on Summit Street is the oldest brick structure in Jefferson Township. Henry Burgess' son-in-law, E.W. Green built a large frame Greek Revival house on the hill above what is now Central Lutheran School. Another Burgess structure remains at the corner of Summit and Eben Streets.
The historic French settlement of Besancon is on the eastern edge of New Haven along the Lincoln Highway. Saint Louis Catholic Church at Besancon is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
Until the summer of 2002, New Haven was headquarters for a weekly newspaper, Allen County Times, published by Ron Oetting. The newspaper covered news of New Haven and other eastern Allen County communities including Grabill, Harlan, Leo-Cedarville, and Monroeville.
Geography
New Haven is located at 41°4′4″N, 85°1′17″W (41.067648, -85.021480)[3].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.2 square miles (21.1 km²), all of it land.
New Haven was the westernmost point of prehistoric glacial Lake Maumee which was an extension of Lake Erie. The bed of Lake Maumee then became the Great Black Swamp, which covered an area between New Haven and present-day Toledo, Ohio. The route of the old Lincoln Highway east of New Haven follows the southern lakebank of glacial Lake Maumee, a notable geological feature.
Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 12,406 people, 4,900 households, and 3,415 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,522.0 people per square mile (587.7/km²). There were 5,141 housing units at an average density of 630.7/sq mi (243.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.03% White, 0.67% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.95% of the population.
There were 4,900 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $41,802, and the median income for a family was $49,597. Males had a median income of $36,370 versus $25,280 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,960. About 4.9% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
Government
New Haven is governed by Mayor-council government. The present Mayor is Republican Terry McDonald. Mayor McDonald was originally elected as a Democrat. Past mayors include Republican Walter Krueck, Republican Herbert Brudi, Republican Terry Werling, Democrat Eugene Taylor, and Republican Lynn Shaw. Judge Geoff Robison is the New Haven city judge.
Schools
New Haven is in the East Allen County Schools District (EACS). EACS offices are headquarted in New Haven, operating a high school, a middle school, and three elementary schools within the district. New Haven is also served by one Catholic school, Saint John the Baptist Catholic School, and one Lutheran school, Central Lutheran School.
Economy
New Haven is surrounded by an abundance of fertile soil, making agriculture the largest visible economic asset. Corporate headquarters of Do It Best hardware stores is located in New Haven, along with Central States Grain, a large soybean and grain processor, has its operational headquarters in New Haven. The oldest business in New Haven is the E. Harper & Son Funeral Home, Inc. It has been under the sole and continuous direction of the Harper family since 1889 and its predecessors date to 1872. O'Neal Steel, Inc., the country's sixth largest steel center, operates a New Haven branch.
Notable natives and former residents
Athletes
- Pinky Hargrave, former player for MLB Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns, Detroit Tigers, and Boston Braves
- Bubbles Hargrave, former player for MLB Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and New York Yankees
- Norm Ellenberger, head coach of the University of New Mexico Lobos, assistant to Indiana University coach Bob Knight, assistant coach of NBA Chicago Bulls
- Dave Doster, former player for MLB Philadelphia Phillies
- Dan Brown, former player for MLB Chicago Cubs
Authors
- Jim Leonard, Jr., playwright and television dramatist
Business leaders and inventors
- Don Wolf, CEO of Do It Best
- Jay Brown, California attorney and former criminal defense counsel with the U.S. Navy; successfully defended hundreds of military sailors and Marines in military courts martials
References
External links
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