Fort Wayne Indiana History Law And Government Executive Mayor

Fort Wayne is a city located in Allen County in northeastern Indiana. As of the 2000 census, as recertified in June 2003, the city had a total population of 220,486. It is named after a U.S. military fort established in 1794Events February 11 1st session of US Senate open to the public. March 14 Eli Whitney is granted a patent for the cotton gin. March 27 The United States Government established a permanent United States Navy and authorized the building of six vessels (in 17 by Gen. Anthony WayneAnthony Wayne ( January 1, 1745 December 15, 1796), was a United States Army general and statesman. Wayne adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his military exploits and fiery personality quickly earned him a pro where the St. Joseph RiverJoseph River is a tributary of the Maumee River, approximately 100 mi (161 km) long, in southern Michigan, northwestern Ohio, and northeastern Indiana in the United States. It drains a primarily rural farming region in the watershed of Lake Erie. It is on and St. Marys RiverMarys River is a tributary of the Maumee River, approximately 100 mi (161 km) long, in western Ohio and eastern Indiana in the United States. It drains a primarily rural farming region in the watershed of Lake Erie. It is formed in southern Auglaize Count join to form the Maumee RiverThe Maumee River begins in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where it is formed by the confluence of the St. Joseph and St. Marys rivers. From there, it meanders through more than 130 river miles of glacial moraine before emptying into Lake Erie at Toledo, Ohio's Maum. The city is the county seatA county seat is a town which is the capital of a county. It is often, but not always, an incorporated municipality. County-wide politics and government are conducted here. The county courthouse and county administration are usually located in the county of Allen County ⁶.

1 History

Historically the site was known as Kekionga, the traditional capital of the Miami nation. In the 1680s, French traders established a trading post at the location because it was the main portage between the Great Lakes via the Maumee River and the Mississippi River via the nearby Little River branch of the Wabash River.

The French built the first fort on the site, Fort Miamis, in 1697 as part of a group of forts built between Quebec and St. Louis. Forts Miamis was replaced by Fort St. Philippe in 1722.

Increasing tension between France and Britain developed over the territory. In 1760, after defeat by British forces in the French and Indian War, the area was ceded to the British Empire. The fort was renamed "Fort Miami."

In 1763, various Native American nations rebelled against British rule and retook the fort as part of Pontiac's Rebellion. The Miami regained control of Kekionga, a rule that lasted for more than 30 years.

In 1794, under the command of General Anthony Wayne, the United States army captured the Wabash-Erie portage from the Miami and built a new fort near the three rivers. Fort Wayne was named for the general.

Eventually, the portage was replaced by a canal in the mid 1800s. Fort Wayne's significance as a waterway portage lost national prominence as the railroad system developed in the United States. For nearly a century it was an important railroad center between New York and Chicago.

Most of the population growth occurred in the 19th century with immigration from Germany and Ireland. The large numbers of Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches reflect this. German-language newspapers were published into the 20th century.

2 Law and government

Fort Wayne has an elected mayor, clerk and city council-style of government.

2.1 Executive - Mayor

Fort Wayne's mayor is Democrat Graham Richard, who has served in the post since January 2000. He was elected to a second term in 2003.

See, List of Fort Wayne, Indiana mayors

2.2 City Clerk

Democrat Sandra Kennedy has been Fort Wayne's city clerk since 1983.

2.3 Representatives - Common Council

The Fort Wayne Common Council is a nine-member legislative group that serve four-year terms. Six of the members represent specific districts; three are elected city-wide as at-large council members. The council elected on November 4, 2003 will serve until December 31, 2007:

John N. Crawford: At-Large, Republican
Samuel J. Talarico, Jr: At-Large, Republican
John Shoaff: At-Large, Democrat
Tom Smith: 1st District, Republican
Donald J. Schmidt: 2nd District, Republican
Tom Didier: 3rd District, Republican
Thomas E. Hayhurst: 4th District, Democrat
Tim Pape: 5th District, Democrat
Glynn A. Hines: 6th District, Democrat

3 Geography

Modern Fort Wayne is set in a productive agricultural area, but has always been an important transportation hub. Founded at the confluence of three rivers, the city was the summit of the Wabash-Erie Canal. Fort Wayne also site at the high point between two Indiana watersheds; hence its nickname, "Summit City."

Current Fort Wayne straddles Interstate 69, and is served by Norfolk Southern, Conrail and CSX rail lines as well as Fort Wayne International Airport and Smith Field regional airport.

3.1 Physical geography

Even for a regional "summit," Fort Wayne is fairly flat. There are some local wetlands and gravel pits. The soil is the deep dark brown earth characteristic of the Midwest.

3.2 Major parks

Fort Wayne's first park, the 0.2 acre (800 m²) Old Fort Park, was established in 1863. The newest park, the 170 acre (690,000 m²) Salomon Farm Park, was established in 1995. As of 2004, the city had 87 parks covering 2,199.55 acres (8.9 km²). Other parks include:

Botanical Conservatory
Bucknet Farm Park
East Swinney
Foster Park
Franke Park, the city's largest at 316.4 acres (1.3 km²), home to the zoo
Freimann Square
Historic Old Fort
Hurshtown Reservoir
Japanese Garden
Johnny Appleseed Park, gravesite of Johnny Appleseed
Lakeside Park
Lindenwood Nature Preserve
Little Turtle Memorial
Shoaff Park

4 Economy

4.1 Major industries

In the mid-20th century, Fort Wayne was a major manufacturing center of the northeastern United States. Major employers included General Electric, International Harvester, and Tokheim gasoline pumps. Phelps Dodge, Rea Wire, and Essex Wire comprised the largest concentration of copper and enamel wire manufacturing in the world. In the latter half of the 20th century, shifts in manufacturing patterns resulted in a reduction of the importance of manufacturing to the city economy, and Fort Wayne could be counted among the relatively stagnant "rust belt" cities of the northeast.

In recent decades growth based on a more diverse economy has resumed.

4.2 Taxes

5 Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 205,727 people, 83,333 households, and 50,666 families residing in the city. There are 90,915 housing units at an average density of 444.6/km² (1,151.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 75.45% White, 17.38% Black or African American, 0.39% Native American, 1.56% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.91% from other races, and 2.26% from two or more races. 5.78% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 83,333 households out of which 31.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.9% are married couples living together, 14.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.2% are non-families. 32.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.41 and the average family size is 3.08.

In the city the population is spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 33 years. For every 100 females there are 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $36,518, and the median income for a family is $45,040. Males have a median income of $34,704 versus $25,062 for females. The per capita income for the city is $18,517. 12.5% of the population and 9.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 17.5% of those under the age of 18 and 7.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

In 2003, the Census Bureau revised the population of Fort Wayne upward to 220,486 to reflect neighborhood annexation after 2000.

6 Media

6.1 Newspapers

Fort Wayne Journal Gazette , daily morning newspaper
Fort Wayne News-Sentinel , daily evening newspaper owned by Knight Ridder
Frost Illustrated , weekly African American newspaper

6.2 Television

Fort Wayne is the 105th-largest television market in the United States according to Nielsen Media Research.

WANE-TV, CBS affiliate, - NTSC channel 15, DT channel 31
WFFT-TV, Fox affiliate - NTSC channel 55, DT channel 36
WFWA-TV, PBS affiliate - NTSC channel 39, DT channel 40
WFWC-CA, Independent - NTSC channel 45, DT channel 45
WINM-TV, TBN affiliate - NTSC channel 63, DT channel 12
WISE-TV, NBC Affiliate - NTSC channel 33, DT channel 19
WPTA-TV, ABC affiliate - NTSC channel 21, DT channel 24

6.3 Radio

WAJI-FM 95.1
WBCL-FM 90.3
WBNI-FM 88.7
WBOI-FM 89.1
WBTU-FM 93.3
WBYR-FM 98.9
WCYT-FM 91.1
WEXI-FM 102.9
WFCV-AM 1090
WFWI-FM 92.3
WGL-AM 1250
WGL-FM 94.1
WGLL-FM 102.3
WGOM-AM 860
WIFF-AM 1570

WJFX-FM 107.9
WJHS-FM 91.5
WKJG-AM 1380
WLAB-FM 88.3
WLDE-FM 101.7
WLYV-AM 1450
WMEE-FM 97.3
WMRI-FM 106.9
WNHT-FM 96.3
WOWO-AM 1190
WPDJ-AM 1300
WSHI-FM 106.3
WQHK-FM 105.1
WVSH-FM 91.9
WXKE-FM 103.9

7 Sites of interest

7.1 Architecture of note

Allen County Courthouse, 700 block of South Clinton Street, government building, by Brentwood S. Tolan, 1897- 1902
Anthony Wayne Bank Building, 203 East Berry Street, commercial high-rise, 1960
Commerce Building, 127 West Berry Street, beux arts high rise, 1923
Crooks House, residence, by postmodernist architect Michael Graves, 1976
Fine Arts Center, School and Performing Arts Theater, theatre, by L. I. Kahn, 1966- 1973
Fort Wayne National Bank Building ( National City Bank ), skyscraper, 1970
Old City Hall, government building, 1893
J. B. Franke House, residence, 1914
Hanselmann House, residence, by postmodernist architect Michael Graves, 1967
One Summit Square ( Bank One), skyscraper, 1981
Richardville House, residence, 1827
Haus der Schönen Künste - Fine Arts Center, museum, by L. I. Kahn , 1961- 1964
Lincoln Bank Tower, 116 East Berry Street, skyscraper, by Alvin M. Strauss, 1929
Snyderman House, residence, by postmodernist architect Michael Graves, 1972

8 Colleges/universities

Concordia Theological Seminary of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
Fort Wayne Center for Medical Education (a branch of Indiana University School of Medicine)
Indiana Institute of Technology (IIT)
Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW)
Ivy Tech State College
Taylor University Fort Wayne
University of Saint Francis

9 Sports teams

Fort Wayne Fever , minor league men's and women's soccer
Fort Wayne Freedom , indoor football ( National Indoor Football League)
Fort Wayne Komets, ice hockey ( United Hockey League)
Fort Wayne Wizards, minor league baseball

9.1 Former sports teams

Fort Wayne Daisies , All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
Fort Wayne Friars , football
Fort Wayne Fury , Continental Basketball Association
Fort Wayne General Electrics , NBA basketball (1937-1938)
Fort Wayne Kekiongas , major league baseball
Fort Wayne Pistons, NBA basketball (1941-1957)
Fort Wayne River City Rhinos , Mid-Continental Football League

10 Notable natives and former residents

Julia Barr, actress, All My Children
DaMarcus Beasley, professional soccer player for PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands) and the US national team
Bill Blass, fashion designer
Eric Bruskotter , actor, Starship Troopers, Six Feet Under
Andrew George Burry, industrialist
Dan Butler, actor Frasier
Daniel R. Coats, U.S. ambassador to Germany, former U.S. representative, U.S. senator
Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor
Sharon Gabet , actress, One Life to Life
Edith Hamilton, author
Drake Hogestyn, actor Days of Our Lives
Heather Headley, Tony Award-winning singer/actress
Stephen King, author
Neil LaBute, director
Carole Lombard, actress, My Man Godfrey
Shelley Long, actress, Cheers
Hugh McCulloch, former United States Secretary of the Treasury, namesake of McCulloch Park
Patrick McVey , actor, Dark Shadows, North by Northwest
Gray Morrow, comic book artist and illustrator
Amanda Perez , R&B singer
Robert Rusler , actor, Babylon 5, Wierd Science
Mark Souder, U.S. Representative
Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy's restaurant chain
Randy Thompson , actor, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Rod Woodson, athlete, NFL Oakland Raiders
Herb Vigran , actor, White Christmas, The Flintstones, Benji
Dick York, actor, Bewitched

11 Religious centers

12 Cultural impact

12.1 Film/TV shot in Fort Wayne

In the Company of Men

12.2 Famous fictional characters from Fort Wayne

Frank Burns, fictional doctor, M*A*S*H
Fawn Liebowitz, fictional character, Animal House
George Taylor, fictional character, Planet of the Apes

13 Sister cities

Fory Wayne has three sister cities:

14 External links

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