Warsaw is a city in Indiana and the county seat of, Kosciusko County, Indiana, United States[3]. The population was estimated at 13,082 in 2006. The Warsaw area is among the fastest growing areas in Indiana. Cradled among Winona Lake, Pike Lake, Hidden Lake and Center Lake, Warsaw is nicknamed "Lake City," though other cities in the surrounding area are also referred to by that nickname.
History
Warsaw, named for the capital of Poland in tribute to Thaddeus Kosciusko, was platted on October 21, 1836.[citation needed] Early Warsaw contained traders, trappers, and merchants supplying manufactured goods to area farmers. Because of the central location in the lake region, tourists soon began visiting Warsaw and eventually made permanent residences in the city, with industry soon following.
In March 1854, Warsaw became a town, and the initial census on February 2, 1854 showed a total of 752 residents in the town limits. The Pennsylvania Railroad (then known as the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne, and Chicago Railroad) reached Warsaw in November 1854. The Big 4 Railroad (Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, and St Louis) arrived in Warsaw in August 1870.
Gas lights were installed in August 1880. Telephone lines were strung in 1882, with Dr. Eggleston having the first phone. The waterworks were constructed in 1885. Gas was supplemented with electricity in 1897, but gas was still used in many homes until 1915.
In 1895, Revra DuPuy founded DePuy Manufacturing in Warsaw to make wire mesh and wooden splints, becoming the world's first manufacturer of orthopedic appliances. In 1905, DePuy hired Justin Zimmer as a splint salesman. Zimmer broke away from DePuy in 1927 to start his own orthopedic company. Warsaw is now known as the "orthopedic capital of the world."[4][5]
Geography
Warsaw is located at 41°14′26″N 85°50′49″W / 41.24056°N 85.84694°W / 41.24056; -85.84694 (41.240564, -85.847002)[6] and occupies the area between Pike Lake, Hidden Lake and Center Lake (to the north) and Winona Lake (to the southeast). The Tippecanoe River passes through the West portion of Warsaw. U.S. Route 30 and Indiana State Road 15 both pass through town, while Indiana State Road 25 begins on West Market Street while traffic is routed to West Winona Avenue along with State Road 15 after US Route 30 bypassed the downtown area.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.6 square miles (29.9 km²), of which, 10.5 square miles (27.1 km²) of it is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²) of it (9.26%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 12,415 people, 4,794 households, and 3,068 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,184.6 people per square mile (457.4/km²). There were 5,101 housing units at an average density of 486.7/sq mi (187.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 70.50% White, 1.41% African American, 0.39% Native American, 1.07% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 5.25% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 29.21% of the population.
New county courthouse building.
There were 4,794 households out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,564, and the median income for a family was $45,153. Males had a median income of $33,322 versus $22,284 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,262. About 6.8% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.
Although the population is still represented at 12,000, it may be up to anywhere from 15,000 to 20,000 inside the city limits. The population, combined with the population outside of city limits and the population of Winona Lake, could be up to 40,000. An accurate count will be conducted during the 2010 census.
Law and government
- See also: List of mayors of Warsaw, Indiana
Old Kosciusko County Courthouse.
Warsaw has an elected mayor, clerk and city council-style of government. Officials are elected for 4-year terms. Warsaw's current mayor is Republican Ernest B. Wiggins, who has served in the post since March 1, 1997, following the resignation of Mayor Jeff Plank, who was elected to four consecutive terms. Wiggins was elected mayor for a first term in 1999, a second term in 2003, and a third term in 2007. The longest-serving mayor was former 5-term Warsaw Mayor Paul E. "Mike" Hodges.
Representatives - common council
The Warsaw Common Council is a seven-member legislative group that serve four-year terms. Five of the members represent specific districts; two are elected city-wide as at-large council members. The council elected on November 8, 2007 will serve from January 1, 2008 until December 31, 2011:
- Dr. Joseph Thallemer: At-large (Council President)
- Kyle Babcock: At-large
- Jeff Grose: 1st district
- Charles D. Smith: 2nd district
- George M. Clemens: 3rd district
- Jerry Patterson: 4th district
- Dan Hampton: 5th district
- Elaine Call: Clerk Treasurer
Economy
Da-Lite headquarters building.
Warsaw, known as the Orthopedic Capital of the World, is home to the first orthopedic device manufacturer started in 1895 by Revra DePuy of the DePuy Manufacturing Company. Subsequent competitors, such as Zimmer, Inc., Medtronic, Inc., and Biomet, have all been founded in Warsaw to support the industry. Several orthopedic suppliers are also present.
Other companies headquartered in Warsaw are Da-Lite, makers of commercial and home theater projection screens; Little Crow Foods (manufacturer of CoCo Wheats); R.R. Donnelly & Sons, a magazine printing press; and Dalton Foundry, Malleable iron casting foundry. Historically the home of the Biltwell Basket Company[citation needed] and Explorer Van founded by local entrepreneurs Bob and Doris Kesler. Warsaw is also home to the corporate headquarters of ABC Industries, a leader in mining ventilation products and industrial textile fabrics and Penguin Point a regional fast-food chain.
Culture
Warsaw is home to the Wagon Wheel Theatre, which hosts local and national plays annually. Several taverns host live music by local musicians, including the Downtown landmark Rex's Rendezvous. North Pointe Cinemas, bowling alleys, and youth and senior centers are present. City Parks, the Greenway Bicycle Trails, City County Athletic Complex (CCAC) and two golf courses offer citizens recreation. Center Lake Park is host to regular concerts during the summer months, along with many other lakes throughout the county. The city has a notable Biblical garden.[7]
Media
WLAB, Star 88.3, broadcasts to the community of Warsaw, Indiana, via its translator on FM radio frequency 90.9 FM.
WRSW, "the heritage station" of the Warsaw community, broadcasts at 107.3 FM on the radio dial."Willie 103.5" WAWC began broadcasting in Warsaw in November 2006. WNHT (WILD) 96.3, HOT 107.9, WDNV 92.9 (U93), WXLR (POWER) 95.7, WXXB 102.9, and WVXI 106.3 are also notable radio stations. The city of Warsaw is also proposing a new CBS TV station that will start broadcasting in 2009 when the digital signal stage is in progress. The TV station would broadcast on local TV channel 27.1. The documentary "American Teen", which followed 5 high school seniors, was filmed at Warsaw Community High School.
Education
- Alternative Learning Center, public school · grades 9-12 · 680 students
- Charter College of Health and Massage Therapy
- Certified Natural Health Professionals · Natural Health Education and Certification
- Edgewood Middle School, public school · grades 7-8 · 484 students
- Eisenhower Elementary School, public school · grades K-6 · 629 students
- Grace College - Warsaw Campus
- Harrison Elementary School, public school . grades K-6 . 611 students
- Indiana Tech - Warsaw Campus
- Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne - Warsaw Campus
- Ivy Tech Community College - North Central Campus
- Lakeland Christian Academy, private school · grades 7-12 · 170 students
- Lakeview Middle School, public school · grades 7-8 · 760 students
- Lighthouse Christian Academy, private school · grades Pre K-12 454 students
- Lincoln Elementary School, public school · grades K-6 · 896 students
- Living Stone's Preparatory School, private school · grades Pre K-12
- Madison Elementary School, public school · grades K-6 · 472 students
- Monarch Christian Academy, private School · grades K-12 · 23 students
- Sacred Heart School, private school · grades Pre K-6 · 206 students
- Trinity School of Natural Health · Distance Learning Natural Health Education
- Warsaw Christian School, private school · grades Pre K-6 · 240 students
- Warsaw Community High School, public school · grades 9-12 · 1,947 students[8]
- Washington Elementary School, public school · grades K-6 · 538 students
Notable natives and residents
Center Lake Park, on the shore of Center Lake.
While Warsaw is a small city, several notable people are currently living or have lived there:
- Todd "Bubba the Love Sponge" Clem, radio personality
- Ambrose Bierce, author of The Devil's Dictionary.
- Theodore Dreiser, author of Sister Carrie and An American Tragedy; in 1935, his books were burned by the local library.
- Max Truex, Olympic long-distance runner.
- Jeff Grose, 1985 Indiana Mr. Basketball. Grose currently serves as a Social Studies teacher and coach at Warsaw Community High School, and is on the city council.
- Rick Fox, former NBA basketball player who was discovered by Grace College coach Jim Kessler on a missions trip to the Bahamas and played basketball at Warsaw Community High School for Coach Al Rhodes during the 1984-1985 and 1985-1986 seasons.
- Adam Sanford, cricket player
- Omar Goodness, a band in the 1990s.
- Hal Kratzsch, an original member of famed singing group The Four Freshmen.
- Merlin Hull, United States Representative from Wisconsin.
- Dr. Steven Hollar, Hoosiers fame? Hollar is now a dentist in Warsaw.
- Denny Hepler, winner of the "Big Break 6" on The Golf Channel and winner of many professional golf events. Hepler owns Raccoon Run Golf Course in Warsaw.
- Bryan Hickerson, former major league pitcher with the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs.
- Al Rhodes, long time Warsaw Community High School varsity boys basketball coach, and coach of the 1984 I.H.S.A.A. Boys Basketball champions. Rhodes currently coaches at Penn High School in South Bend.
- The A&E film American Teen was filmed at Warsaw Community High School.
- Tom Metzger, well known racist and the director of White Aryan Resistance.
References
External links
Municipalities and communities of
Kosciusko County, Indiana |
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| County seat: Warsaw |
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| Cities and towns |
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| Townships |
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Unincorporated
communities |
Arrowhead Park | Atwood | Barbee | Bayfield | Beaver Dam | Bell Rohr Park | Between-The-Lakes Park | Black Point | Buttermilk Point | Cedar Point | Clunette | DeFries Landing | Eagle Point | Enchanted Hills | Epworth Forest | Forest Glen | Gravelton | Hastings | Highbanks | Highlands Park | Island Park | Kalorama Park | Kanata Manayunk | Kinsey | Lakeside Park | Lakeview Spring | Marineland Gardens | Milford Junction | Mineral Springs | Monoquet | Musquabuck Park | Oakwood Park | Osborn Landing | Oswego | Palestine | Pickwick Park | Quaker Haven Park | Sevastopol | Shady Banks | Silver Point | South Park | Stoneburner Landing | Stony Ridge | Sunrise Beach | Vawter Park | Walker Park | Wawasee Village | Wa-Will-Away Park | Wooster | Yellowbanks
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| Footnotes |
‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
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