Wakarusa, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Wakarusa is a town
in Harrison
and Olive
townships in Elkhart County
, Indiana
, United States
. The population was 1,618 at the 2000 census. Wakarusa is a small farming and manufacturing community located on Indiana 19
just north of Indiana 119
. The town is 12 miles south of Elkhart
, 25 miles southeast of South Bend
, 120 miles east of Chicago, and 140 miles north of Indianapolis
.
The town was in the news on August 5, 2009, following the visit of President Barack Obama
to announce that Indiana was to receive $400 million USD in federal stimulus funds to help revive the state economy.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6 km²), all of it land. The town sits in the middle of predominately rural farm land.
and in 1849, as the population grew, a post office named Mt. Olive opened. After more population growth, a new village named Salem was established to prevent people from having to travel to either Goshen
or Elkhart
to conduct business. Since there is already a town named Salem
in Indiana
, the name was changed to Wakarusa in 1859. The Mt. Olive Post Office was renamed for Wakarusa a year later. The etymology of the name "Wakarusa" is not known. It is thought that that the name "Wakarusa" is from native American language meaning "knee deep in mud".
of 2000, there were 1,618 people, 595 households, and 427 families residing in the town. The population density
was 716.0 people per square mile (276.4/km²). There were 618 housing units at an average density of 273.5 per square mile (105.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.34% White, 0.49% African American, 0.19% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races
, and 1.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.48% of the population.
There were 595 households out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% were married couples
living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% 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 3.04.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 84.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,515, and the median income for a family was $50,833. Males had a median income of $36,014 versus $25,300 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,615. About 3.2% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
and Wakarusa combined their school systems in the 1970s to create the Wa-Nee Community Schools.
denomination based out of Fort Wayne, Indiana
. Other churches include Bible Baptist Church, a Methodist church, and Olive Mennonite Church just outside of Wakarusa.
Originally solely a farming community, a lumber mill opened up shop in 1866. By the 1880s, several factories and businesses existed despite the fact that the railroad would not roll into town until 1893. At one point, three different lumber mills operated in the town, though none exist today.
Today, Wakarusa continues to have a thriving farming economy and has two grain mills within the town's limits. Wakarusa's location in Elkhart County places it within a strong industrial area, and because of this, multiple manufacturers are located in the area. Recreational Vehicle
manufacturing, modular home
manufacturing, and custom truck production are the base of the industrial economy. Forest River employs nearly 300 in the RV and modular housing industry, Utilimaster employs around 700, and Livin-Lite RV has been named a "Company to Watch" in the state of Indiana.
On July 17, 2008, Monaco Coach Corporation
announced the closing of its Wakarusa production plant and laying off its approximately 1400 workers. Since then, the plant has been reopened under the name Monaco RV, which is fully owned by Navistar, who bought the properties and remaining assets at the Wakarusa complex. The company hopes to employ 700 by 2013.
Today the historic town center has several antique shops & a dime store candy shop that sells the locally made maple syrup & jumbo jelly beans to a small but growing number of regional tourists.
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in Harrison
Harrison Township, Elkhart County, Indiana
Harrison Township is one of sixteen townships in Elkhart County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 2,885.-Geography:Harrison Township covers an area of ; of this is water...
and Olive
Olive Township, Elkhart County, Indiana
Olive Township is one of sixteen townships in Elkhart County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 2,847.-Adjacent townships:* Baugo Township * Concord Township * Harrison Township * Union Township...
townships in Elkhart County
Elkhart County, Indiana
Elkhart County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. Much of the county is in the Elkhart-Goshen Metropolitan Statistical Area, which in turn is part of the South Bend-Elkhart-Mishawaka Combined Statistical Area...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,618 at the 2000 census. Wakarusa is a small farming and manufacturing community located on Indiana 19
Indiana State Road 19
State Road 19 in the U.S. state of Indiana begins at State Road 32 in Noblesville in the south, and runs north to the Michigan state line just north of Elkhart, a distance of...
just north of Indiana 119
Indiana State Road 119
State Road 119 exists as two separate roads in the U.S state of Indiana. The road is a rural surface highway for the entire length of both sections.-Southern section:...
. The town is 12 miles south of Elkhart
Elkhart, Indiana
Elkhart is a city in Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. The city is located east of South Bend, northwest of Fort Wayne, east of Chicago, and north of Indianapolis...
, 25 miles southeast of South Bend
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
, 120 miles east of Chicago, and 140 miles north of Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
.
The town was in the news on August 5, 2009, following the visit of President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
to announce that Indiana was to receive $400 million USD in federal stimulus funds to help revive the state economy.
Geography
Wakarusa is located at 41°32′4"N 86°0′58"W (41.534490, -86.016223).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6 km²), all of it land. The town sits in the middle of predominately rural farm land.
History
In 1836, rural Olive Township was formed in Western Elkhart CountyElkhart County, Indiana
Elkhart County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. Much of the county is in the Elkhart-Goshen Metropolitan Statistical Area, which in turn is part of the South Bend-Elkhart-Mishawaka Combined Statistical Area...
and in 1849, as the population grew, a post office named Mt. Olive opened. After more population growth, a new village named Salem was established to prevent people from having to travel to either Goshen
Goshen, Indiana
Goshen is a city in and the county seat of Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. It is the smaller of the two principal cities of the Elkhart-Goshen Metropolitan Statistical Area, which in turn is part of the South Bend-Elkhart-Mishawaka Combined Statistical Area. It is located in the northern...
or Elkhart
Elkhart, Indiana
Elkhart is a city in Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. The city is located east of South Bend, northwest of Fort Wayne, east of Chicago, and north of Indianapolis...
to conduct business. Since there is already a town named Salem
Salem, Indiana
Salem is a city in Washington Township, Washington County, Indiana, United States. Salem serves as the county seat, and its downtown area is on the National Register of Historic Places...
in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, the name was changed to Wakarusa in 1859. The Mt. Olive Post Office was renamed for Wakarusa a year later. The etymology of the name "Wakarusa" is not known. It is thought that that the name "Wakarusa" is from native American language meaning "knee deep in mud".
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,618 people, 595 households, and 427 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 716.0 people per square mile (276.4/km²). There were 618 housing units at an average density of 273.5 per square mile (105.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.34% White, 0.49% African American, 0.19% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.48% of the population.
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% 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 3.04.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 84.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,515, and the median income for a family was $50,833. Males had a median income of $36,014 versus $25,300 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $19,615. About 3.2% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Neighboring NappaneeNappanee, Indiana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 6,710 people, 2,521 households, and 1,792 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,818.9 people per square mile . There were 2,647 housing units at an average density of 717.5 per square mile...
and Wakarusa combined their school systems in the 1970s to create the Wa-Nee Community Schools.
Religion
Wakarusa has several churches including Wakarusa Missionary Church, which is the Missionary ChurchMissionary Church
The Missionary Church is an evangelical Christian denomination of Anabaptist origins with Wesleyan, Pietist, and Keswickian influences.-Faith and practice:...
denomination based out of Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
. Other churches include Bible Baptist Church, a Methodist church, and Olive Mennonite Church just outside of Wakarusa.
Notable natives
- Ryan Burkhart, current placekickerPlacekickerPlacekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
for the University of Notre DameUniversity of Notre DameThe University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
Football Team. Burkhart attended NorthWood High SchoolNorthWood High SchoolNorthWood High School is a high school located in Nappanee, Indiana, United States. It is a part of the Wa-Nee Community School System, shared with Wakarusa.-Sports:NorthWood High School's mascot is the "Panther" and their colors are red and black...
. - Gayle Sayers, former running backRunning backA running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for the Chicago BearsChicago BearsThe Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, is a part time resident of Wakarusa.
Economy
Today, Wakarusa continues to have a thriving farming economy and has two grain mills within the town's limits. Wakarusa's location in Elkhart County places it within a strong industrial area, and because of this, multiple manufacturers are located in the area. Recreational Vehicle
Recreational vehicle
Recreational vehicle or RV is, in North America, the usual term for a Motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities found in a home.-Features:...
manufacturing, modular home
Modular home
Modular buildings and modular homes are sectional prefabricated buildings or houses that consist of multiple modules or sections which are built in a remote facility and then delivered to their intended site of use...
manufacturing, and custom truck production are the base of the industrial economy. Forest River employs nearly 300 in the RV and modular housing industry, Utilimaster employs around 700, and Livin-Lite RV has been named a "Company to Watch" in the state of Indiana.
On July 17, 2008, Monaco Coach Corporation
Monaco Coach Corporation
Monaco Coach Corporation was an American corporation which primarily manufactured recreational vehicles and RV chassis. The company was headquartered in Coburg, Oregon, and maintained significant manufacturing operations in various locations in Indiana....
announced the closing of its Wakarusa production plant and laying off its approximately 1400 workers. Since then, the plant has been reopened under the name Monaco RV, which is fully owned by Navistar, who bought the properties and remaining assets at the Wakarusa complex. The company hopes to employ 700 by 2013.
Today the historic town center has several antique shops & a dime store candy shop that sells the locally made maple syrup & jumbo jelly beans to a small but growing number of regional tourists.