Mishawaka, Indiana | |
|---|---|
 Mishawaka downtown, looking north | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Nicknames: The Princess City, The Mish | |
 Location of Mishawaka in St. Joseph County, Indiana | |
| Coordinates:41°39′15″N86°09′48″W / 41.65417°N 86.16333°W /41.65417; -86.16333 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Indiana |
| County | St. Joseph |
| Townships | Penn,Clay,Harris |
| Established | 1833 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Dave Wood (R)[1][2] |
| Area | |
• Total | 18.25 sq mi (47.26 km2) |
| • Land | 17.90 sq mi (46.35 km2) |
| • Water | 0.35 sq mi (0.90 km2) |
| Elevation | 738 ft (225 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 51,063 |
| • Density | 2,853.2/sq mi (1,101.61/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | 46544-46546 |
| Area code | 574 |
| FIPS code | 18-49932[5] |
| GNIS feature ID | 2395354[4] |
| Website | www |
Mishawaka (/ˌmɪʃəˈwɑːkə/) is a city on theSt. Joseph River, inSt. Joseph County, Indiana, United States.[6] The population was 51,063 as of the2020 census. Its nickname is "the Princess City". Mishawaka is a principal city of theSouth Bend-Mishawaka metropolitan area.
Mishawaka's recorded history began with the discovery ofbog iron deposits at the beginning of the 1830s. Settlers arriving to mine the deposits founded the town of St. Joseph Iron Works in 1831. Within a few years, the town had a blast furnace, a general store, a tavern, and about 200 residents. Business prospered, and in 1833 St. Joseph Iron Works, Indiana City, and two other adjacent small towns were incorporated to form the city of Mishawaka.[citation needed]
The Mishawaka post office has been in operation since 1833.[7]
On June 27, 1859, a bridge carrying a train, which had over 150 people on board, collapsed, killing 60.[8]
In September 1872, a fire destroyed three quarters of Mishawaka's business district. However, the citizens rebuilt and attracted new industry.[9] The Dodge Manufacturing Company, Perkins Windmills and the Mishawaka Woolen and Rubber Company (later Ball Band, thenUniroyal) all helped the town to prosper. Mishawaka grew through both industry and agriculture. In the late 19th century, Mishawaka became known as the "Peppermint Capital of the World", as its rich black loam produced great quantities of mint.[10]
From 1906 to 1915, Mishawaka was the manufacturing home of the luxuriousAmerican Simplex motor car. Ball Band made rubber garments and was hit by a major strike in 1931. It flourished in the 1940s, finally closing in 1997 in the face of cheaper imports. Manufacturing in Mishawaka peaked in the 1940s and began a slow decline due to industrial restructuring. The economic base shifted to retail services and small industry.
In 1979,University Park Mall opened in the far northern portion of Mishawaka. In 1990,AM General began producing theHummer in its Mishawaka plant. TheMV-1 is a purpose-builttaxicab and replaces the plannedStandard Taxi; it was developed in collaboration withAM General.[11] The car is built in Mishawaka at anAM General plant. AM General has begun making Mercedes vehicles at this plant since 2015.[11][12]
One theory for the word Mishawaka proposes that it derives from the name of aPotawatomi village at the junction of theElkhart and St. Joseph rivers, where there were many dead trees.[13] The village's exact name in thePotawatomi language may have been *mšwakig ("at the firewood-tree land").[13] In theMiami-Illinois language, which historically was also spoken in the area, the corresponding placename ismihswaahkwahkiki ("it is firewood-tree land").[13]
The most probable origin of the word comes from the city's government website, where in a history of Mishawaka paper written by local historian Peter DeKever states, "The Potawatomi had numerous villages in the region, including one on the south bank of the St. Joseph River located in the area bounded today by Lincolnway West and North Main and West Streets. The Potawatomi were drawn to this location by the ease of transport the river provided, a ford near a natural rapids, abundant fish and game, and access to timber. Their term for the area, M’Shehwahkeek, translates as swift flowing water or heavy timbered rapids." This theory is also mentioned by The History Museum of South Bend, and other sources.[14][15]
The nickname "Princess City", however, derives from a different account of the name's origin.[16] According to this story, "Mishawaka" or something similar was the name of the daughter of aShawnee chief named "Elkhart".[17] Alove triangle between Mishawaka, a white trader named "Dead Shot", and a Shawnee warrior named "Grey Wolf" led to various adventures. This story originated withFlavius J. Littlejohn, a Michigan author, politician and judge, who published a collection of stories in 1875; in Littlejohn's account, the woman's name was "Mishawaha". Despite the story being completely fictional, it became popular and helped foster the legend that is known to this day. Even though the story is from a work of fiction, many residents believe Princess Mishawaka was real because of a "symbolic grave marker" of her erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution to promote the centennial of the City of Mishawaka in 1932. Lack of context has led to many believing that the site is the actual grave of the princess, and that the legend was true. In many ways, Princess Mishawaka represents a mascot for the city.[18][19]
According to the 2010 census, Mishawaka has a total area of 17.348 square miles (44.93 km2), of which 17 square miles (44.03 km2), or 97.99%, is land and 0.348 square miles (0.90 km2), or 2.01%, is water.[20]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 1,412 | — | |
| 1860 | 1,488 | 5.4% | |
| 1870 | 2,617 | 75.9% | |
| 1880 | 2,640 | 0.9% | |
| 1890 | 3,371 | 27.7% | |
| 1900 | 5,560 | 64.9% | |
| 1910 | 11,886 | 113.8% | |
| 1920 | 15,195 | 27.8% | |
| 1930 | 28,630 | 88.4% | |
| 1940 | 28,298 | −1.2% | |
| 1950 | 32,918 | 16.3% | |
| 1960 | 33,361 | 1.3% | |
| 1970 | 36,060 | 8.1% | |
| 1980 | 40,201 | 11.5% | |
| 1990 | 42,608 | 6.0% | |
| 2000 | 46,557 | 9.3% | |
| 2010 | 48,252 | 3.6% | |
| 2020 | 51,063 | 5.8% | |
| Source: US Census Bureau | |||
As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $33,986, and the median income for a family was $41,947. Males had a median income of $33,878 versus $23,672 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $18,434. About 7.3% of families and 9.9% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.
As of thecensus[21] of 2010, there were 48,252 people, 21,343 households, and 11,730 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 2,838.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,095.9/km2). There were 24,088 housing units at an average density of 1,416.9 per square mile (547.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 86.1%White, 6.9%African American, 0.4%Native American, 1.9%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 1.6% fromother races, and 2.9% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 4.5% of the population.
There were 21,343 households, of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.5% weremarried couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.0% were non-families. 37.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.92.
The median age in the city was 34.7 years. 23.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 11.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.3% were from 25 to 44; 23.7% were from 45 to 64; and 13.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.1% male and 52.9% female.
Old-fashioned neighborhoods are found across the city. Many of the newer residential subdivisions that have been developed within the city in recent years have adopted design guidelines to produce the "hometown" neighborhood feel and encourage community spirit.
The city continually upgrades and develops new neighborhood park and recreation facilities. A total of 29 parks allow Mishawaka residents to golf, play ball, fish and exercise. In 1968, the city opened an outdoorOlympic-size swimming pool and an adjacent ice skating rink at Merrifield Park.[22] On the south side, Mishawaka's George Wilson Park is home to the city's most popular winter toboggan spot,[23] as well as an 18-hole frisbee golf course. Some of the city's Italian immigrants and their descendants still play traditional games such asbocce. A number of residents of Belgian descent play traditionalRolle Bolle[24] and a few ethnic Belgians continue to raise and racehoming pigeons. The city also hosted the nation's oldest and largestwiffleball tournament, the World Wiffle Ball Championship,[25] from 1980 to 2012 and again in 2020.
The city's three high schools (Mishawaka High School,Penn High School, andMarian High School) have won a combined11 state championships in football since 1920.
Mishawaka is served byTRANSPO municipal bus system, which also serves South Bend and several smaller suburbs in South Bend-Mishawaka metropolitan region. TheInterurban Trolley's Bittersweet/Mishawaka route stops at Martin's Supermarket, connecting riders to the city ofElkhart and the town ofOsceola. The closest Amtrak station and the closest commercial airport are both located in western South Bend. Amtrak also has a stop in Elkhart which is a bit closer.
Indiana Toll Road, which isInterstate 80 andInterstate 90.
U.S. Route 20
Indiana State Road 23
Indiana State Road 331
Indiana State Road 933
Public schools located in and/or serving Mishawaka are operated by several school districts.School City of Mishawaka serves the central part of the city. Other sections are within thePenn-Harris-Madison School Corporation and theSouth Bend Community School Corporation.[26]Mishawaka High School is the sole high school of the Mishawaka school district.[27] School City of Mishawaka (School District of Mishawaka) contains a total of 9 Schools including 2 secondary Schools: Mishawaka High and John Young Middle School, and 7 Elementary Schools which includes the following: Battell, Beiger, Emmons, Hums, LaSalle, Liberty, and Twin Branch.
Penn-Harris elementary schools serving sections of Mishawaka include Walt Disney (in the Mishawaka city limits), Elm Road, Meadow's Edge, Prairie Vista, and Elsie Rogers; the middle schools respectively are Schmucker and Grissom.[28]Penn High School, outside of the city limits, is the sole public high school of the Penn-Harris-Madison school district.[29] Aside from Walt Disney Elementary, none of the other respective schools are in the Mishawaka city limits. The school zonings for the South Bend School Corporation area are as follows (none of the schools are in Mishawaka): Darden Elementary School[30] Edison Middle School[31] andAdams High School.[32] The section was in 2020 zoned to Tarkington Elementary,[33] which closed in 2021.[34]
TheRoman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend operates four private Catholic schools in Mishawaka, includingMarian High School.
Bethel University is an accredited evangelical Christian liberal arts school with 1,700 students.
Mishawaka has apublic library, a branch of the Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library system.[35]
One major daily newspaper serving the South Bend and Mishawaka metro area, theSouth Bend Tribune. It is distributed in north central Indiana and southwestern Michigan.
Mishawaka has a wide variety of local radio broadcast available in the area. Stations' programming content contains a wide variety includingpublic radio,classical music,religious,country, andurban contemporary among others. For more information, seeList of Radio Stations in Mishawaka, Indiana.
As of 2013, the South Bend-Mishawaka-Elkhartdesignated market area was the 95th largest in the United States, with 319,860 homes (representing 0.3% of the US population).[36] Most of the major television networks have affiliates in the Michiana area.
Mishawaka located stations includeWSBT-TV (CBS),WBND-LD (ABC),WCWW-LD (CW) andWMYS-LD (My Network TV).Stations located in nearbySouth Bend, IN includeWNDU-TV (NBC),WNIT-TV (PBS) andWHME-TV (LeSEA).
Municipalities and communities ofSt. Joseph County, Indiana,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| Townships | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
Great Lakes megalopolis as defined by theRPA | ||
|---|---|---|
Includes all metropolitan areas that have a population of 150,000 or greater according to the most recent national census. | ||
| Great Lakes region cities |  | |
| Surrounding cities |
| |
| Cities of states south of region | ||
| Other metro-regions | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
