Wabash is a city in Noble Township, Wabash County, Indiana, United States. The city is situated along the Wabash River and is the county seat of Wabash County.

Wabash is notable as claiming to be the first electrically lighted city in the world, which was inaugurated on March 31, 1880. However, closer inspection of the reference shows only the court house grounds were lighted. It is also home to the historic Eagles Theatre, Paradise Spring Treaty Grounds (1826), the Wabash and Erie Canal, Presbyterian Church (1880), and Disciples of Christ Christian Church (1865).

Etymology

The name Wabash derives from a Miami-Illinois term for "water over white stones." The Miami name reflected the clarity of the river in Huntington County, Indiana, where the river bottom is limestone.

History

The first settlers to arrive in Wabash was in 1829 as a result of the treaty of Paradise Spring. The town of Wabash was platted in the spring of 1834 by Col. Hugh Hanna and Col. David Burr. The community was designated as the county seat, and it was incorporated in 1834. The town prospered due to its proximity to the Wabash and Erie Canal. In 1870 the Wabash County Courthouse and most of downtown was destroyed in a fire. However, the resilience of the city led Wabash to recover. The construction of the Big Four Railway brought even more growth to the small town but led to the neglect of the canal.

Wabash used a new type of carbon arc light invented by Charles Brush in 1870. On March 31, 1880, four 3,000-candle power lamps were suspended from the top of the courthouse. Two telegraph wires ran from the lamps to the courthouse basement, where they were connected to a generator powered by a 12-horsepower steam engine to provide power

The James M. Amoss Building, Downtown Wabash Historic District, East Wabash Historic District, First Christian Church, Honeywell Memorial Community Center, Honeywell Studio, McNamee-Ford House, North Wabash Historic District, West Wabash Historic District, and Solomon Wilson Building are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Media

The Wabash Free Trader was published in Wabash from 1871 to 1876. The Wabash Weekly Courier was published from 1876 until 1887.

Geography

thumb|Wabash from the air, looking west.

The Wabash River runs through the town, on its way towards Peru, where it splits creating a series of islands, and where the sandbars are quite common on this stretch.

According to the 2010 census, Wabash has a total area of , of which (or 97.39%) is land and (or 2.61%) is water.

Climate

Demographics

thumb|upright|Wabash County Courthouse

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Wabash had a population of 10,440. The median age was 42.8 years. 21.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.2 males age 18 and over.

There were 4,512 households in Wabash, of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 40.1% were married-couple households, 21.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 35.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

! Race !! Number !! Percent

|-

| White || 9,662 || 92.5%

|-

| Black or African American || 75 || 0.7%

|-

| American Indian and Alaska Native || 70 || 0.7%

|-

| Asian || 58 || 0.6%

|-

| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 1 || 0.0%

|-

| Some other race || 120 || 1.1%

|-

| Two or more races || 454 || 4.3%

|-

| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 272 || 2.6%

|}

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 10,666 people, 4,465 households, and 2,805 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 5,068 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 96.3% White, 0.4% African American, 1.0% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.0% of the population.

There were 4,465 households, of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.2% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.88.

The median age in the city was 41.3 years. 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.7% were from 25 to 44; 26.4% were from 45 to 64; and 18.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census

  • Bryan Dillion (R, AL)
  • John Burnsworth (R, AL)
  • David Weaver (R, 1st)
  • Dave Monroe (R, 2nd)
  • Terry Brewer (R, 3rd)
  • Susan Bonfitto (R, 4th)
  • Jan Roland (R, 5th)

The Wabash post office has been in operation since 1839.

Education

Higher education

thumb|The Wabash Carnegie Public Library.

There are 2 universities within 20 miles of Wabash. The biggest and most notable being Manchester University which is based in North Manchester and Huntington University which is located in Huntington.

Primary and secondary schools

  • OJ Neighbours Elementary School
  • Meroby Elementary School
  • St Bernard Elementary School
  • Wabash Middle School
  • Wabash High School

The town has a lending library, the Wabash Carnegie Public Library.

<gallery>

File:Cortes del Condado de Wabash, Wabash, Indiana, Estados Unidos, 2012-11-12, DD 01.jpg|Wabash County Courthouse

File:Wabash Indiana Paradise Springs Council Cabin.JPG|Paradise Spring Treaty Grounds (1826)

File:Wabash Indiana Old Warehouse Wabash n Erie Canal.JPG|Old Warehouse, which backs up on the Wabash and Erie Canal

File:Wabash Indiana Presbyterian Church.JPG|Presbyterian Church (1880)

File:Iglesia de Cristo, Wabash, Indiana, Estados Unidos, 2012-11-12, DD 01.jpg|Disciples of Christ Christian Church (1865)

Centro de Wabash, Indiana, Estados Unidos, 2012-11-12, DD 08.jpg|Former fire station and city hall.

</gallery>

Notable people

  • Michael Baber - music and sound editor
  • Adelaide Steele Baylor - federal education official
  • Loren M. Berry – pioneer of Yellow Pages telephone directory
  • Rick Brandenburg – entomologist
  • John W. Corso – art director and production designer
  • John P. Costas - telecommunications engineer, noted for Costas loop
  • James E. Dabler - Illinois state representative and businessman
  • Jimmy Daywalt – race car driver
  • Charles Dingle - actor
  • Gus Dorais – football player and coach of football, basketball, and baseball
  • Townsend A. Ely – Michigan state senator
  • Crystal Gayle - country singer
  • Christopher M. Goff- Indiana's 110th Supreme Court Justice
  • Larry Hall - Serial killer
  • Mark Honeywell – founder of Honeywell Corporation and Honeywell Center
  • Howard A. Howe - polio researcher
  • O. P. Hubbard - member of the Alaska Senate (1915–1919).
  • Bobby Jones – National Football League guard
  • Joaquin Miller - poet and frontiersman
  • George Mullin - Major League Baseball player
  • Keith O'Conner Murphy - Rockabilly Hall of Fame singer and songwriter
  • Margie Stewart - U.S. Army poster girl during World War II

See also

  • The Ford Meter Box Company, prominent manufacturer headquartered in Wabash

References

  • City of Wabash, Indiana website