Anderson, IN

Before the 1887 discovery of natural gas in Anderson, the city was a relatively small town. But with the discovery of gas came the advance of manufacturing; glass factories, in particular, rushed to relocate to Anderson. In 1912, when the reserves of natural gas ran out, many factories pulled up stakes, and the enterprise of the town slowed down once again. City leaders formed the Commercial Club (a precursor to the current Chamber of Commerce), with the sole aim of luring business to the area. The Commercial Club was also successful in keeping the city's top two employers, Delco Remy and Guide Lamp, in the city after the natural gas crash.

During its history, Anderson has had several such ups and downs. For decades, General Motors operated several plants here, but every one of them has closed. The closing of GM has had a massive impact on Anderson: In 1970, the city's population soared to around 70,000 people (with 1 out of every 3 working for GM); today, the population hovers at fewer than 58,000 people. But like the Commercial Club before it, Anderson's Chamber of Commerce is busy figuring out how to diversify the town's employment base and drawing new businesses to settle here. One recent success was the 2007 opening of a large Nestle factory in Anderson.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

St. John's Health System is the largest employer in Anderson. It is followed by:

• Anderson Community School Corporation
• Community Hospital of Anderson
• City of Anderson
• Carter Express/Duke's & Astro
• Anderson University
• Wal-Mart
• Hoosier Park Racing & Casino

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Anderson is home to two historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places as well as boasting a thriving downtown area. Neighborhoods include:

• Historic West Eighth Street District: This neighborhood of preserved historic homes stretches from Seventh Street to Ninth Street and Jackson Street to Henry Street.
• Lowmandale: This pedestrian-friendly neighborhood includes Hoosier Park and Pulaski Park.
• Moonville:This quiet residential neighborhood features mixed home styles (single-family homes, mobile homes, apartments, row houses) and is occupied mainly by people who work in the manufacturing, sales, and clerical sectors.
• Perkinsville/Hamilton: This is the most expensive neighborhood in Anderson. Lots are fairly large, and homes are spaced widely.
• West Central Historic District: This neighborhood, which encompasses 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th streets from John Street to Brown-Delaware Street, was the second in Anderson to receive a National Historic designation (after the West Eighth Street District). However, the rules governing the designation, which limit modification, renovation, and restoration, have been seen by some as the downside to living in this district.

SHOPPING

The highest concentration of shopping options in Anderson can be found in Mounds Mall, which is anchored by Elder-Beerman and Sears department stores. Anderson is also home to locations of several national chains, including Target, Wal-Mart, and Kohl's. One Anderson treasure is Good's Candy Shop, the largest candy shop in central Indiana, where most offerings, including the homemade ice cream, are manufactured locally.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Anderson's Mounds Mall is home to the Mounds 10 movie theatre. In addition, Anderson offers several options for live entertainment:

• The 1929 Paramount Theatre & Ballroom is one of twelve remaining Eberson Theaters. The Paramount provides a variety of live theater options and is the home of the Anderson Symphony Orchestra.
• Anderson is home to one of the longest running community theaters in the state, the Mainstage Theatre, which performs a variety of plays and musicals.
• Reardon Auditorium at Anderson University is host to many live performances and events.
• The Anderson Young Ballet Theatre company stages performances in the Big Four Arts Depot.

Anderson has a thriving arts and culture scene that includes such public art as the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial, as well as several noteworthy museums and centers for the arts:

• The Anderson Center for the Arts, located in the 1905 Carnegie library, features temporary and permanent exhibits and a children's gallery.
• At Tom St. Clair Studio Glass, visitors can see molten glass transformed into delicate works of art.

FOR VISITORS

• Groups of all ages are welcome at the Gustav Jeeninga Museum of Bible and Near Eastern Studies at Anderson University, which houses many ancient artifacts.
• The gardens and French Second Empire home at the Gruenewald Historic House give visitors a glimpse into life in the 1860s for German immigrants.

There's also plenty to do outdoors in Anderson:

• Weekly races and the annual Pay Less Little 500 car race are held at the Anderson Speedway.
• Standardbred and thoroughbred horse racing and gambling are on tap at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.
• Mounds built by the Adena and Hopewell tribes can be seen at the compact Mounds State Park, which also offers opportunities for a variety of outdoor activities, including swimming, fishing, camping, and hiking.