Muncie, IN

Muncie is best known as the home of Ball State University, which in turn is home to nearly twenty thousand students. The five Ball brothers (entrepreneurs who owned Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Company, which is now Ball Corporation, makers of glass canning jars) purchased the bankrupt Eastern Indiana Normal University in 1918, and the campus and student body have grown steadily ever since. Apart from the university, Muncie is a city in the process of major revitalization efforts that include all aspects of living, from urban renewal to workforce realignment.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Until the 1990s, Muncie's economy was based in manufacturing. Factories, including Delco Remy, Westinghouse, General Motors, and BorgWarner, were the major employers for the area. Unfortunately, many jobs were lost as plant after plant closed. Muncie's economy has evolved and is currently based in the healthcare and education sectors. The area's top employers are Ball State University (with more than 3,000 employees), Cardinal Health System, Muncie Community Schools, and Sallie Mae. In the retail sector, Marsh Supermarket and Wal-Mart have the most employees in the area. Nonprofit organizations are also important employers in Muncie: More than 12% of paid employees in Delaware County are employed by a nonprofit (as compared to a state average of about 8%).

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

For many Muncie neighborhoods, self-guided walking tour information is available at branches of the Muncie Public Library. Neighborhoods include:

Downtown: No big-box stores here-all of the retail establishments in Muncie's downtown area are independently owned and operated and include places to buy gifts, cameras, jewelry, and records. Downtown is also home to the Carnegie Library, Hotel Roberts, Old Federal Building, Masonic Temple, and Dave Letterman Alley-the 200 block of South Walnut Street, which is a tribute to Ball State's most famous alumnus.

Old West End: A tour of this neighborhood includes stops at Friends Memorial Church and Temple Beth El, two architecturally significant structures.

East Central Neighborhood: This residential neighborhood, located just east of downtown Muncie, is home to two historic districts, the Emily Kimbrough Historic District, and the Kirby Historic District. The neighborhood has traditional park spaces as well as portions of the Cardinal and White River Greenway trails.

Halteman Village: This north side residential neighborhood has been the subject of a bitter annexation battle. While most of Halteman Village is within city limits, the remainder of it has successfully (thus far) resisted annexation.

Whiteley: This traditionally low-income neighborhood is in the process of revitalization, with such projects as new mixed-income homes built by Habitat for Humanity and a new three-phase storm water management system that includes dozens of rain barrels that serve as both grey-water repositories and public art installations.

There are also several community organizations designed for Muncie residents, from youth to senior citizens:

• Buley Center
• Millennium Unity Center
• Muncie Boys & Girls Club
• Rose Park/Ross Center

LOCAL MEDIA

Several newspapers keep Muncie's residents and visitors caught up with local news and issues:

• Ball State Daily News
• Muncie Free Press
• The Muncie Times
• The Star Press

Muncie's television and radio stations include:

• WXFN, 1340 AM
• WLHN, 990 AM
• WCRD, 91.3 FM (Ball State Radio)
• WLBC, 104.1 FM (contemporary radio)
• WERK, 104.9 FM (oldies radio)
• WIPB (Muncie public television)
• WMUN-LP (local Trinity Broadcasting Network television)

GETTING AROUND

MITS, the Muncie Indiana Transit System, provieds 15 bus routes that connect to most medical centers, shopping centers, and neighborhoods within the city limits. MITS runs Monday through Saturday (although it does shut down for six holidays). The service also offers MITSPlus, a door-to-door service for riders with disabilities.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Performing arts are plentiful in Muncie, both on and off campus. Options for live entertainment include:

• Ball State University Theatre
• Emen's Auditorium
• Muncie Civic Theatre
• Muncie Symphony Orchestra

FOR VISITORS

Muncie is home to several top-notch museums and cultural centers:

• Academy of Model Aeronautics
• AMA National Model Aviation Museums & Flying Site
• Minnetrista Cultural Center & Oakhurst Gardens
• Muncie Children's Museum
• Ball State University Museum of Art
• Phillip Robinson Fruit Jar Museum

While sports fans thrill to the exploits of the Ball State Cardinals basketball and football teams, outdoor enthusiasts can also enjoy these options:

• Cardinal Greenway
• Muncie SportsPlex
• Prairie Creek Reservoir and Campground
• Christy Woods
• White River Greenway

EVENTS

Muncie plays host to several annual events, including the Old Washington Street Festival and the Summer Heat Festival. Shopping is also plentiful in Muncie, which is home to two major shopping centers, Northwest Plaza Shopping Center and Simon Muncie Mall.