Greenwood, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Greenwood, Indiana
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City
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Greenwood City Hall
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| Nickname(s):
City of Pride and Progress
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Location of Greenwood in Johnson County, Indiana
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| Country | United States | ||||
| State | Indiana | ||||
| County | Johnson | ||||
| Townships | Pleasant, White River, Clark | ||||
| Area | |||||
| • Total | 27.91 sq mi (72.28 km2) | ||||
| • Land | 27.91 sq mi (72.28 km2) | ||||
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | ||||
| Elevation | 804 ft (245 m) | ||||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 63,830 | ||||
| • Density | 2,287.24/sq mi (883.12/km2) | ||||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) | ||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||||
| ZIP codes |
46142-46143
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| Area code(s) | 317 | ||||
| FIPS code | 18-29898 | ||||
| GNIS feature ID | 2394244 | ||||
Greenwood is a city in Johnson County, Indiana, United States. In 2020, about 63,830 people lived there. Greenwood is located southeast of Indianapolis. It is the largest suburban city in the southern part of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area.
Contents
Greenwood's Story: A Look at Its History
The first people to live in the area now called Greenwood were the Delaware Indians. In 1818, a special agreement called the Treaty of St. Mary's allowed European settlers to move into central Indiana.
By 1823, the first cabin was built by John B. and Isaac Smock. This land is now where the Greenwood Park Mall stands. The settlement was first known as "Smocktown" or "Smock's Settlement." In 1825, its name changed to "Greenfield." But because there was another Greenfield nearby, the name was changed again to "Greenwood" in 1833.
Greenwood officially became a town in 1864.
Early Transportation and Business
Greenwood was very important for the Electric Indianapolis Interurban Railway System. This was an early electric train system. The Indianapolis, Greenwood & Franklin Railway opened on January 1, 1900. It was the first real electric railway connecting Indianapolis to Greenwood. This railway followed what is now Madison Avenue.
The J.T. Polk Canning Company helped Greenwood grow a lot. This company canned many vegetables grown in Indiana. It was once one of the biggest canning operations west of Baltimore. Later, the company also delivered milk. The company was eventually bought by Stokely-Van Camp and stayed in Greenwood until the 1950s. Some parts of the old cannery buildings are still on Main Street today. They are now used as offices.
Greenwood became a "fifth-class city" in 1960. In 2010, it changed its official status to a "second-class city."
Important Moments in Greenwood
In the past, some areas in Indiana, including Greenwood, had rules that made it difficult for African American families to live there. This meant that the city was mainly home to white residents for many years.
The Greenwood Commercial Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. This means it's a special area with important old buildings.
On July 17, 2022, there was a sad event at the food court of Greenwood Park Mall. Three people were killed and two were hurt. An armed person who saw what was happening stopped the gunman.
Where is Greenwood?
Greenwood is in the northern part of Johnson County. It shares a border with Indianapolis to the north. Other nearby towns include Bargersville to the southwest and Whiteland to the south.
Greenwood is about 11 miles (18 km) south of downtown Indianapolis. It is also 12 miles (19 km) north of Franklin, which is the main city of Johnson County.
The city covers about 27.91 square miles (72.28 square kilometers) of land. There is no water within the city limits. Greenwood is generally flat or gently rolling. Its average height is 804 feet (245 meters) above sea level.
Waterways in Greenwood
Several creeks flow through Greenwood. These creeks help with drainage and stormwater. Pleasant Run Creek flows across the northern part of the city. It leads to the White River. Some city parks are located near this creek.
Grassy Creek and Tracy Ditch flow south from the city. Honey Creek starts in the southwest part of Greenwood. It also joins the White River later on.
Greenwood's Climate
Greenwood has a warm temperate climate. The average yearly temperature is about 54.3°F (12.4°C). About 45 inches (1143 mm) of rain falls each year. This rain is spread out pretty evenly throughout the year.
| Climate data for Greenwood | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 37.2 (2.9) |
41.2 (5.1) |
52.0 (11.1) |
64.4 (18.0) |
73.6 (23.1) |
82.0 (27.8) |
85.2 (29.6) |
84.3 (29.1) |
78.7 (25.9) |
66.2 (19.0) |
52.4 (11.3) |
40.7 (4.8) |
63.2 (17.3) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 29.9 (−1.2) |
32.7 (0.4) |
42.7 (5.9) |
54.2 (12.3) |
64.2 (17.9) |
72.8 (22.7) |
76.4 (24.7) |
75.5 (24.2) |
68.8 (20.4) |
56.5 (13.6) |
43.9 (6.6) |
33.5 (0.8) |
54.3 (12.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 22.9 (−5.1) |
24.7 (−4.1) |
33.8 (1.0) |
45.1 (7.3) |
55.4 (13.0) |
63.8 (17.7) |
66.9 (19.4) |
66.1 (18.9) |
59.9 (15.5) |
48.8 (9.3) |
37.5 (3.1) |
27.8 (−2.3) |
46.1 (7.8) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.3 (84) |
3.0 (76) |
4.0 (100) |
5.0 (130) |
5.2 (130) |
4.5 (110) |
3.6 (91) |
2.9 (74) |
3.1 (79) |
3.3 (84) |
3.5 (89) |
3.6 (91) |
45 (1,138) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 93 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 69 | 67 | 67 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 67 | 63 | 65 | 70 | 72 | 68 |
| Mean daily sunshine hours | 4.8 | 5.6 | 7.1 | 8.5 | 9.7 | 10.7 | 10.7 | 10.1 | 8.8 | 7.2 | 6.1 | 4.7 | 7.8 |
| Source: Climate-Data.org | |||||||||||||
Fun Places to Visit: Greenwood's Parks
Greenwood has built 17 parks, covering over 400 acres of land. These parks have more than 20 miles of trails for walking and biking. Many trails go through green spaces and wooded areas. Some parks, like City Center Park or Freedom Park, have playgrounds and splash pads for kids.
- Children's Garden Park: This park at 201 E Main St is a calm, natural place. It has fountains and a gazebo that can be rented for events.
- City Center Park: Located on Lincoln St, this park is near Downtown Greenwood. It has many things for kids to play outside, including a splash pad.
- Craig Park: At 10 E Smith Valley Rd, this is one of Greenwood's most famous parks. It has playgrounds, tennis courts, pickleball courts, and walkways. You can rent the gazebo and shelters here.
- Freedom Park: Located at 850 W Stop 18 Rd, this park is very popular. It has 1.5 miles of walking trails, a large playground, and sports courts. This park is next to Freedom Springs Aquatic Center, a busy summer spot.
- Grassy Creek Park: At 602 E Worthsville Rd, this park is for residents closer to Whiteland. It has 5 miles of trails for outdoor exercise.
- Northeast Park: This 19-acre park at 100 Crestview Dr is next to Northeast Elementary School. It has a skate park, playgrounds, sports courts, and picnic shelters.
- Northwest Park: Located at 1300 W Fry Rd, this is one of Greenwood's largest parks, covering over 12 acres. It has open spaces for walking and a playground near the entrance.
- Northwest Park Annex: At 1576 W Fry Rd, this 20-acre park is for nature walks. It has walking trails that go into the forest.
- Old City Park: Located at 304 S Meridian St, this park has been recently updated. It has new landscaping, sidewalks, and playground equipment.
- Summerfield Park: This 16-acre park at 275 W Worthsville Rd has open land for walking. It also has a large shelter house for rent.
- Surina Square Park: At 100 Surina Way, this park is near many city buildings like the Community Center and Police Department. It's a good spot during city events.
- Trails Park: Located at 1600 W Fry Road, this small, two-acre park helps prevent floods. You can only access it by foot.
- University Park: This 40-acre park at 200 Legacy Blvd is between neighborhoods. It has walking trails, a large playground, a dog park, and a basketball court. A pavilion and shelter are available for rent.
- Westside Park: At 820 W Main St, this 27-acre park is known for its walking paths along Pleasant Creek. It also has sports areas, picnic spots, and playgrounds. You can rent a shelter here.
- Woodmen Park: Located at 720 Ashmore Dr, this park is next to Greenwood High School. It has courts and fields for sports, and a few playgrounds. Its shelter is available for rental.
- Community Garden: This garden at 1190 W Fry Rd is open to everyone. Many groups use it to grow food for those in need. You can also rent space for private use.
- Northeast Skatepark: This skatepark at 100 Crestview Dr is part of Northeast Park. It's a concrete area for skateboarding and was updated in 2021.
Getting Around Greenwood
Greenwood has about 209.6 miles (337.3 km) of public streets.
Bus Services
Access Johnson County offers bus services in the city. IndyGo bus routes also serve parts of northern Greenwood. They connect to Access Johnson County routes.
Main Roads
Major roads that go east-west include County Line Road, Fry Road, Main Street, Smith Valley Road, Stop 18 Road, and Worthsville Road. These roads connect different parts of the city.
Major roads that go north-south include U.S. 31, State Road 135, and Interstate 65. Greenwood also has Madison Avenue, Emerson Avenue, and Graham Road.
Highway Access
Greenwood has three exits to Interstate 65. Exit 97 (Worthsville Road) has a special "diverging diamond" traffic design. This helps traffic flow smoothly. The other two exits, Exit 99 (Main Street) and Exit 101 (County Line Road), are also important for businesses and industries.
Airport and Railroad
- KHFY – Indy South Greenwood Airport is the local airport.
Freight train service is provided by the Louisville and Indiana Railroad (LIRC). The LIRC line runs through Greenwood from north to south.
Who Lives Here?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 448 | — | |
| 1890 | 862 | 92.4% | |
| 1900 | 1,503 | 74.4% | |
| 1910 | 1,608 | 7.0% | |
| 1920 | 1,907 | 18.6% | |
| 1930 | 2,377 | 24.6% | |
| 1940 | 2,499 | 5.1% | |
| 1950 | 3,066 | 22.7% | |
| 1960 | 7,169 | 133.8% | |
| 1970 | 11,869 | 65.6% | |
| 1980 | 19,327 | 62.8% | |
| 1990 | 26,265 | 35.9% | |
| 2000 | 36,037 | 37.2% | |
| 2010 | 49,791 | 38.2% | |
| 2020 | 63,830 | 28.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 49,791 people living in Greenwood. There were 19,615 households, which are groups of people living together. About 35.7% of these households had children under 18.
The average age in Greenwood was 34 years old. About 26.6% of residents were under 18. About 51.6% of the population was female and 48.4% was male.
Jobs and Businesses in Greenwood
In 2023, Greenwood had 3,176 businesses. These businesses employed 25,386 people.
Main Job Areas
The top job areas in Greenwood are:
| Rank | Job Categories | Number of Employees | % of Total Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Services (like healthcare, hotels, and repairs) | 8,896 | 35.04% |
| 2 | Retail Trade (stores that sell things) | 7,226 | 28.46% |
| 3 | Transportation and Communications (like shipping and phone companies) | 2,382 | 9.38% |
| 4 | Construction (building homes and other structures) | 2,220 | 8.74% |
| 5 | Finance, Insurance, and Real Estate (banks, insurance, property) | 2,108 | 8.30% |
| 6 | Manufacturing (making products) | 1,081 | 4.26% |
| 7 | Wholesale Trade (selling goods to other businesses) | 1,046 | 4.12% |
| 8 | Agricultural, Forestry, Fishing (farming, logging, fishing) | 214 | 0.84% |
| 9 | Public Administration (government jobs) | 211 | 0.83% |
Well-Known Businesses
Several large companies have their main offices or big facilities in Greenwood.
- Endress+Hauser: A Swiss company that makes tools for factories. Their U.S. headquarters is in Greenwood.
- Nachi America Inc.: This company makes machine tools. Their main office and factories are in Greenwood.
- Amazon: Has a large warehouse (fulfillment center) in Greenwood. It employs about 1,000 people.
- Milwaukee Electric Tool: A company that makes power tools. They opened a service center in Greenwood in 2021.
Greenwood also has four craft breweries. Oaken Barrel Brewing Co. has been in Greenwood since 1994. It is the second oldest brewpub in Indiana.
In 2022, CALLERLAB, an international group for square dance callers, moved its main office to Greenwood.
Schools and Learning in Greenwood
Most Greenwood residents (91.1%) have graduated from high school. About 31.1% have a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
Three public school systems serve students in Greenwood:
- Greenwood Community School Corporation
- Clark-Pleasant Community School Corporation
- Center Grove Community School Corporation
Greenwood Community School Corporation
- High School: Greenwood Community High School
- Middle School: Greenwood Community Middle School
- Elementary Schools: Southwest Elementary School, Northeast Elementary School, V.O. Isom Elementary School, Westwood Elementary School
Clark-Pleasant Community School Corporation
- High School: Whiteland Community High School
- Middle School: Clark-Pleasant Middle School
- Elementary Schools: Clark Elementary School, Grassy Creek Elementary School, Pleasant Crossing Elementary School
Center Grove Community School Corporation
- High School: Center Grove High School
- Middle Schools: Center Grove Middle School Central, Center Grove Middle School North
- Elementary Schools: Center Grove Elementary School, North Grove Elementary School, Pleasant Grove Elementary School, Sugar Grove Elementary School, Maple Grove Elementary School, Walnut Grove Elementary School
Private Schools
- Our Lady of Greenwood – Preschool to 8th grade
- St. Francis and Clare Catholic School – Preschool to 8th grade
- Greenwood Christian Academy – Kindergarten to 12th grade
- Suburban Christian School – Preschool to 12th grade
Colleges and Universities
- Indiana Baptist College
- Indiana Institute of Technology (a regional campus)
- Indiana Wesleyan University (a regional education center)
Public Library
The city has the Greenwood Public Library. The Johnson County Public Library also has another branch in Greenwood.
See also
In Spanish: Greenwood (Indiana) para niños
