Hartford City, Indiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids

Hartford City, Indiana

Clockwise from top: Blackford County Courthouse, First Presbyterian Church, Hartford City's Cox Building, The Tyner building

Flag

Seal

Motto(s):

"The One And Only"

Location of Hartford City in Blackford County, Indiana.

United States

1839

1857

1894

Government

• Type

Mayor-council government

• Body

Hartford City Council

Area

• Total

3.90 sq mi (10.10 km²)

• Land

3.88 sq mi (10.05 km²)

• Water

0.02 sq mi (0.05 km²)

Elevation

919 ft (280 m)

Population

(2020)

• Total

6,086

• Density

1,567.75/sq mi (605.34/km²)

Time zone

UTC-5 (Eastern)

• Summer (DST)

UTC-4 (Eastern)

47348

18-32242

GNIS feature ID

2394309

Website

http://www.hartfordcity.net

Hartford City is a city in the state of Indiana, USA. It is the main city and county seat of Blackford County. The city is located in the northeast central part of Indiana.

Hartford City started as a small farming community. In the late 1880s, it experienced a huge economic boost. This was due to the Indiana Gas Boom, when natural gas was found in the area. The gas boom changed the local economy from farming to manufacturing. Many workers, shops, and craftspeople moved to the city. This growth led to new roads, schools, and churches.

After the gas boom, Hartford City continued to grow steadily. Farming remained important to the economy. From the 1920s to the 1970s, the city did well. However, as farming became more automated, fewer workers were needed. Some people moved to nearby cities for jobs in factories. Even with these changes, Hartford City kept the paper company, 3M, as a major employer.

Today, the city government works to bring new manufacturing jobs to Hartford City. They have helped businesses that use recycled or farm materials. Many young people leave to go to college and find professional jobs elsewhere. The city's population was 6,086 in 2020.

A Look at Hartford City's Past

Hartford City began in the late 1830s. It was just a few log cabins near a creek. Local stories say it was first called "Hart's ford." This was a place where people could cross Lick Creek. The name changed to Hartford, then to Hartford City. This helped avoid confusion with another town named Hartford in Indiana.

The community became the county seat of Blackford County in 1837. It officially became a town in 1867. For most of the 1800s, Hartford City was a small farming town. Its population was less than 2,000 people.

The Indiana Gas Boom

After 1887, the area grew quickly because of the Indiana Gas Boom. Natural gas was found, and it was very cheap. Hartford City's population tripled in just ten years. Many factories moved to the region to use the cheap gas and land. Hartford City also had two railroad lines, which helped businesses.

Factories like Hartford City Glass Company and Sneath Glass Company opened. Paper companies and lumber businesses also started here in the 1890s. Even though the natural gas supply ran out, many of these businesses stayed open for a long time. Later, leaders attracted companies like Overhead Door (1923) and 3M (1955). These companies became the city's main employers.

Where is Hartford City Located?

Hartford City is built on old natural gas fields. The ground also has limestone from ancient seas. The land is flat because of a prehistoric glacier. This makes the soil great for farming.

The city covers about 3.9 square miles (10.1 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.

Main Roads and Highways

Hartford City is connected by important roads:

Indiana State Road 3
Indiana State Road 26
Interstate 69 (about 10 miles or 16 km west of the city)

Nearby Cities

Several cities are close to Hartford City:

Upland – about 8 miles (13 km) west
Montpelier – about 12 miles (19 km) northeast
Dunkirk – about 14 miles (23 km) southeast
Muncie – about 19 miles (31 km) south
Marion – about 23 miles (37 km) northwest

Hartford City's Climate

Hartford City has a typical humid continental climate with four clear seasons. Winters are cold with some snow. Summers are warm and humid.

The average high temperature in July is about 83°F (28°C). The average low temperature in January is about 18°F (-8°C). Summer temperatures can go above 90°F (32°C). Winter temperatures can drop below 0°F (-18°C). The city gets about 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) of rain each month. The most rain falls in June, July, and August.

Who Lives in Hartford City?

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1850	250	—
1860	618	147.2%
1870	878	42.1%
1880	1,470	67.4%
1890	2,287	55.6%
1900	5,912	158.5%
1910	6,187	4.7%
1920	6,183	−0.1%
1930	6,613	7.0%
1940	6,946	5.0%
1950	7,253	4.4%
1960	8,053	11.0%
1970	8,207	1.9%
1980	7,622	−7.1%
1990	6,960	−8.7%
2000	6,928	−0.5%
2010	6,220	−10.2%
2020	6,086	−2.2%
US Decennial Census

In 2010, there were 6,220 people living in Hartford City. The city had 2,666 households. Most residents (97.3%) were White. About 1.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average age in the city was 41.3 years old. About 23.1% of residents were under 18. About 18.4% were 65 or older.

Hartford City's Economy

Downtown Hartford City

Many people in Hartford City work in the transportation equipment industry. This industry provides the most jobs for the city. Hartford City is working to create more jobs within the city itself. This makes it less reliant on jobs in nearby cities.

Currently, six businesses in Hartford City employ between 100 and 350 people. The largest of these are 3M Company, Petoskey Plastic, BRC Rubber Group, Inc., Blackford Community Hospital, and New Indy Paper Mill. Many other local businesses employ 25 to 100 people. Farming also plays a big role in the town's economy and community life.

Culture and Community Life

Hartford City's Library

Hartford City's culture is shaped by its history and community activities. The town square is like a "living museum." It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Many buildings there were built during the gas boom. They show different old architectural styles.

The Blackford County Courthouse and First Presbyterian Church are also historic landmarks. The courthouse lawn has monuments honoring war heroes. The town has a small museum and a library. The main public library is a Carnegie library, built with money from Andrew Carnegie in 1903.

Fun and Recreation

Sports and recreation are very important in Hartford City. The city's Parks Department manages four parks and a public swimming pool. There are four golf courses within 10 miles (16 km) of the city.

For fishing, there are small lakes like Lake Placid. A larger lake, Salamonie Lake, is about 29 miles (47 km) away. It offers boating, fishing, and swimming. Nearby state parks include Ouabache, Mounds, and Summit Lake.

Hartford City has sports leagues for baseball, softball, soccer, and football. Indiana is famous for its high school basketball. Hartford City High School won many tournaments before it joined with Montpelier High School in 1969 to form Blackford High School. Blackford High School's football team also won state championships in 1974-75 and 1979-80. The Blackford High School gym can seat 4,000 people, which is a lot for a town of less than 7,000!

Farming's Influence

Farming has a strong impact on Hartford City's culture. The main crops grown in the area are soybeans and corn. Some wheat and hay are also grown. The local Farm Bureau office is in Hartford City.

The 4-H youth organization is very active here. The annual county 4-H fair happens in June. It includes a rodeo, horse show, dog show, and livestock exhibits. There's also a carnival and a mile-long parade.

Places of Worship

Hartford City's Presbyterian Church

The United Methodist Church is the largest church in Hartford City. Other churches include Catholic, Church of the Nazarene, Christian, Lutheran, Wesleyan, Baptist, and Presbyterian. The Methodists and Presbyterians were the first to build churches in town. The First Presbyterian Church and the Christian Church buildings were built during the Gas Boom in the 1890s.

News and Media

The local daily newspaper (except Sunday) is the News Times. Hartford City has a history of having two newspapers. The News Times combines the history of the Hartford City News and the Hartford City Times. During the Gas Boom, the town had four newspapers!

Many radio stations can be heard in Hartford City. These include local stations WMXQ and WHCI, both FM stations. Television stations from Indianapolis and nearby cities also reach Hartford City.

Learning and Education

Indiana offers many college choices. These include well-known universities like Ball State University, Indiana University, Purdue, and Notre Dame.

Colleges and Universities Nearby

Hartford City has at least four colleges and universities within 21 miles (34 km).

Ball State University is the largest. It is about 18 miles (29 km) away in Muncie, Indiana.
Ivy Tech State College-East Central is also in Muncie.
Indiana Wesleyan University is a private school about 21 miles (34 km) away in Marion, Indiana.
Taylor University is another private school. It is about 7 miles (11 km) away in Upland.

Local Schools

Hartford City's Blackford High School

Blackford High School is on the north side of Hartford City. It has served the whole county since 1969. About 700 students attend the high school.

Hartford City Middle School is on the west side of town. Students in grades 6 through 8 go there. Northside Elementary School serves grades 3 through 5. Southside Elementary School serves grades K through 4. Hartford City also has a private Catholic elementary school, Saint John's Riedman Memorial School.

How People Travel in Hartford City

East Central Indiana

In the past, Hartford City had an advantage with two railroad lines crossing in the city. One line runs north-south and is still in use by Norfolk Southern. The east-west line is no longer used.

Hartford City also has a good highway system. Indiana State Road 3 runs north-south through the city. Indiana State Road 26 runs east-west. Interstate 69 is less than 10 miles (16 km) away. It is a convenient way to drive to Fort Wayne or Indianapolis.

There are small airports near Hartford City. Larger airports in Fort Wayne and Indianapolis offer commercial flights.

Famous People from Hartford City

Edward Everett Cox, newspaper publisher
Henry Crimmel, glassmaker
Larry Monroe, radio personality
Jay H. Neff, newspaper publisher and Mayor of Kansas City, Missouri
George Washington Steele, U.S. representative
Wayne Townsend, member of the Indiana Senate
Cheryl Willman, cancer researcher
Kevin A. Ford, retired Air Force Colonel and NASA astronaut
Edwin H. Ford, inventor and founder of The Ford Meter Box Company
Maurice Clifford Townsend, Indiana governor

Images for kids

Edward Everett Cox, who started the first newspaper in Hartford City.