Kokomo, Indiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kokomo, Indiana
City
Clockwise from top: Downtown Kokomo from Civic Center Tower, Seiberling Mansion, downtown art work, corner of Walnut and Main Street downtown
Seal
Nickname(s):  City of Firsts
Location of Kokomo in Howard County, Indiana
Kokomo, Indiana Location in Indiana Show map of Indiana Kokomo, Indiana Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Indiana
County	Howard
Named for	Ma-Ko-Ko-Mo
Government
• Type	Mayor-council government
Area
• Total	36.79 sq mi (95.29 km2)
• Land	36.68 sq mi (95.00 km2)
• Water	0.11 sq mi (0.29 km2)
Elevation	820 ft (250 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	59,604
• Estimate  (2023)	59,890
• Density	1,620.11/sq mi (625.50/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	46901-46904
Area code(s)	765
FIPS code	18-40392
GNIS ID	2395560

Kokomo (koh-KƏ-moh) is a city in Indiana, United States. It is the main city of Howard County. In 2023, about 59,890 people lived there. Kokomo is a big city and a center for the North Central Indiana area. This region has about 225,000 people. The city is about 60 miles (97 km) north of Indianapolis.

Kokomo is named after Ma-Ko-Ko-Mo, a leader of the Miami people. The city grew a lot after natural gas was found in the mid-1880s. This led to many new businesses, including early car makers. Many new inventions were made in Kokomo, especially for cars. Because of this, Kokomo is known as the "City of Firsts." Even today, many jobs in Kokomo are related to the car industry.

History of Kokomo

How Kokomo Started

The city of Kokomo is named after a Miami man called Ma-Ko-Ko-Mo. He was thought to be one of the sons of Chief Richardville. People say that David Foster, who helped start Kokomo, named the town after "Chief Kokomo." He called him "the ornriest Indian on earth." Foster said the town was "the ornriest town on earth" too!

David Foster, Founder of Kokomo

In the 1840s, there were only about 200 Miami people left in Howard County. Their main village was also called Kokomo. David Foster had a trading post nearby. In 1844, when Howard County was being set up, Foster gave 40 acres (16 ha) of land for the new town. This land was north of Wildcat Creek. The first log courthouse was finished in 1845.

In 1855, the town of Kokomo officially became a town. The people voted 62 to 3 for it. Then, in 1865, Kokomo became a city. Nelson Purdum was elected as the first mayor.

Early Growth and Railroads

Kokomo started growing quickly after land lots were sold in 1844. David Foster got the first license to sell goods in town. Other merchants soon followed. John Bohan, a big shop owner, built the first two-story house in the whole county in 1844.

By 1850, Kokomo had its own newspaper, the Howard Tribune. By 1851, the county needed more buildings for its business. So, two brick buildings were built for county offices.

In 1854, the first train came to Kokomo. The Peru and Indianapolis Railroad connected Kokomo with Indianapolis. This helped the town grow even more. Later, the Pennsylvania Railroad also built a line through Kokomo.

The most important train line for Kokomo was the Clover Leaf line. This railroad eventually connected Kokomo to both the West Coast and the East Coast of the United States. It started as a small line between Frankfort and Kokomo in 1874.

The Natural Gas Boom

In March 1886, a group of people in Kokomo decided to look for natural gas. On October 6, 1886, they found it! Natural gas burst out of the ground.

Natural gas miners and their drill, near Kokomo, Indiana during the Indiana Gas Boom, around 1885

This discovery led to the Indiana Gas Boom. It brought many new people and businesses to Kokomo. For example, Elwood Haynes, a famous inventor, moved to Kokomo because of the gas boom. The Diamond Plate Glass Company (now part of PPG Industries) started in Kokomo in 1887. The Kokomo Opalescent Glass Works began making stained glass in 1888 and is still working today!

"City of Firsts"

Because of the natural gas boom, many new industries came to Kokomo. These industries led to many amazing inventions. That's why Kokomo is known as the "City of Firsts."

Elwood Haynes driving in his first car, the 1894 Pioneer, photo taken around 1910

One of the most famous inventions was the car! Elwood Haynes test-drove his first car on July 4, 1894, in Kokomo. It was one of the first cars in the United States. Haynes and his friends later started the Haynes-Apperson Automobile Company in 1898 to build cars for sale. Haynes also invented stainless steel flatware in 1912. He wanted his wife to have silverware that wouldn't tarnish. In 1938, Delco Radio (now Aptiv) made the first push-button car radio in Kokomo.

Kokomo also has "firsts" in the food world. In 1928, Walter Kemp created the first canned tomato juice. He did this because a doctor needed baby food for his clinic. Also, the first mechanical corn picker was made in Kokomo by John Powell in the 1920s. The very first Ponderosa Steakhouse opened in Kokomo in 1965. Kokomo even had the first McDonald's with a diner inside, called "McDiner."

1904 newspaper advertisement for Haynes-Apperson

Here are some other inventions linked to Kokomo:

• 1894 – Elwood Haynes drove his "horseless carriage" for the first time.
• 1894 – The first rubber tire for cars in the U.S. was made by D.C. Spraker.
• 1895 – The first aluminum casting was made by William "Billy" Johnson.
• 1902 – The Kingston carburetor was invented by George Kingston.
• 1906 – The first Stellite metal alloy was found by Elwood Haynes.
• 1912 – Stainless steel tableware was invented by Elwood Haynes.
• 1918 – The Howitzer shell, used in World War I, was created.
• 1918 – The first aerial bomb with fins was made.
• 1920 – The mechanical corn picker was invented by John Powell.
• 1923 – William Swern Sr. made the first machine to build car tires quickly.
• 1928 – The first canned tomato juice was created by Walter Kemp.
• 1938 – The first push-button car radio was made by Delco Radio.
• 1941 – The first all-metal lifeboats and rafts were made.
• 1947 – The first signal-seeking car radio was created by Delco Radio.
• 1956 – Delco Radio made a car radio that used both vacuum tubes and transistors.
• 1957 – Delco Radio made the first all-transistor car radio.

The 1913 Flood

From March 21 to 26, 1913, Kokomo had a very bad flood. Over 6.5 inches (17 cm) of rain fell. The Wildcat Creek overflowed and became almost 1 mile (1.6 km) wide. Many areas were damaged, and the power plant was flooded, causing a loss of electricity. By March 26, the water level dropped, and the flooding ended.

Continental Steel Cleanup

From 1914 to 1986, the Continental Steel Corporation made nails, wire, and fences in Kokomo. They used and stored some dangerous materials. After the company closed in 1986, pollution was found in the soil and water. This included lead and other metals.

The site became a Superfund site in 1989. This means it was a very polluted place that needed a big cleanup. In 2009, money was given to help clean up the area. About 86,000 short tons (78,000 metric tons) of polluted material were moved. Clean soil was put on top of the area. The cleanup was finished in 2011. In 2016, a Solar farm was built on the old site, using clean energy.

Ryan White and AIDS Awareness

Ryan White in 1989 at a fundraising event in Indianapolis

In the mid-1980s, Kokomo became known because of Ryan White. Ryan was a teenager with hemophilia who got HIV from blood products. He was going to Western Middle School, but some people were afraid of his illness. He was made to eat lunch alone and use a separate restroom. Many parents and teachers wanted him banned from school.

Ryan and his family faced threats and violence. News about his case made him famous across the country. He became a voice for AIDS research and education. In 1987, Ryan and his family moved away from Kokomo. He was welcomed at his new school. His story helped people learn more about AIDS and be more understanding.

The Gas Tower

The Kokomo Gas Tower was a symbol of the city since it was built in 1954. It was 378 feet (115 m) tall. But it cost a lot to keep up. In 2003, the gas company decided to take it down. On September 7, 2003, the Gas Tower was taken down. Pieces of the tower were sold to the public to raise money for local projects.

Geography and Climate

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  Weather in Kokomo during December 2016

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  Weather in Kokomo during December 2016

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  U.S. 31 during winters near Kokomo

Kokomo covers about 18.5 square miles (48 km²). Most of this area is land. Kokomo has a humid continental climate. This means it has warm, humid summers and cold winters.

Tornadoes in Kokomo

Kokomo has been hit by several tornadoes over the years.

• 1965 Palm Sunday Tornado: On April 11, 1965, a very strong F4 tornado hit the southern part of Kokomo. It was 800 yards (730 m) wide and killed 25 people in the area. Many buildings were badly damaged, including a Chrysler plant and schools.
• 2016 Tornado: On August 24, 2016, an EF3 tornado caused a lot of damage. It hit about 1,000 homes on the south side of the city. 80 homes were completely destroyed. A Starbucks building was also destroyed, trapping people inside. This tornado followed a path very similar to one in 2013.
• Other Tornadoes: Between 1950 and 2015, Kokomo had 18 tornadoes. On March 6, 1961, two F3 tornadoes hit, killing one person. On April 20, 2004, two tornadoes hit the northern part of Kokomo for the first time. They caused some damage but no deaths. On November 17, 2013, two EF2 tornadoes hit the southern part of the city, damaging over 300 homes and businesses.

Kokomo Neighborhoods

Kokomo has many different neighborhoods. Some of them include:

• Berkley Meadows
• Bon Air
• Cedar Crest
• Country Club Hills
• Cricket Hill
• Darrough Chapel
• Doral Park
• Downtown Kokomo
• Emerald Lake
• Fairlawn
• Forest Park
• Forest Park Estates
• Fredrick Farms
• Greentree
• Highland Springs
• Holiday Hills
• Holiday Park
• Indian Heights
• Ivy Hills
• Maple Crest
• Markland Heights
• Mayfield
• Old Silk Stocking
• Orleans Southwest
• Pittsburgh Plate Glass
• Stonybrook
• Sycamore Village
• Terrace Gardens
• Terrace Meadows
• The Preserves at Bridgewater
• Urbandale
• Vinton Woods
• Water's Edge
• Old Westbrook
• New Westbrook
• Western Woods
• Willowridge
• Webster Estates
• Wynterbrook

Population and People

Location of the Kokomo-Peru CSA and its components:      Kokomo Metropolitan Statistical Area      Peru Micropolitan Statistical Area

Kokomo is the main city of the Kokomo metropolitan area. This area is part of a larger Combined Statistical Area that includes Indianapolis. In 2022, this larger area had over 2.6 million people.

In 2010, there were 45,468 people living in Kokomo. About 83.5% of the people were White, and 10.7% were African American. About 3.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino. The average age in the city was 38.2 years old.

Kokomo's Economy

Downtown Kokomo in 2008

Kokomo's economy relies a lot on manufacturing, especially making car parts. The city was hit hard by the economic recession that started in 2007. In 2008, Forbes magazine even called Kokomo one of "America's fastest dying towns." This was mainly because of problems in the car industry.

However, Kokomo has made a great comeback! In 2011, Forbes listed Kokomo as one of the "Best Cities for Jobs." They said the city's success was "inspirational" and due to a "revival in manufacturing."

Major employers in Kokomo include:

• Chrysler Division of Stellantis (with several plants making transmissions and engines)
• BorgWarner
• GM Components Holdings LLC
• Haynes International
• Holder Mattress
• Syndicate Sales, Inc.
• Coca-Cola bottling plant
• Bona Vista (a charity organization)

Arts and Culture

Seiberling Mansion

Historic Buildings in Kokomo

Photograph of the Elliott House in the Old Silk Stocking Historic District

Many buildings in Kokomo are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites. Some of these include:

• Elwood Haynes House: This was the home of the famous inventor Elwood Haynes.
• Kokomo City Building
• Kokomo Country Club Golf Course
• Kokomo Courthouse Square Historic District
• Kokomo High School and Memorial Gymnasium
• Lake Erie and Western Depot Historic District
• Learner Building
• Old Silk Stocking Historic District: This is the only neighborhood in the U.S. listed on the National Register.
• Seiberling Mansion: This grand house was built for Monroe Seiberling, a very rich citizen of Kokomo.
• Howard Masonic Temple

Festivals and Events

Kokomo hosts fun festivals throughout the year:

• Haynes-Apperson Festival: This festival celebrates the city's history of invention, especially cars. It happens during the Independence Day weekend.
• WeberFest: Held in Foster Park.
• Kokomo Con: A convention held in October at the Kokomo Event Center.

Sports in Kokomo

The City of First Roller Girls (started in 2010) play roller derby. Indiana University of Kokomo (IUK) has sports teams called the Cougars. They play in 12 different sports.

Former Sports Teams

Some teams that used to play in Kokomo include:

• Indiana Mustangs (football)
• Kokomo Dodgers (baseball)
• Kokomo CFD Saints (baseball)
• Kokomo CFD Knights (baseball)
• Kokomo Mantis FC (soccer)

Sports Venues

Kokomo has several places where sports are played:

• Highland Park Stadium
• Kokomo Speedway
• Memorial Gymnasium
• Kokomo Municipal Stadium
• Wildcat Creek Soccer Complex
• Student Activities and Events Center

Parks and Recreation

Old Ben – The world's largest preserved steer, born in 1902

The Vermont Covered Bridge – A historic bridge in Highland Park

Kokomo has many parks and fun places:

• Chief Ma-Ko-Ko-Mo Burial and Monument: A historical site east of downtown.
• Elwood Haynes Museum: Learn about the inventor Elwood Haynes. It's next to Highland Park.
• Foster Park
• Kokomo Country Club: A golf club.

Trails and Paths

Kokomo has great trails for walking, running, and biking:

• Wildcat Creek Walk of Excellence: Over 3 miles (4.8 km) of paved trail along Wildcat Creek. It connects several parks.
• Industrial Heritage Trail: This trail is 5.7 miles (9.2 km) long and connects to the Nickel Plate Trail.
• Nickel Plate Trail: This trail connects Kokomo to other towns like Rochester and Peru.
• The Cloverleaf Trail: Added in 2018, this trail starts downtown and goes southwest.

Education in Kokomo

Colleges and Universities

Kokomo has several options for higher education:

• Indiana University Kokomo (IUK)
• Indiana Wesleyan University – Kokomo Campus
• Ivy Tech Community College
• Purdue Polytechnic Institute Kokomo

Public Schools

Kokomo has a few public school districts:

• Kokomo-Center Township Consolidated School Corporation (K-12): This covers most neighborhoods in the city.
• Northwestern School Corporation (K–12): For the northern part of town.
• Taylor Community School Corporation (K-12): Includes the Indian Heights neighborhood.
• Western School Corporation (K-12): Covers the Pine Valley/Jackson Morrow Park area.

Private Schools

There are also several private schools in Kokomo:

• Acacia Academy (K-8)
• Agape Garden Montessori School
• Children's Christian Academy
• Christian Heritage Academy
• F.D. Reese Christian Academy (K-3)
• Redeemer Lutheran School (K-8)
• Sts. Joan of Arc and St. Patrick Catholic School (K-8)
• Temple Christian School (K-12)
• Victory Christian Academy (K-12)

Public Library

The city has a public library called the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library.

Media and News

Newspapers

• Kokomo Tribune: A daily newspaper.
• The Correspondent: The student newspaper for Indiana University Kokomo.
• The Kokomo Post: An online news source.

Television

• WTTK: A CBS TV channel.
• KGOV: Kokomo's government access channel.

Radio

Kokomo has many radio stations playing different types of music and shows:

• WFIU-FM: Jazz, Classical, NPR – 106.1 FM
• WFRN-FM: Christian Radio – 93.7 FM
• WIOU-AM: Talk, News and Sports – 1350 AM
• WIWC-FM: Christian Radio – 91.7 FM
• WMYK-FM: Rock – 98.5 FM
• WSHW-FM: Contemporary Christian – 99.7 FM
• WJJD-LP: Christian Radio 74 - 101.3 FM
• WTSX-FM: Hip-Hop, Gospel, Soul, Rock-n-Roll, EDM & Top 40 – 104.9 FM
• WWKI-FM: Hit Country – 100.5 FM
• WZWZ-FM: Bright Adult Contemporary – 92.5 FM

City Services and Transport

Airports

• Kokomo Municipal Airport

Highways

US 31 in Kokomo in 2005, now called State Road 931.

Several important highways pass through Kokomo:

• US-31: Goes north to South Bend and south to Indianapolis.
• US-35: Goes north to Logansport and south to Muncie.
• IN-931: This was the old US 31 through Kokomo.
• IN-19
• IN-22
• IN-26

US 31 used to have many traffic lights in Kokomo. As part of a big project, a new US 31 was built to go around the east side of the city. This new road opened in 2013, making travel faster. The old US 31 through town was renamed State Road 931.

Railroads

• Central Railroad of Indianapolis
• Winamac Southern Railway

Bus Service

• Miller Transportation offers bus service to Indianapolis and South Bend.
• Kokomo City-Line Trolley: This is a local bus system with five routes. Buses run every hour from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. The buses also have free Wi-Fi for riders.

Water Quality

In 1995, a water treatment plant found small amounts of a chemical called vinyl chloride in the groundwater. In 2007, more of this chemical was found in some city wells. A water treatment system helps remove the chemical from the drinking water. The area was added to the Superfund list in 2015, meaning it's a site that needs a plan for cleanup.

Entertainment

Kokomo has a 12-screen movie theater called AMC Showplace Kokomo 12. There are also live entertainment options, including choirs, a Park Band, and three live theaters.

Shopping

The main mall in Kokomo is Markland Mall, which has a Target store. The Kokomo Town Center used to be an indoor mall, but it was updated in 2011 to become an outdoor shopping area.

Notable People from Kokomo

See also

In Spanish: Kokomo (Indiana) para niños