Terre Haute, Indiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Terre Haute
City
Terre Haute City Hall in 2012
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  "Queen City of the Wabash" "The Crossroads of America," "Capital of the Wabash Valley"
Motto(s):  "A Level Above"
Location of Terre Haute in Vigo County, Indiana.
Terre Haute Location in Indiana Show map of Indiana Terre Haute Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Indiana
County	Vigo
Government
• Type	Mayor-council government
• Body	Terre Haute City Council
Area
• Total	35.16 sq mi (91.07 km2)
• Land	34.77 sq mi (90.06 km2)
• Water	0.39 sq mi (1.01 km2)
Elevation	499 ft (152 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	58,389
• Density	1,679.15/sq mi (648.33/km2)
Demonym(s)	Hautean /ˈhoʊʃɪn/
Time zone	UTC−5 ([Eastern Time Zone])
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	47801-47805, 47807-47809
Area code(s)	812 & 930
FIPS code	18-75428
GNIS feature ID	444648

Terre Haute (/ˈtɛrə ˈhoʊt/ TERR-ə-_-hoht) is a city in Vigo County, Indiana, United States. It is about 5 miles (8 km) east of Indiana's border with Illinois. In 2020, the city had about 58,389 people. Its larger metropolitan area had a population of 168,716.

Terre Haute is located along the Wabash River. It is one of the biggest cities in the Wabash Valley. People sometimes call it the "Queen City of the Wabash." The city is home to several colleges and universities. These include Indiana State University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, and Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana.

History of Terre Haute

Terre Haute's name comes from a French phrase, terre haute. This means "highland" in French. French-Canadian explorers and fur traders gave it this name in the early 1700s. They used it to describe the unique high land above the Wabash River.

Early Settlements & Growth

Fort Harrison was built in 1811 near what is now Terre Haute.

The building of Fort Harrison in 1811 was the start of European-American settlement here. A Wea Native American village was already near the fort. Their orchards and meadows became the site of today's city. The village of Terre Haute was planned out in 1816.

Terre Haute became the main city of the new Vigo County in 1818. This helped its population grow. In 1832, the village's 1,000 residents voted to become an official town. It became a city in 1853.

Transportation & Industry Growth

Early Terre Haute was a center for farming and food processing. But the city grew mostly because of transportation. The Wabash River, the National Road (now US 40), and the Wabash and Erie Canal connected Terre Haute to other places.

The economy relied on iron and steel factories. Later, distilleries, breweries, and bottle makers became important. Coal mines also grew to support the railroads. Farming remained very important, especially corn for food and drinks.

Cultural Development & Challenges

In the late 1800s, the city grew steadily. Neighborhoods improved with better fire protection and new hospitals and churches. Terre Haute became known for its arts and entertainment. Grand opera houses hosted many shows. It was also a popular stop for vaudeville performances.

Electric trolleys in the 1890s made it easy for people to travel. They could go to baseball games, picnics, and amusement parks. A famous racetrack, now Memorial Stadium, opened in 1886. It attracted the best horse racers.

On March 23, 1913, a large tornado hit the city. It destroyed over 300 homes, killed 21 people, and injured 250. This was the deadliest tornado in Indiana at that time. Heavy rains after the tornado caused the Wabash River to flood.

Economic Changes & Modern Growth

Like other U.S. cities, Terre Haute faced economic ups and downs. The Great Depression slowed the economy. Prohibition and the decline of railroads also hurt the city's industries. However, in 1940, a new United States prison was built south of the city.

World War II brought an economic boost. Three ordnance plants (factories making military supplies) opened in the county. Coal, railroad, and farming industries also grew. Terre Haute continued to rely on factories like Quaker Maid, a large food processing plant.

After the war, more factories came to Terre Haute. These included Pfizer (1948), Allis-Chalmers (1951), Columbia Records (1954), and Anaconda Aluminum (1959). The city's downtown changed when Interstate 70 was built in the late 1960s. Many downtown businesses moved to the new Honey Creek Mall in 1968.

Groups like the Terre Haute Committee for Area Progress worked to improve the economy. They developed the Fort Harrison Industrial Park in the 1970s. In the 1980s, Grow Terre Haute helped bring new stores and factories. This included the Digital Audio Disc Corporation (DADC), the first American factory to make compact discs.

Terre Haute, like other Midwest manufacturing cities, faced challenges in the late 1900s. People moved away, and some old factories closed. However, the city's economy stayed strong because it had many different types of businesses. Manufacturing is still important, thanks to the Vigo County Industrial Park. This park is home to major companies like Staples and Advics.

The downtown area has also been revitalized. New buildings, like the First Financial Bank headquarters, were built. Indiana State University has also helped downtown grow. New hotels, businesses, and attractions like the Terre Haute Children's Museum have made the area more appealing. A new downtown convention center was finished in 2021.

In 2019, people voted to allow a casino to be built. It opened in March 2024.

Geography of Terre Haute

Terre Haute is on the eastern bank of the Wabash River in western Indiana. It is about 75 miles (121 km) west of Indianapolis.

The city covers about 35.27 square miles (91.35 km²). About 2.08% of this area is covered by water.

The Wabash River is a major part of the city's geography, forming its western border. Small hills on the east side of town mark the edge of the old flood plain. Lost Creek and Honey Creek flow through the northern and southern parts of the city.

Terre Haute is at the crossing of two main roads: U.S. 40 and US 41. U.S. 40 goes from California to Maryland. U.S. 41 goes from Michigan to Florida. U.S. 41 is now called 3rd Street locally. Historically, it was 7th Street, making "7th and Wabash" known as the "Crossroads of America." Terre Haute is 77 miles (124 km) southwest of Indianapolis. It is also within 185 miles (298 km) of Chicago, St. Louis, Louisville, and Cincinnati.

Climate in Terre Haute

The climate in Terre Haute has warm summers and winters where temperatures are often near freezing. Rain is spread out evenly throughout the year. This type of climate is called Cfa (humid subtropical).

People of Terre Haute

In the 2020 census, Terre Haute had 58,389 people. The city's population density was about 1,679 people per square mile (648 per km²). The average age in the city was 32.5 years old. About 19.1% of residents were under 18.

Economy and Jobs

Major Employers in Terre Haute

Many different companies and organizations provide jobs in Terre Haute. Some of the largest employers include:

• Advics (automotive parts)
• Amcor (packaging)
• Casey's General Stores
• City of Terre Haute
• United States Federal Correctional Complex (a federal prison)
• First Financial Bank
• GE Aviation (aircraft parts)
• Indiana State University
• Ivy Tech Community College
• Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
• Sony Digital Audio Disc Corporation (Sony DADC)
• Taghleef Industries, Inc
• Terre Haute Regional Hospital
• Union Associated Physicians
• Union Hospital
• Vigo County School Corporation
• Vigo County
• Wabash Valley Correctional Facility

Federal Correctional Complex

Terre Haute is home to the Federal Correctional Complex. This complex includes a medium-security prison and a high-security prison.

Arts and Culture

Terre Haute has worked hard to improve its downtown area. Festivals, museums, restaurants, and new hotels have made downtown more lively. In 2010, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce named Terre Haute Indiana's Community of the Year.

Arts Scene

Swope Art Museum

The Terre Haute Arts Corridor is on 7th Street. It includes the Swope Art Museum and two art galleries. On the first Friday of every month, there are art shows, music, and social events.

The Swope Art Museum has been open and free since 1942. It has a collection of American art. This includes works by famous artists like Edward Hopper and Andy Warhol.

Indiana State University's Turman Art Gallery shows art by students and teachers. The university also has a large collection of Andy Warhol photographs and prints.

The historic Indiana Theater is a key part of the Arts Corridor. This beautiful theater, built in 1922, has been restored. It now hosts concerts, movies, and other events.

Performing Arts

The Community Theatre of Terre Haute started in 1928. It is a volunteer theater that puts on five plays and musicals each year.

Terre Haute also has the Crossroads Repertory Theatre. This is a professional theater company that has been around for over 40 years. They perform classic and new plays and musicals in the summer.

Hatfield Hall at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology has a 602-seat theater. It hosts a performing arts series every year. Indiana State University also has its own performing arts series. These shows include Broadway musicals, music acts, plays, and dance performances.

Music in Terre Haute

The Paul Dresser Birthplace in Fairbanks Park. Paul Dresser wrote Indiana's state song.

Terre Haute has many music venues and a strong music community. The Wabash Valley Musicians Hall of Fame honors local musicians each year.

The Blues at the Crossroads Festival brings over 15,000 blues fans to the city every September. Indiana State University hosts a statewide high-school jazz festival. Terre Haute is also the birthplace of musician and actor Scatman Crothers.

The Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra started in 1926. It is the oldest professional orchestra in Indiana. The orchestra performs concerts from September to April. They also put on a free Children's Concert for about 3,000 fourth graders.

Other music groups in Terre Haute include the Terre Haute Community Band and the Terre Haute Children's Choir.

Paul Dresser, a famous singer and songwriter from the late 1800s, was born in Terre Haute. In 1913, his song "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" became Indiana's state song. His birthplace in Fairbanks Park is now a museum.

Museums to Explore

The Eugene V. Debs House is a museum and a National Historic Landmark.

The Vigo County Historical Society Museum is in a large, four-level building downtown. It has many historical items from the area. The Terre Haute Children's Museum and the Clabber Girl Museum are also nearby.

The Terre Haute Children's Museum is a three-story science and technology museum. It offers hands-on exhibits for kids and adults. The museum also has traveling exhibits about weather and space for local schools.

The Clabber Girl Museum is in the historic Hulman & Company building. It shows the history of Clabber Girl, a very old American brand. It also teaches about baking. The museum is next to the factory where Clabber Girl Baking Powder is still made.

The Kleptz Antique Auto Museum displays old cars, motorcycles, and other car items. You can see unique vehicles like a 1902 clear plastic car.

The CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center was created by Holocaust survivor Eva Mozes Kor. It has exhibits and artifacts about the Holocaust.

The Eugene V. Debs House is another important museum. Debs was a leader of the Socialist Party of America and ran for president five times. His former home is now a museum on the Indiana State University campus. It is open to the public.

Sports in Terre Haute

The Terre Haute Rex is a summer baseball team for college players. They started in 2010 and play at Bob Warn Field. Their season runs from late May to early August. The team is named after Rex Coffee, a local product with a long history.

Terre Haute has a rich history in professional baseball. Many famous players have played here. These include Hall-of-Famers Mordecai Brown and Max Carey. The city's teams won seven titles in various leagues over the years.

Parks and Recreation

Terre Haute has been named a Tree City USA since 1999. This means the city does a great job managing its urban forests. Indiana State University is also recognized as a Tree Campus.

Terre Haute Parks Department

The pavilion in Collett Park.

The Terre Haute Parks Department manages over 1,000 acres (405 hectares) of land. This includes community parks, neighborhood parks, two golf courses, and trails.

Some popular parks include:

• Deming Park: This is the largest park, covering 177 acres (72 hectares). It has the Oakley Playground, a disc golf course, a public pool, and a miniature train. It also has basketball and tennis courts.
• Dobbs Park: This park has a nature center and a Native American museum. It features a pond, a restored prairie, a butterfly garden, and 3 miles (4.8 km) of trails.
• National Road Heritage Trail: This is a paved trail for walking, biking, and rollerblading. It is about 6.5 miles (10.5 km) long.

LaVern Gibson Championship Cross-Country Course

The LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course is special because it was built just for cross-country running. It is part of a 240-acre (97-hectare) sports center east of Terre Haute. The course is built on an old coal mine. It has different loops for various race lengths. Indiana State University's cross-country team uses this course for their home meets. It has also hosted national championship races.

Education in Terre Haute

Terre Haute is served by the Vigo County School Corporation. This school system manages 18 elementary schools, five middle schools, and three high schools. It teaches over 14,600 students from kindergarten to 12th grade.

Terre Haute is also home to several colleges and universities:

• Indiana State University (ISU) is in downtown Terre Haute. It has about 12,000 students. It has been recognized as one of the "Best in the Midwest" colleges for many years.
• Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology is a private engineering school east of the city. It is known as one of the top undergraduate engineering schools in the nation. It has about 2,200 students.
• Ivy Tech Community College is a community college in Terre Haute. It is part of a statewide system.

The city also has a public library, the Vigo County Public Library.

Media Outlets

Newspapers

• Tribune Star

Magazines

• Terre Haute Living
• Wabash Valley Business Monthly

Television Stations

• WTWO - NBC (Channel 2.1)
• WTHI - CBS (Channel 10.1)
• WAWV - ABC (Channel 38.1)

Radio Stations

• WISU - 89.7 FM - NPR
• WZIS - 90.7 FM - Variety
• WHOJ - 91.9 FM - Religious
• WFNF - 92.7 FM - Active Rock
• WHLR - 95.9 FM - Classic Country
• WMKI-LP - 96.9 FM - Alternative/Indie
• WWVR - 98.5 FM - Classic Rock
• WTHI - 99.9 FM - Country
• WMGI - 100.7 FM - Top40/Pop
• WBOW - 102.7 FM - Classic Hits
• WVIG - 105.5 FM - Classic country
• WYLJ - 107.5 FM - Religious
• WFNB - 1130 AM / 99.5 FM / 106.9 FM - Sports
• WIBQ - 1230 AM / 97.9 FM - News Talk
• WPFR - 1480 AM / 106.3 FM - Conservative Talk

Transportation

Airports

Two airports serve Terre Haute. The Terre Haute Regional Airport (HUF) works with military units and has a flight academy. Sky King Airport is north of Terre Haute and is mostly used for training and fun flights.

Highways

• Interstate 70 connects Terre Haute to St. Louis (west) and Indianapolis (east).
• US 40 goes to Effingham, Illinois (west) and Indianapolis (east).
• US 41 is the main north-south road on Terre Haute's west side. It goes to Rockville (north) and Evansville (south).
• US 150 enters Terre Haute from West Terre Haute.
• SR 46 starts west of Rose-Hulman and goes south towards Bloomington.
• SR 63 enters Terre Haute from the north, crossing the Wabash River.
• SR 641, also called the Terre Haute Bypass, is a highway that runs on the city's south side.
• SR 42 serves the far eastern edge of the city and passes by the Terre Haute Regional Airport.

Bus Service

All city and intercity buses use the downtown Cherry Street Multi-Modal Transportation Facility.

• The Terre Haute Transit Utility provides bus service throughout the city. In 2025, the city buses will not charge a fare.
• Greyhound Lines offers bus service to other states (St. Louis—Indianapolis).
• Miller Transportation Hoosier Ride provides daily bus service to Indianapolis.

Railways

Terre Haute used to be a big center for trains. Many different railroad companies had lines through the city. The last passenger train, Amtrak's National Limited, stopped running in 1979.

Notable People from Terre Haute

• Charles G. Abrell, a Marine and Medal of Honor recipient
• Ray Arcel, a boxing coach
• Birch Bayh, a former U.S. Senator from Indiana
• Max Carey, a Baseball Hall of Famer
• Scatman Crothers, a musician and actor
• Eugene V. Debs, a political leader and presidential candidate
• Terry Dischinger, a National Basketball Association player
• Theodore Dreiser, a famous author
• Paul Dresser, a singer and songwriter who wrote Indiana's state song
• Max Ehrmann, author of "Desiderata"
• Tony Hulman, former owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
• Tommy John, a pitcher for the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees
• Bobby Leonard, former coach of the Indiana Pacers
• Clyde Lovellette, a Basketball Hall of Famer
• Mick Mars, guitarist of Mötley Crüe
• Art Nehf, a Major League Baseball pitcher
• Brandon Sakbun, the current mayor of Terre Haute
• Janet Scudder, a sculptor and painter
• Abe Silverstein, an aerospace engineer
• Bill Thompson (voice actor), voice of Droopy Dog

Legends of Terre Haute

One famous Terre Haute legend is about Stiffy Green. This is a stone bulldog statue that used to guard a mausoleum in Highland Lawn Cemetery. It belonged to florist John G. Heinl. The statue is now kept at the Vigo County Historical Society Museum.

Sister Cities

Terre Haute has two sister cities:

• Tajimi, Gifu, Japan (since the 1960s)
• Tambov, Russia

See also

In Spanish: Terre Haute (Indiana) para niños