Noblesville, Indiana

Business

One of the fastest growing business communities in the entire United States, Noblesville, Indiana was ranked the 16th most affluent community in the country in a 2006 study, due in large part to the many incentives for local businesses to stay in the area [1]. Incentives, top of line infrastructure, and access to major roadways have all paved the way for Noblesville businesses to succeed, and with additional help from the city’s Economic Development Department, the Noblesville economy continues to grow [2].

A suburb of Indianapolis, Noblesville had to choose between staying a “bedroom community” for commuters to Indianapolis businesses or becoming a self-sufficient town in its own right. The town’s government chose the latter option, aggressively lobbying for new businesses to enter the area. In 2007, the Noblesville Corporate Campus was completed, a 3,600 acre facility meant to attract companies to the Noblesville area, a gambit that worked beautifully. Downton Courthouse Square hosts a number of local Noblesville businesses, while the Hamilton Town Center, a Noblesville shopping mall, is home to many larger chains [1].

Climate

The following table includes averagees for daily, monthly, and seasonal temperature/precipitation.  Visit our Noblesville Indiana weather page for more detailed information

Demographics

In the 2000 census, 28,590 people lived in Noblesville, Indiana, in a population density of 1,595.8 people per square mile. 96.34% of the town’s residents are white, with Latinos making up 1.39% of the population and African Americans making up 1.14%. Other ethnic groups, including Native Americans, Asians, and Pacific Islanders make up less than 1% of the population each. 62% of the 10,576 households in Noblesville are comprised of married couples, with 9.2% being single female householders. The median age in Noblesville is 33, and the majority of citizens (34.5%) were between the ages of 25 and 44. The median income for a family in Noblesville is $70,914, and only 5.4% of the population is under the poverty line [3].

Employers

Top employers in Noblesville, Indiana are spread throughout multiple disciplines, but many of the companies that provide jobs to Noblesville residents have roots in manufacturing. SMC Corporation of America, a pneumatic automation products manufacturing company, employs the most Noblesville residents (475); other top employers in Noblesville include King Systems Corporation (respiratory care manufacturing), Firestone Industrial Corporation (vehicular air spring manufacturing), Ryan Fireprotection Inc. (custom fire protection services), Industrial Dielectrics (plastic compound engineering), and Riverwalk Village, a nursing facility in Noblesville [4].

Fairs

Several Noblesville fairs and events happen every year, much to the delight of the town’s residents. The Noblesville Farmers Market is one of the longest running farmers’ markets in the country; it has run every Saturday from May to October since 1991. Soaps, fruits, vegetables, and hand-made crafts are all on sale at the Noblesville Farmers Market. On a larger scale, there’s the Noblesville Street Dance, a huge music event that fills downtown Noblesville with live music and vendors. Two music stages flank the festival area, and the fair also features a Kids’ Zone, an Ice Cream Eating Contest, a tractor pull, and a classic car show. Other popular fairs and events in Noblesville include Jazz Squared, where jazz musicians from Indianapolis and beyond perform in the Noblesville Courthouse Square, and First Fridays, a themed event that takes place on the first Friday of every month [5].

Geography

Known as the middle of the Corn Belt, the 2000 U.S. Census placed Noblesville as the mean population of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and Iowa. The city has a total area of 19.1 square miles; 17.9 square miles of Noblesville are on land, while the remaining 1.1 square miles is water [3].

Government

As an incorporated city, Noblesville, Indiana is run by a traditional mayor/city council form of government. As of 2011, the mayor of Noblesville was John Ditslear, who was elected to his first four year term in 2003 and re-elected to another four year term in November of 2007. The Mayor’s Office oversees all employees of the city of Noblesville and all the City Departments [6]. The seven member Common Council is the legislative arm of Noblesville’s government; the Common Council passes the city’s laws and approves the city’s budget. Of the seven council members, two are elected “at large,” while the remaining five are elected via individual districts [7]. Noblesville also has a Clerk-Treasurer, who is the city’s chief fiscal officer. The Clerk-Treasurer is responsible for the city’s payroll, licenses, pet tags, and more [8].

History

Noblesville’s history begins as far back as 1818, when the government purchased what is now Hamilton County from the local Native American population. Noblesville was laid out in 1823 by William Conner (the same William Conner who settled Fishers, Indiana) and Josiah Polk; the city became the seat of Hamilton County in 1824 and was officially incorporated in 1851. The Hamilton County Courthouse was completed in 1879 and the historic Hamilton County Sheriff’s Residence and Jail was built in 1876; both remain as landmarks in downtown Noblesville. The discovery of a natural gas well near 11th and Pleasant Streets brought Noblesville’s first growth boom in 1888, and the city has been on an upward trajectory since then.

Noblesville’s history hasn’t been all economic boom and growth, however. For a long time, the KKK was a strong force in the Central Indiana town. The discovery of thousands of KKK membership cards, dues receipts, and uniforms in a barn in 1995 brought much of Noblesville’s sordid past to light. The KKK was strongly active in Noblesville from 1910 through the 1930’s, but the event that gained the most attention was the trial of KKK Grand Dragon D.C. Stephenson, who was convicted of murder in 1925 [3].

Notable Residents

Several famous (and infamous) faces have come from Noblesville. Among them are David Bouida, a member of the 2008 Olympic team; William Dudley Pelley, an American fascist who founded the Silver Legion in the 30’s; Ashley Prange, a former LPGA golfer; Rex Stout, author of the Nero Wolfe detective series and president of the Mystery Writers of America; and Steve Wariner, a country music singer and songwriter [9].

Schools

Most students in Noblesville attend schools in the Noblesville Schools district, but some others attend Hamilton Southeastern Schools and Hamilton Heights Schools. Schools in the Noblesville Schools district include Noblesville High School (with a main campus and a freshman campus), Noblesville Middle School, Noblesville Intermediate School, Forest Hill Elementary, Hazel Dell Elementary, Hinkle Creek Elementary, Noble Crossing Elementary, and several others. There are also a few unique schools that fall outside the realm of Noblesville Schools: Options Charter High School helps at-risk students complete their educations, while St. Theodore Guerin School is a private high school in Noblesville [10].

References:
1: http://noblesville-indiana.funcityfinder.com/noblesville-business/
2: http://www.cityofnoblesville.org/department/?fDD=22-0
3: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noblesville,_Indiana
4: http://www.cityofnoblesville.org/egov/docs/1236966985_602844.pdf
5: http://noblesville-indiana.funcityfinder.com/events/
6: http://www.cityofnoblesville.org/department/?fDD=1-0
7: http://www.cityofnoblesville.org/council/
8: http://www.cityofnoblesville.org/department/?fDD=2-0
9: http://noblesville-indiana.funcityfinder.com/notable-people-noblesville-indiana/
10: http://noblesville-indiana.funcityfinder.com/education/