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Fishers, Indiana

Fishers is a town located in Fall Creek and Delaware townships, Hamilton County, Indiana, with a population of 65,382, according to a special census conducted in 2007. A suburb of Indianapolis, Fishers has grown rapidly in recent decades: about 350 people lived there in 1963, 2,000 in 1980, and only 7,200 as recently as 1990. Fishers was ranked the 24th best place to live in America by Money magazine in 2005, 33rd in 2006, and 10th in 2008. It was the best in Indiana each year.

Fishers was originally named Mudsock. Eventually, the name was changed to Fishers Switch, a reference to the railroad switch assignment. It was named after Salathial Fisher. It was shortened to Fishers in 1908.

Geography

Fishers is located at 39°57'22" North, 86°0'46" West (39.956177, -86.012754), along the West Fork of the White River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 21.8 square miles (56.4 km²), of which, 21.7 square miles (56.2 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it is water. The total area is 0.46% water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 37,835 people, 14,044 households, and 10,294 families residing in the town. The population density is 1,744.3 people per square mile (673.5/km²). There are 15,241 housing units at an average density of 702.7/sq mi (271.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town is 92.27% White, 2.93% African American, 0.12% Native American, 3.10% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.55% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. 2.02% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 14,044 households out of which 46.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.7% are married couples living together, 6.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% are non-families. 20.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 2.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.75 and the average family size is 3.24.

In the town the population is spread out with 32.2% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 44.8% from 25 to 44, 14.2% from 45 to 64, and 3.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 95.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 92.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town is $75,638, and the median income for a family is $81,971. Males have a median income of $58,275 versus $37,841 for females. The per capita income for the town is $31,891. 1.8% of the population and 1.1% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 1.6% of those under the age of 18 and 0.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Government

Despite being a highly populated establishment, Fishers is not a city, unlike nearby Noblesville and Carmel, and therefore lacks a mayor. The government of Fishers is led by a seven-member town council and a clerk-treasurer. The town council holds both legislative and executive powers while the clerk-treasurer is responsible for financial matters. All are elected at-large for four-year terms. The council elects a council president and vice president yearly. The council appoints and oversees a town manager who is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the town government. Currently the town manager of Fishers is Gary Huff.

In 1998, voters in Fishers rejected a referendum to become a city.

Entertainment

Fishers's increase in population has brought about an increased demand for entertainment.

The Artists' Studio in Fishers is a community theater that produces many children's and family friendly shows on Ford Drive. Ben and Ari's is a family owned mini-golf course, arcade, and duckpin bowling facility at State Road 37 and 141st street. Fishers is also home to the locally-owned Pinheads Entertainment Complex, which opened in August 2005 and received the Fishers Chamber of Commerce Pillar Award for Business of the Year in 2006.

Fishers offers a growing number of hotels with nearby essentials for tourists. One of the main attractions of Fishers is Geist Reservoir, offering attractions from fishing to waterskiing. There are also many golf courses around the town.

Fishers hosts the living history museum Conner Prairie, which presents Indiana life in three different periods of the 19th century.

Fishers also has the Indiana State Fair Train which runs from Fishers Station to Indianapolis.

Fairs

Fishers has two annual fairs: the Fishers Freedom Festival and the Fishers Renaissance Faire.

The Fishers Freedom Festival (FFF) takes place every year at the end of June, right before Independence day. The 2008 festival was the 20th annual freedom celebration. A few annual traditions of the festival are the parade and a 5k run/walk named the Freedom Run. There are art and food vendors and game booths. The FFF is located at Roy G. Holland Memorial Park.

The Fishers Renaissance Faire began in 2005 and is in early October at Conner Prairie. It partly symbolizes the connection of Fishers with Billericay, England. Some of the events are Jousting, Pirate shows featuring the Hey Nonny Nonny Players, The Rogue Blades, SCA fight lists and village, authentic Punch and Judy show, Shakespeare on the Run, the Living Chess Match, knighting and ennobling for the kids, Kids games run by the Kiwanis and Key Clubs, pony rides, and horse exhibitions.

Notable residents

Seattle native and Hollywood actress Frances Farmer is interred at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens in Fishers. Her grave site was widely ignored until the late 1970s when the media and an Academy Award nominated film about the life of the actress shed light on her story making Farmer somewhat of a cult figure.

Other famous residents of Fishers include former Indiana Pacers player Reggie Miller, Zach Randolph of the New York Knicks, Austin Croshere of the Golden State Warriors, Alan Henderson of the Philadelphia 76ers, Roosevelt Colvin of the Houston Texans, Joe Reitz of the Baltimore Ravens, race car drivers Scott Dixon and Tomas Scheckter, and former San Diego Padres player Tony Gwynn, whose house is currently listed for sale.

Schools

Fishers is served by Hamilton Southeastern Schools.

Fishers's quickly growing population has created a need for a similar growth in the number of schools within the district as well as additions to existing schools. In 1996 there were four elementary schools, one middle school, one junior high school, and one high school. With the openings of Riverside School and Fishers High School in the 2006-2007 school year, the school district has eleven elementaries, two intermediate schools, two junior high schools, a middle school(the combination of intermediate and junior high school), and two high schools. Prior to Fishers High School's completion, it temporarily served as the freshman campus of the other high school, Hamilton Southeastern High School. The two high schools now compete for the Mudsock trophy, named after the town's original name, and is won by winning against the other school in the most sports throughout the year.