Pendleton, Indiana

Pendleton, Indiana
Pendleton is a town in Fall Creek Township, Madison County, Indiana, United States. The population was 4,717 at the 2020 census, up from 4,253 in 2010.
History
Pendleton was platted in 1830, and incorporated as a town in 1854. It was named for town founder Thomas Pendleton.
Fall Creek Massacre
The Fall Creek Massacre is the name given to the brutal murders of a peaceful group of Seneca and Miami Indians by white settlers. The massacre occurred on March 22, 1824, in Madison County between Fall Creek and Deer Lick Creek. James Hudson's trial was held October 7–9, 1824. Trials of the other men were held in 1825. The trial set an important precedent in recognizing the civil rights of Native Americans. The three men were hanged for their crimes in Pendleton. This marked the first time white men were executed for the murder of Native Americans in the United States. A historical marker in Falls Park marks the place of the hanging. The inscription reads: "Three white men were hung here in 1825 for killing Indians."
Attack on Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass wrote of being attacked by a mob as he promoted the Abolition cause in 1843. His party had erected a platform in nearby woods. A crowd of "rough characters", largely from "Andersonville", tried to silence them, then severely beat them. He defended himself with a stick, but was knocked unconscious. He was nursed back to health over days by the Quaker Neal Hardy and his wife. Douglass never regained full use of his injured hand.
2019 tornado
Pendleton was struck by a strong tornado during the evening of May 27, 2019, during a major tornado outbreak. Moderate damage was reported to the town, with search and rescue efforts beginning that night. The tornado received a rating of high-end EF-2, with winds of .
Geography
Pendleton is located in southern Madison County at (40.002841, -85.746576). It is bordered to the north by the city of Anderson, the county seat. It is bordered to the west by the town of Lapel and to the southwest by the town of Ingalls.
Interstate 69 passes through the west side of the town and travels along its northern border, with access from Exits 219 and 222. I-69 leads southwest to Indianapolis and north-northeast to Fort Wayne. U.S. Route 36 passes through the southeast side of Pendleton, leading southwest to Indianapolis and east to Greenville, Ohio. Indiana State Road 9 passes through the east side of Pendleton, leading north to Anderson and south to Greenfield. State Road 38 passes through the center of Pendleton as State Street, leading east-southeast to New Castle and west-northwest to Noblesville. State Road 132 (Lapel Road) leads northwest from Pendleton to Lapel.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Pendleton has a total area of , of which , or 0.52%, are water. Fall Creek passes through the town west of its center, flowing southwest to the White River in Indianapolis.
Demographics
Pendleton is part of the Indianapolis–Carmel–Anderson metropolitan statistical area.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 4,253 people, 1,754 households, and 1,154 families in the town. The population density was . There were 1,893 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 96.6% White, 1.0% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.0% of the population.
There were 1,754 households, of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 34.2% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.94.
The median age in the town was 37.6 years. 26.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 27.4% were from 25 to 44; 24.5% were from 45 to 64; and 15% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.3% male and 52.7% female.
2000 census
As of the 2000 United States Census, of 2000, there were 3,873 people, 1,550 households, and 1,052 families in the town. The population density was . There were 1,631 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 98.27% White, 0.39% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.21% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.52% of the population.
There were 1,550 households, out of which 34.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.94.
The town population contained 25.7% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $46,204, and the median income for a family was $54,556. Males had a median income of $39,545 versus $25,753 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,074. About 3.7% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Arts and culture
Museums and other points of interest
The Pendleton Historic District covers an area roughly bounded by Fall Creek, the Conrail right-of-way, and Madison and Adams streets. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places along with Madison County Bridge No. 149.
Education
The town houses the schools for South Madison Community School Corporation. The district has three elementary schools: Pendleton Elementary (formerly South Elementary), East Elementary and Maple Ridge Elementary. Pendleton Heights High School sits atop a hill on the edge of the east side of town and serves as the local high school. A newly constructed Pendleton Heights Middle School opened in August 2009 across from the high school. The former middle school, located in the downtown area just north of Pendleton Elementary, now serves as Pendleton Elementary School - Intermediate.
The town has a lending library, the Pendleton Community Public Library.
Newspaper
The Times-Post is a weekly newspaper serving Pendleton and the surrounding communities. The paper was formerly known as The Pendleton Times, and was the first to feature Jim Davis' original comic strip "Gnorm Gnat" and "Jon", a prototype of Garfield.
Radio
WEEM (91.7 FM) is a radio station located on the campus of Pendleton Heights High School and run by the students. It is a non-commercial, 1200 watt station that covers about and also supports a mobile application on both iOS and Google Play. The format of the station is contemporary rock. WEEM has been operational since 1970. WEEM competes in the annual IASB State Radio Contest.
Transportation
Highways
Major highways and roads that serve Pendleton include I-69, State Road 9, State Road 38, State Road 67, and U.S. Route 36.
Ambulance service
According to the Indiana EMS commission, Pendleton Emergency Ambulance operates one of only two volunteer Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance services in Indiana.
Prisons
Three facilities of the Indiana Department of Corrections are in Fall Creek Township, near Pendleton
Pendleton Correctional Facility
Correctional Industrial Facility
Pendleton Juvenile Correctional Facility
The Pendleton Correctional Facility is located on the south edge of town. Famous former inmates include: John Dillinger, Harry Pierpont, Jim "Goose" Ligon and Homer Van Meter. The Pendleton Reformatory is a maximum security prison and is located at 4490 Reformatory Rd.
Notable people
George Daugherty (1955– ), five-time Emmy Award nominated director, producer, and music director, and primetime Emmy Award winner as producer of Peter and the Wolf for ABC television network; symphony orchestra conductor who has guest conducted over 250 major international orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Boston Pops, Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, Philadelphia Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Sydney Symphony at the Sydney Opera House and many others, and creator of the touring symphony orchestra concert franchises "Bugs Bunny on Broadway" and "Bugs Bunny at the Symphony". Winner of numerous awards, including the Indiana Governor's Arts Award (1999). Graduate of Pendleton Heights High School.
Dick Dickey (1926–2006), played basketball at North Carolina State and was drafted in the 3rd round of the NBA draft of 1950. He played guard for the Boston Celtics in the NBA in 1951-52 averaging 2.8 ppg. 1944 graduate of Pendleton High School.
Kellen Dunham (1993– ), professional basketball player. Played as a shooting guard at Butler University 2012-16, then professionally for Okapi Aalstar of the Basketball League Belgium. Born in Pendleton.
Don Hankins (1902–1963), Major League Baseball pitcher for the 1927 Detroit Tigers
Joseph Swain (1857–1927), first Indiana-born president of Indiana University, serving from 1893 to 1902. He left Indiana and was president of Swarthmore College from 1902 until his retirement in 1921. Born in Pendleton.
William Walker (1896–1992), actor in motion pictures and television. Most remembered for the role of Reverend Sykes in To Kill a Mockingbird in 1962. He was an African American and a 1914 graduate of Pendleton High School.
Fred Wilt (1920–1994), set the world record in the two mile at 8:51 in 1952. He was a two-time US Olympian in 1948 and 1952 in the 10,000 meters. He was named the winner of the 1950 James E. Sullivan Award as the best amateur athlete in the US. 1939 graduate of Pendleton High School.
Walter Dorwin Teague (1883–1960), industrial designer, architect, illustrator, graphic designer, writer, and entrepreneur. Often referred to as the "Dean of Industrial Design".
References
External links
South Madison Community School Corporation
City-Data.com
Towns in Indiana
Towns in Madison County, Indiana