54:
1321:
42:
846:
752:
381:
Railroad - In 1891 work began on the Wabash
Railroad line through town, with the official opening of the line in the spring of 1893. The line, which connected Chicago with Montpelier, Ohio, became part of the Norfolk & Western Railway in 1964 and lasted until the 1980s. Today, the original Wabash
702:
living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.6% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
763:
living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.04.
888:
Today, the historic town center has several antique shops, hair salons, a furniture store, a hardware store, a general contractor, a florist, an I.T. business, a mechanic, insurance companies, restaurants, and a dime store candy shop that sells locally made maple syrup and jumbo jelly beans to a
767:
In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over,
719:
of 2000, there were 1,618 people, 595 households, and 427 families residing in the town. The population density was 716.0 inhabitants per square mile (276.4/km). There were 618 housing units at an average density of 273.5 per square mile (105.6/km). The racial makeup of the town was 97.34%
853:
Originally solely a farming community, a lumber mill opened in 1866. By the 1880s, several factories and businesses existed, despite the fact that the railroad would not roll into town until 1893. At one point, three different lumber mills operated in the town, though none exist today.
706:
The median age in the town was 42 years. 24.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.1% were from 25 to 44; 23.7% were from 45 to 64, and 22.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 45.8% male and 54.2% female.
897:
Once a year, the town hosts the Maple Syrup
Festival and holds a parade as well as other activities associated with small-town celebrations. The festival was started in 1969 by the then Chamber of Progress. Originally held in March, the festival now occurs during the end of April.
884:
announced the closing of its
Wakarusa production plant and laid off its approximately 1400 workers. Since then, the massive complex has been bought by Thor Industries, and they are using it for multiple operations for some of their RV brands. Currently, they employ around 700.
857:
Today, Wakarusa continues to have a thriving farming economy and has two grain mills within the town's limits. Wakarusa's location in
Elkhart County places it within a strong industrial area, and because of this, multiple manufacturers are located in the area.
349:
According to the 2010 census, Wakarusa has a total area of 2.277 square miles (5.90 km), of which 2.2 square miles (5.70 km) (or 96.62%) is land and 0.077 square miles (0.20 km) (or 3.38%) is water.
53:
771:
The median income for a household in the town was $ 41,515, and the median income for a family was $ 50,833. Males had a median income of $ 36,014 versus $ 25,300 for females. The
877:, about 20 minutes to the northeast in Elkhart County. Since then, RV company Forest River has purchased nearly all of the buildings and currently employs around 600 in Wakarusa.
667:
was 799.1 inhabitants per square mile (308.5/km). There were 717 housing units at an average density of 325.9 per square mile (125.8/km). The racial makeup of the town was 96.0%
873:
It was announced in
February 2012 that Utilimaster, a manufacturer of walk-in vans and commercial truck bodies, was moving all of its manufacturing and headquarters to nearby
1004:
1248:
366:
named Mt. Olive opened. After more population growth, a new village named Salem was established to prevent people from having to travel to either
1200:
67:
1443:
1423:
389:
is from a Native
American language, meaning "knee-deep in mud". A more recent source claims a settler named it after a location in Kansas.
1413:
1383:
1403:
295:
138:
1600:
1408:
1398:
1393:
1388:
382:
depot along with two
Norfolk & Western rail cars are featured along with many other displays at the Wakarusa Historical Museum.
1378:
1438:
1433:
1428:
1418:
1373:
915:
299:
265:
142:
1448:
1241:
1102:
1075:
1226:
1168:
980:"Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Wakarusa town, Indiana"
275:
1527:
378:
in
Indiana, the name was changed to Wakarusa in 1859. The Mt. Olive Post Office was renamed for Wakarusa a year later.
1234:
216:
1012:
1537:
733:
725:
672:
939:
676:
759:
There were 595 households, out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% were
133:
1147:
1008:
983:
958:
737:
121:
698:
There were 665 households, of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% were
1511:
1109:...suggested changing the name to Wakarusa for a stream or a place in Kansas, where he had once lived.
41:
1605:
1208:
633:
618:
603:
588:
573:
558:
543:
528:
513:
498:
483:
468:
453:
438:
423:
311:
1547:
881:
253:
99:
1458:
1258:
811:
359:
303:
126:
1121:
794:
The town has a free lending library, the
Wakarusa-Olive & Harrison Township Public Library.
791:
and
Wakarusa combined their school systems in the 1970s to create the Wa-Nee Community Schools.
1570:
1481:
1034:
867:
815:
741:
688:
322:
1506:
1065:
663:
of 2010, there were 1,758 people, 665 households, and 448 families residing in the town. The
318:
1256:
775:
for the town was $ 19,615. About 3.2% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the
1577:
1350:
859:
745:
692:
226:
8:
1496:
1345:
827:
807:
729:
721:
680:
668:
330:
1542:
1521:
1476:
684:
664:
1332:
1309:
1175:
1098:
1071:
803:
788:
772:
385:
The etymology of the name "Wakarusa" is not known. According to tradition, the name
1516:
1486:
1340:
1299:
874:
371:
326:
866:
manufacturing and custom truck production are the base of the industrial economy.
1471:
1466:
1304:
1280:
1092:
367:
1532:
1365:
375:
845:
1594:
940:
U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Wakarusa, Indiana
751:
258:
82:
69:
863:
776:
338:
1561:‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
1273:
833:
779:, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.
363:
1094:
From Needmore to Prosperity: Hoosier Place Names in Folklore and History
109:
207:
760:
699:
317:
Wakarusa is a small farming and manufacturing community located on
241:
1320:
334:
307:
114:
716:
660:
233:
212:
1005:"G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1"
1291:
291:
32:
1052:
1143:
979:
954:
374:
to conduct business. Since there is already a town named
802:
Wakarusa has Wakarusa Missionary Church, which is the
358:
In 1836, rural Olive Township was formed in western
810:. Other churches include a Bible Baptist Church, a
908:
310:, United States. The population was 1,758 at the
1592:
1067:Around Nappanee: Hometowns of the Heritage Trail
1048:
1046:
58:Location of Wakarusa in Elkhart County, Indiana.
1114:
889:small but growing number of regional tourists.
703:was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.09.
325:. The town is 12 miles (19 km) south of
1242:
1043:
1136:
1324:Map of Indiana highlighting Elkhart County
1249:
1235:
1039:. Chas. C. Chapman Co. 1881. p. 1103.
997:
972:
748:of any race were 1.48% of the population.
1097:. Indiana University Press. p. 336.
836:, Chicago Bears Hall of Fame running back
695:of any race were 2.4% of the population.
362:, and in 1849, as the population grew, a
844:
750:
1174:. Indiana State Library. Archived from
870:employs nearly 600 in the RV industry.
814:church, Holdemen Mennonite Church, and
337:, and 140 miles (230 km) north of
1593:
1201:"Monaco employees shocked, Local News"
1063:
935:
933:
416:
1230:
1090:
949:
947:
329:, 25 miles (40 km) southeast of
740:, and 1.30% from two or more races.
930:
849:Wakarusa from the air, looking east
687:, and 1.1% from two or more races.
173:0.08 sq mi (0.20 km)
165:2.20 sq mi (5.71 km)
157:2.28 sq mi (5.91 km)
13:
1319:
1257:Municipalities and communities of
1169:"Indiana public library directory"
1122:"Census of Population and Housing"
1070:. Arcadia Publishing. p. 79.
1036:History of Elkhart County, Indiana
944:
406:
333:, 120 miles (190 km) east of
14:
1617:
1091:Baker, Ronald L. (October 1995).
821:
1601:Towns in Elkhart County, Indiana
52:
40:
1207:. July 18, 2008. Archived from
1193:
1161:
392:
1084:
1057:
1027:
710:
654:
18:Town in Indiana, United States
1:
918:. United States Census Bureau
901:
202:906.53/sq mi (350.00/km)
892:
782:
344:
7:
1148:United States Census Bureau
1009:United States Census Bureau
984:United States Census Bureau
959:United States Census Bureau
916:"2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files"
797:
10:
1622:
840:
806:denomination based out of
353:
1566:
1556:
1495:
1457:
1364:
1331:
1317:
1290:
1271:
1064:Wenger, Amy Lant (2003).
647:
632:
617:
602:
587:
572:
557:
542:
527:
512:
497:
482:
467:
452:
437:
422:
415:
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153:
148:
132:
120:
108:
98:
63:
51:
39:
30:
23:
882:Monaco Coach Corporation
181:850 ft (260 m)
1260:Elkhart County, Indiana
818:just outside Wakarusa.
768:there were 79.2 males.
1325:
850:
816:Olive Mennonite Church
756:
1323:
1144:"U.S. Census website"
955:"U.S. Census website"
848:
754:
648:U.S. Decennial Census
398:Historical population
225: • Summer (
83:41.53194°N 86.00000°W
1579:United States portal
1181:on February 18, 2017
1015:on February 13, 2020
860:Recreational vehicle
199: • Density
830:, American diplomat
828:J. Wayne Fredericks
808:Fort Wayne, Indiana
399:
88:41.53194; -86.00000
79: /
1326:
1053:Wakarusa's History
880:On July 17, 2008,
851:
757:
755:Wakarusa town hall
665:population density
397:
191: • Total
170: • Water
154: • Total
1588:
1587:
1512:Bonneyville Mills
1104:978-0-253-32866-3
1077:978-0-7385-3154-0
804:Missionary Church
773:per capita income
652:
651:
285:
284:
162: • Land
46:Downtown Wakarusa
25:Wakarusa, Indiana
1613:
1606:Towns in Indiana
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1283:
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1266:
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1211:on July 11, 2011
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1055:
1050:
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1022:
1020:
1011:. Archived from
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994:
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990:
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970:
969:
967:
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951:
942:
937:
928:
927:
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1018:
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1002:
998:
988:
986:
978:
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973:
963:
961:
953:
952:
945:
938:
931:
921:
919:
914:
913:
909:
904:
895:
862:manufacturing,
843:
824:
800:
785:
761:married couples
713:
700:married couples
677:Native American
657:
411:
395:
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347:
248:
224:
87:
85:
81:
78:
73:
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68:
66:
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35:
26:
19:
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1572:Indiana portal
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355:
352:
346:
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304:Elkhart County
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261:
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1265:United States
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790:
780:
778:
774:
769:
765:
762:
753:
749:
747:
743:
739:
736:, 0.62% from
735:
731:
727:
723:
718:
708:
704:
701:
696:
694:
690:
686:
682:
678:
674:
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302:townships in
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217:Eastern (EST)
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104:United States
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64:Coordinates:
62:
55:
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43:
38:
34:
29:
22:
16:
1507:Bainter Town
1355:
1279:
1213:. Retrieved
1209:the original
1204:
1195:
1183:. Retrieved
1176:the original
1163:
1153:December 11,
1151:. Retrieved
1138:
1126:. Retrieved
1124:. Census.gov
1116:
1108:
1093:
1086:
1066:
1059:
1035:
1029:
1017:. Retrieved
1013:the original
999:
987:. Retrieved
974:
962:. Retrieved
920:. Retrieved
910:
896:
887:
879:
872:
868:Forest River
864:modular home
856:
852:
801:
793:
787:Neighboring
786:
777:poverty line
770:
766:
758:
714:
705:
697:
683:, 0.9% from
658:
393:Demographics
386:
384:
380:
357:
348:
339:Indianapolis
316:
287:
286:
15:
1499:communities
1351:Millersburg
1275:County seat
964:January 31,
834:Gale Sayers
738:other races
711:2000 census
685:other races
655:2010 census
364:post office
323:Indiana 119
312:2010 census
86: /
1595:Categories
1444:Washington
1424:Middlebury
1346:Middlebury
902:References
715:As of the
659:As of the
331:South Bend
319:Indiana 19
278:feature ID
186:Population
74:86°00′00″W
71:41°31′55″N
1557:Footnotes
1543:Southwest
1528:Jamestown
1522:Gravelton
1477:New Paris
1414:Jefferson
1384:Cleveland
1366:Townships
1215:August 3,
922:March 16,
893:Festivals
812:Methodist
783:Education
345:Geography
266:FIPS code
254:Area code
208:Time zone
178:Elevation
1404:Harrison
1356:Wakarusa
1310:Nappanee
1185:March 7,
1019:July 25,
989:July 10,
798:Religion
789:Nappanee
742:Hispanic
732:, 0.06%
728:, 0.19%
724:, 0.49%
689:Hispanic
387:Wakarusa
296:Harrison
288:Wakarusa
270:18-79478
242:ZIP code
139:Harrison
134:Township
1517:Foraker
1487:Vistula
1409:Jackson
1399:Elkhart
1394:Concord
1389:Clinton
1341:Bristol
1300:Elkhart
1128:June 4,
875:Bristol
841:Economy
679:, 1.0%
675:, 0.1%
671:, 1.0%
372:Elkhart
354:History
335:Chicago
327:Elkhart
308:Indiana
281:2397717
127:Elkhart
115:Indiana
100:Country
1538:Midway
1472:Dunlap
1467:Benton
1379:Benton
1305:Goshen
1292:Cities
1282:Goshen
1101:
1074:
746:Latino
717:census
693:Latino
661:census
403:Census
368:Goshen
122:County
1533:Locke
1497:Other
1439:Union
1434:Osolo
1429:Olive
1419:Locke
1374:Baugo
1333:Towns
1179:(PDF)
1172:(PDF)
730:Asian
722:White
681:Asian
669:White
643:13.7%
638:1,998
623:1,758
613:−2.9%
608:1,618
598:30.1%
593:1,667
583:10.4%
578:1,281
563:1,160
548:1,145
538:10.6%
533:1,143
518:1,033
508:19.2%
493:−5.0%
478:−6.3%
448:53.9%
376:Salem
300:Olive
290:is a
247:46573
236:(EDT)
234:UTC-4
213:UTC-5
194:1,998
143:Olive
110:State
1459:CDPs
1449:York
1217:2023
1187:2018
1155:2012
1130:2015
1099:ISBN
1072:ISBN
1021:2015
991:2012
966:2008
924:2022
634:2020
628:8.7%
619:2010
604:2000
589:1990
574:1980
568:1.3%
559:1970
553:0.2%
544:1960
529:1950
523:6.2%
514:1940
499:1930
484:1920
469:1910
454:1900
439:1880
424:1870
412:Note
407:Pop.
298:and
292:town
276:GNIS
149:Area
33:Town
744:or
691:or
503:973
488:816
473:859
458:917
443:377
428:245
370:or
294:in
259:574
227:DST
1597::
1278::
1263:,
1203:.
1146:.
1107:.
1045:^
1007:.
982:.
957:.
946:^
932:^
417:%±
341:.
314:.
306:,
141:,
1524:‡
1312:‡
1250:e
1243:t
1236:v
1219:.
1189:.
1157:.
1132:.
1080:.
1023:.
993:.
968:.
926:.
463:—
433:—
229:)
219:)
215:(
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