Downtown Evansville
Downtown Evansville | |
|---|---|
| Downtown Evansville Riverfront skyline at nightfall Downtown Evansville Riverfront skyline at nightfall | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| City | Evansville |
| Website | www |
Downtown Evansville is the central business district of Evansville, Indiana. The boundaries of downtown Evansville have varied over time as the city has grown, but it is generally considered to be located between Canal Street at the south and east, the Lloyd Expressway to the north, Pigeon Creek to the northwest, and the Ohio River to the southeast south and southwest. Downtown Evansville is located entirely within Pigeon Township.
The district constitutes Evansville's government, cultural and business center. The Evansville Civic Center houses the administrative offices for both the city and Vanderburgh County. Berry Plastics, Vectren, and Old National Bank, the largest financial services bank holding company headquartered in Indiana,[1] have corporate headquarters in Downtown Evansville with Mead Johnson's headquarters located just west of Downtown.
History
Evansville's original downtown plat was made on about 200 acres, with streets running parallel to the river from northwest to southeast. Other streets nearby were laid out on the cardinal points, due north-south and east-west. Thus, anyone entering or leaving downtown finds that the street makes a confusing oblique-angle turn in one direction or another.[2]
Over the year's Evansville downtown has undergone substantial transformation. In the 1970s, the city suffered from the problems that affected other Rust Belt cities, such as decreased economic activity and suburban flight. The City of Evansville dealt with these issues and came up with solutions to revitalize the city's downtown.
Entertainment venues and attractions
Victory Theatre is a vintage 1,950-seat venue that is home to the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra and hosts other concerts and events. A wide variety of concerts, plays, and other special events are held at the 2,500-seat auditorium at The Centre. Downtown is also home to the Children's Museum of Evansville, Evansville Museum, and Casino Aztar, with the LST-325 Museum located just south of Downtown at the nearby Indiana-Kentucky State Line. The Ford Center is a new arena opened in 2011 located near The Centre.
Other landmarks
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Albion Flats, historic housing unit built to reform crowded living conditions for the working class -
American Trust and Savings Bank, now headquarters for the Evansville IceMen -
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Kunkel Square, one of the region and state's first skyscrapers -
Eagles Home, historic building that has served as a college, meeting hall, and law firm -
General Cigar Company building, now the headquarters for the Girl Scouts of Southwest Indiana -
Greyhound Bus Terminal, former bus terminal often cited as a classic station -
Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library's central library branch -
Masonic Temple, historic lodge built in 1913 -
Hulman Building, a ten story art deco high rise -
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Montgomery Ward Building, historic department store building -
National City Bank Building, formerly home to the now-defunct Integra Bank -
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References
- ^ "Old National Bank Corporate Profile". SNL Financial. Retrieved 2008-10-15.
- ^ Patry, Robert (1996). City of Four Freedoms. Evansville: Friends of Willard Library. p. 35.