Downtown
Neighborhood Association
The Downtown Neighborhood Association was founded in 2010. The association is bounded by the south side of the Lloyd Expressway, the Pigeon Creek and Ohio River on the west, the northwest side of Walnut Street, northeast side of SE 4th Street, the northwest side of Mulberry Street, the southwest side of SE 8th Street, the northwest side of Walnut Street and the west side of South Evans Avenue.
The birthplace of Evansville was Downtown. It was founded on Friday, March 27,1812, when Hugh McGary bought the land that would become Evansville. Two hundred acres were platted and a street grid laid. In1814, he named the village Evansville. Downtown grew like many other river towns, focused on trade.
Following the Civil War, the central location of the city with its ease of trade led to new industries, particularly furniture and other wood products becoming key industries. The current Court Building on Vine and Fourth was originally a furniture showroom for commercial purchasers.
Downtown continued to grow in the early 20th century, at one time having one-dozen movie theaters (Angelo’s on Main is in one of the few still standing: known then as the Paramount Princess).
The Great Depression and the flood of 1937 stalled growth, though the rapid buildup of wartime industries during WWII was a reprieve, one that lasted until the mid-1950s when many large industrial employers left the region.
By the early 1960s downtown was full of people, but no longer bustling. Downtown began its decades-long decline, which included demolition of block-after-block of historic (but decaying) buildings.
The early 2000s saw several major buildings developed including Casino Aztar, Vectren, Old National Bank; the return of housing to downtown; followed by the Children’s Museum; Central Library and the Ford Center. This growth has accelerated in the last five years with more than 90 businesses opening; more than 275 units of housing added; 250 hotel rooms added; and, of course, the School of Medicine. More are on the way with the Nabisco Lofts and Hyatt Place being the most recent.
Today, Downtown holds Southern Indiana’s only Economic Improvement District (EID) as well as our Downtown Neighborhood Association. Working together with local property owners, the EID is bringing more landscaping, cleanliness, safety, and vibrancy to Downtown Evansville.
Officers
President: Larry Donald
Vice-President: VACANT
Secretary: Suzanne Donald
Treasurer: Vicki Bohleber
Representative: Larry Donald
Meeting Information
Date: 2nd Tuesday of even months
Time: 5:30pm
Location: Innovation Pointe
318 Main Street
Please e-mail Larry Donald at larryrdonald@gmail.com for more information.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
EPD Sector
This neighborhood is in the South Sector.
Crime Prevention Officer (CPO): Nick Sandullo 812-435-6035
Meeting Date/Time: See EPD Police Sector page for current schedule
Location: Crime Prevention Office, CK Newsome Center, 100 E Walnut St., Suite 100, Evansville, IN 47713
Boundaries & Map
Download the KML file here. Map and KML file updated 08/09/2021
You must be logged in to post a comment.