Kokomo, Indiana Totally Explained

Everything about Kokomo Indiana totally explained

Kokomo is the county seat of Howard County, Indiana, United States, Indiana's 13th largest city. Kokomo's population was 46,113 at the 2000 census.

History

Kokomo was named after Miami Indian referred to as a chief, but later found to be local legend Ma-Ko-Ko-Mo, which is sometimes spelled as Koh-Koh-Mah or Kokomoko. His name translates to Black Walnut. There was a trading post for commerce between Native Americans and European-Americans here in the early 19th century. David Foster founded the first trading post in Howard County. In 1844, Foster donated forty acres of his land to create a county seat in Kokomo, which was a log courthouse, for use in the community. It was incorporated as a city in 1865.
   On October 6, 1886, natural gas was discovered in Kokomo, leading to a "boom" in business. This discovery was directly responsible for Elwood Haynes' move to Kokomo, as he was a superintendent with a gas company with interests in Kokomo and Howard County.
   The Diamond Plate Glass Company began in Kokomo in 1887, lured by the cheap and plentiful natural gas. This company later became part of Pittsburgh Plate Glass, or PPG.
   Officially known as the "City of Firsts" for, among other achievements, Kokomo was a pioneer of United States automobile manufacturing, with Elwood Haynes test-driving his early internal combustion engine auto there on 4 July, 1894. Haynes and his associates built a number of other autos over the next few years; the Haynes-Apperson Automobile Company for mass-production of commercial autos was established in Kokomo in 1898. One Haynes associate, German immigrant and avid inventor Gene Schneiderman, developed both the first convertible top and windshield wiper for the automobile.
   A more reluctant notoriety of Kokomo was the involvement of local citizens in the Ku Klux Klan. There had been large numbers of followers for years, which culminated on July 4, 1923, with the largest gathering of Ku Klux Klan members in history, which assembled at Malfalfa Park in Kokomo for a mighty Konklave. Attendance is estimated to have been 200,000 people.
   Kokomo serves as the "City of Firsts" in the food industry as well. The first Ponderosa Steakhouse and the second Kentucky Fried Chicken opened there. Kokomo opened the first McDonald's with a diner inside, locally called "McDiner." This McDonald's theme failed nationally, but did well in Kokomo. The store became an ordinary McDonald's, but then returned to be a "McDiner". Kokomo also opened the first Cracker Barrel not built near an interstate highway as well as the first Starbucks Coffee not built in a metropolitan area.
   Kokomo Nicknames: "City of Firsts", "Stop Light City" (given by truckers driving through Kokomo on US Highway 31, infamous for its many traffic stops).

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 46,113 people, 20,273 households, and 12,204 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,847.2 people per square mile (1,099.0/km²). There were 22,292 housing units at an average density of 1,376.4/sq mi (531.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.10% White, 10.34% African American, 0.38% Native American, 1.14% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.17% from other races, and 1.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.61% of the population.
   There were 20,273 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.2% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.90.
   In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 89.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.8 males.
   The median income for a householde in the city was $36,258, and the median income for a family was $45,353. Males had a median income of $38,420 versus $24,868 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,083. About 9.6% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.5% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.

"City of Firsts" inventions

1894 - Elwood Haynes makes the first successful trial run of his "horseless carriage" on Pumpkinvine Pike.
1894 - The first pneumatic rubber tire was invented by D.C. Spraker at the Kokomo Rubber Tire Company.
1895 - The first aluminum casting was developed by William "Billy" Johnson from the Ford and Donnelly Foundry.
1902 - The first carburetor developed by George Kingston.
1906 - The first Stellite cobalt-base alloy was discovered by Elwood Haynes.
1912 - Stainless steel tableware was invented by Elwood Haynes as a response to his wife's desire for tableware that wouldn't tarnish.
1918 - The Howitzer shell, used in World War I, was created by the Superior Machine Tool Company.
1918 - The first aerial bomb with fins was first produced by the Liberty Pressed Metal Company.
1920 - The mechanical corn picker was created by John Powell.
1926 - Carl Molin developed Dirilyte golden-hued tableware.
1928 - The first canned tomato juice was created by Walter Kemp from Kemp Brothers Canning Company in response to a physician's need for baby food.
1938 - The first push-button car radio was created at Delco Radio Division of General Motors Corporation.
1941 - Globe American Stove Company manufactured the first all-metal life boats and rafts.
1947 - The first signal-seeking car radio was created by the Delco Radio Division of General Motors.
1957 - Delco Radio Division of General Motors developed the first all transistor car radio.

Government

Mayor

Kokomo's current mayor is (Democrat) Greg Goodnight (2008-present). The two previous mayors have been (Republican) Matt McKillip (2004-2008) and (Republican) Jim Trobaugh.

Media

Newspapers

Kokomo Tribune(External Link

), daily morning newspaper owned by Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. (CNHI).

Kokomo Perspective(External Link

), a locally-owned weekly newspaper delivered every Tuesday or Wednesday.

Kokomo Herald, weekly newspaper

The Correspondent(External Link

), IU-Kokomo student newspaper

Television

WTTK-TV (External Link

), The CW affiliate, channel 29

WKGK-TV, Independent, channel 48 (Currently For Sale)

KGOV, Kokomo government access channel, channel 2

Radio

WFIU-FM(External Link

), Jazz, Classical, NPR- 106.1 FM

WFRN-FM(External Link

), Christian Radio- 93.7 FM

WIOU-AM, Talk, News and Sports- 1350 AM

WIWC-FM(External Link

), Christian Radio- 91.7 FM

WMYK-FM (External Link

), Classic Rock- 98.5 FM

WSHW-FM (External Link

), Light Rock- 99.7 FM

WWKI-FM (External Link

), Hit Country- 100.5 FM

WZWZ-FM, Adult Alternative- 92.5 FM

Education

Colleges/universities

Indiana University Kokomo (External Link

) (IUK)

Indiana Wesleyan University (External Link

)- Kokomo Campus

Ivy Tech State College (External Link

)

Purdue College of Technology (External Link

)

School districts

Public

Kokomo-Center Township Consolidated School Corporation (External Link

) (K-12) Kokomo High School (NCC)

Eastern Howard School Corporation (External Link

) (K-12, Greentown, Indiana) (MIC)

Northwestern School Corporation (External Link

) (K-12) (MIC)

Taylor Community School Corporation (External Link

)(K-12, Center, Indiana) (MIC)

Western School Corporation (External Link

) (K-12, Russiaville, Indiana) (MIC)

Private

Kokomo Christian School (External Link

) (K-12)

Redeemer Lutheran School (External Link

) (K-8)

St. Joan of Arc and St. Patrick Catholic School (External Link

) (K-8)

Culture

Attractions

Old Ben

, a stuffed Hereford steer at Highland Park

The Sycamore Stump

, a large stump at Highland Park

Kokomo Beach

Kokomo Pipeline Skate Park

, located at Jackson Morrow Park

Kirkendall Interpretive Center

, nature center located at Jackson Morrow Park

Elwood Haynes Museum

, located next to Highland Park

City of Firsts Automotive Heritage Museum

Vermont Covered Bridge

, located in Highland Park

Seiberling Mansion, Howard County Museum

Kokomo Visitors Center

(located on US 31 North)

Johanning Civic Center

Chief Ma-Ko-Ko-Mo Burial and Monument, east of downtown Kokomo

Kokomo Country Club, golf club

The Old Silk Stocking Neighborhood

Festivals

Kokomo Rib Fest, mid-June, downtown

City of Firsts Soapbox Derby, Last Saturday in June

Festival

, Independence Day weekend

Howard County 4-H Fair, mid-July (External Link

), in Greentown, Indiana

Taste of Kokomo Festival, mid-August, downtown

Koh-Koh-Mah & Foster Living History Encampment

, mid-September

Oktober Fest, 1st Saturday in October, downtown

New Years Ball Drop(External Link

), December 31 at Downtown Square For more information visit Kokomo Main Street Association website

Sports teams

Indiana Mustangs (External Link

), Mid Continental Football League (Play at Tri-Central High School)

Kokomo Dodgers, Midwest League (1955-1961)

Kokomo CFD Saints (External Link

), semi-pro baseball (1989-2002)

Kokomo CFD Knights (External Link

), semi-pro baseball - (2006-2007)

Sports venues

CFD Investments Stadium in Highland Park

Kokomo Speedway

Memorial Gym

Major employers

Chrysler LLC

Kokomo Transmission Plant(External Link) (4,200 employees)
Kokomo Casting Plant(External Link) (1,115 employees)
Indiana Transmission Plant #1(External Link) (1,898 employees)
Indiana Transmission Plant #2(External Link) (482 employees)

Delphi Corporation (External Link

)

Electronics & Safety World Headquarters

Haynes International(External Link

)

Holder Mattress(External Link

)

Syndicate Sales, Inc.(External Link

)

Coca-Cola (External Link

) bottling plant

Electronic Data Systems (External Link

)(EDS)

Gas tower

The Kokomo Gas Tower had been a symbol of Kokomo since it was constructed in 1954. The tower was 115 m (378 ft) tall and had a capacity of 340,000 m³ (12 million cubic feet). Due to high maintenance costs of $75,000 a year to maintain and up to $1,000,000 to paint, the gas company decided to demolish it in 2003. Other ideas were reviewed before settling on this decision, including a plan to turn the tower into a giant Coca-Cola advertisement. On September 7, 2003, at approximately 7:30 a.m., the Gas Tower was demolished by Controlled Demolition, Inc. (CDI). Pieces of the tower were sold to the public for $20-30, and proceeds went to a planned Kokomo technology incubation center and Bona Vista.

Transportation

Airports

Kokomo Municipal Airport

Highways

US-31 to South Bend (North) and Indianapolis (South)

US-35 to Logansport (North) and Muncie (South)

IN-19 to Kokomo Reservoir (North) and Tipton (South)

IN-22 to Burlington (West) and Hartford City (East)

IN-26 to Lafayette (West) and Hartford City (East) Railroads

Central Railroad Company of Indianapolis

Norfolk Southern Railway

Winimac Southern Railroad (formerly part of the Columbus to Chicago Main Line)

Notable people from Kokomo

Jack Purvis, Jazz musician

Sylvia Jane Kirby, singer

John O'Banion, singer

Ryan White, AIDS activist

Rupert Boneham, Survivor contestant

Elwood Haynes, inventor, automotive pioneer

Elmer Apperson, automotive pioneer

Edgar Apperson, automotive pioneer

Steve Butler, six-time Sprint Car National Champion

Steve Kroft, 60 Minutes correspondent

John D. Shearer, photographer

Norman Bridwell, author of the Clifford the Big Red Dog books

Strother Martin, actor

Bob Ford, national-award winning sports editor for the Kokomo Tribune.

Kaitlyn Christopher, Miss Indiana USA 2005

Floyd Talbert, soldier (of Band of Brothers fame)

John Oetjen, Grammy Award winner, television and film producer

Joe Thatcher, pitcher for MLB San Diego Padres

Jimmy Rayl, Splendid Splinter, Indiana Pacers 1967-1969, two-time All-American Indiana University

Tom Underwood, former MLB pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Oakland A's, and Baltimore Orioles

Pat Underwood, former MLB pitcher, Detroit Tigers

Kent "OZ" Nelson, former CEO of United Parcel Service

Sara Bassett-Sullivan, Indianapolis 500 Queen 1988

Jim "Goose" Ligon, former ABA Player, Kentucky Colonels

Jason Hinkle, musician The Baldwin Brothers, contract with TVT Records.

TJ Widner, musician The Baldwin Brothers, contract with TVT Records.

BreakSk8, one of twelve dance crews featured on America's Best Dance Crew on MTV in 2008

Tavis Smiley, PBS

Joshua Hoban, investigator in the Timothy Masters case, Gideon Award Recipient

Movies filmed in Kokomo

A Romance of Kokomo (1917), a silent film.

Terror Squad (1987), starring Chuck Connors and resident Michael W. Gordon

The Ryan White Story (1988), starring Judith Light and Lukas Haas

Other film references to Kokomo

In the animated movie Cats Don't Dance, the protagonist (Danny) hails from Kokomo.

The Blues Brothers (film) featured a fictitious Kokomo bar, Bob's Country Bunker, where patrons threw beer bottles at the band on a stage protected by a chicken wire cage.

In the movie series Band of Brothers part 3 Carentan in the end the poem read says "...he lunged he thrust both high and low and skewered the boy from Kokomo" as referenced to Floyd M. Talbert a native of Kokomo.

Also in the same series above referenced in part 1 Currahee then mention the Kokomo Police department when he receives the revolver seen in other parts.Further Information

Get more info on 'Kokomo Indiana'.

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