Many people associate the Indianapolis area with its professional sports teams, but the Indianapolis suburbs maintain a unique look and feel all their own. Danville IN traces its roots back to 1835 when it was incorporated as an Indiana town. Danville is the county seat of Hendricks County, one of the donut counties of the Indianapolis metropolitan area. Danville's history and small town qualities are on full display as you travel down Main Street even though it is located only twenty minutes from the west side of Indianapolis.
Source:flickr.com
As of the 2010 Census, the town of Danville had a population of 9,001 people, an increase of 12 percent over the 2000 Census report. Of the 3,344 households in Danville, 2,398 were comprised of families. The town is inhabited by a homogeneous population with 96.8 percent of the residents identifying as Caucasian with the second largest racial group being Hispanic or Latino at 1.8 percent of the population.
Danville's population is evenly spread across age groups, and 73 percent of Danville's residents are native-born citizens originally from the state of Indiana. Approximately 24 percent of the population is under the age of 17 and take advantage of Danville Community School Corporation's elementary, junior, and senior high schools. Young adults between the ages of 25 to 39 years old comprise 18 percent of the town's residents, and 37 percent are aged 40 to 64 years old. Senior citizens make up only 13 percent of the community.
The smallest age group are those from 18 to 24 years of age, presumably, because many of this age group leave home to further their education elsewhere. Nearly one-half of Danville's residents are college educated with 7 percent of the residents holding advanced graduate degrees.
Source:flickr.com
The town of Danville is situated around an old-time town square surrounding the county courthouse. The original Hendricks County Courthouse was built on the site in 1863 but had to be demolished after a portion of the roof collapsed in 1907. The building was rebuilt on the current site by Indianapolis architect, Clarence Martindale. A stunning example of Neoclassical architecture, the courthouse is built entirely out of Indiana limestone. Small, local businesses line the courthouse square. Residents and visitors alike line up at the Mayberry Cafe across from the court house to sample home cooked meals and snap a photo with the authentic Mayberry Squad Car parked out front.
As you travel through Danville, you will see a variety of historic homes lining Main Street with wide, welcoming porches facing the street. Most of these homes date back to the late 1800s and it is not difficult to imagine yourself lounging on one of these porches in the summer, sipping a tall, cool glass of lemonade. A few of these large homes have been divided into smaller rental apartments, but the majority remain single family homes. Branching off of Main Street, other historical homes line the perpendicular streets of the planned town. As you move farther from the town square, you will find typical suburban housing additions with modern neighborhoods. Danville IN's median home price is $174,900 making homes affordable for most families.
Source:wikimedia.org
Because of its long history as the county seat of Hendricks County, Danville remains the focal point of the county. Government services originate from the town, and major amenities such as the county's first hospital are located here. Hendricks Regional Health and the Hendricks County Government, including the Sheriffs' Department, are major employers in the town. Located 20 miles from central Indianapolis, many Danville residents take advantage of employment opportunities offered in the big city while maintaining a residence in an area more known for its tight-knit community.
In terms of climate, Danville is a normal Indiana city. Residents often joke that if you do not like Indiana weather, wait five minutes and it will change. Danville's coldest month is January with an average high of 36º Fahrenheit and July the warmest with an average high of 85º Fahrenheit. That's not to say that a 60º day in January would be unheard of. A southern breeze often brings warmer temperatures for a day or two in the middle of winter, offering a short break from the coldest temperatures.
No matter the weather, Danville's Ellis Park gives residents a chance to enjoy the outdoors. During December, the parks 49 acres are transformed into a holiday spectacular with the Winterland Light Show. Over a million twinkling lights adorn displays throughout the park from Thanksgiving through New Year. Winter hiking along the park's wooded trails is a popular way to enjoy the outdoors even in the coldest months. During the summer, the park is a central meeting place for residents who make use of the park's community pool, splash pad, and many playground areas. Danville's Little League teams play at the park all summer long.
As a small town, Danville residents can find their shopping options limited. Basic needs for groceries, medications, automotive services, and dining are easily enough to meet, but many major purchases will need to be made elsewhere. The town has not attracted the big box type of department stores that other Indianapolis suburbs have. Luckily, Danville's location near Indianapolis makes this a minor inconvenience only.
Hendricks County is home to other suburban cities similar to Danville in size, but none can match its small town, historical feel.
