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EspañolKOKOMO, INDIANA
'Kokomo' (IPA: ) 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.
Geography
Kokomo is located at (40.482238, -86.131754).
According to the United States Census Bureau14569745697456, the city has a total area of 42.1 km² (16.2 mi²). 42.0 km² (16.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.37%) is water.
Major parks
★ Foster Park
★ Highland Park
★ Jackson Morrow Park[1]
★ Kokomo Beach[2]- water park
★ Northwest Park
★ Darrough Chapel Park
History
The Art Deco Howard County courthouse.
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 natural gas 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.
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.
Kokomo serves as the "City of Firsts" in the food industry as well. 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 is now an ordinary McDonald's. 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).
"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 was invented 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.
Notable people from Kokomo
★ Jack Purvis, jazz musician
★ Sylvia Kirby, singer
★ Ryan White, AIDS activist
★ Rupert Boneham, Survivor contestant
★ Tavis Smiley, social commentator
★ 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 (best known as the prison "captain" in the 1967 film ''Cool Hand Luke'')
★ Bob Ford, National-Award winning Sports Editor for the Kokomo Tribune.
★ Kaitlyn Christopher, Miss Indiana USA 2005
★ Matthew Crull, musician
★ Chris Thomas, Guitarist
★ Mark Langley, horse jockey
★ Floyd Talbert, Soldier (''of Band of Brothers fame'')
★ John Oetjen, Grammy Award winner, Television and Film Producer
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 1,099.0/km² (2,847.2/mi²). There were 22,292 housing units at an average density of 531.3/km² (1,376.4/mi²). 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 household 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.
Attractions
Old Ben - Born in 1902 and acclaimed as "The largest calf in the world"
Old Ben's details
The Vermont Covered Bridge - Another attraction to be found in Highland Park
★ Old Ben, a stuffed Hereford steer (At Highland Park)
★ The Sycamore Stump, a large stump located 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 a well known golf club.
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 [3], 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[4], December 31 at Downtown Square
For more information visit Kokomo Main Street Association website
Major employers
★ DaimlerChrysler
★
★ Kokomo Transmission Plant[5] (4,200 employees)
★
★ Kokomo Casting Plant[6] (1,115 employees)
★
★ Indiana Transmission Plant #1[7] (1,898 employees)
★
★ Indiana Transmission Plant #2[8] (482 employees)
★ Delphi Corporation[9]
★
★ Electronics & Safety World Headquarters
★ Haynes International[10]
★ Holder Mattress[11]
★ Syndicate Sales, Inc.[12]
★ Coca-Cola[13] bottling plant
★ Electronic Data Systems[14](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.
Government
City Hall and Police Department building.
Mayor
Kokomo's current mayor is Matt McKillip[15] (Republican). McKillip has served as mayor since January 2003. Prior to McKillip, Kokomo's mayor was Jim Trobaugh (Republican).
Media
Newspapers
★ ''Kokomo Tribune''[16], daily morning newspaper owned by Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. (CNHI).
★ ''Kokomo Perspective''[17], a locally-owned weekly newspaper delivered every Tuesday or Wednesday.
★ ''Kokomo Herald'', weekly newspaper
★ ''The Correspondent''[18], IU-Kokomo student newspaper
Television
★ WTTK-TV[19], The CW affiliate- channel 29
★ WKGK-TV, Independent- channel 48 (Currently For Sale)
★ KGOV, Kokomo government access channel. (channel 2)
Radio
★ WFIU-FM[20], Jazz, Classical, NPR- 106.1 FM
★ WFRN-FM[21], Christian Radio- 93.7 FM
★ WIOU-AM, Talk, News and Sports- 1350 AM
★ WIWC-FM[22], Christian Radio- 91.7 FM
★ WMYK-FM[23], Classic Rock- 98.5 FM
★ WSHW-FM[24], Light Rock- 99.7 FM
★ WWKI-FM[25], Hit Country- 100.5 FM
★ WZWZ-FM, Adult Contemporary- 92.5 FM
Wrestling promotions
Kokomo is home to the independent Professional wrestling promotion 'World Championship Wrestling Of America' (WCWA). The company — which is owned by the husband and wife team of Rob and Amanda Reeder — holds an annual event at the July "Hayes Apperson Fair" called "Wrestlefestival" for which they generally contract well known wrestlers to headline. In addition to Wrestlefestival, WCWA holds sporadic shows — generally every two to three months — throughout the year featuring their own roster of wrestlers.
Education
Colleges/universities
★ Indiana University Kokomo [26](IUK)
★ Indiana Wesleyan University [27]- Kokomo Campus
★ Ivy Tech State College [28]
★ Purdue College of Technology [29]
School districts
Public
★ Kokomo-Center Township Consolidated School Corporation [30] (K-12) Kokomo High School (NCC)
★ Eastern Howard School Corporation [31] (K-12, Greentown, Indiana) (MIC)
★ Northwestern School Corporation [32] (K-12) (MIC)
★ Taylor Community School Corporation [33](K-12, Center, Indiana) (MIC)
★ Western School Corporation [34] (K-12, Russiaville, Indiana) (MIC)
Private
★ Kokomo Christian School [35](K-12)
★ Redeemer Lutheran School [36](K-8)
★ Sts. Joan of Arc and Patrick Catholic School [37](K-8)
Sports teams
★ Indiana Mustangs[38], Mid Continental Football League (Play at Tri-Central High School)
★ Kokomo Dodgers, minor league baseball- Midwest League (1955-1961)
★ Kokomo CFD Saints [39], semi-pro baseball (1989-2002)
★ Kokomo CFD Knights [40], semi-pro baseball - IABL (Expansion team in 2007)
Sports venues
★ CFD Investments Stadium in Highland Park
★ Kokomo Speedway[41]
★ Memorial Gym
Movies filmed in Kokomo
★ ''A Romance of Kokomo'' (1917), a silent film.
★ ''Terror Squad'' (1987), starring Chuck Connors
★ ''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.
Transportation
'Airports'
★ Kokomo Municipal Airport
'Highways'
★ U.S. Highway 31 to South Bend (North) and Indianapolis (South)
★ U.S. Highway 35 to Logansport (North) and Muncie (South)
★ State Road 22 to Burlington (West) and Hartford City (East)
★ State Road 26 to Lafayette (West) and Hartford City (East)
'Bus Service'
★ Greyhound Lines to South Bend (North) and Indianapolis (South)
US31 in Kokomo.
External links
★ Kokomo Live Weather
★ Kokomo IN Real Estate - Howard Co Real Estate
★ In Kokomo
★ City of Kokomo
★ Kokomo IN Visitors Bureau
★ Howard County Community Net
★ Kokomo US 31 Improvement Project
★ Woodland Indian Languages
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