Eclectic Broad Ripple
I live in Broad Ripple and I absolutely love my community. It has such an eccentric charm from the Broad Ripple strip all the way down to the homes. The history of the city is just as magical.
In 1836, the Indiana General Assembly began a massive improvement program among the many roads, canals, and rivers. During this time a man by the name of Jacob Coil moved his family from Virginia and purchased a large plot of land near the canal route naming it Broad Ripple. This date was April 20, 1837. The name was originated due to the land being very broad, and the river when at its lowest points would "ripple" over the stones. Hence the name… Broad Ripple.
Over the next few years, Broad Ripple became a recreational area in which several residents began building summer cottages on the outskirts of the canal. By this time White City Amusement Park opened on May 26, 1906. The park which is now Broad Ripple Park had once offered several carnival style rides and the all famous carousel (now located inside the Children’s Museum). The park began attracting several businesses to the neighborhood causing an influx of residents due to the employment opportunities. In the next couple years, the park created a concrete bathing beach and a four acre swimming pool – noted as the largest in the nation.
Subdivisions began increasing and the Broad Ripple area became a rich land of investment. Between 1900 - 1922, Broad Ripple residents made several attempts for annexation into the city of Indianapolis. The town was finally annexed into Indianapolis on June 20, 1922 and it was at this time that the amusement park was renamed Broad Ripple Park.
Throughout the years, Broad Ripple has always remained a decorative collage of homes, boutiques, cafes, and entertainment. As with any small town it too has had its good times and bad, yet real estate has continued to flourish.
If you would like more detailed historic information and pictures, broadripplehistory.com is a wonderful site.
In 1836, the Indiana General Assembly began a massive improvement program among the many roads, canals, and rivers. During this time a man by the name of Jacob Coil moved his family from Virginia and purchased a large plot of land near the canal route naming it Broad Ripple. This date was April 20, 1837. The name was originated due to the land being very broad, and the river when at its lowest points would "ripple" over the stones. Hence the name… Broad Ripple.
Over the next few years, Broad Ripple became a recreational area in which several residents began building summer cottages on the outskirts of the canal. By this time White City Amusement Park opened on May 26, 1906. The park which is now Broad Ripple Park had once offered several carnival style rides and the all famous carousel (now located inside the Children’s Museum). The park began attracting several businesses to the neighborhood causing an influx of residents due to the employment opportunities. In the next couple years, the park created a concrete bathing beach and a four acre swimming pool – noted as the largest in the nation.
Subdivisions began increasing and the Broad Ripple area became a rich land of investment. Between 1900 - 1922, Broad Ripple residents made several attempts for annexation into the city of Indianapolis. The town was finally annexed into Indianapolis on June 20, 1922 and it was at this time that the amusement park was renamed Broad Ripple Park.
Throughout the years, Broad Ripple has always remained a decorative collage of homes, boutiques, cafes, and entertainment. As with any small town it too has had its good times and bad, yet real estate has continued to flourish.
If you would like more detailed historic information and pictures, broadripplehistory.com is a wonderful site.
posted by Christina at 10:02 PM
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