What's Evansville like?

[Berteau]

Originally Posted by Ivory Lee Spurlock

Well, I just don't think Evansville is all that much out of line with other cities it's size. Just off the top of my head, I can think of 3 other states that if Evansville was located in one of those states, it would easily be the nicest city in each of those states. So not to rattle anybody's cage or pee in anybody's Cheerio's, I'll refrain from calling out those states by name.

Don’t you ever even think about peeing in my Cheerios.

[NoClueWho]

Originally Posted by Ivory Lee Spurlock

Well, I just don't think Evansville is all that much out of line with other cities it's size. Just off the top of my head, I can think of 3 other states that if Evansville was located in one of those states, it would easily be the nicest city in each of those states. So not to rattle anybody's cage or pee in anybody's Cheerio's, I'll refrain from calling out those states by name.

DO IT!!! lol

[NoClueWho]

Originally Posted by Ivory Lee Spurlock

I think some people are being way too hard on Evansville. I've seen a few dash-cam videos on YouTube of driving around Evansville, and it doesn't look like it's that bad of a city. It looks nicer than Muncie, Anderson, Marion and South Bend.

Yeah, it actually does look kind of nice...ESPECIALLY to be in Indiana...

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Julio July

Yeah, it actually does look kind of nice...ESPECIALLY to be in Indiana...

There are plenty of decent wooded hilly areas in Indiana, Evansville is in an undesirable location by the Ohio River surrounded by toxic super polluters on multiple sides.

[PatrioticSuperman]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

There are plenty of decent wooded hilly areas in Indiana, Evansville is in an undesirable location by the Ohio River surrounded by toxic super polluters on multiple sides.

Why do you say "Undesirable location?"

And "Toxic superpolluters?"

.....

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by PatrioticSuperman

Why do you say "Undesirable location?"

And "Toxic superpolluters?"

.....

Undesirable- meaning not good air quality overall. It was very very bad as recently as 10-15 years ago.

Toxic Super Polluters- Gibson Coal Power Plant (NW of Evansville) one of the largest remaining in the country, a well known super polluter. Petersburg Coal Power Plant (NE of Evansville), another super polluter, half of the operation will be retired in two years, Rockport Coal Power Plant (E of Evansville) fully retired by 2028. So, things are slowly improving, but unfortunately the largest problem upwind of the city has no full retirement date for nearly two more decades.

[Berteau]

Originally Posted by PatrioticSuperman

Why do you say "Undesirable location?"

And "Toxic superpolluters?"

.....

Apparently the cancer rate is high around Evansville

[Dean Wormer]

I may be the most qualified to reply to some of this thread as I lived in Ft. Wayne for several years before moving to the Evansville area. As someone who has lived in both places, the comparisons are valid. Yes, Ft. Wayne has 2X the population in the city proper. Ft. Wayne sits in the middle of Allen County, which geographically is one of the largest counties in Indiana. Everytime a new subdivision is built, they are annexed into the city limits. Evansville on the other hand, is in Vanderburgh County, which georgraphically is one of the smallest counties in the state. The eastern borders already bump up to the Warrick County line, where another 45-50K people live immediately across it in Newburgh-Ohio Township. The only place Evansville can grow the population is by annexing the subdivisions in the northern parts of Vanderburgh. I really have no idea why they haven't been more aggressive with this. Draw a 30 mile radius around both courthouses, and you will find a more comparable population number.


Interesting that someone posted all the new developments in downtown Ft. Wayne but failed to mention the Evansville ones. Ft. Wayne chose to maintain its old arena and replace its baseball stadium. Evansville chose to maintain its 100+ year old baseball stadium and replace it's old arena with the new Ford Center. Parkview Field is very nice, but Bosse Field is no slouch. Comparing or arguing about those two is akin to Chicago and St Louis fans arguing if Busch or Wrigley is the better field. Each has their own merits. What isn't debatable is how much superior the Ford Center is to the Allen County Coliseum. Since opening about 10 years ago, the Ford Center has been home to several sporting events that get annual national television, not to mention bringing large crowds from out of town. Parkview Field is great for locals, but it doesn't get any national exposure like the Ford Center does. I would also argue that downtown Evansville has more nightlife, especially when you factor the casino into it.



As for nightlife, I also don't recall any organically grown entertainment districts in Ft. Wayne that would compare to Franklin Street or even Haynie's Corner in Evansville. Pierre's doesn't count. The malls are comparable and both seem to be more vibrant than the national average these days. Eastland still has all of their anchors, primarily due to Sears never relocating there. Headwaters Park is very nice and I would love to see Evansville do something similar with Pigeon Creek.



I am not bashing on Ft. Wayne. Our family enjoyed it there and we still have many friends up there. It's a fine place. I am just stating that the cities are fair comparisons, and saying Ft. Wayne has left Evansville in the dust is just silly. The comparisons are close enough that I would never trade a Southern Indiana winter for it.


Clark County is not even in the ballpark. Evansville is a hub for a metro of 360K and trade area of nearly 900K. Clark County is basically Louisville sprawl that crossed the river. No real identity other than Jeffersonville being on Live PD a lot.

[Toxic Toast]

Originally Posted by Dean Wormer

The only place Evansville can grow the population is by annexing the subdivisions in the northern parts of Vanderburgh. I really have no idea why they haven't been more aggressive with this. Draw a 30 mile radius around both courthouses, and you will find a more comparable population number.

Evansville has tried, the outlying areas have aggressively fought against it.

Originally Posted by Dean Wormer

saying Ft. Wayne has left Evansville in the dust is just silly.

That comment was specific to downtown FW developments such as The Pearl, Headwaters Park, and Electric Works. Development is happening in Fort Wayne. Evansville recently tore down its tallest building, and to date, it is still a giant fenced off lot.

Yeah, I'd say FW is leaving Evansville in the dust when we're talking about development. If there isn't an event at the Ford Center, Main Street is still mostly a ghost town despite a couple of decades of the city subsidizing development. The casino acts as a fortress, not as a benefit to downtown's vibrancy. Every entertainment development connected to the casino, such as Jillian's, has failed. All we ever successfully kept was the hotel.