Is my impression of Indianapolis accurate?

[MortonR]

Originally Posted by rrampage

I hear you. Certainly, some put a lot of effort into fakery. I never got that stuff. That stems from an insecurity complex.

It's also a part of the class distinctions that have been in place in the area for decades. The Southside and more so Greenwood is considered "redneck" or rural. Bowling shirts and Budweiser. East and west sides are blue collar, although that's a carry over from many, many years ago when those areas were primarily factory workers. The "northside" was where the wealthy live, from the North Meridian corridor (old money) to Carmel and Fishers (new money.)

I haven't lived in the area for some time, with the exception of a short stint a few years ago. I've got relatives that still live there, and they've confirmed that things haven't changed a great deal in this regard.

One thing I'll say is that I continue to be amazed at how well the Southside has aged. I grew up there in the 70s and the neighborhood I lived in looks essentially no different for when I grew up there.

RM

[curiousgeorge5]

One thing I'll say is that I continue to be amazed at how well the Southside has aged. I grew up there in the 70s and the neighborhood I lived in looks essentially no different for when I grew up there.

It's probably better like that than if it changed a lot.

I think it was in the 80s when many started saying and hearing "Change is good". If change results in something that is less good that what it was before, change was not good in that circumstance.

[Toxic Toast]

Probably the biggest change on the southside is the influx of Chin migrants. Perry Township is now the epicenter of the country's biggest settlement of Chin refugees.

[ion475]

Originally Posted by Toxic Toast

Probably the biggest change on the southside is the influx of Chin migrants. Perry Township is now the epicenter of the country's biggest settlement of Chin refugees.

Southport...went from 1.1% Asian in 2010 to 27% Asian in 2020 . 15% Asian in Perry Township overall which is higher than Carmel .

Heading to the Viet Hua on Stop 11 Road @ Madison Ave definitely felt a lot different than the one up near Castleton Square - it's like 90% Burmese at the Southside one (whereas the Castleton one is a mix of Chinese, Vietnamese, etc.)

Either way the only areas that doesn't feel as "redneck" in the southside would be White River Township (Center Grove Schools area) in Johnson County...but it's still not exactly a diverse area.

[Kluch]

Originally Posted by ion475

Southport...went from 1.1% Asian in 2010 to 27% Asian in 2020 . 15% Asian in Perry Township overall which is higher than Carmel .

Heading to the Viet Hua on Stop 11 Road @ Madison Ave definitely felt a lot different than the one up near Castleton Square - it's like 90% Burmese at the Southside one (whereas the Castleton one is a mix of Chinese, Vietnamese, etc.)

Either way the only areas that doesn't feel as "redneck" in the southside would be White River Township (Center Grove Schools area) in Johnson County...but it's still not exactly a diverse area.

It's funny that we're talking about Greenwood and the southside feeling more "Redneck". We lived in Franklin for 2.5 years and recently moved to Avon. Downtown Franklin is a gem and has it's own thing going on due to the University there, however my wife and I agreed that walking around Walmart in Franklin gave a distinctly more "backwoods" type feel, where most people were white but looked like they came from a country town. Whereas the walmart near us in Avon feels very diverse and much more like a "city" walmart where you're seeing people of different races and ethnicities. Just an interesting observation.

[rrampage]

Originally Posted by Kluch

It's funny that we're talking about Greenwood and the southside feeling more "Redneck". We lived in Franklin for 2.5 years and recently moved to Avon. Downtown Franklin is a gem and has it's own thing going on due to the University there, however my wife and I agreed that walking around Walmart in Franklin gave a distinctly more "backwoods" type feel, where most people were white but looked like they came from a country town. Whereas the walmart near us in Avon feels very diverse and much more like a "city" walmart where you're seeing people of different races and ethnicities. Just an interesting observation.

Franklin is definitely in the exurban category. My experience traveling to outer suburbs and exurban areas is always weird. Definitely, cultures clashing.

I can never miss how many outer suburban and exurban areas differ from the rest of a given metro area. It's like clockwork. Social engineering in motion.

[indy_317]

Once the interstate is completely done, Johnson and Morgan counties are likely to see a significant change. I think the Center Grove and Bargersville area will still be the high income area. One of the exits from IN-144 up to County Line road will likely see additional growth for housing additions and additional retail. The retail will likely be a large scale grocer (this general area is lacking, as most have to drive to Mooresville or over to IN-135 if I recall), additional gas stations, and small to maybe mid-sized strip malls. Will be interesting to see how things play out.

[WestsideMac]

Originally Posted by indy_317

Once the interstate is completely done, Johnson and Morgan counties are likely to see a significant change. I think the Center Grove and Bargersville area will still be the high income area. One of the exits from IN-144 up to County Line road will likely see additional growth for housing additions and additional retail. The retail will likely be a large scale grocer (this general area is lacking, as most have to drive to Mooresville or over to IN-135 if I recall), additional gas stations, and small to maybe mid-sized strip malls. Will be interesting to see how things play out.

Agreed. That area will continue to grow like bonkers with several new exits and the reconfiguration of the interstate through there opening up more land to expand into. I think with that area already having a lot of estate and executive type homes and schools considered some of the best (factor in strong sports) and it will continue to attract the more well to-do to that area. They also have a TON of farmland that will eventually be developed into more homes or retail. The amount of square miles east of 69 and south 144/Whiteland Rd all feed into Center Grove district. Everything west of 69 is in flood zones, so not sure how much that will get expanded into and built up other than immediately west of 69, but that area is primed to take off even more now.

As rrampage and kluch both said "Franklin is definitely in the exurban category. My experience traveling to outer suburbs and exurban areas is always weird. Definitely, cultures clashing.

I can never miss how many outer suburban and exurban areas differ from the rest of a given metro area. It's like clockwork. Social engineering in motion."

Franklin I think is different from other towns/exurbs in that most small Indiana towns its town folk vs country folk (though most of their ideals, beliefs, etc are still fairly similar). Franklin has the fact that a college is there too to make it a different mix, especially politically, of university folk, town folk and country folk. There are definitely crossovers between some of those groups versus what you find in other towns/exurbs. It also is close enough that some people in Franklin work in Indy or other suburbs so you have some of the cross over there too. Compared to 10 years ago Franklin isn't as stand-alone as it used to be. It is an exurb in my mind, but moving towards being suburb of the Indy area. With that, many of those newer neighborhoods are still conservative-leaning, but more moderate conservative compared to rural people in the area. The university folk are going to be more left-leaning. The town people will depend on age most likely from there. Definitely a different mix than if you look at like a Shelbyville or Greenfield in the same general area and about the same distance from Indy (no university obviously).