Beech Grove

History

By the turn of the 20th century, the Beech Grove area was a rural section of Marion County. Notable residents included poet and women's-rights activist Sarah Tittle (Barrett) Bolton (1814–1893) and Indianapolis financier Francis McClintock Churchman (1833–1891). Bolton's farm, "Beech Bank", and Churchman's cattle farm, "Beech Grove Farm", both reflected the abundance of beech trees in this area. This would eventually provide the reason for the city's name, although an early railroad stop in the area was known as "Ingallstown". The city's Sarah T. Bolton Park, situated on some of the former Beech Bank farmland, still contains several large beech trees along its southern boundary. The actual city came into existence as a company town for a new railroad repair facility, the Beech Grove Shops, constructed by the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, and St. Louis Railroad (nicknamed the "Big Four"). Through acquisitions and mergers over the years, the railroad shops have been run by the New York Central, Penn Central and, presently, Amtrak rail systems. The complex sits on with underroof. In 2007, Amtrak had 550 employees working there. In recognition of the city's heritage as a railroad town, Amtrak's business car 10001 is named The Beech Grove and is often used by agency officials when they travel the system. Although Beech Grove was incorporated in late 1906, it did not see rapid growth until the completion of the railroad facility in 1908; as of July 1907, for example, there were only four homes and two businesses in place. Beech Grove grew with two annexations after World War II, with the final one (1967) taking place just before the Unigov legislation which merged Indianapolis with most of the rest of Marion County, preventing future annexation. Two…

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. The city's elevation, measured in feet above sea level, ranges from 766 (the Beech Creek waterway, where it is crossed by South 9th Avenue) to 845 (the northeastern portion of the Amtrak railroad property). It is higher than that of downtown Indianapolis. The city contains several small non-navigable waterways. Beech Creek, McFarland Creek, Pullman Creek, and Victory Run all feed into Lick Creek, which (after leaving the city limits) feeds into the West Fork of the White River. The city is located within parts of four of Marion County's townships. In order of city land size, those townships are Perry, Franklin, Center, and Warren. In order of city population, the list is Perry, Center, and Franklin; the Warren Township section is uninhabited railroad land. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Beech Grove has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Warren Central High School
  High · Indianapolis · 3,414 students · 18.5:1 ratio
• Franklin Central High School
  High · Indianapolis · 3,319 students · 21:1 ratio
• Arsenal Technical High School
  High · Indianapolis · 2,366 students · 17.4:1 ratio
• Southport High School
  High · Indianapolis · 2,355 students · 17.6:1 ratio
• Perry Meridian High School
  High · Indianapolis · 2,350 students · 18.8:1 ratio
• Franklin Central Junior High
  Middle · Indianapolis · 1,711 students · 20.4:1 ratio
• Lillie Idella Kitley Intermediate
  Middle · Indianapolis · 1,296 students · 19.9:1 ratio
• Perry Meridian Middle School
  Middle · Indianapolis · 1,292 students · 16.1:1 ratio