Terre Haute

History

Terre Haute's name is derived from the French phrase terre haute (pronounced in French), meaning "highland". It was named by French-Canadian explorers and fur trappers to the area in the early 18th century to describe the unique location above the Wabash River (see French colonization of the Americas). At the time, the area was claimed by the French and British and these highlands were considered the border between Canada and Louisiana. The construction of Fort Harrison in 1811 marked the known beginning of a permanent population of European-Americans in the area that would become known as Terre Haute. A Wea Indian village already existed near the fort, and the orchards and meadows they kept a few miles south of the fort became the site of the present-day city. The village of Terre Haute, then a part of Knox County, Indiana, was platted in 1816. Terre Haute became the county seat of the newly formed Vigo County in 1818, leading to increased population growth. The village's estimated 1,000 residents voted to incorporate in 1832; the village was elevated to city status in 1853. Early Terre Haute was a center of farming, milling, and pork processing. However, the city's pre-1960 business and industrial expansion occurred largely due to transportation. The Wabash River, the building of the National Road (now US 40), and the Wabash and Erie Canal linked Terre Haute to the world and broadened the city's range of influence. The economy was based on iron and steel mills, hominy plants, and late in the 19th century, distilleries, breweries, and bottle makers. Coal mines and coal operating companies developed to support the railroads, yet agriculture remained predominant, largely due to the role of corn in making alcoholic beverages and food items. With steady growth and…

Geography

Terre Haute lies along the eastern bank of the Wabash River in western Indiana, about west of Indianapolis. According to the 2010 census, Terre Haute has an area of , of which (or 2.08%) is covered by water. The Wabash River dominates the city's geography, forming its western border. Small bluffs on the east side of town mark the edge of the historic flood plain. Lost Creek and Honey Creek drain the city's northern and southern sections, respectively. In the late 19th century (particularly during the oil craze of 1889), several oil and mineral wells were productive in and near the center of town. Pioneer Oil of Lawrenceville, Illinois, began drilling for oil at 10th and Chestnut Streets on the Indiana State University campus in December 2013, the first oil well drilled in downtown Terre Haute since 1903. Terre Haute is at the intersection of two major roadways: U.S. 40, originally from California to Maryland, and US 41, from Copper Harbor, Michigan, to Miami, Florida. US 41 and US 40 are called 3rd Street and Wabash Avenue within the city. Terre Haute is southwest of Indianapolis and within of Chicago, St. Louis, Louisville, and Cincinnati. Climate in the city is characterized by relatively high summer temperatures, mean winter temperatures near freezing, and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. The Köppen climate classification this climate is Cfa (humid subtropical).

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Terre Haute South Vigo High School
  High · Terre Haute · 1,610 students · 15.6:1 ratio
• Terre Haute North Vigo High School
  High · Terre Haute · 1,507 students · 14.9:1 ratio
• Otter Creek Middle School
  Middle · Terre Haute · 787 students · 15.1:1 ratio
• Lost Creek Elementary School
  Elementary · Terre Haute · 735 students · 15.6:1 ratio
• Woodrow Wilson Middle School
  Middle · Terre Haute · 701 students · 14.3:1 ratio
• Honey Creek Middle School
  Middle · Terre Haute · 664 students · 13.6:1 ratio
• Dixie Bee Elementary School
  Elementary · Terre Haute · 587 students · 16.8:1 ratio
• Terre Town Elementary School
  Elementary · Terre Haute · 556 students · 14.6:1 ratio