Lebanon, Indiana

History

Lebanon was founded in 1832. It was so named because a stand of juniper treess on the site reminded a pioneer settler of the Biblical cedars of Lebanon. The first post office at Lebanon was established in 1832.

Historical sites

Lebanon is the home of the Historic Cragun House. Built in 1893, it was once the home of Strange Nathaniel Cragun and his family. The family travelled the world, and their house is now a living history museum full of the pieces they collected from their travels as well as original furniture from the dwelling. This Victorian home is owned and maintained by the Boone County Historical Society and serves as headquarters for the organization. The Cragun House has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Also listed on the National Register of Historic Places are the Boone County Courthouse and Oak Hill Cemetery (Lebanon, Indiana).

Geography

Lebanon is located at 40°3′8″N 86°28′18″W (40.052137, -86.471570).

According to the 2010 census, Lebanon has a total area of 15.566 square miles (40.32 km²), of which 15.55 square miles (40.27 km²) (or 99.9%) is land and 0.016 square miles (0.04 km²) (or 0.1%) is water.

Notable architecture

The county courthouse of Lebanon is notable for its single-piece vertical Ionic order limestone columns. They were at one time the largest single-piece limestone columns in the world.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 15,792 people, 6,433 households, and 4,049 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,014.9 inhabitants per square mile (391.9/km²). There were 7,057 housing units at an average density of 453.5 per square mile (175.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.1% White, 0.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.1% of the population.

There were 6,433 households of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.1% were non-families. 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the city was 37.5 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.8% were from 25 to 44; 25.6% were from 45 to 64; and 14.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 14,222 people, 5,834 households, and 3,780 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,952.9 people per square mile (754.3/km²). There were 6,202 housing units at an average density of 851.6 per square mile (328.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.67% White, 0.33% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.58% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.61% of the population.

There were 5,834 households out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city, the population was spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,791, and the median income for a family was $47,769. Males had a median income of $35,614 versus $22,791 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,245. About 4.4% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The government consists of a mayor and a city council. The mayor is elected in a citywide vote. The city council consists of seven members, five of whom are elected from individual districts, while two are elected at-large.

Politics

The last mayoral election occurred in November 2015 where Republican Matt Gentry 65.48% defeated Democrat Michele Thomas 33.46% by a 2 to 1 margin. Gentry was highly favored after defeating the incumbent Mayor Huck Lewis by a 2 to 1 margin. Gentry become the youngest Mayor in Lebanon history at the age of 26.

Tonya Thayer was re-elected as Clerk-Treasurer with no opposition. The only contested city council seats were the 2 at-large bids. Where newcomer Dan Fleming (Republican) 43.42% and incumbent Jeremy Lamar (Republican) 34.86% were able to defeat Aaron Smith (Independent) 21.71%.

The current city council is composed of all Republicans, Mike Kincaid (District 1), Keith Campbell (District 2), Corey Kutz (District 3), Dick Robertson (District 4), John Copeland (District 5), Dan Fleming and Jeremy Lamar (At-Large)

The mayoral election of 2011 occurred in May because no Democrats filed for the position. Incumbent Mayor Huck Lewis was able to retain his seat against Debbie Ottinger. Lewis won with 53.39% compared to Ottinger's 46.61%.

Former Mayor Jim Acton (Democratic Party) did not file to run for a fifth term, which left the 2007 election open to new candidates.

In the mayoral election of November 2007. The candidates were: Republican John Lasley, President of the Lebanon City-Council, Democrat Roger Neal, Lebanon Community School Corporation School Board member and former Lebanon Parks and Recreation Director, and independent candidate George Piper who used to be an editor at The Lebanon Reporter, which is Boone County's largest newspaper.

Republican City Council President John Lasley won the election with 48% of the vote, to Democrat Roger Neal's 27% and Independent George Piper's 25%.

30% of registered voters cast votes in the 2007 election.

Lasley died on May 2, 2009. He was battling a recurrence of cancer since December. City Council President Dick Robertson assumed the mayoral duties until the Republican Party precinct chairpersons met to choose Harold "Huck" Lewis as his successor.

Despite having recently elected Democratic mayors, Lebanon can be considered to be highly Republican when it comes to national and state politics. In the 2008 election, Boone County (the county in which Lebanon is located) voted 62% for Republican presidential candidate John McCain and more than 80% for Republican gubernatorial candidate Mitch Daniels.

Schools

Lebanon Community School Corporation has six schools under its jurisdiction: four elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. Lebanon High School has won six education awards in the past ten years.

Economy

Major employers in Lebanon include Case New Holland/Cat Logistics, Pearson Education, Witham Health Services, Hachette Book Group USA, Hendrickson International, Prairie Industries, Kauffman Engineering, Gander Mountain, Valenti Held and Lebanon Community School Corporation.

Transportation

The Boone County Airport is located two nautical miles (2.3 mi, 3.7 km) southeast of Lebanon's central business district.

Notable people