Speedway, Indiana

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Town of Speedway, Indiana
settlement_type = Town
nickname = "Home of the 500", The Racing Capital of the World


imagesize =
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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location in the state of Indiana


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Indiana
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Marion
subdivision_type3 = Township
subdivision_name3 = Wayne
government_type =
leader_title = Town Council
leader_name =
established_title = Founded
established_date = 1926
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude = 1 E8
unit_pref = Imperial
area_total_sq_mi = 4.8
area_total_km2 = 12.3
area_land_sq_mi = 4.8
area_land_km2 = 12.3
area_water_sq_mi = .01
area_water_km2 = 02
elevation_ft = 744
elevation_m = 227
population_as_of = 2000
population_metro = 1,939,349
population_total = 12,882
population_density_sq_mi = 2,708.9
population_density_km2 = 1,047
timezone = EST
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 39 |latm = 47 |lats = 31 |latNS = N
longd = 86 |longm = 15 |longs = 0 |longEW = W
website = http://www.townofspeedway.org/
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 46224
area_code = 317
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 18-71828GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0443930GR|3
footnotes = |

Speedway is a town in Wayne Township, Marion County, Indiana, United States. The population was 12,881 at the 2000 census. Speedway is the home of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, from which the town derives its name, and is a complete enclave of Indianapolis.

A City for the horseless carriage

The town of Speedway was developed as a city of the future. Meant to be a testing ground much like the famed race track which is its namesake, Speedway was designed to be a city that was hospitable to the car. In a time when Indianapolis streets were still often the narrow orange brick thoroughfares laid by Alexander Ralston in the 1820s and thirties a town with paved roads and homes with garages and not carriage houses must have seemed completely alien. The track as well as the town that has grown up around it have stood a remarkable test of time. Nearly a hundred years after their founding the track still stands as the largest sporting facility in human history and the innovations of Speedway are a thing of common use such as the rear view mirror pioneered by Ray Harroun, the winner of the first Indianapolis 500.

Geography

Speedway is located at coor dms|39|47|31|N|86|14|60|W|city (39.791943, -86.249988)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.8 sq mi (12.3 km²). 4.8 sq mi (12.3 km²)of it is land and 0.21% is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 12,882 people, 6,151 households, and 3,278 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,708.9 people per square mile (1,047.0/km²). There were 6,636 housing units at an average density of 1,395.6/sq mi (539.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 83.16% White, 11.89% African American, 0.28% Native American, 1.61% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.20% from other races, and 1.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.63% of the population.

There were 6,151 households out of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.6% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.7% were non-families. 39.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.78.

In the town the population was spread out with 20.9% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $37,713, and the median income for a family was $49,005. Males had a median income of $36,756 versus $26,954 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,468. About 5.6% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.7% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The School Town of Speedway has six campuses and an enrollment of approximately 1,650 students.

Famous residents

*Joyce DeWitt

References

External links

* [http://www.townofspeedway.org/ Official site]