Interesting Facts about Evansville
- What year did Evansville become a city? 1847
- Name five Indian tribes that lived in Evansville area. Shawnees, Miamis, Pottawattomies, Delawares, and Kickapoos.
- What was the depth of the floodwater at the corner of Washington and Kentucky Avenues on Jan 31, 1937? 7 Feet
- What product kept Sterling brewery profitable during prohibition? Malt Extract
- What was Willard Carpenter’s dream to build on Reitz Hill? A College
- What does Josef Stalin’s daughter, Svetlana, have in common with Evansville? Her former husband was from Evansville
- Evansville is thought to have been the first city in the country to have what in its schools? Telephones
- During World War II what other police force could be found on Evansville’s street? Military Police
- What did truck drivers driving through Evansville call ‘The Chicken Coop’? The Weigh Station
- Why was Evansville’s red light district called ‘ Gear Town ‘? It was located in 1st, 2nd and High Streets
- Why was it necessary to change the wheels on every train coming north from Kentucky or going south to Nashville? The railroad tracks were different sizes
- What new technology became available in Evansville in 1882? The electric light
- What did Willis Copeland build in 1903? The Zentmobile
- What did F.J. Scholz manufacture in one of the most extensive businesses of its kind in the Midwest? A Cemetery Monument company
- What civil war hotel was located at 3rd and Main? The Washington Hotel
- What happened in 1938 to help bring Evansville out of the Depression? The Discovery of Oil
- Who invented and secured a patent for the common bottle cap? Alfred Bernardin
- How many men from Vanderburgh County fought in the Federal Army during the Civil War? 3,761
- Who is best known for beginning his career in the Blue Bar? Boots Randolph
- What engineering feat did L&N Railroad accomplish in 1885? Completion of Railroad Bridge across Ohio River into Henderson.
- Who was the first mayor of Evansville? James G. Jones
- What Evansville Newspaper ceased publication with the issue giving the account of Lincoln’s death? The Evansville Dispatch
- How many time was Arad McCutchan name ICC ‘Coach of the Year?’ 12
- In 1910 what covered 30 acres west of Pigeon Creek on Maryland Street and was the world largest of its kind. Globe-Bosse-World Furniture Company
- Who was the editor of ‘The Evansville Courier’ who promoted improved schools and parks? Howard Roosa
- In what year did Drive-In theaters appear in Evansville? 1946
- Where was Slaughter’s Avenue? The Lloyd Expressway
- In what year did Evansvillians begin playing golf? 1898
- In 1955, what store on the walkway was ‘The Wife Saver’ store? Evansville Electric Service Inc.
- What local figure was the Minster to China? Co. Charles Denby
- How did Evansville lose its Wharf? It was destroyed by an ice jam.
- What high school did fashion designer Halston attend? Benjamin Bosse
- What does Mater Dei mean? Mother of God
- Who was Evansville most famous woman? Albion Fellows Bacon
- In what year did the first student graduate from a high school in Evansville? 1862
- What uncompleted building burned on Christmas Eve 1855? The Courthouse
- In what park were animals first displayed in Evansville? Oak Summit Park
- What was Riverside drive formerly called? Water Street
- What was the Belmont Disaster? A shipwreck that killed 14 people
- What local killer’s trial led to a landmark Supreme Court ruling balancing free-press and fair-trial rights? Leslie ‘Mad Dog’ Irvin
- What was distinctive about Vine St., Clark, Governor and Douglas high schools? They were for black students
- What west side city was annexed by Evansville? Lamasco
- What local sports figure became the announcer of the Kentucky Derby? Chick Anderson
- How many growing days does Evansville have? 185 Days
- How many years did the Wabash Erie Canal operate? 12 Years
- What was unusual about the children’s barber chair in Strouses? The barber chair was a carousel horse
- What vaudeville comedian never failed to mention his old home town Evansville in his act and movies? Joe Cooke
- What was ‘The Pitts?’ A threshing machine
- What is the oldest road in the Evansville city limits? Red Bank Road
- What Evansville golfer won the 1944 PGA? Bob Hamilton
- What was destroyed in a roaring inferno on Jan 31st, 1946? Globe-Bosse-World Furniture Company
- What was the name of the amusement park located on East Morgan Avenue? Yabroudy Park
- What chocolate animals was a Christmas tradition at Hermann’s Candy Store? Chocolate Mice
- What Evansville citizen was the first to attend Indiana State University? James Shanklin
- What was the first brick building in Evansville? The Courthouse
- What local person was the national leader of the Klu Klux Klan? D.C. Stephenson
- When did the first electric generating plant start in Evansville? 1882
- Who was the first woman editor of the Evansville Sunday Courier and Press? Judith Clabes
- What was the first high school west of Alleghenys? Evansville High School near 7th and Main
- What were ‘The Simplicty and the ‘Traveler? Automobiles manufactured in Evansville
- Who was the first school teacher in Evansville? Thomas Truman
- What area was known as ‘The English Settlement? McCutchanville
- Who was Evansville¢s College first All-American basketball player? Gus Doerner
- What television station first broadcast the news in color? WFIE
- What happened to the LST Shipyard? Destroyed in a fire
- Where did Theodore Roosevelt speak in Evansville? 5th and Locust Streets
- Why did gypsies make an annual pilgrimage to Evansville? The Queen is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery
- How many square blocks were under flooded in the 1937 flood? 500
- What was WEHT’s channel prior to 25? 50
- In the 1930’s what did Weinbach Avenue and Barker Avenue have in common? They were the city limits
- What did soap manufacturer Adolph Melzer Jr. leave to the city of Evansville? A thousand dollar gift to collect interest for 200 years
- Who was ISUE’s first basketball coach? John L. Deem
- What did ‘Free the Eagle’ refer to? University of Southern Indiana independence
- Where was Evansville’s only public roller coaster? Yabroudy Amusement Park
- What was Welborn Hospitals first name? Evansville Sanitarium
- When was St. Boniface church on Wabash Avenue built? 1881
- In what decade was ‘Good Times Ahead for Evansville’ made popular? 1930’s
- What year was the Evansville Race Riot? 1903
- Who was Anchor Industries World’s largest flag dedicated to? The Iranian Hostages
- Before Oak Hill cemetery, where was Evansville’s burial ground? 5th and Mulberry
- What pro sport did Central H. S. grad Dr. Ralph Wilson participate in 1930? Professional Wrestling
- What pioneer village to the east, now a ghost town, was an early rival of Evansville? Darlington
- What crime did Hugh McGary’s father commit? He murdered an unarmed Indian.
- How did Jack McLean end his sport show? Good night to all good sports
- What large institution west of Evansville provided treatment for patients with tuberculosis? Boehne Camp
- What Rex Mundi football player went on to national fame? Bob Griese
- What Civil War encampment was located on the old fairground on the riverfront? Camp Wallace
- What man from Evansville was one of the first three Americans killed in WWI and where is he buried? James Bethel Gresham
- Which hotel had ‘The Rose Room? The McCurdy
- What railroad baron was from Evansville? David Mackey
- Evansville is located just north of what famous ‘line’? Mason-Dixon Line
- What was Evansville’s first private hospital? St. Mary’s on the waterfront
- Hoosier Cardinal was a pioneer in the manufacture of what industry? Plastics
- When was a fire department established? 1888
- Who was the first black doctor in Evansville? George Washington Buckner
- What company made the first farm tractors in the United States? Hercules Buggy Company
- Where was the first jail located? 3rd and Main Streets
- How long is the Ohio River? 981 Miles
- What pair of rare animals (the only two in captivity) was at Mesker Zoo? Blue glacier bears
- When was Evansville first museum established? 1904
- What was the name of the hospital for blacks? Welborn Walker Annex
- What year did the Evansville Philharmonic established? 1934
- Why did Evansville schools have recesses? To move the horses to the shade
- What year was the first commercial flight from Evansville to Chicago? 1928
- Where was the Sunshine Coal Mine located? West Maryland Street
- Why was there a riot in 1865? Opposition to increasing black settlement
- What year was the L&N Railroad station built? 1901