Fort Wayne

by The Linguist

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Fort Wayne is a city located in northeastern Indiana, with a population of 253,691 as of the 2010 census. It is the second-largest city in Indiana after Indianapolis and the principal city of the Fort Wayne metropolitan area. Fort Wayne was established in 1794 by the United States Army under the direction of American Revolutionary War general Anthony Wayne, the last in a series of forts built near the Miami village of Kekionga. Named in Wayne’s honor, the European-American settlement developed at the confluence of the St. Joseph, St. Marys, and Maumee rivers several years after the decisive American victory at the Battle of Fallen Timbers.

Today, Fort Wayne is known for its architecture, culture, and economy. The city has been cited as having one of the lowest cost of living for employees in the United States. Fort Wayne is home to two minor league sports franchises: the Fort Wayne TinCaps (Single A affiliate of the San Diego Padres) and Fort Wayne Mad Ants (NBA G League affiliate of the Indiana Pacers). Fort Wayne is also home to the Fort Wayne Air National Guard Station at Fort Wayne International Airport.

Some key facts about Fort Wayne:

  • County: Allen County
  • Mayor: Tom Henry (D)
  • Population (2010): 253,691
  • Area: 110.83 sq mi
  • Elevation: 787 ft

History of Fort Wayne

The Miami tribe established its main village of Kekionga at the confluence of the three rivers in the 1690s. It was the largest Miami village in the region and held cultural and political significance for the tribe. The village was a center of trading activities between the Miami and other tribes, as well as with French traders. In 1790, General Harmar’s American forces were defeated in Kekionga by the Miami, Potawatomi, Shawnee and other tribes in the Northwest Indian War.

In 1794, General Anthony Wayne built a fort on an Indian village that became known as Fort Wayne. It was named after General “Mad” Anthony Wayne. The fort played a pivotal role in the early development of the city. Located at a strategic location, it attracted traders and pioneers to the area. The fort was also part of campaigns against Native Americans in the Northwest Indian War. Today, a replica of the fort stands at its original location near present-day downtown Fort Wayne.

Over the 19th century, Fort Wayne grew from a frontier outpost into a major city in northwest Indiana and a hub of transportation networks. Canals and railroads fostered businesses in milling and manufacturing. By the early 20th century, Fort Wayne became one of the major industrial cities in the Midwest. The population continued to grow throughout the 20th century through migration from Appalachia and the Southern United States and new immigration from Europe and Asia.

Some key moments in Fort Wayne’s history:

  • 1796 – The first European-American government is established.
  • 1819 – William Rockhill builds the first cabin at the junction.
  • 1840 – Fort Wayne becomes county seat.
  • 1863 – Railroad hub completed.
  • 1869 – Allen County Courthouse built.
  • 1920 – City reaches 100,000 population.

For more on the history of Fort Wayne, visit the Fort Wayne Wikipedia page.

Economy and Major Employers

Fort Wayne has diversified its economy over the past decades as manufacturing jobs have declined across the Rust Belt. Healthcare now makes up the largest sector, followed by manufacturing, government, education, and professional and business services. Major employers in Fort Wayne include:

  • Parkview Health (10,000 employees) – Headquarters at 11109 Parkview Plaza Dr, Fort Wayne, IN 46845. Phone: (260) 266-1000. Healthcare network. Website
  • Lutheran Health Network (7,703 employees)- Headquarters at 7950 W. Jefferson Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46804. Phone: (260) 435-7000. Hospital network. Website
  • Steel Dynamics (2,770 employees) – Headquarters at 7575 W Jefferson Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46804. Phone: (260) 737-4000. Steel producer. Website
  • BFGoodrich (2,000 employees) – Manufacturing at 515 W Pontiac St, Fort Wayne, IN 46803. Phone: (260) 423-3160. Tire manufacturer. Website
  • General Motors (1,500 employees) – Assembly plant at 12200 Lafayette Center Rd, Roanoke, IN 46783. Phone: (260) 747-6791. Auto manufacturer. Website

Other major private sector employers include Sweetwater Sound, Vera Bradley, Do it Best Corp., Raytheon, OmniSource, and Frontier Communications. The city and Allen County government are also major employers in the area.

For more on Fort Wayne’s economy, visit the Greater Fort Wayne economic overview.

Attractions and Landmarks

Fort Wayne has a variety of cultural attractions and landmarks for visitors and residents to enjoy. Here are some of the top attractions in the city:

  • Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo – One of the top zoos in the country, featuring over 1,000 animals. Address: 3411 Sherman Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46808. Phone: (260) 427-6800. Website.
  • Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory – Botanical garden with tropical plants and seasonal flower shows. Address: 1100 S Calhoun St, Fort Wayne, IN 46802. Phone: (260) 427-6440. Website.
  • Fort Wayne Museum of Art – Collection of American art with galleries and special exhibitions. Address: 311 E Main St, Fort Wayne, IN 46802. Phone: (260) 422-6467. Website.
  • Science Central – Interactive science museum with permanent and traveling exhibits. Address: 1950 N Clinton St, Fort Wayne, IN 46805. Phone: (260) 424-2400. Website.
  • Embassy Theatre – Historic 1928 movie palace that hosts concerts and live performances. Address: 125 W Jefferson Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46802. Phone: (260) 424-5665. Website.
  • Fort Wayne TinCaps – Minor league baseball team, affiliate of the San Diego Padres. Home field at Parkview Field. Website.
  • Fort Wayne Mad Ants – NBA G League basketball team, affiliate of the Indiana Pacers. Home arena is Memorial Coliseum. Website.

Some other notable landmarks and historic sites include the Allen County Courthouse, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, and historic neighborhoods like Williams-Woodland. The Rivergreenway trail system runs along the rivers through downtown and neighborhoods.

Downtown Fort Wayne

Downtown Fort Wayne is home to many of the city’s historic buildings, cultural sites, and entertainment options. Key landmarks downtown include:

  • Allen County Courthouse (715 S Calhoun St) – Historic courthouse built in 1902.
  • Fort Wayne Museum of Art (311 E Main St)
  • Arts United Center (303 E Main St) – Performing arts center.
  • Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo (3411 Sherman Blvd)
  • Parkview Field – Home of the Fort Wayne TinCaps.
  • Grand Wayne Convention Center (120 W Jefferson Blvd) – Convention center and 13-story Hilton hotel.
  • Embassy Theatre (125 W Jefferson Blvd)
  • Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (1122 S Clinton St) – Historic Catholic church built in 1860.

GPS Coordinates for Landmarks

Here are the GPS coordinates for three landmarks in Fort Wayne:

  • Allen County Courthouse: 41.0809° N, 85.1398° W
  • Parkview Field: 41.0788° N, 85.1386° W
  • Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo: 41.0871° N, 85.1354° W

Transportation

Fort Wayne is served by a few major transportation options:

  • Fort Wayne International Airport (FWA) – International airport 3 miles southwest of downtown with flights to major hubs. Address: 3801 W Ferguson Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46809. Phone: (260) 747-4146. Website.
  • Citilink – Public bus system serving Fort Wayne. Website.
  • Railroads – Fort Wayne is a major railroad hub. Norfolk Southern, CSX Transportation and a handful of short line railroads serve the city.
  • Highways – Interstate 69, Interstate 469, and U.S. Routes 24, 27, 30, and 33 run through Fort Wayne.

Education

Public education in Fort Wayne is managed by two school districts:

  • Fort Wayne Community Schools – Largest district in the state, serving most of the city. Headquarters: 1200 S Clinton St, Fort Wayne, IN 46802. Phone: (260) 467-2025. Website.
  • Southwest Allen County Schools – Second largest district, serving suburbs. Headquarters: 4824 Homestead Rd, Fort Wayne, IN 46814. Phone: (260) 431-2022. Website.

Higher education institutions in the city include:

  • Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) – Public university with 13,459 students. Address: 2101 E Coliseum Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46805. Phone: (260) 481-6812. Website.
  • University of Saint Francis – Catholic university with 2,165 students. Address: 2701 Spring St, Fort Wayne, IN 46808. Phone: (260) 399-8000. Website.
  • Ivy Tech Community College – Community college with over 6,500 students at the Coliseum Campus. Address: 3800 N Anthony Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46805. Phone: (260) 482-9171. Website.

County and Local Government

Fort Wayne is located in Allen County, Indiana. The county government provides regional services to Fort Wayne and surrounding towns and rural areas.
Allen County
Address: 1 E Main St #300, Fort Wayne, IN 46802
Phone: (260) 449-7555 Website

As the county seat, downtown Fort Wayne is home to the Allen County Courthouse and government center. Fort Wayne operates under a mayor-council system. The city government provides services including police, fire, public transportation, utilities, parks, and community development.

City of Fort Wayne
Address: 200 E Berry St #420, Fort Wayne, IN 46802
Phone: (260) 427-1111 Website Facebook

Sports Teams

Fort Wayne is home to two professional sports teams:

  • Fort Wayne TinCaps – Minor league baseball team, affiliate of the San Diego Padres. Play at Parkview Field downtown. Website.
  • Fort Wayne Mad Ants – NBA G League basketball team, affiliate of the Indiana Pacers. Play at Memorial Coliseum. Website.

The city also has several amateur and university sports teams. The Fort Wayne Komets are a minor league hockey team playing at Memorial Coliseum.

This embed of Google Maps shows the city of Fort Wayne.