Hartford City, Indiana | |
|---|---|
Clockwise from top: Blackford County Courthouse, First Presbyterian Church, Hartford City's Cox Building, The Tyner building | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Motto: "The One And Only" | |
 Location of Hartford City in Blackford County, Indiana. | |
| Coordinates: 40°27′16″N 85°22′44″W / 40.45444°N 85.37889°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Blackford |
| Officially named | 1839 |
| Incorporated (town) | 1857 |
| Incorporated (city) | 1894 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council government |
| • Body | Hartford City Council |
| • Mayor | Dan Eckstein (R)[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 3.90 sq mi (10.10 km2) |
| • Land | 3.88 sq mi (10.05 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 919 ft (280 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 6,086 |
| • Density | 1,567.75/sq mi (605.34/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP code | 47348 |
| Area code | 765 |
| FIPS code | 18-32242[4] |
| GNIS feature ID | 2394309[3] |
| Website | http://www.hartfordcity.net |
Hartford City is a city in the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Blackford County.[5] Located in the northeast central portion of the state, the small farming community underwent a dramatic 15-year economic boom beginning in the late 1880s. The Indiana Gas Boom resulted from the discovery and exploitation of natural gas in the area. The rural economy was transformed to one that included manufacturing. The boom attracted workers and residents, retail establishments, and craftspeople. The increased population was a catalyst for the construction of roads, schools, and churches. After the boom came a long period of growth and stability. Agriculture (and agricultural trade) remained as the basis for the economy.
From the 1920s through the 1970s, Hartford City continued to thrive. Agricultural automation and consolidation of small farms into industrial-size farms resulted in a decline in the population; the small farmer became unable to compete and fewer laborers were needed. Some workers turned to the manufacturing and construction sectors for employment in nearby cities. However, manufacturing hubs such as Muncie and Marion suffered the collapse of their economies during industrial restructuring when large factories closed. Despite the decline, Hartford City was able to retain the paper company, 3M.
The city government has concentrated on bringing manufacturing to Hartford City and has had some success in securing state funding for businesses that use recycled or agricultural materials in the manufacturing process.[6] Younger people leave to attend college and pursue professional careers outside the scope of those available in Hartford City. Community college, private colleges, and a university are within commuting distance; however, Hartford City lacks rental housing appropriate to college students or young adults. The town's population was 6,086 in the 2020 United States Census, down from 6,220 in the 2010 United States Census.
- ^ Mayors office
- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Hartford City, Indiana
- ^ "US Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on November 23, 2009. Retrieved November 25, 2009.
- ^ See "Inside Indiana Business" web site article (10 August 2006) for a recent example. Plastics Archived 2011-09-28 at the Wayback Machine