Evansville IN Moving Companies

Evansville, Indiana

Why did readers of Kiplinger’s magazine vote Evansville, Indiana as the “Best Place to Live, Work and Play” in 2008? Perhaps it’s the relatively low cost of living, or maybe it’s the low crime rate. What else makes relocating to Evansville a great idea? The relatively small population (just over 350,000) gives this city a hometown feeling, but it also has amenities that a big city might envy. Its museums, auditoriums and orchestras are world-class, and the surrounding natural scenery is breath-taking.

Before you start calling Evansville moving companies and planning your cross-country relocation, take a look at what makes this small city into a big charmer.

Economy:
Evansville boasts access to the navigable portion of the Ohio River, several railway lines and Interstate Highway 64. This means that trade is an important part of the Evansville economy, and many manufacturers who need to ship their goods throughout the United States have found that relocating to Evansville has boosted their bottom line.

Important exports from Evansville include plastics, household appliances and pharmaceuticals. The area is rich in minerals, including coal, oil and aluminum. Evansville is also situated in the middle of the fertile farming region of Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. This means that tons of corn, wheat and soy pass through the area each year. Evansville is also home to several produce- and meat-packing plants.

History:
The first European to settle in the future Evansville area was Colonel Hugh McGary, who started a ferry boat service in 1818 which shuttled passengers across the Ohio River. He sold a portion of his 200 acres to General Robert Evans, who was a member of the Ohio Territory legislature. The legislature named the town in honor of General Evans, and Evansville became the seat of Vanderburgh County.

Evansville’s location on a bend in the Ohio River made it an important port for the flatboats that traveled up and down the river’s shores, carrying frontiersmen, traveling theatrical troupes and merchants. In 1836, the town was designated as the terminus of the Erie Canal, which was finished in 1853 just as the first railway was laid to the town. This secured the city’s reputation as a thriving center of trade.

Tourism:
Indiana towns are known for their “Hoosier hospitality,” and Evansville is no exception. Baseball fans will enjoy watching the Evansville Otters pitch a few games at historic Bosse Field, and hockey fans will love watching the Evansville Ice Men facing their rivals in the Swonder Ice Arena. Those who prefer to take a more active role in their sport of choice will enjoy a visit to Burdette Park, which boasts several swimming pools, a BMX bike track, miniature golf, batting cages, a fishing lake and tennis courts.

Not a sports fan? Take a walk in the rugged, boulder-filled Garden of the Gods in the Shawnee National Forest, or visit the Master Gardeners Display Gardens on the east side of Evansville. If the weather is too cold for outdoor adventures, stop at the Children’s Museum or the Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science. This is just a short list of the things to see and do, so if you’re thinking of moving to Evansville, be sure to make time to explore all of the possibilities.

Colleges/Universities:

• University of Southern Indiana
• University of Evansville
• Oakland City University
• Harrison College

Interesting Facts:

• Five different Native American tribes have called Evansville home: the Shawnee, the Pottawattomie, the Kickapoo, the Miami and the Delaware.
• At one time, trains passing through Evansville from Kentucky to Tennessee (or vice versa) had to stop and change their wheels. This is because the Tennessee and Kentucky tracks were of different sizes.
• The Wabash Erie Canal (which terminated in Evansville) operated for only twelve years.
• In the early days of the automobile, Evansville was the manufacturing location for two auto models called “The Simplicity” and “The Traveler.”