Downtown Indianapolis is the central business district of Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Downtown is the location of many corporate or regional headquarters; city, county, state, and federal government facilities; several medical centers; Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis; sporting venues; performing arts venues; and most of Indianapolis’ tourist attractions. Downtown is sometimes called the Mile Square, referencing the city plat developed by Alexander Ralston and Elias Pym Fordham at Indianapolis’ founding. Today, Downtown encompasses about 6.5 square miles (17 km2), as designated by the City of Indianapolis’ Regional Center Plan.
Downtown Indianapolis dates to the city’s founding as the state of Indiana’s new capital in 1820 near the east bank of the White River. The state legislature appointed Alexander Ralston and Elias Pym Fordham to survey and design a town plan for Indianapolis, which was platted in 1821. Ralston’s original plan for Indianapolis called for a town of 1-square-mile (2.6 km2). Nicknamed the Mile Square, the town was bounded by North, East, South, and West Streets, although they were not named at that time, with Governor’s Circle, a large circular commons, at the center of town. Bed Bug Exterminator Indianapolis
Ralston’s grid pattern with wide roads and public squares extended outward from the four blocks adjacent to the Circle, and also included four diagonal streets, later renamed as avenues. Public squares were reserved for government and community use, but not all of these squares were used for this intended purpose. Ralston altered the grid pattern in the southeast quadrant to accommodate the flow of Pogue’s Run, but a plat created in 1831 changed his original design and established a standard grid there as well.
Ralston’s basic street plan is still evident in present-day Downtown Indianapolis. Streets in the original plat were named after states that were part of the United States when Indianapolis was initially planned, with the addition of Michigan, which was a U.S. territory at that time. Tennessee and Mississippi Streets were renamed Capitol and Senate Avenues in 1895 after several state government buildings were built west of the Circle near the Indiana Statehouse.
Attractions Nearby
- Central Canal
- Catacombs are located at 222 E Market St, Indianapolis, IN
Dining and Nightlife
- Mass Avenue Pub is located at 745 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN
- SOS Pub Indianapolis is located at 30 E Georgia St, Indianapolis, IN
- Hinata Japanese Fine Dining is located at 130 E Washington St, Indianapolis, IN
- Yard House is located at 15 W Maryland St, Indianapolis, IN
- Webber Grill Restaurant is located at 10 N Illinois St, Indianapolis, IN
Check out other neighborhoods like Woodruff Place
