CYBERINDIANA SEARCH Attractions Business Cities Counties Images Index Lists Outdoors People Today Weather Contact Policies ©2000-2007 by Mike Habeck

Cities: Terre Haute Terre Haute Terre Haute (2000 Population = 59,614, tenth largest city in the State) is located on the east bank of the Wabash River in western Indiana, not far from Illinois. The name is French in origin, and means "high land". The city was platted in 1816 and a post office was opened in 1818 when it became the seat of newly-formed Vigo County. River traffic was important early, and the National Road arrived in the area in 1835, followed by the Wabash and Erie Canal in 1849. By 1852 the railroad had come to town. Excellent transportation facilities and the discovery of coal deposits nearby led to rapid and substantial industrial development in the latter half of the 1800s. The area was also known for labor organization and unrest, which may have contributed to plant closings and population declines. Terre Haute is home to Indiana State University and the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. It is also the birthplace of several eminent Hoosiers, including labor organizer and Socialist Presidential candidate Eugene V. Debs, former Governor and United States Senator Evan Bayh, author Theodore Drieser, musician "Scatman" Crothers, and baseball pitcher Tommy John.