Carmel History Timeline

  • 1783 – Northwest Territory acquired by U.S.
  • 1800 – Delaware Indians present and Indiana boundaries established
  • 1816 – Indiana becomes a state
  • 1822 – First pioneer families move into the area
  • 1823 – Hamilton County established
  • 1820s – Town of Mattsville evolves
  • 1828 – Kinzer cabin built; Moffitt house built
  • 1829 – Indianapolis-Peru road surveyed (now Range Line Rd/Westfield Blvd)
  • 1832 – Pleasant Grove community started by Isaac Sharp (present Home Place)
  • 1833 – First school built by Isaac Sharp
  • 1837 – Village of Bethlehem founded
  • 1846 – First post office; given the name Carmel
  • 1853 – White Chapel Church built
  • 1865 – First turnpike road through town (now Range Line Rd.); toll charged to travelers
  • 1869 – Eller Covered Bridge erected
  • 1874- Bethlehem officially incorporates as the town of  Carmel
  • 1882 – Monon Railroad built through Carmel
  • 1883- Monon Raildorad Depot constructed
  • 1887 – Carmel School built
  • 1900 – Carmel population 498
  • 1903 – Interurban constructed through town
  • 1903 – Blue School built
  • 1904 – First electricity in town (streetlights)
  • 1914 – Carmel Carnegie Library opened
  • 1921 – New school built for grades 1-12
  • 1923 – First stoplight invented by local inventor Leslie Haines; installed at Main and Range Line Rd.
  • 1937 – Carmel population 632
  • 1950 – Carmel began first significant growth of population to 1,009
  • August 1, 1954 – Boundary of Clay Township moved from Range Line Road east to the White River
  • 1957 – Metropolitan school district of Clay Township organized
  • October 6, 1957 – Eller’s Bridge destroyed by fire
  • 1958 – New Carmel High School began construction (410 students at the time)
  • 1965 – Keystone Avenue opened, sparked rapid growth of Carmel
  • 1972 – Carmel Public Library moved to new library building
  • 1974 – Population 13,484
  • 1976 – First performance of Carmel Symphony Orchestra; portion of Zina Warren home moved to Main St. (now Carmel Arts Council’s Children’s Art Gallery); Carmel becomes a city (from a town); first mayor elected
  • 1980 – Population 18,072; first female mayor elected, Jane Reiman
  • 1983 – Dedication of new gazebo at Flowing Well Park
  • 1986 – Groundbreaking for Carmel Civic Square
  • 1987 – Carmel Sesquicentennial Celebration
  • 1990 – Carmel population 25,380
  • 2003 – Carmel population approximately 40,000.
  • 2011 – Center for Performing Arts Opens; Carmel population approximately 81,500

(IN 3.1.2, 3.1.3, 3.1.4, 3.1.5) Used with permission by the Carmel Arts Council