Meridian-Kessler, Indianapolis
Encyclopedia
Meridian-Kessler is a residential neighborhood located about 4 miles (6.4 km) north of downtown Indianapolis
. It is bounded on the north by Kessler Boulevard, on the east by the Monon Trail
greenway corridor, on the south by 38th Street and to the west by Meridian Street
. Meridian Street forms a shared boundary with the adjacent Butler-Tarkington neighborhood.
Beginning in the very late 1890s, a few wealthy individuals built a smattering of country estates along Meridian Street and neighboring streets north of Maple Road, which is now called 38th Street. However, the area remained mostly open farmland. Currently, a handful of the original area farmhouses still stand, with the oldest one dating back to 1832.
In 1905, the famous landscape architect George Kessler
redesigned Maple Road into a grand urban parkway as part of his ambitious municipal plan to form a network of parks and boulevards
to connect the City of Indianapolis. Also in 1905, Indianapolis annexed Meridian Street from 38th Street (formerly Maple Road) up to the town of Broad Ripple, a distance of almost 2 miles (3.2 km). The city's gradual road improvements in the area encouraged residential development. The neighborhood population boomed beginning in the early 1920s, and the area became one of the most prestigious addresses in Indianapolis. Wealthy individuals built grand homes along Meridian Street, Pennsylvania Street, and Washington Boulevard. However, the neighborhood did not develop solely as an exclusive enclave for the very wealthy, and most of the new residents were upper-middle class individuals who constructed smaller, but nonetheless stately houses throughout the neighborhood. Growth continued at a slower pace in the 1930s as the neighborhood filled up, and the wealthy continued their northern migration beyond the city limits to tony communities such as Meridian Hills and Williams Creek
which expanded and incorporated during this decade. Nonetheless, Meridian-Kessler continued to be a neighborhood of choice for the affluent, and by the end of World War II
it was built-out.
In 1965, the Meridian-Kessler Neighborhood Association was formed to unify the neighborhood and protect its unique character.
Today, Meridian-Kessler remains a predominately upper-middle class area and a highly desirable neighborhood. Meridian-Kessler has achieved some degree of racial diversity, but it is less integrated than the neighboring Butler-Tarkington community.
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. It is bounded on the north by Kessler Boulevard, on the east by the Monon Trail
Monon Trail
The Monon Trail is a rail trail in Indiana. It uses a portion of the Chicago-Indianapolis main line of the former Monon Railroad, which was abandoned between Indianapolis and Delphi, Indiana in 1987.The trail serves both bicyclists and pedestrians...
greenway corridor, on the south by 38th Street and to the west by Meridian Street
Meridian Street (Indianapolis)
Meridian Street is the primary north-south street in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States.Meridian Street was formerly aligned with US 31 for much of its length in the city of Indianapolis, before being re-routed to a segment of Interstate 465. The street delineates east addresses from west...
. Meridian Street forms a shared boundary with the adjacent Butler-Tarkington neighborhood.
Beginning in the very late 1890s, a few wealthy individuals built a smattering of country estates along Meridian Street and neighboring streets north of Maple Road, which is now called 38th Street. However, the area remained mostly open farmland. Currently, a handful of the original area farmhouses still stand, with the oldest one dating back to 1832.
In 1905, the famous landscape architect George Kessler
George Kessler
George Edward Kessler was a German American pioneer city planner and landscape architect.Over the course of his forty-one year career, George E. Kessler completed over 200 projects and prepared plans for 26 communities, 26 park and boulevard systems, 49 parks, 46 estates & residents, and 26 schools...
redesigned Maple Road into a grand urban parkway as part of his ambitious municipal plan to form a network of parks and boulevards
Indianapolis Park and Boulevard System
The Indianapolis Park and Boulevard System is a group of parks, parkways, and boulevards in Indianapolis, Indiana that was designed by landscape architect George Edward Kessler in the early part of the twentieth century. Also known as the Kessler System, the district includes and has shaped the...
to connect the City of Indianapolis. Also in 1905, Indianapolis annexed Meridian Street from 38th Street (formerly Maple Road) up to the town of Broad Ripple, a distance of almost 2 miles (3.2 km). The city's gradual road improvements in the area encouraged residential development. The neighborhood population boomed beginning in the early 1920s, and the area became one of the most prestigious addresses in Indianapolis. Wealthy individuals built grand homes along Meridian Street, Pennsylvania Street, and Washington Boulevard. However, the neighborhood did not develop solely as an exclusive enclave for the very wealthy, and most of the new residents were upper-middle class individuals who constructed smaller, but nonetheless stately houses throughout the neighborhood. Growth continued at a slower pace in the 1930s as the neighborhood filled up, and the wealthy continued their northern migration beyond the city limits to tony communities such as Meridian Hills and Williams Creek
Williams Creek
Williams Creek may refer to:United States* Williams Creek, Indiana, a town* Williams Creek, South Dakota, a townshipCanada* Williams Creek , a historically-important gold-bearing creek in British Columbia, Canada...
which expanded and incorporated during this decade. Nonetheless, Meridian-Kessler continued to be a neighborhood of choice for the affluent, and by the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
it was built-out.
In 1965, the Meridian-Kessler Neighborhood Association was formed to unify the neighborhood and protect its unique character.
Today, Meridian-Kessler remains a predominately upper-middle class area and a highly desirable neighborhood. Meridian-Kessler has achieved some degree of racial diversity, but it is less integrated than the neighboring Butler-Tarkington community.