Modern Indianapolis Indianapolis

the soldiers , sailors monument in 1970, year unigov enacted.

some of city s prominent architectural features , best known historical events date turn of 20th century. soldiers , sailors monument, dedicated on may 15, 1902, later become city s unofficial symbol. ray harroun won inaugural running of indianapolis 500, held may 30, 1911, @ indianapolis motor speedway. indianapolis 1 of hardest hit cities in great flood of 1913, resulting in 5 known deaths , displacement of 7,000 families.

as stop on underground railroad, indianapolis had higher black population other city in northern states, until great migration. led d. c. stephenson, indiana klan became powerful political , social organization in indianapolis 1921 through 1928, controlling city council , board of school commissioners, among others. @ height, more 40% of native-born white males in indianapolis claimed membership in klan. while campaigning in city in 1968, robert f. kennedy delivered 1 of lauded speeches in 20th century american history, following assassination of civil rights leader martin luther king jr. in u.s. cities during civil rights movement, city experienced strained race relations. 1971 federal court decision forcing indianapolis public schools implement desegregation busing proved controversial.

under mayoral administration of richard lugar, city , county governments restructured, consolidating public services new entity called unigov. plan removed bureaucratic redundancies, captured increasingly suburbanizing tax revenue, , created republican political machine dominated indianapolis politics until 2000s decade. unigov went effect on january 1, 1970, increasing city s land area 308.2 square miles (798 km) , population 268,366 people. first major city-county consolidation occur in united states without referendum since creation of city of greater new york in 1898.

amid changes in government , growth, city invested in aggressive strategy brand indianapolis sports tourism destination. under administration of city s longest-serving mayor, william hudnut (1976–1992), millions of dollars poured sport facilities. throughout 1980s, $122 million in public , private funding built indianapolis tennis center, major taylor velodrome, indiana university natatorium, carroll track , soccer stadium, , hoosier dome. latter project secured 1984 relocation of nfl baltimore colts , 1987 pan american games. economic development strategy succeeded in revitalizing central business district through 1990s, openings of indianapolis zoo, canal walk, circle centre mall, victory field, , conseco fieldhouse.

during 2000s, city continued investing heavily in infrastructure projects, including 2 of largest building projects in city s history: $1.1 billion col. h. weir cook terminal , $720 million lucas oil stadium, both opened in 2008. $275 million expansion of indiana convention center completed in 2011. construction began year on digindy, $1.9 billion project correct city s combined sewer overflows (csos) 2025.