COMMUNITY

PROFILE

COMMUNITY PROFILE

15II. COMMUNITY PROFILE

For any Comprehensive Plan to be effective, it should address both the existing conditions of the community as well as its needs and desires for the future. This section identifies those factors that are pre-existing within the community through a summary of data, trends, and facts about the Town of Ferdinand. The information collected and presented in this inventory has been used as a guide to develop this Comprehensive Plan.

As the first step in the Comprehensive Plan process, this inventory identifies the issues, opportunities and constraints that serve as a basis for the remainder of the Plan. Overall, the information reported here will provide valuable direction to assess the existing needs of the community, as well as reveal recent trends within the community, county, and region. It is important to include this information to identify where a community has been and what natural course it may follow. Utilizing this information in the development of this Comprehensive Plan will substantiate further actions as the community evolves in the future.

COMMUNITY PROFILE

16 A. History

By 1839, nearly forty German-Catholic families had settled in the vicinity of present day Ferdinand, Indiana. During this period, Father Joseph Kundek was serving as a missionary to the settlers in the area stretching from Dubois County, west of the Wabash River and then south to the Ohio River. Because of his continuous travel in this area, he conceived the idea of forming a community between Troy and Jasper along the Troy-Jasper Road, then only a pathway between the wooded hills of South Central Indiana.

Establishing the Town

Consequently, the Town of Ferdinand was established on January 8, 1840 as a halfway point of travel between the City of Jasper and the area’s primary shipping point, Troy, Indiana, located to the south on the Ohio River. By acquiring as much land in the area as possible, Father Kundek formulated a plan for a new town grid and laid out the original plat of these lands. This mission was constituted, not only to establish a community where scattered German-Catholic families could settle

upon their immigration to America, but also to use the sale of the lots to fund the construction of a local church that would be established in the community. The Town Plan consisted of a grid of five streets running north and south, crosscut by ten streets running east and west. Centered along the eastern boundary of the town was a larger parcel of land dedicated as the Chapel Reserve, which was donated to the parish by Father Kundek for the purpose of housing a church, school, and other parish buildings. In this manner, the town helped the church and the church, therefore, helped the town.

Through a massive campaign for the settlement of Ferdinand, advertisements were placed in many German newspapers throughout

COMMUNITY PROFILE

17Cincinnati and Louisville and spread by word-of-mouth as a result of Father Kundek’s travels to Cincinnati, Louisville, and Pittsburgh. In the spring of 1840, he organized an auction in the City of Louisville to sell the lots; of which, the majority (61 out of the first 84 lots) were sold in five days, between May 11th and May 15th of that year. Throughout the 1840’s and 1850’s, German immigrants, many of whom had spent time in Cincinnati, Louisville, or New Orleans before coming to Dubois County, continued to enter the region and acquire lots within the Town of Ferdinand, as well as other parcels of land in the surrounding area.

The original name of the town, Ferdinandsstadt, was used to honor Ferdinand, the reigning emperor of Austria at the time of settlement. The name was selected by Father Kundek as an easily-pronounced word for the influx of German-speaking settlers, as well as to honor the emperor’s patronage to the Leopoldine Foundation of Vienna from which Father Kundek received financial support. In later communications and reports from Father Kundek, the community was referred to as Ferdinandsstadt, St. Ferdinand, and Ferdinand, which eventually became the legal and more simplified version of the name.

Growth and Commerce

As the early settlement period continued, many more relatives and friends joined the families who had already relocated to Ferdinand. By the mid-1840’s, the growing German-Catholic congregation had already outgrown its first two primitive church buildings and in 1850, a permanent stone church designed in the Romanesque Revival Architectural style was dedicated to honor St. Ferdinand.

Early merchants in the Ferdinand community were Joseph Schneider, John Beckmann & Sons, Joseph Meyer, Philip Wagner, Joseph Rickelmann, Joseph Mehling, John B. Gohmann, and Michael Spayd. On January 9, 1850, a post office was established in the Town of Ferdinand, with Gerhard H. Steins serving as the first postmaster to the growing community.

COMMUNITY PROFILE

18 Through the years, the Town of Ferdinand generally remained a community of hard-working, honest, and very conservative farmers and townsmen. The community was composed of many small-town craftsmen and tradesmen and included several mills and slaughter

house operations with the only large scale business operated by the Beckmanns. The Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Indiana (1876) states that the “Ferdinanders are a happy and industrious people”.

Another significant addition to the Ferdinand Community began in 1867, when four Benedictine Sisters from the St. Walburg Convent in Covington, Kentucky traveled to Indiana after they learned of a request from Reverend Chrysostom Foffa, OSB for the need for teachers for a school in Ferdinand. With humble beginnings in a temporary three-room cottage adjacent to the church and school, these pioneering Sisters helped to open a school only 10 days after

arriving. As the years passed, a continuous stream of new candidates seeking acceptance into the Benedictine Order arrived in Ferdinand. By September of 1868, the original living quarters had become inadequate to house the Sisters properly; therefore, Father Chrysostom added two rooms and a chapel to the original structure. At the same time, plans were being made to construct a more permanent convent made of brick, and in the summer of 1868, the cornerstone for this structure was placed.

COMMUNITY PROFILE

19By 1870, the Benedictine Sisters of Ferdinand had moved into their new convent and opened a boarding school, now known as the Academy of the Immaculate Conception. The convent continued to grow and the need for additional space to house the growing ministry of the Benedictine Order inspired a plan to build a new brick convent east of Ferdinand on a hill, called Mount Tabor. Preparations began on the property in August of 1883 and through generous donations throughout the region, a dedicated congregation, support from the residents of Ferdinand, and the commitment of the Sisters; the new building, Convent of the Immaculate Conception, was completed in 1886. Through the years, additional buildings were added to the campus and the Sisters of the Benedictine Order have remained an integral part of the Town of Ferdinand. In 1983, the Convent and its many outbuildings and structures were added to the National Register of Historic Places as the Convent Immaculate Conception Historic District.

Early Industries

In the 1860’s, paint was manufactured in the Town of Ferdinand because the materials found in the area were an excellent source for the creation of mineral paint. Minerals were collected to develop Tripoli Powder and Fuller’s Earth, as well as various shades of yellow, red, black, and brown that were produced from ocher and umber that was plentiful in the area. These paints and polishing powders manufactured in the community at the Anderson Valley Paint Company (circa 1867) and in the surrounding areas of Ferdinand Township were endorsed as being of high quality, rivaling more common products that were developed outside of America. However, operations were suspended in 1880 because of the lack of railroad transportation, making the procurement of these materials cheaper when bought elsewhere as readily-available by-products of other industries.

Also during this time, the Ruhkamp Brewery supplied the community, as well as the district between Troy and Jasper, with a significant amount of stout common brew. However, in 1918, the Ferdinand Bottling Works had undertaken soft drinks in place of the brewery. An especially significant contribution to the economic growth of the Town of Ferdinand was the manufacture of the Kitten Steam

COMMUNITY PROFILE

20 Engine and Grain Separator. Developed by early Ferdinand settler, Florenz Kitten, Sr., the German-born wooden shoemaker had limited opportunity to use his skills in America. Out of necessity, he learned the methods farming in the hills of Indiana, but at the age of nineteen switched to learn the carpentry trade. Known for his affinity to “tinker”, he was a forward thinker and really more interested in the evolution of technology, especially the newly emerging development of steam power. Using his knowledge of farming and carpentry, combined with an inventor’s intuition, he began building steam

engines and threshers in his workshop around 1880 in an effort to make the jobs of local farmers easier. With his invention a success, he had to expand the production of his “Kitten Steam Engine” and built a two-story factory and foundry adjoining his home, naming the business the Ferdinand Foundry and Machine Works. In 1879, Florenz obtained a patent for an improvement in threshing machine straw carriers and in 1889 received patent rights for his steam engine. The foundry continued to flourish, but through additional technological evolutions, it ceased production operations and completed its last steam engine in 1940.

Transportation

The Town of Ferdinand was incorporated as a municipality in 1905 with its Treasurer, John Hoffman; Clerk, Bernard Grewe; and Town Board of Trustees, Leonard Miller, John Russ, and

Matthias Olinger, Jr. In 1908, local support from the Ferdinand Town Board to improve the economic development of the community led to the development of the Ferdinand Railway Company. Sunday, February 21, 1909, the Ferdinand Flyer

COMMUNITY PROFILE

21made its first run over the 6.7 miles of track between Huntingburg and Ferdinand. The “Ferdie Flyer”, as it later became known, provided the missing link to connect the residents of Ferdinand to the nationwide rail system that was developed from the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s. During this period, several rail lines were completed in the area: Bretzville, Coal Hill, St. Anthony, and Huntingburg. However, no rail link was available from Ferdinand to any of these rail lines until the “Ferdie Flyer” made its first departure, leaving from the Bolte Heading Factory, just west of Ferdinand, and connecting to the Southern Railroad line in Huntingburg. The Ferdinand Railroad was used as a method of passenger rail, often transporting students from the Ferdinand Area to high school in Huntingburg until the early 1950’s, but continued to be used throughout the 1970’s for freight transportation.

Of the first activities conducted by the incorporated Town of Ferdinand, a resolution was passed in 1916 to lay crushed rock on the local streets and on roads throughout Ferdinand Township. With the increased use of the automobile, these local infrastructure improvements were later enhanced when the old Troy-Jasper Road, passing as Ohio Street through town, was designated as State Highway 162. Years later, and possibly even more important for the continuing prosperity for the Ferdinand Area, was the construction of Interstate 64 in 1976, approximately a half mile south of the town boundary.

Economic Growth

The most prominent industry that thrived in the area was the processing of lumber from the deciduous trees that were plentiful in the Ferdinand Area at the time. Therefore, several sawmills operated healthy businesses shipping lumber throughout the region. The availability of these resources also contributed to the development of the Ferdinand Furniture Factory within the Town of Ferdinand. Throughout the early 1900’s and continuing to the present, the furniture industry has flourished in Southern Dubois County.

COMMUNITY PROFILE

22 However, because of massive deforestation in those early years, several concerned members of the community formed the Ferdinand Conservation Club to conserve area forests and wildlife. Eventually, 2,600 acres of land east of the community was preserved and later became the Ferdinand State Forest in the 1930’s and 1940’s. With programs generated from President Roosevelt’s “New Deal”; such as the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which had developed a camp of approximately two-hundred men a half mile north of town and east of the road leading to Jasper; the forest was further developed and now boasts a 53-acre lake and a fish hatchery to complement the remaining untouched forested land.

The furniture industry continued to prosper in the Town of Ferdinand, but on June 25, 1970, a spark fell from the ceiling of a finishing oven at the center of the Ferdinand Furniture Factory and ignited some of the sawdust on the floor. It was suspected later that a gas line leak above this room had fueled the fire. Within minutes, this area of the factory

was engulfed in flames with several explosions completely destroying the majority of the factory complex. Approximately 125 jobs were lost, but a new plant was soon rebuilt in the City of Huntingburg. However, the relocation, while nearby, affected many of the former workers because of the lack of transportation and prompted six local residents to start a new business named “Möbel”, the German word for furniture. Today, Möbel, Inc. still remains and is the largest producer of Alder Wood Furniture in the United States.

COMMUNITY PROFILE

23B. Location

The Town of Ferdinand is located in Dubois County, Indiana, approximately 13 miles south of the City of Jasper, 26 miles west of Patoka Lake, and only one half mile north of Interstate 64. The community is located amidst the rolling, wooded hills of South Central Indiana. The community is located approximately halfway between the Evansville Metropolitan Area, just a little over 54 miles northeast of Downtown Evansville, and the Louisville Metropolitan Area, approximately 67 miles northwest of Downtown Louisville. The Town

of Ferdinand maintains its German-Catholic Heritage that is prevalent throughout the Dubois County area and is evident in its culture, industry, customs, and religious practices.

The Town of Ferdinand is bisected by SR 162 (Main Street) and lies just south of the SR 64 linking Ferdinand with the City of Huntingburg to the west and the Towns of Birdseye and St. Anthony to the east. Approximately 8 miles south of Ferdinand, at the junction of SR 162 and SR 245, is the Town of Santa Claus and Indiana’s number one tourist attraction, Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari.

More specifically, the Town of Ferdinand is located in Ferdinand Township, bounded by Hall Township to the east and northeast, Patoka Township to the west and northwest, and Spencer County to the south.

Kentucky

Pike

Perry

Dubois

Clark

Harrison

Orange

Warrick

Spencer

Meade Bullitt

Gibson

Crawford

Jefferson

Floyd

HardinBreckinridgeHancock

Daviess

Henderson

Vanderburgh

Nelson

Oldham

I64

I264I71

I164I265

I64

I265

164

65

265

64

65

6457

37

66

56

66

66Evansville

FerdinandLouisville

Jasper

French Lick

Patoka Lake

Santa Claus

Birdseye

St. Anthony

Huntingburg

COMMUNITY PROFILE

24 C. Local Character

Since its settlement, the Town of Ferdinand has been known for its hard-working population in both local trades and industries and has continued to hold to its agricultural roots. The community, as well as this region, is known for its German-Catholic contribution to the State of Indiana, but is also known for well-crafted furniture construction.

Downtown Ferdinand, which is formed with the SR 162 Corridor (the old Troy-Jasper Road) as its backbone, contains buildings with architectural elements that distinguishes both the German-Catholic influence upon the community and its heritage to fine craftsmanship. Centered around the St. Ferdinand Catholic Church, which overlooks the intersection of Main Street (SR 162) and 9th Street, the community boasts

several locally-owned businesses that provide local services, small-town dining, and unique shopping.Several local events, such as the Ferdinand Heimatfest, Christkindlmarkt, and Herb

and Garden Days celebrate its local character, as well as maintain the importance of heritage within the community.

Although Ferdinand is located halfway between two growing metropolitan areas (Louisville and Evansville); the social, economic, and geographic relationships such as heritage, religion, ethics, tradition, terrain, and industry, connect the community to other economies, tourism destinations, and educational opportunities found throughout the South Central Indiana Region, such as Jasper, Huntingburg, St. Meinrad, Santa Claus, Holland, and Celestine, to name just a few.

COMMUNITY PROFILE

25D. Population

To understand the needs and desires of a community, it is important to recognize the composition of a community’s population. This is also helpful in planning for the future of the community and guiding the decisions that will help the community to flourish. The following information provides insight for the Comprehensive Planning process and future decisions for the Town of Ferdinand and adjacent areas.

According to the US Census Data, the Town of Ferdinand had a population of 2,277 and Dubois County had a population of 39,674 in the year 2000. Since 1940, the population of Dubois County has been steadily increasing. Likewise, this continuing pattern of growth is also evident in the Town of Ferdinand, City of Huntingburg, and the City of Jasper (shown in the chart below).

However, the Town of Ferdinand experienced its most significant increase in population between 1970 and 1980 (760 persons or 53%), a rate greater than the entire county or the Cities of Huntingburg and Jasper. Between 1970 and 1980, the population of Dubois County increased 10.7% (3,304 people), Huntingburg increased 12.1% (581 people), and Jasper increased 5.3% (456 people). This can be attributed to a combination of factors that include the expansion of local industries that brought additional jobs to the community, the annexation of additional parcels into the community, and some new growth within the community.

COMMUNITY PROFILE

26 Age Distribution

Changes in the age of the population can be visualized with the following cohort chart for the Town of Ferdinand. Using population data divided into age groups for each sex, a cohort chart can be developed, forming a growth pyramid that represents the different age cohorts existing within the local population. The pyramid shape that is formed can be used to explain the recent pattern of growth for the Town of Ferdinand. The diagram to the left helps to explain three different pyramid shapes; which identify, in general terms, the different types of growth that typically occurs.

In review of the cohort chart found below, it seems that the Town of Ferdinand experienced a steady increase in population approximately 35-40 years ago (during the 1970’s). This period of growth appears to have ended abruptly, evident by the steady decline in persons aged 20-29 years old. However, another population increase seems to have begun, evident in the increase in persons aged 5-19 years old. Comparing the growth pyramid shape diagram to the cohort chart, it appears that the Town of Ferdinand is experiencing Medium Growth.

The changing pattern of increases and decreases in the population is probably the most significant point that can be made by analyzing this cohort chart. Overall, one of the smallest age groups, 20-24, makes up only 4% of the population and the 25-29 age group, makes up 6%. This sharp decline in the population of this age group can be explained

COMMUNITY PROFILE

27by the number of high school students who leave home for college, many never returning or that do not return until their thirties; in other words, the common “brain drain” scenario that occurs in many smaller communities.

Several additional points can also be made in review of this chart. First, in comparison to males (660), there are a significantly large number of females (925) living in the Town of Ferdinand who are over the age of 25. This can be explained by of the existence of the Monastery Immaculate Conception, which houses approximately 115 Sisters of the Benedictine Order, with approximately 15 additional members housed at Hildegard Health Care.

Another positive feature shown in this growth pyramid is the strong number of middle-aged persons, with the 35-39 year old age group having the largest representation (199 or 9%). However, those below the age of 19 or school-aged (611 or 27%) make up a significant part of the population. This is evidence of a positive growth trend among the local population. It is also important to note that those of retirement age (65+) make up approximately 20% of the local population (458 persons).

[Data from this section was taken from the 2000 U.S. Census.]

Race & Ethnicity

The distribution of race for the population within the Town of Ferdinand is predominantly white. While the State of Indiana remains predominantly white (87.5%), there have been significant changes in the racial make-up of the population. However, the same changes have not occurred within the Town of Ferdinand.

With only 37 persons (1% of the population) that are of any race other than white, it is clear that the Town of Ferdinand is not a diverse community. This characteristic is similar in the City of Jasper with only 637 persons (3% of the population) that are of any race other than white and also for all of Dubois County, 1777 persons (2.4% of the population).

[Data from this section was taken from the 2000 U.S. Census.]

COMMUNITY PROFILE

28 Disabilities

A disability is defined as a long-lasting physical, mental, or emotional condition. These disabilities can make it difficult for a person to do activities such as walking, climbing stairs, dressing, bathing, learning, or remembering. They also can impede a person from being able to work or even to go outside the home alone. Because of these effects, persons with disabilities may need special accommodations, such as wheelchair access to facilities and interpretive stations for the hearing and visually impaired.

Disabilities are categorized as follows:

• Sensory Disability – difficulty with hearing or seeing• Physical Disability – difficulty walking or climbing stairs• Mental Disability – difficulty with cognitive tasks like

learning, remembering, and concentrating• Self-Care Disability – difficulty in taking care of basic

needs like dressing and bathing• Go-Outside-Home Disability – difficulty to get outside the

home for shopping, doctor’s visits, and other trips• Employment Disability – difficulty with work

The chart below shows the dispersion of different disabilities reported in the 2000 Census. The Town of Ferdinand has a varied population of disabled individuals, ranging from physical to mental disabilities,

as well as many other special needs. The most significant area is the number of individuals with a physical disability, a total of 174 people and about 8% of the total population. Other significant areas include Sensory (105 persons), Mental (105 persons), and Go-Outside Home Disabilities (111 persons).

While these are the most significant areas of disability, when compared to the State of Indiana, the Town of Ferdinand has a very similar percentage of each disability type in

COMMUNITY PROFILE

29its population, except for Employment Disability, which had only 4.4% compared to the State’s 7.3%. When comparing Dubois County, the City of Jasper, and the Town of Ferdinand; the Town of Ferdinand has a higher percentage of those with a Physical Disability (7.6% vs. their 5.9%) and slightly higher in all other areas, except for those persons who have a Go-Outside-Home Disability (4.9% or 111 persons) or an Employment Disability (4.4% or 101 persons).

[Data from this section was taken from the 2000 U.S. Census.]

COMMUNITY PROFILE

30 E. Education

The Town of Ferdinand is served by the Southeast Dubois County School Corporation. Two municipalities comprise the corporation: Ferdinand and Birdseye. However, the school corporation also serves the unincorporated communities of St. Anthony and Schnellville. The schools within this corporation include Ferdinand Elementary School, Pine Ridge Elementary School, Cedar Crest Intermediate School, and Forest Park Junior-Senior High School. It is important to note that an additional school, St. Anthony Elementary School, operated through the 2005-2006 academic year until the completion of the Cedar Crest Intermediate School (located 6 miles north of Ferdinand on SR 162).

The Town of Ferdinand is specifically served by Ferdinand Elementary School, with students graduating to Cedar Crest Intermediate School and Forest Park Junior-Senior High School to complete their Primary Education. It is important to note that the Cedar Crest Intermediate School first opened for the 2006-2007 school year. Previously, 5th and 6th grade students attended Ferdinand Elementary School and Pine Ridge Elementary School.

Over the past eight years, the corporation’s overall student enrollment

has been decreasing, especially since 2003. Similarly, enrollment for Forest Park Junior-Senior High School and the Ferdinand Elementary School has also been decreasing. In review of the attendance rates for the three schools that serve Ferdinand residents, it seems that students

COMMUNITY PROFILE

31maintain good attendance and consistently remain well above the state attendance rate of 95.9%.

The record established for graduating seniors has been steadily improving over the past seven years, always remaining above the State Average (89%). It is significant to point out that in 2004 and 2005, the graduation rate has remained at or just below 100%. The average SAT Score has hovered around the State Average (1012) with the corporation’s best improvements made during the 2000-2001 academic year. The average ACT Composite Score has consistently been above the State Average (21.6) with the corporation’s best improvements made during the 2002-2003 academic year. However, during the 2005-2006 academic year, Forest Park Junior-Senior High School received its lowest average ACT Composite Score (20).

While the record of Forest Park Junior-Senior High School can be recognized for its success in the number of students graduating each year and also for exceptional college-placement test scores for both the ACT and SAT, the number of persons living within the Town of Ferdinand who have pursued education beyond high school is limited. Of the 2,277 residents of the community, 1,609 people are above the age of twenty-five. Of these 1,609 people, 716 people (44.5%) have acquired a degree or pursued some type of higher education; this is just below the percentage for the State of Indiana (44.9%). In comparison to the City of Jasper (43.8%) and Dubois County (35.7%), the educational attainment within the Town of Ferdinand is slightly higher.

COMMUNITY PROFILE

32 The number of people (283) who have not achieved at least a high school diploma (17.6%) is also lower than the State of Indiana (17.9%), Dubois County (19.8%), and the City of Jasper (19.3%). This shows that higher education has significant value in the Town of Ferdinand.

A total of 1,268 persons (78.8%) have received a high school diploma within the Town of Ferdinand, which is slightly lower than State (82%) and National Averages (80.6%).

[Data from this section was taken from the 2000 U.S. Census and Indiana Department of Education.]

COMMUNITY PROFILE

33F. Employment & Income

The residents of Ferdinand are employed by many types of employers. There are 1,066 residents within the Town of Ferdinand who were employed at the time of 2000 US Census. This is only 46.8% of the total population (1,066/2,277 persons).

This is only 94% of the total population within the labor force (1,066/1,133 persons).

As stated previously, approximately 20% (458 persons) are above retirement age (65+) and 20.5% (469 persons) are below the working age (14). This equals approximately 40% of the population that is not in the current workforce, leaving approximately 13% of the population unaccounted.

[Data from this section was taken from the 2000 U.S. Census.]

Unemployed Workforce

The total number of unemployed workers within Dubois County, Indiana was 538 out of the 21,427 person labor force, creating an unemployment rate of 3.6%. However, in March 2007 the unemployment rate for Dubois County had increased to 3.7%, still slightly lower than the average of 5% for the State of Indiana.

[Data from this section was taken from the 2000 U.S. Census and Stats

Indiana.]

COMMUNITY PROFILE

34 Employed Workforce

Manufacturing dominates as the number one type of employer in the Town of Ferdinand, with 384 out of the 1066 people employed (36%). The second largest area of employment is in the area of Education, Health, and Social Services, employing 181 people (16.9%).

The ten largest employers in Dubois County are listed in the table to the right.

The four largest employers within the Town of Ferdinand are MasterBrand Cabinets, Best Home Furnishings, Möbel, Inc., and Southeast Dubois County School Corporation. Being that three of these industries are furniture manufacturers, it is no surprise that the number one type of occupation is “Production”,

about 21% of the total workforce of the Town of Ferdinand. The second and third occupation types are “Professional” (17.2%) and “Management, Business, and Financial Operations” (12.3%).

[Data from this section was taken from the 2000 U.S.

Census.]

COMMUNITY PROFILE

35Commuting Patterns

Dubois County has approximately 20,692 workers. Of those workers, some work within the county, while others commute to other counties for their primary place of employment. About 94% (19,415) of those workers are employed within Dubois County. However, a total of 6% (1,277) of those workers travel to some other location.

Although Dubois County employs approximately 19,415 workers from Dubois County, 5,513 people travel to Dubois County from other locations for their primary place of employment. Of these, the contributors are Spencer County, which provides 1,534 workers; Pike County, which provides 1,530 workers; and Perry County, which provides 971 workers to the Dubois County economy.

While there are significant contributions to the Dubois County workforce from outside of the county, it is evident that the total number of persons who work in Dubois County is still significantly more than the number of workers that live within Dubois County. Although nearly 77% more workers

commute into Dubois County than those who commute outside of the county for employment (1,277 commuting in vs. 5,513 commuting out), Dubois County retains the majority of its workforce for employment within the county, about 19,415 (94%) out of the 20,692 people in the county workforce.

Because there is significant number within the workforce that commutes to work outside of the county, it is important to understand

COUNTY WORKFORCE – THE NUM-BER OF EMPLOYED PERSONS LIVING WITHIN A COUNTY OVER THE AGE OF 16.

COMMUNITY PROFILE

36 the distance of this commute for the residents of the Town of Ferdinand. This can be derived by reviewing the time that people are leaving for work each morning. Of the 1,055 workers who commute

to work from the Town of Ferdinand, the largest number (156 commuters) leave their home between 7:30 a.m. and 7:59 a.m., about 14.7% of the Ferdinand commuters. The second and third largest group of workers is from 6:00 a.m. to 6:29 a.m. and from 6:30 a.m. to 6:59 a.m., 149 workers and 154 workers, about 29% of the Ferdinand commuters.

[Data from this section was taken from the 2000 U.S.

Census and Stats Indiana.]

Mode of Transportation

Ferdinand residents travel to work mostly using the automobile (car, truck, or van); about 94% of the workers. This is consistent with data for the City of Jasper (95.9%), Dubois County (94.5%), and the State of Indiana (92.7%). The carpooling habits of the populations of these three areas show that the majority of people drive alone to their primary place of employment: 84.2% (Ferdinand), 88.2% (Jasper), 85.1% (Dubois County), and 81.7% (Indiana). However, when

comparing each of these areas to those workers who utilize alternative modes of transportation or carpool, the Town of Ferdinand ranks second highest: 12.4% (Ferdinand), 9.6% (Jasper), 11.9% (Dubois County), and 15.3% (Indiana).

[Data from this section was taken from the 2000 U.S. Census.]

COMMUNITY PROFILE

37Income & Poverty

In 1999, the median income for the Town of Ferdinand was $41,326. This was slightly lower than the City of Jasper ($42,051) and Dubois County ($44,169), and nearly equal to the State of Indiana ($41,567). The median income in the Town of Ferdinand and Dubois County is much stronger in comparison to other regions throughout the state.

The poverty level for the Ferdinand Area is also an important indicator of the local economy. There are 219 persons (9.9%) of the population within the Town of Ferdinand that have an income below poverty level. However, it is important to note that 70 persons (3.3%) are above the age of 65 and may be retired and/or receiving social security payments that would qualify them below the poverty level. Taking this into consideration, only 149 persons (6.3%) are below poverty level. With 6.3% of the population within the Town of Ferdinand below the poverty level, it is slightly higher than Dubois County (5.6%) and significantly lower than the State of Indiana (9.5%).

This percentage may even be less when considering that the Monastery Immaculate Conception is within the jurisdictional boundary of the Town of Ferdinand and the sisters take an oath of poverty, they may also contribute to these poverty levels. Dubois County Block 5066 (Census Tract 9537 and Block Group 5) is made up of the living quarters, church, and grounds of the Monastery. Within this specified area, 159 people were counted at the time of the 2000 Census, equaling approximately 7.2% of the total population within the Town of Ferdinand.

Other poverty level indicators for Dubois County include 63 Welfare and TANF recipients in 2005 (less than 1% of the population), 1,318 Food Stamp recipients in 2005 (3% of the population), and 1,494 Free or Reduced Fee Lunch recipients (nearly 4% of the total population). It is also important to note that of the 219 persons below the poverty level, 23 are school-aged children, making up about 1% of the population.

COMMUNITY PROFILE

38 Further review of those receiving Free or Reduced Fee Lunches shows that 60% of the county’s school-aged population is utilizing this program (1,494 of the 2,483 students between the ages of 5 and 19). Further review of information regarding the students enrolled at the Ferdinand Elementary School shows that of the 388 students enrolled during the 2005-2006 academic year, nearly 11% (42 students) utilize the Free or Reduced Lunch Program. This includes a very small percentage of the students at the Ferdinand Elementary School and is much lower than Dubois County as a whole, as well as the other elementary school in Southeast Dubois County School Corporation: Pine Ridge Elementary School, 26% (64 out of the 244 students).

[Data from this section was taken from the 2000 U.S. Census, Indiana Department of Education, and Stats Indiana.]

COMMUNITY PROFILE

39G. Housing

The Town of Ferdinand has a mixture of housing choices that includes a multi-family apartment complex, several duplex groupings, some double residential homes, and a wide variety of single-family residential units. Also, there are some mobile and manufactured homes scattered throughout the community. Below is a chart showing the make-up of the existing housing stock within the Ferdinand Community compared to the City of Jasper, as well as Dubois County as a whole.

Single-Family Housing

Single-family homes built between 1970 and 2000 (30 years old or less) make-up 43% of the housing stock within the Town of Ferdinand. This is slightly lower than the State of Indiana (45%), Dubois County (52%), and the City of Jasper (52%). The largest grouping of homes in the Town of Ferdinand were built before 1939; 20% of the housing stock within the community.

The median value of a single-family home in Ferdinand is $106,300. This number is significantly higher than the median value for Dubois County ($68,100) and the State of Indiana ($78,600).

[Data from this section was taken from the 2000

U.S. Census.]

COMMUNITY PROFILE

40 Multi-Family Housing

The median rental cost within the Town of Ferdinand is $225 per month. Compared to Dubois County at $362 per month and the City of Jasper at $381 per month, the monthly housing costs for rental units in the Town of Ferdinand is significantly less.

In addition to the duplexes, doubles, and apartment complexes in the Ferdinand Area, the community is home to the Scenic Hills Care Center, a 94-bed comprehensive care facility that provides skilled and intermediate care services including 24-hour nursing service; physical, occupational, speech and respiratory therapy; menu select; and other long-term care services. The Town of Ferdinand also has senior housing at the Ferdinand Housing Complex – Phase 1 and Phase II.

[Data from this section was taken from the 2000 U.S. Census.]

Aging Housing Stock

Aging housing stock within the community can be found in the core of the community within two distinct areas. First, there is a concentrated area along 4th and 5th Streets between Main

COMMUNITY PROFILE

41Street and Carolina Street. Second, there is another area along Missouri and Virginia Streets between 7th and 10th Streets. The Town of Ferdinand has a significant amount of aging housing within the community. However, that is not to say that this housing is substandard, but only an indication of past growth and the potential need for new or rehabilitated housing in the future.

There are also a significant number of historic homes within the community (built before 1939) that may be eligible individually for the National Register of Historic Places. Many of these homes remain owner-occupied, well-kept, and structurally-sound. More importantly, many of these properties have retained the architectural elements that contribute to their historic significance. Additionally, because of the large number of homes and other structures located

within the Town of Ferdinand that may be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, it is likely that the community could pursue a Multiple Property Listing for a Downtown Historic District and even possibly one or two Neighborhood/Street Historic Districts that would provide grant

eligibility through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology (DHPA) for Historic Preservation, Revitalization, and Rehabilitation Projects throughout these potential districts.

COMMUNITY PROFILE

42 More specifically, the Dubois County Historic Structures Inventory – Interim Report, identifies 82 residential structures listed as “Contributing”, 14 listed as “Notable” and 3 listed as “Outstanding”. Those homes identified as “Notable” include:

• Harry Gehlhausen House - 2060 Pine Drive (Central-Passage I-House/Italianate)

• Weyer House – 1415 Virginia Street (Queen Anne)

• Gehlhausen House – 1305 Main Street (Queen Anne)

• Dr. Metzger House and Office – 244 13th Street (Queen Anne/Free Classic)

• House – 1135 Missouri Street (1½ Central-Passage/Greek Revival)

• John Hoffman House – 1225 Virginia Street (1½ Central-Passage/Greek Revival)

• Vincent Metzger House – 221 11th Street (1½ Central-Passage)

• Frank Muller House – 945 Missouri Street (Queen Anne)

• Joseph Muller House – 9th Street (Queen Anne)

• Hollinden House – 305 Main Street (Queen Anne)

• William Boekman House – 210 Main Street (Lazy T/Queen Anne)

• Weaver-Backer House – 955 Main Street (Free Classic)• House – 121 7th Street (Shotgun/Queen Anne)• House – 730 Missouri Street (Gable Front)• Goeprerich House – 605 Missouri Street (Central-Passage/

Greek Revival)

COMMUNITY PROFILE

43Those homes identified as “Outstanding” include the Dr. Alois Wollenmann House, a Swiss Chalet style home built in 1906 located on the east side of Main Street (see picture to the left); the Peter Muller House, an Italianate style home with a Georgian house plan built ca. 1870 located at 314 9th Street; and a third home with a Cross-Gabled Square built ca. 1870 located at 135 Main Street. It should also be noted that this Dubois County Historic Structures Inventory – Interim Report was completed in September 1998 and some structures may have been altered or razed since their documentation in this volume. (An excerpt from the Dubois County Historic Structures Inventory – Interim Report has been included in the Appendix of this document.)

[Data from this section was taken from the 2000 U.S.

Census and the Dubois County Historic Structures Inventory

– Interim Report.]

COMMUNITY PROFILE

44 Vacant Housing

Vacant housing may include vacant rentals, homes for sale, and those properties that have been rented or sold and are not yet occupied. According to the 2000 US Census, only 1.5% of the housing stock located within the Town of Ferdinand was “for rent”. This is similar when compared to Dubois County (1.2%) and the City of Jasper (1.3%).

When reviewing the number of homes “for sale” in Dubois County, the Ferdinand Community had only 1.4% of its total housing stock. This is similar to Dubois County (.8%) and the City of Jasper (.9%).

Overall, the Town of Ferdinand has several different reasons for housing vacancies, as shown in the table below.

[Data from this section was taken from the 2000 U.S.

Census.]

COMMUNITY PROFILE

45H. Natural Resources

Certain amenities exist within every community, of these, a community’s natural resources can guide much of the decision-making process for the development and growth of a community. The availability of land, the composition of that land, the availability of water resources, the existing natural landscape, and any other environmentally-sensitive areas all contribute to the identity of the community. Conserving the significant natural features and preserving environmentally-sensitive areas within a specific development site or parcel of land can greatly impact the growth and sustainability of a community, as well as its identity. Furthermore, the preservation of environmentally-sensitive and other natural areas can often be accomplished through the ongoing development of park and recreation sites, protected greenspace, and other community-based amenities.

According to the US Census Bureau, the total area of Dubois County is 433 mi2. Of this area, approximately 99% (430 mi²) is land and 1% (5 mi²) is water. Dubois County has several major creeks and streams, one of them, Hunley Creek, forming a division between the southern portion of the county, as well as the Patoka River, which flows through the City of Jasper. The county is located just to the north of the Ohio River Valley and just south of the Patoka River Valley, which contributes to its gently rolling hills and valleys.

[Data in this section was taken from the Dubois County Soil Survey.]

COMMUNITY PROFILE

46 Topography

The topography of the Ferdinand Area is characteristic of many of the counties in the South Central Indiana Region. Overall, Dubois County is a mixture of broad terraces and bottom lands in the northwestern part of the county and nearly level to very steep uplands in the remainder of the county. The elevation of the land ranges from 430 feet to about 810 feet above sea level. Most of the county drains to the south and southwest by the many small streams that empty into the Patoka River, the East Fork of the White River, and the Anderson River.

The Town of Ferdinand has a mixture of these areas as it has developed along the west side of a significant ridge that forms a large valley composed of rolling hills and low-laying bottom land areas. Unique to much of South Central Indiana, rolling hills extend to the north, west, and southeast of the community. The areas to the east of the community sharply increase in diversified relief and lead to the Ferdinand State Forest and further east to the Hoosier National Forest.

Further review of the specific contours of the land in the Ferdinand Area shows many opportunities for new park and recreation opportunities in areas where development should be discouraged because of poor drainage and steep terrain. With interesting natural features throughout the area, every hill, valley, or drainage area has some potential. The Topography Map found to the right shows the contours of the terrain in the Ferdinand Area.

(Topographic contours found in this map are taken from the National Elevation Dataset (NED) that is based upon the NAVD88

calculations, representing the “local mean sea level height value” in feet.)

COMMUNITY PROFILE

47

64

0 0.7 1.40.35Miles

Ferdinand AreaTopography

Incorporated BoundaryInterstate 64SR 16276 - 8889 - 99100 - 111112 - 122123 - 134135 - 146147 - 157158 - 169170 - 181182 - 192193 - 204205 - 216217 - 227228 - 239240 - 251252 - 262263 - 448Local Roads

COMMUNITY PROFILE

48 Soils

The Ferdinand Area contains a variety of soils within the Zanesville-Gilpin-Tilsit Association General Soil Map Units. The soils within this association are generally described as deep to moderately deep, nearly level to moderately steep, well-drained to moderately well-drained soils on uplands. These soils are often moderately sloping and can be found on ridge tops and upper parts of side slopes adjacent to drainageways. Most of the soils in this association are used mainly for hay and pasture land, but some tracts may also be suitable for the cultivation of crops. Also, some areas may not have been cleared and still contain woodland areas. Soils on ridgetops are suited for farmland; however, side slopes should not be used for crops because of the erosion hazard.

The following paragraphs provide a basic analysis of the different types of soils found within the Town of Ferdinand and adjacent areas.

• Tilsit Series (TIA, TIB) – As the primary soil type, it is found throughout the corporate limits, as well as to the north, northwest, south, and southwest. This soil is deep, moderately well-drained, and slowly permeable found on loess-capped uplands. These soils vary from 0 to 6 percent slopes, have moderately available water capacity, and are slowly permeable. Building development should take special consideration, because of moderate to severe wetness associated with the soils in this series. In most areas, these soils are used for growing corn, soybeans, and small grain; but are also often used for hay, pasture, and also woodland. These soils have good potential for agricultural crops and poor potential for engineering uses.

• Zanesville Series (ZaB2, ZaB3, ZaC2, ZaC3) – Soils within this series are found primarily in the northern portion of the corporate limits, as well as to the northwest, west, and southwest. This soil is deep, well-drained, and gently-sloping to strongly-sloping silt loams in upland areas. Moisture capacity within these soils is moderate and permeability is very slow. In most areas, this soil is used for crops, pasture, plants, and trees. These soils have a fair potential for agricultural crops and poor potential for most engineering uses.

PERMEABILITY – THE QUALITY OF THE SOIL THAT ENABLES WATER TO MOVE DOWNWARD THROUGH THE PROFILE. PERMEABILITY IS MEA-SURED AS THE NUMBER OF INCHES PER HOUR THAT WATER MOVES DOWNWARD THROUGH THE SATU-RATED SOIL.

SLOPE - THE INCLINATION OF THE LAND SURFACE FROM THE HORIZON-TAL. PERCENTAGE OF SLOPE IS THE VERTICAL DISTANCE DIVIDED BY THE HORIZONTAL DISTANCE AND THEN MULTIPLIED BY 100.

SERIES – A GROUP OF SOILS THAT HAVE PROFILES THAT ARE ALMOST ALIKE, EXCEPT FOR DIFFERENCES IN TEXTURE OF THE SURFACE LAYER OR THE UNDERLYING MATERIAL.

LOESS-CAPPED UPLANDS – UPLAND AREAS CAPPED WITH FINE-GRAINED MATERIAL, DOMINANTLY OF SILT-SIZED PARTICLES DEPOSITED BY WIND.

COMMUNITY PROFILE

49• Gilpin Series (GID2, GID3, GIE, GIE3) – Soils within this series are found throughout the corporate limits along the ridge to the east of the community. These are moderately deep, well-drained, and moderately permeable soils found in the upland areas along hillsides and breaks along drainageways. Because these soils have low available water capacity, surface runoff is rapid to very rapid. Most of the areas of this soil are used for pasture or are woodland. These soils are generally not suited to cultivated crops because the steepness of the slope makes it difficult to use most pieces of standard farm machinery.

• Stendal Series (St) and Steff Series (Sf) – Each of these soils are primarily located in the broad shallow valley to the north, northeast, northwest, west, and southwest of the Town of Ferdinand. These soils are deep and somewhat poorly to moderately well-drained located in floodplains and are subject to frequent flooding. These soils have a high available water capacity, are moderately permeable, and their surface runoff is slow. While each series is slightly different, they work together in the drainage process and are relative to the contour and slope of the land.

In review, one soil series is predominant in the Ferdinand Area: the Tilsit Series. However, the other soil types are interspersed and are relative to the contours and slope of the land. Overall, each of these soils have some limitations for development, some severe, either because of slope, erosion, or drainage.

[Data in this section was taken from the Dubois County Soil Survey.]

COMMUNITY PROFILE

50

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64

0 0.6 1.20.3Miles

Ferdinand Area SoilsIncorporated BoundaryInterstate 64

SR 162Local Roads

COMMUNITY PROFILE

51Water Features

The principal waterways of the Ferdinand Area are Green Creek, which includes a large floodplain area at the northern boundary of town and Holey Run, which includes a large floodplain area at the western and southwestern boundaries of town. Additionally, four small ditches or streams are also located in the area: Pale Run, located within the town boundary on the northeastern side of town; Water Run, forming the eastern boundary of the town and emptying into Ferdinand Lake; Cross Drain, located within the town boundary on the northwestern side of town; and Halo Run, located south and west of Holey Run.

The Town of Ferdinand is situated in an upland area of the gently-rolling hills of South Central Indiana, just south of the Patoka River and east of Hunley Creek, near St. Henry. The Town of Ferdinand is drained by Holey Run and Cross Drain that empty into the Patoka River.

Watersheds - Each of the rivers, creeks, and streams that affect the Ferdinand Area are within the Patoka-White Watershed and are monitored by the Dubois County Soil and Water Conservation District office located in Jasper, Indiana. However, at the southeast corner, just outside of the incorporated boundary and on the other side of the ridge areas known as Mt. Tabor and Mt. Calvary, creeks, streams, and water bodies, such as the Ferdinand Water Supply, are located within the Lower Ohio Watershed. The Ferdinand Area Watershed Map shows that boundaries of these two watersheds.

PATOKA-WHITE

LOWER OHIOI-64

75

825

Clu

b

1100

State

Road

162

285

23rd

815

3rd

1160

850

9th

5th

Mariah

Hill

8th

6th

1000

14th

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na

10th

13th

7th

State Road 264

Holiday Lake

350

21st

Ferdinand

Pine

20th

Convent

Virg

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Mis

sour

i

22nd

1st

Peu

1200

Mar

ylan

d

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County Line

County Road 2160

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Southview

250

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80

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1125E

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Iowa

350

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9th

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I-64

350

Ferdinand

I-6464

0 0.7 1.40.35Miles

Ferdinand Area WatershedsInterstate 64

Incorporated BoundarySR 162Local Roads

Lower Ohio Watershed

Patoka-White Watershed

Wetllands

COMMUNITY PROFILE

52 Floodplains - Floodplains are a key factor when planning for future development. A floodplain consists of areas on both sides of a body of water that is prone to both seasonal and intermittent flooding. High water tables, insurance restrictions, and other problems with potential groundwater contamination can severely restrict or prohibit development within a floodplain. Typically, only land uses compatible with these severe limitations are allowed. Such uses would include agricultural, forestry, recreation, and open space. All development allowed within a floodplain should be limited to uses that do not diminish the surface water quality, do not contribute to increased flood stages, or risk contaminating the groundwater aquifer.

Floodplains are defined on official maps produced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA defines the floodplain as the zone designated as the area(s) in a river valley that would be inundated in a 100-year storm. Flood-hazard mappings can be obtained from FEMA or the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), Division of Water. State and federal permits may be required for the development in these areas.

Floodplain areas exist in the Ferdinand Area to the north and northwest along Green Creek and to the west and southwest along Holey Run, providing agricultural land and open space along much of the northern, western, and southwestern incorporated boundary of the Town of Ferdinand. Drainage issues associated with the type of soils and the topographic nature of this broad valley, located to the west of the Town of Ferdinand, makes this area prone to flooding. A large area consisting of a significant number of broad floodplains and scattered wetland areas can also be found between the City of Jasper, City of Huntingburg, the unincorporated town known as St. Anthony, and the Town of Ferdinand in the broad, low-laying Patoka River Valley.

Wetlands - Wetlands are natural systems that filter water before it enters into the ground water table and help to support vegetation and wildlife. Wetlands are often found within a floodplain in the bottom lands near streams or drainage ditches. However, they can also be located away from rivers or streams, representing water impoundments (ponds), lakes, or reservoirs. The definition of a wetland is based upon three parameters:

1. Wetland-based Vegetation2. Hydric Soils3. Presence of Water in or above Ground

COMMUNITY PROFILE

53Wetlands are scattered throughout the area, especially in the floodplain areas. It is important to understand that these wetlands may carry with them Federal or State Restrictions upon the development of the site or adjacent parcels located near the site that could be affected.

Several reservoirs or small lakes exist within the Ferdinand Area: Holiday Lake to the north along SR 162, Huntingburg Conservation Club Lake to the west, Ferdinand Water Supply Reservoir to the southeast, Felmont Oil Company Reservoir to the east, and Ferdinand Lake to the east.

The following map shows the water features in the Ferdinand Area identifies the general location of wetlands, rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs, and floodplains.

[Data in this section was taken from the Dubois County Soil Survey and USGS GIS Datasets.]

COMMUNITY PROFILE

54

64

0 0.7 1.40.35Miles

Ferdinand AreaWater Features

Incorporated BoundaryLimited Access HighwayLocal RoadsFloodplainsWetland Areas

COMMUNITY PROFILE

55Woodlands

Woodland areas are limited within the corporate limits. However, there are numerous areas scattered across the area that are heavily-wooded, especially along the ridge to the east of the town boundary, throughout the monastery complex, and to the northwest of the town boundary. There are areas that have a much higher concentration of woodlands to the south and east, especially in the Ferdinand State Forest Area. These natural areas are aesthetic and environmental assets that the Town of Ferdinand should protect as a significant feature of the community and integrate into its future development and growth.

Ferdinand State Forest – Located approximately 17 miles east of the Town of Ferdinand, this state-protected forest and natural area was established in 1934 as a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp. While there CCC workers built roads, service buildings, and one of the most beautiful forest lakes in the state. The area also has several hiking and bicycle trails and is well-known for its excellent deer and squirrel hunting.

Hoosier National Forest - The hills of South Central Indiana provide a wide mix of opportunities and resources for people to enjoy, one of them being the Hoosier National Forest. Located

approximately 35 miles east of the Town of Ferdinand, the rolling hills, back-country trails, and rural crossroad communities within it make this small, but beautiful Forest a significant asset to the region. Forest managers

work with the public to develop a shared vision of how this 200,000 acre Forest should be managed, while protecting the unique ecosystems that are located there. A significant resource located within this forest is the Patoka Lake Reservoir and recreational area.

N

TWINLAKESTRAIL

FERDINAND STATEFOREST ENTRANCE

P

7

6

4

1

9

2

5

milesTwin Lakes

Mt. Bike Trailhead

Kyana TrailFiretower TrailFoxey Hollow TrailSouth Ridge Trail

1.92.61.21.31.8

TOTAL TRAIL MILES 8.8

KYANATRAIL

LookoutTower

FIRETOWERTRAIL

SOUTHRIDGETRAIL

FOXHOLLOW

TRAIL CAMPGROUNDLAKE

61 Sites

7 Sites

COYOTEHOLLOW

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B

B

State Highway

Roads

Ferdinand State Forest Boundary

Y

Private Road

Service Area / Office

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Camping Area

Youth Camping Area

Shelter House / Picnic Area

Beach Area

Boat Dock / Ramp

Hiking / Fire Trail (No Vehicles)

Road Closed During Recreation Season

Fire Tower

64To

To Ferdinand

264

Y

3

8

FOSSILLAKE

FERDINAND STATE FORESTMT. BIKE TRAIL MAP

KEY

Mt. Bike Trails

COMMUNITY PROFILE

56 I. Transportation

The Town of Ferdinand is served by SR 162, SR 264, and easily-accessible by Interstate 64, which is located immediately south of the current town boundary. These primary transportation corridors make the Town of Ferdinand a convenient location for travel to major employers in the region, such as A. K. Steel in Spencer County (approximately 16 miles), the Toyota Plant near Princeton, Indiana (approximately 45 miles), and Kimball International in Jasper, Indiana (approximately 13 miles). Because the Town of Ferdinand is situated in the southern portion of Dubois County, it is approximately 49 miles from Evansville, Indiana and 62 miles from Louisville, Kentucky. From a regional context, the Town of Ferdinand is located within a 4-hour drive of five metropolitan areas with a population of over 1 million people: Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville, and St. Louis.

The transportation system of the Ferdinand Area consists of a variety of transportation opportunities. The outline below shows the different activities associated with each mode of transportation, which are described in the paragraphs that follow.

• Vehicular Traffic o Commercial – Vehicles traveling to a place of business

or work.o Residential – Vehicles traveling within a neighborhood

or subdivision.o Commuter – The following are all common

destinations to work for the Ferdinand Area: Evansville Metropolitan Area, Jasper, Huntingburg, Princeton, and Rockport.

• Pedestrian Traffico Commercial – Pedestrians who walk in a parking lot or

commercial area to a place of business or work. o Residential – Pedestrians who walk within their

neighborhood to school, work, civic building, or relative or neighbors home.

o Recreational/Wellness – Pedestrians who walk, bike, jog, hike, run, skateboard, or rollerblade.

COMMUNITY PROFILE

57• Air and Rail o Passenger Transportation - International and Regional

Airports o Freight Transport and General Aviation - Regional,

Municipal, and Local Airports o Freight Rail – Norfolk-Southern Railroad, Ferdinand

Railroad (Abandoned)o Passenger Rail – Amtrak and the Dubois County

Railway (Tourism)

• Mass Transit o Alternative Transportation (Healthcare/Disability) - none

available at this time

COMMUNITY PROFILE

58 Vehicular Traffic

Local streets and roads make up the majority of the vehicular transportation system within the Town of Ferdinand. These streets and roads collect traffic and funnel the traffic to SR 162 and SR 264, as well as provide access to adjacent land uses.

The roads within the Town of Ferdinand, as well as adjacent areas within the jurisdiction of the county, state, and federal government are described in the following paragraphs. The different roadways and road segments represent the primary transportation system used by the residents of Ferdinand. An excerpt of the Dubois County General Highway and Transportation Map is shown to the right.

Limited-Access Highway - The area also benefits from a limited-access highway, Interstate 64, as its regional connector. This Interstate connects to the Louisville Metropolitan Area to the east and St. Louis Metropolitan Area to the west. Below is a chart showing the Average Daily Traffic (ADT) counts for 1992, 1998, 2000, and 2002, recorded by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT).

Primary Arterial – The primary arterial roadway within the Town of Ferdinand is SR 162, locally-known as Main Street. It has been given the Functional Classification of Major Collector by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT). Below is a chart showing the Average Daily Traffic (ADT) counts for 1992 and 2001, recorded by the INDOT.

AVERAGE DAILY TRAFFIC – MORE COR-RECTLY DEFINED AS ANNUAL AVERAGE

DAILY TRAFFIC OR AADT, IT IS THE TOTAL VOLUME OF VEHICLE TRAFFIC IN BOTH DIRECTIONS OF A HIGHWAY OR ROAD FOR A YEAR DIVIDED BY 365 DAYS. COMMONLY USED AS A SIMPLE MEASUREMENT OF HOW BUSY A ROAD IS.

FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION – THE CLASSIFICATION OF A SEGMENT OF ROAD, AS DEFINED BY FHWA, WHICH IS BROKEN DOWN BETWEEN RURAL AND URBAN AREAS AND CREATES A HIERARCHICAL RANKING BASED ON THE DEGREE OF MOBILITY AND ACCESS THAT A STREET PROVIDES.

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59Rural Arterial – State Road 264 is a rural roadway that connects the Town of Ferdinand to SR 64 to the northeast and is maintained by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT). Within the Town of Ferdinand it is known as 23rd Street. It has been given the Functional Classification of Major Collector by INDOT. Below is a chart showing the Average Daily Traffic (ADT) counts for 1992 and 2001.

Rural Arterial – County Road 1100 South is a rural roadway that connects the Town of Ferdinand and SR 162 in the east, the rural community of St. Henry, and US 231 to the west. Within the Town of Ferdinand, this road is known as 3rd Street and in St. Henry as Main Street. It has been given the Functional Classification of Major Collector by INDOT.

Rural Arterial – Ferdinand Road or is a rural roadway that connects the Town of Ferdinand and SR 162 in the east and the City of Huntingburg and US 231 to the west. The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has given Ferdinand Road the Functional Classification of Minor Collector between the Town of Ferdinand and the Huntingburg City Boundary. Within the Town of Ferdinand, this road is known as 9th Street and within the City of Huntingburg, the road is known as Sunset Drive (CR 700 S) and has not been functionally-classified. Through the Town of Ferdinand, this road continues to the east as 5th Street and ends is classification as a Minor Collector at the junction of SR 285 E, eventually changing back to Ferdinand Road and connecting to SR 62 south of I-64 near the Town of St. Meinrad.

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60 Rural Arterial – State Road 285 E connects Ferdinand Road to the Town of Meinrad through connections with CR 2160, CR 1125, and CR 1190 all connecting to SR 62 near St. Meinrad in Spencer County. It has been given the Functional Classification of Minor Collector by INDOT.

Local Roads – All other roadways located within the Town of Ferdinand can be categorized as local roads. No individual designations or Functional Classifications have been made to these local roads at this time.

Another primary road within the Town of Ferdinand is the recently-constructed Industrial Bypass identified as Scenic Hills Industrial Drive. Through a funding program, the Town of Ferdinand hired the Indiana 15 Regional Planning Commission to collect and calculate traffic-related usage data for this and several of the heavily-traveled road segments within the community. This has been included in Appendix E of this document.

COMMUNITY PROFILE

61

SR162

I-64

SR 264

1100 South

Convent Road

285East

2200 North

1160 South

75E

ast

Indu

stria

l Par

kR

oad

Ferdinand Road NE

1000 South

Mariah

Hill-Ferd

inand

Rd

W. 23rd Street

Vien

naDr

ive5th Street

350E

ast

14th Street

Ferdinand Rd-East

Virg

inia

Stre

et

875E

ast

9th Street

2160 North

900 South

8th Street

2190 North

3rd Street

13th Street

2060N

orth

PineD

rive

21st Street20th Street

22nd Street

800E

ast

Ferdinand-St. A

nthonyR

d

Sce

nic

Hills

Driv

e

Leaf Lane

1st Street

1200E

ast

16th Street

850

Sou

th

18th StreetBest Chairs Access

Sunw

ardD

rive

17th Street

Willow

Drive

Scenic

Industrial Drive

19th Street

2nd Street

I-64 64

0 0.4 0.80.2Miles

Ferdinand Area RoadsInterstate 64Abandoned Railroad Right-of-WayRivers and StreamsOther Area Roads

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62 Pedestrian Traffic

In recent years, non-motorized transportation facilities have become an important part of the transportation network of many communities. Support for the development of pedestrian and bicycle trails, sidewalks, and multi-use paths have been identified as economic generators across the State of Indiana. Communities, as well as state leaders, have identified that pedestrian infrastructure provides for healthier

lifestyles, a decreased dependency on the automobile, and the improvement of overall quality of life of a community.

Pedestrian infrastructure helps to connect neighborhoods, schools, parks, sites of interest, communities, and even regions. They may include opportunities for bicycling, horseback-riding, running, walking, as well as being accessible to wheelchairs, baby strollers, and roller blades. They may also be developed from abandoned railroad right-of-way, along a local waterway (small or large), parallel a primary vehicular corridor, utilize existing roads and sidewalks, or be a combination of all of these examples.

Many of the local roads, including Main Street (SR 162) have some existing sidewalks. However, some of these sidewalks are in disrepair and not ADA accessible (i.e., too narrow, with no ramps). Some newer subdivisions are completely without any pedestrian amenities, as well as some older platted subdivisions in the southeast part of town .

The Town of Ferdinand does have an excellent walking path in its 18th Street Park. The path is quite extensive utilizing adjacent properties such as the Ferdinand Community Center, Ferdinand Junior-Senior High School, and other open spaces. The path also utilizes existing natural settings and winds along a creek, through a woodland area, over hills, and across meadows. The trail is well-maintained, marked with appropriate signage, and has incorporated safety measures, such as security lighting and crosswalks. Much of the trail is ADA accessible; however, some portions of it have too steep of a grade to allow safe accessibility for wheelchairs.

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63Air and Rail

Air and rail transportation are often independent from the decision-making processes of local government and thus are dealt with differently. The following paragraphs describe the current availability of these two transportation modes and their significance for the Town of Ferdinand.

Air Service - Air service is limited for the residents of Ferdinand. There is only one International Airport located within 75 minutes of the Town of Ferdinand (Lousiville International Airport). An alternative airport is located approximately 180 miles from the Town of Ferdinand is the Indianapolis International Airport located in Indianapolis, Indi-ana. All other airports in the Ferdinand Area are small municipal or private airports utilized for general aviation.

• Louisville International Airport (Standiford Field) – Located approximately 75 miles southeast of the Town of Ferdinand in Louisville, Kentucky, its terminal has 23 gates and is served by 8 major and 2 national passenger airlines and is ranked 3rd busiest airport in the United States, 11th in the World.

Number of Passengers (2006) 3.8 MillionNumber of Flights (2006) 179,579

• Evansville Regional Airport – Located approximately 45 miles southwest of the Town of Ferdinand in Evansville, Indiana, its terminal has 10 gates and is served by 7 national passenger airlines.

Number of Daily Flights (2006) 35

• Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport – Located approximately 47 miles south of the Town of Ferdinand in Owensboro, Kentucky, its terminal has 1 gate and is served by 1 national passenger airline.

• Huntingburg Municipal Airport – Located approximately 14 miles west of the Town of Ferdinand in Huntingburg, Indiana, this small airport has a single runway and space for both small commercial and private carriers.

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64 Regional & Local Airports – There are several other airports located within the Ferdinand Area. However, many of them are limited to general aviation. Some of these are the Washington-Daviess County Airport located in Washington, Indiana (approximately 40 miles), the Perry County Municipal Airport located in Tell City, Indiana (approximately 34 miles), the Paoli Municipal Airport located in Paoli, Indiana (approximately 52 miles), the French Lick Municipal Airport located in French Lick, Indiana (approximately 35 miles).

Other locations offer opportunities for freight transportation. Some of these are the Southwind Maritime Center located in Evansville, Indiana (approximately 64 miles), the Port of Evansville located in Evansville, Indiana (approximately 49 miles), and the Owensboro Riverport located in Owensboro, Kentucky (approximately 41 miles).

Rail Service - There is only one railroad line that has ever been built within the Town of Ferdinand. It was established in 1909 as the Ferdinand Railway and connected the Town of Ferdinand to the City of Huntingburg. The rail line extended from Huntingburg, traveled southeast to 23rd Street at the northwestern corner of Ferdinand, and then traveled through the present-day site of Best Home Furnishings crossing 17th Street, 12th Street, 9th Street, 5th Street, and 3rd Street along the western edge of town to its terminus near the existing Möbel, Inc. Building Complex. In 1991, the Ferdinand Railroad was declared abandoned and the tracks were removed in 1992.

The nearest railroad lines still in operation are located in Huntingburg and Jasper, and another crossing near the Bretzville Community at the intersection of SR 162 and SR 64. The nearest passenger rail service is provided by Amtrak in Cincinnati and Indianapolis along the Cardinal Line, which runs from Chicago to New York City three days a week.

Another unique rail amenity is the Dubois County Railroad and the Indiana Railway Museum of French Lick, which have plans to extend their historic railroad tour to Huntingburg to connect the Patoka Lake Reservoir, the French Lick Springs Resort and Casino, and the West Baden Springs Hotel and Resort just east of the Ferdinand Area.

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65Mass Transit

Because a limited population exists in the Ferdinand Area, the need does not constitute provisions for a comprehensive mass transit system. Currently there is no type of alternative mass transit system in the Town of Ferdinand; however, the City of Huntingburg does operate the Huntingburg Transit Van for trips within the City of Huntingburg and to Memorial Hospital in Jasper.

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66 J. Land Use

The use of land directly affects the progress and quality of life within a community. Now, and in the future, it is important to support land use patterns that conserve natural resources, reduce the dependence upon the automobile, alleviate traffic congestion, contribute to the character of the community, build strong neighborhoods, enhance economic opportunities, maintain the beauty of the community, adequately serve the needs of the citizens, and maintain the existing quality of life.

This section and its maps indicate the general distribution, location, type, and relationship for each of these land uses. More specifically, this section highlights current zoning, existing or proposed land uses, possible future growth, and potential infrastructure considerations, for both roads and pedestrians.

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67Existing Land Use

As a part of developing a comprehensive plan, it is important to understand the existing distribution of land uses within the Town of Ferdinand. According to the 1997 Comprehensive Plan, the entire town of Ferdinand was driven in the winter of 1997 to gather the existing land uses within the community. However, this exercise has been completed again to gather accurate and up-to-date data.

The Town of Ferdinand has maintained its small town atmosphere, but anticipates continuing growth pressure stemming from the Interstate 64 Corridor, the future re-routing of the US 231 Corridor, and other growth opportunities. These include corporate expansions within Dubois County, regional tourism, the Patoka Lake Reservoir, and the nearby redevelopment of the French Lick Springs Hotel and Casino and the West Baden Springs Hotel in Orange County. Regardless of any recent growth experienced in the region, the small town character of the Town of Ferdinand remains and is evident in its central core and development along the Main Street Corridor (SR 162). The largest land use is residential, with industrial and commercial land uses being second and third. The following paragraphs describe the different land uses that exist within the Town of Ferdinand and the types of entities that are included within each category.

Agricultural - While the Town of Ferdinand is located within a predominantly rural area, agricultural land is limited because of the topography of the area. Although the primary land use surrounding the town’s periphery is agricultural, it only provides minimal opportunity for future, non-agricultural growth because of the presence of broad floodplains. Agricultural land uses can be found to the west, east, north, and south of Ferdinand, but often in limited quantity because of the topography.

Residential - The Town of Ferdinand is primarily a traditional residential development, but some newer subdivisions and homes are located along SR 162 to the north and along Vienna Drive to the northeast. The residential land uses in the area consist primarily of single-family housing. Some other housing forms

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68 have been developed, such as rental units (apartments), duplexes, and senior apartment housing units, but their number is minimal.

Recreational - The existing recreational land uses within Ferdinand include five parks located throughout the community. The Ferdinand Elementary School has a playground on its campus and the Forest Park Junior-Senior High School also has recreational open space and a gymnasium on its campus.

Additionally, the Monastery Complex has a gymnasium that is currently being used by the Tri-County YMCA, with hopes for improvements and possibly expansions for the community. The Ferdinand Community Center Board also operates the Ferdinand Community Center that is located adjacent to the 18th Street Park in the northeast part of Ferdinand. It is used for special occasions, various meetings, and as a general community gathering place. Other open spaces are also located throughout the community, especially within the floodplain areas that could be used for recreational activities, including a soccer field on property owned by Best Home Furnishings.

Another significant recreational resource is the 18th Street Park Trail System that connects the park with the Monastery Campus, the Ferdinand Elementary School Campus, the Forest Hills Junior-Senior High School, and the Ferdinand Community Center property.

Commercial - A historic downtown houses a core commercial area for the community, primarily along SR 162 (Main Street). Some buildings have been rehabilitated to preserve their unique historic character, while a few others are empty or abandoned. Side streets connecting to the SR 162 Corridor and radiating from the central intersection at 9th Street, also provides additional commercial land uses in the core commercial area.

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69Still other areas along SR 162 to the north and south of the 9th Street intersection have several commercial land uses, including a strip mall, several banks, a grocery store, a Dollar General Store, a hardware store, and several small shops located in former residential buildings.

Businesses in the Ferdinand Area rely on their location in a high-traffic area serving passers-by. While there are limited shopping destinations for area consumers within the community, nearby cities of Jasper and Huntingburg offer many big box retail and specialty retail stores. Many different types of commercial establishments can be found in this land use category: gas stations, auto repair services, banks, grocery stores, and small locally-owned businesses, just to name a few.

Industrial - The Town of Ferdinand has several large and small industrial land uses. In fact, the community is interested in building upon their niche in the furniture and wood-product industries to expand and even draw additional industrial businesses to the community. Current industrial land uses include Best Home Furnishings, Möbel, Inc., Master Brands Cabinets, Inc., and Jasper Seating Company, as well as others that can be found along the western edge of the community. Many can be considered to be “light industrial” land uses that do not have a negative affect upon the community.

Institutional - Institutional land uses are scattered throughout the community and include a fire station, a public library, Ferdinand Town Hall, and the Ferdinand Elementary School, as well as others. They also include land uses, such as utility structures (i.e., electric transfer stations, water towers and waste water treatment facilities), churches, and other places deemed as a public use.

The maps on the following pages shows the location of existing land uses within the Town of Ferdinand.

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