Editing Hartford City, Indiana

{{for|the community in Crawford County that was originally named Hartford|English, Indiana}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Hartford City, Indiana
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| motto              = "The One And Only"
| image_blank_emblem = Logo of Hartford City, Indiana.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| blank_emblem_size  = 115px
| nickname           = 
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| border                 = infobox
| total_width            = 280
| image_style            = border:1;
| perrow                 = 2|2
| image1                 = Blackford County Courthouse tower.jpg
| image2                 = Hartford City Presbyterian Church Northwest Side.JPG
| image3                 = Cox Building Hartford City IN 2005.JPG
| image4                 = Tyner Bldg Hartford City IN.jpg
}}
| imagesize          = 300px
| image_caption      = Clockwise from top: [[Blackford County Courthouse]], [[First Presbyterian Church (Hartford City, Indiana)|First Presbyterian Church]], [[Hartford City Courthouse Square Historic District|Hartford City's Cox Building]], [[Hartford City Courthouse Square Historic District|The Tyner building]]
| image_flag         = Flag of Hartford City, Indiana.svg
| image_seal         = Seal of Hartford City, Indiana.png
| image_map          = File:Blackford County Indiana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Hartford City Highlighted 1832242.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Hartford City in Blackford County, Indiana.
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{USA}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|Indiana}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Indiana|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Blackford County, Indiana|Blackford]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[List of Indiana townships|Township]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Licking Township, Blackford County, Indiana|Licking]]
| government_type    = [[Mayor-council government]]
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Dan Eckstein ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])<ref>[http://www.hartfordcity.net/mayors-office/ Mayors office]</ref>
| area_note          = 
| established_date   = 
| established_title1 = [[History of Hartford City, Indiana|Officially named]]
| established_date1  = 1839
| established_title2 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated (town)]]
| established_date2  = 1857
| established_title3 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated (city)]]
| established_date3  = 1894
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_18.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 16, 2022}}</ref>
| population_footnotes = 
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 5944<ref name="IndianaDemographics"/> {{decrease}}
| pop_est_as_of      = 2025
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 6086
| population_density_sq_mi = 1567.75
| timezone           = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = Eastern
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| area_total_sq_mi   = 3.90
| area_land_sq_mi    = 3.88
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.02
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 919
| coordinates        = {{coord|40|27|16|N|85|22|44|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| website            = {{URL|http://www.hartfordcity.net}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 47348
| area_code          = [[Area code 765|765]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 18-32242<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=31 January 2008|title=US Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2394309<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2394309}}</ref>
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_total_km2     = 10.10
| area_land_km2      = 10.05
| area_water_km2     = 0.05
| population_density_km2 = 605.34
| governing_body     = Hartford City Council
}}
'''Hartford City''' is a city in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Indiana]], and the [[county seat]] of [[Blackford County, Indiana|Blackford County]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties|url=http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/county.cfm&id=18009|access-date=25 November 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091123174453/http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=%2Fcffiles%2Fcounties%2Fcounty.cfm&id=18009|archive-date=November 23, 2009}}
</ref> Located in the northeast [[East Central Indiana|central portion of the state]], the small farming community underwent a dramatic 15-year economic boom beginning in the late 1880s. The [[Indiana Gas Boom]] resulted from the discovery and exploitation of [[natural gas]] in the area. The [[rural economics|rural economy]] was transformed to one that included manufacturing. The boom attracted workers and residents, retail establishments, and craftspeople. The increased population was a catalyst for the construction of roads, schools, and churches. After the boom came a long period of growth and stability. Agriculture (and agricultural trade) remained as the basis for the economy.

From the 1920s through the 1970s, Hartford City continued to thrive. Agricultural automation and consolidation of small farms into industrial-size farms resulted in a decline in the population; the small farmer became unable to compete and fewer laborers were needed. Some workers turned to the manufacturing and construction sectors for employment in nearby cities. However, manufacturing hubs such as Muncie and Marion suffered the collapse of their economies during industrial restructuring when large factories closed. Despite the decline, Hartford City was able to retain the paper company, [[3M]].

The city government has concentrated on bringing manufacturing to Hartford City and has had some success in securing state funding for businesses that use recycled or agricultural materials in the manufacturing process.<ref>See "Inside Indiana Business" web site article (10 August 2006) for a recent example. [http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=19158 Plastics] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928195909/http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=19158|accessdate=28 September 2011}}</ref> Younger people leave to attend college and pursue professional careers outside the scope of those available in Hartford City. Community college, private colleges, and a university are within commuting distance; however, Hartford City lacks rental housing appropriate to college students or young adults. The town's population was 6,086 in the [[2020 United States census]], down from 6,220 in the [[2010 United States Census]].

==Early history==
{{Main|History of Hartford City, Indiana}}
Hartford City, Indiana began in the late 1830s as a few log cabins clustered near a creek. Folklore taught in local elementary schools suggests that Hartford City was originally known as "Hart's ford," a place to cross Lick Creek. The name evolved to Hartford, and eventually to Hartford City. (This was to avoid confusion with another Hartford<ref>[[English, Indiana]] was named Hartford from 1839 until 1884.</ref> in the state.)

The community was designated as the [[county seat]] of [[Blackford County, Indiana|Blackford County]] when that county was created in 1837, and it was incorporated in 1867.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Hartford City|volume=13|page=34}}</ref> During the last half of the 19th century, [[East Central Indiana]] consisted mostly of rural farming communities, including Hartford City. The town's population did not exceed 2,000 until after 1887, when the region began to grow because of the [[Indiana Gas Boom]].<ref>''Hartford City Illustrated: A Publication Devoted to the City's Best Interests and Containing Half Tone Engravings of Prominent Factories, Business Blocks, Residences, and a Selection of Representative Commercial and Professional Men and Women.'' [S.l.]: Daulton & Scott, 1896.</ref>

Hartford City's population tripled in the next decade, as manufacturers were lured to the region to take advantage of low costs for land and the [[natural gas]]. Hartford City benefited from railroad service from two railroads in addition to a natural gas supply that was thought to be unlimited. Manufacturers such as [[Hartford City Glass Company]], [[Sneath Glass Company]], Hartford City Paper, Utility Paper, and Willman Lumber all located or began in Hartford City during the 1890s. Although the supply of natural gas was soon exhausted, many of these businesses continued to operate into the 1950s and beyond. Hartford City leaders attracted businesses such as [[Garage door opener#The electric opener|Overhead Door]] (1923) and [[3M]] (1955) to replace the glass factories as major employers in the city.

==Geography==
Hartford City sits on top of former natural gas fields. The area also has limestone formed from silt and mud deposits of an ancient sea. The land is flat from the effect of a prehistoric glacier, and the soil is excellent for farming.<ref>See pages 289-293 of Moore's Hoosier Cyclopedia. See also the entire 1895 report of the Indiana Department of Geology and Natural Resources, especially pages 12, 14, 17, and 20. [https://books.google.com/books?id=CAZwAAAAMAAJ&q=Moore%E2%80%99s+Hoosier+Cyclopedia Moore's]</ref> 
According to the 2010 census, Hartford City has a total area of {{convert|3.901|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|3.88|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 99.46%) is land and {{convert|0.021|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 0.54%) is water.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1832242|title=Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1|access-date=28 July 2015|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213085058/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1832242|archive-date=13 February 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Major highways===
* [[Image:indiana 3.svg|20px]] [[Indiana State Road 3]]
* [[Image:indiana 26.svg|20px]] [[Indiana State Road 26]]
* [[Image:I-69.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 69 in Indiana|Interstate 69]] (less than {{convert|10|mi|km}} west of city)

===Adjacent cities===
* [[Upland, Indiana|Upland]] − about 8 highway miles west
* [[Montpelier, Indiana|Montpelier]] − about 12 highway miles northeast
* [[Dunkirk, Indiana|Dunkirk]] − about 14 highway miles southeast
* [[Muncie, Indiana|Muncie]] − about 19 highway miles south
* [[Marion, Indiana|Marion]] − about 23 highway miles northwest

===Climate===
Hartford City has a typical [[Midwestern United States|Midwestern]] [[Humid continental climate|humid continental]] seasonal climate. There are four distinct seasons, with winters being cold with moderate [[snow]]fall, while summers can be warm and humid. The highest average temperature is in July at {{convert|84|°F|°C|abbr=on}}, while the lowest average temperature is in January at {{convert|18|°F|°C|abbr=on}}. However, summer temperatures can top {{convert|90|°F|°C|abbr=on}}, and winter temperatures can drop below {{convert|0|°F|°C|abbr=on}}. Average monthly precipitation ranges from about {{convert|2|to|4|in|cm|abbr=off}}, with the heaviest occurring during June, July, and August. The highest recorded temperature was {{convert|104|°F|°C|abbr=on}} on June 29, 2012, and the lowest recorded temperature was {{convert|-26.0|°F|°C|abbr=on}} on January 19, 1994.

{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | collapsed   = yes
 | single line = yes
 | location    = Hartford City, Indiana (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1959–present)
 | Jan record high F  = 65
 | Feb record high F  = 73
 | Mar record high F  = 85
 | Apr record high F  = 87
 | May record high F  = 94
 | Jun record high F  = 104
 | Jul record high F  = 102
 | Aug record high F  = 98
 | Sep record high F  = 97
 | Oct record high F  = 91
 | Nov record high F  = 79
 | Dec record high F  = 71
 | year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 56.1
|Feb avg record high F = 59.4
|Mar avg record high F = 70.9
|Apr avg record high F = 80.1
|May avg record high F = 87.3
|Jun avg record high F = 91.7
|Jul avg record high F = 92.6
|Aug avg record high F = 90.8
|Sep avg record high F = 89.3
|Oct avg record high F = 83.0
|Nov avg record high F = 69.6
|Dec avg record high F = 59.1
|year avg record high F = 93.8

 | Jan high F = 33.1
 | Feb high F = 37.1
 | Mar high F = 47.9
 | Apr high F = 61.4
 | May high F = 71.9
 | Jun high F = 80.4
 | Jul high F = 83.2
 | Aug high F = 81.5
 | Sep high F = 76.3
 | Oct high F = 64.4
 | Nov high F = 50.0
 | Dec high F = 38.1
 | year high F = 60.4
 | Jan mean F = 26.0
 | Feb mean F = 29.2
 | Mar mean F = 39.0
 | Apr mean F = 51.0
 | May mean F = 61.9
 | Jun mean F = 70.9
 | Jul mean F = 73.6
 | Aug mean F = 71.7
 | Sep mean F = 65.5
 | Oct mean F = 54.2
 | Nov mean F = 41.8
 | Dec mean F = 31.3
 | year mean F = 51.3
 | Jan low F = 18.9
 | Feb low F = 21.3
 | Mar low F = 30.2
 | Apr low F = 40.7
 | May low F = 51.9
 | Jun low F = 61.4
 | Jul low F = 64.0
 | Aug low F = 61.9
 | Sep low F = 54.7
 | Oct low F = 43.9
 | Nov low F = 33.6
 | Dec low F = 24.5
 | year low F = 42.2

|Jan avg record low F = -4.6
|Feb avg record low F = -0.2
|Mar avg record low F = 11.6
|Apr avg record low F = 24.9
|May avg record low F = 36.2
|Jun avg record low F = 47.4
|Jul avg record low F = 52.7
|Aug avg record low F = 50.3
|Sep avg record low F = 40.5
|Oct avg record low F = 29.1
|Nov avg record low F = 18.2
|Dec avg record low F = 5.1
|year avg record low F = -7.0

 | Jan record low F  = -26
 | Feb record low F  = -17
 | Mar record low F  = -10
 | Apr record low F  = 8
 | May record low F  = 26
 | Jun record low F  = 37
 | Jul record low F  = 45
 | Aug record low F  = 35
 | Sep record low F  = 29
 | Oct record low F  = 19
 | Nov record low F  = 3
 | Dec record low F  = -22
 | year record low F = 
 | precipitation colour   = green
 | Jan precipitation inch = 2.67
 | Feb precipitation inch = 2.35
 | Mar precipitation inch = 3.31
 | Apr precipitation inch = 3.89
 | May precipitation inch = 4.24
 | Jun precipitation inch = 4.43
 | Jul precipitation inch = 4.20
 | Aug precipitation inch = 4.33
 | Sep precipitation inch = 3.48
 | Oct precipitation inch = 2.89
 | Nov precipitation inch = 3.28
 | Dec precipitation inch = 2.67
 | year precipitation inch = 41.74
 | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
 | Jan precipitation days  = 12.6
 | Feb precipitation days  = 10.5
 | Mar precipitation days  = 11.5
 | Apr precipitation days  = 11.7
 | May precipitation days  = 12.8
 | Jun precipitation days  = 11.8
 | Jul precipitation days  = 9.6
 | Aug precipitation days  = 9.2
 | Sep precipitation days  = 7.9
 | Oct precipitation days  = 9.7
 | Nov precipitation days  = 10.5
 | Dec precipitation days  = 12.3
 | year precipitation days = 129.5
 | Jan snow inch = 9.0
 | Feb snow inch = 8.2
 | Mar snow inch = 5.0
 | Apr snow inch = 0.6
 | May snow inch = 0.0
 | Jun snow inch = 0.0
 | Jul snow inch = 0.0
 | Aug snow inch = 0.0
 | Sep snow inch = 0.0
 | Oct snow inch = 0.2
 | Nov snow inch = 2.0
 | Dec snow inch = 7.2
 | year snow inch = 32.2
 | unit snow days = 0.1 in
 | Jan snow days  = 9.3
 | Feb snow days  = 7.9
 | Mar snow days  = 3.9
 | Apr snow days  = 0.8
 | May snow days  = 0.0
 | Jun snow days  = 0.0
 | Jul snow days  = 0.0
 | Aug snow days  = 0.0
 | Sep snow days  = 0.0
 | Oct snow days  = 0.1
 | Nov snow days  = 1.8
 | Dec snow days  = 7.0
 | year snow days = 30.8
 | source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=iwx
|title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = November 17, 2023}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00123777&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = November 17, 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 250
|1860= 618 |1860n= <ref name="Esarey1922">{{cite book |last1=Esarey |first1=Logan |title=History of Indiana: From Its Exploration to 1922 |volume=II |date=1922 |publisher=Dayton Historical Publishing Co. |location=Dayton, OH |page=980 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5DEUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA980 |access-date=20 May 2021}}</ref>{{efn|No separately-returned population figure was recorded for Hartford City in 1860.<ref name="1870Census">{{cite book |last1=Walker |first1=Francis A. |title=The Statistics of the Population of the United States |volume=I |date=1872 |publisher=Government Printing Office |location=Washington |page=122 |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-15.pdf#page=1}}</ref>}}
|1870= 878
|1880= 1470
|1890= 2287
|1900= 5912
|1910= 6187
|1920= 6183
|1930= 6613
|1940= 6946
|1950= 7253
|1960= 8053
|1970= 8207
|1980= 7622
|1990= 6960
|2000= 6928
|2010= 6220
|2020= 6086
|estyear=2025
|estimate=5944
|estref=<ref name="IndianaDemographics">{{cite web|url=https://www.indiana-demographics.com/hartford-city-demographics|title=Hartford City Demographic Statistics|publisher=Indiana Demographics by Cubit|accessdate=January 28, 2025}}</ref>
|footnote=US Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States Census]],<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=US Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=11 December 2012}}</ref> there were 6,220 people, 2,666 households, and 1,691 families in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1603.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 3,158 housing units at an average density of {{convert|813.9|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.3% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.3% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.2% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.1% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.1% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.4% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.7% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.2% of the population.

There were 2,666 households, of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.6% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.86.

The median age in the city was 41.3 years. 23.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.4% were from 25 to 44; 26.7% were from 45 to 64; and 18.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.6% male and 52.4% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States Census]], there were 6,928 people, 2,918 households, and 1,943 families in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1861.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 3,156 housing units at an average density of {{convert|848.1|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 98.34% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.09% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.38% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.20% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.22% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.78% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.61% of the population.

[[Image:Blackford-county-indiana-courthouse.JPG|thumb|left|The Blackford County courthouse is at the center of Hartford City's [[town square]].]]
There were 2,918 households, out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.89.

The city population contained 25.0% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,531, and the median income for a family was $39,654. Males had a median income of $29,257 versus $20,600 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $15,596. About 7.3% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
[[Image:Hartford City downtown.JPG|thumb|Downtown Hartford City]]
About 11 percent of Hartford City's male workers, and 9 percent of female workers, are employed in the transportation equipment industry. This makes the transportation equipment industry the most important provider of jobs for the city, although there are no auto parts plants located in the county.<ref>See "City-Data.com" web site for Hartford City. [http://www.city-data.com/city/Hartford-City-Indiana.html Data]</ref> The decline of the auto industry has forced Hartford City to be less of a "[[Commuter town|bedroom community]]" reliant on jobs relating to automobile parts manufacturing in nearby cities, and more focused on developing businesses within the city.<ref>See Chicago Tribune article "Midwest auto industry". [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-midwest-auto-demiseapr12,0,5569855.story Auto Industry]</ref> Currently, there are six businesses located in Hartford City that employ between 100 and 350 people, and none with more than 350 employees. Those six companies (in descending order of employees) are 3M Company, Petoskey Plastic, BRC Rubber Group, Inc., Blackford Community Hospital, and New Indy Paper Mill.<ref>See "Manta" web site. [http://www.manta.com/mb_51_ALL_5EQ/hartford_city_in?sort=employeesd HC Employers]</ref>  In addition, there are nearly twenty more local entities with 25 to 100 employees. Agriculture also influences the town. Although they do not live in the city limits, farm families are involved with the local schools, parks, and social activities – and are consumers of the products of local merchants.

==Culture==
[[Image:Hartford City Library.JPG|thumb|Hartford City's Library]]The 2009 official web site of Hartford City shows three main pictures: Civil War re-enactors, a basketball player, and the courthouse, illustrating what is important to the city and its culture. Hartford City's town square is a "living museum", and is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] as the [[Hartford City Courthouse Square Historic District]]. Many of the buildings were built during the gas boom in the late 19th century, and are examples of architectural styles used at that time, including [[Romanesque Revival]], [[Italianate architecture|Commercial Italianate]], [[Neo-Renaissance|Renaissance Revival]], and [[Queen Anne style architecture in the United States|Queen Anne]].<ref>See the web-posted "National Register of Historical Places Registration Nomination Form for the Hartford City Courthouse Square Historic District". [http://www.in.gov/dnr/historic/files/hartfordcity_nr.pdf Historic] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010032252/http://www.in.gov/dnr/historic/files/hartfordcity_nr.pdf |date=2012-10-10 }}</ref> The [[Blackford County Courthouse]] and [[First Presbyterian Church (Hartford City, Indiana)|First Presbyterian Church]] are also listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Indiana#Blackford County|National Register of Historic Places]].<ref>See "National Register of Historical Places" web site.    [http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/IN/Blackford/state.html National Register]</ref> Adding to the historical atmosphere, the courthouse lawn contains war monuments on each corner. The town has a small museum and library housed in the Blackford County Historical Society building.<ref>See the "Blackford County Historical Society" web site. [http://www.bchs-in.org/ Society]</ref> The city's main public library, the Hartford City Public Library, is a [[Carnegie library]] that began with funding from [[Andrew Carnegie]] in 1903.<ref>See the Hartford City Public Library web site. [http://www.hcpubliclibrary.com/about%20us.htm Library] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711154405/http://www.hcpubliclibrary.com/about%20us.htm|date=11 July 2011}}</ref>

===Recreation===
Sports and recreation are important to the community. The city Parks Department maintains four parks and a public swimming pool.<ref>See Hartford City web site. [http://www.hartfordcity.net/default.asp?PageIndex=250 Parks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723142724/http://www.hartfordcity.net/default.asp?PageIndex=250|date=23 July 2011}}</ref> There are four golf courses within {{convert|10|mi|km|spell=in}} from Hartford City, and ten more are within {{convert|20|mi|km}}.<ref>See Golf Link web site for Hartford City. [http://www.golflink.com/golf-courses/city.aspx?dest=Hartford+City+IN Golf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616061339/http://www.golflink.com/golf-courses/city.aspx?dest=Hartford+City+IN |date=2012-06-16 }}</ref> The city has some small lakes and reservoirs available for fishing, such as Lake Placid and the lakes of the nearby [[Shamrock Lakes, Indiana|Shamrock Lakes area]]. A larger lake (over {{convert|2600|acre|km2}}) is ([[Salamonie Lake Dam|Salamonie Lake]]), with boating, fishing, and swimming, is located 29 miles (47&nbsp;km) northwest of Hartford City.<ref>See Salamonie Lake web site. [http://www.lrl.usace.army.mil/sal/ Lake] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402122244/http://www.lrl.usace.army.mil/sal/|accessdate=2 April 2009}}</ref> State Parks nearby include [[Ouabache State Park|Ouabache]], [[Mounds State Park|Mounds]], and [[Summit Lake State Park|Summit Lake]]. For those willing to drive north for about 90 minutes, [[Pokagon State Park]] is located on Lake James and Snow Lake. This park features campgrounds, hiking trails, a beach, the Potawatomi Inn, and a toboggan track.<ref>See Indiana Outfitters web site for area parks and lakes. [http://www.indianaoutfitters.com/statemap.html Parks] See also Pokagon State Park web site. [http://www.stateparks.com/pokagon.html Pokagon]</ref>

Hartford City sports leagues include baseball, softball, soccer, and football. Indiana is known for its [[Hoosier Hysteria#High school basketball|high school basketball]], and Hartford City high schools have had their share of success in the state basketball tournament. Hartford City High School won 14 sectional and 3 regional tournaments in about 60 years of action. Hartford City High was consolidated into [[Blackford High School (Hartford City, Indiana)|Blackford High School]] in 1969, and Blackford has won 10 sectionals.<ref>See Indiana High School tournament history web site. [http://tnyhistory.homestead.com/files/boystnyteams.htm Tournament]</ref> The Blackford High School gym seats 4,000 for a town with a population of less than 7,000. Hartford City's Blackford High School football team has also had some tournament success, winning the Indiana state 2A football championship in 1974-75 and 1979-80 – both teams were undefeated.<ref>See Indiana High School Athletic Association web site. [http://www.ihsaa.org/b-football_frame.htm Football] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080822223912/http://www.ihsaa.org/b-football_frame.htm|accessdate=22 August 2008}}</ref>

===Agriculture===
Agriculture has a strong influence on Hartford City's culture. The main crops in the area are [[soybean]]s and [[Maize|corn]].<ref>See Indiana CropMAP for Blackford County.  [http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/cropmap/indiana/counties/blackford.html Crops] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512023853/http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/cropmap/indiana/counties/blackford.html |date=2008-05-12 }}</ref> Some wheat and hay are also grown. The Indiana [[Farm Bureau]] office for Blackford County is located in Hartford City. [[4-H]], a youth organization associated with the [[U.S. Department of Agriculture]] has a strong presence. The annual county 4-H [[fair]] is held in June, and features a [[rodeo]], [[horse show]], dog show, [[livestock]], and carnival. The week-long event includes a mile-long [[parade]] with a marching band.

== Government ==
{{See also|Government of Indiana}}
The government consists of a mayor and a city council. The mayor is elected in citywide vote. The city council consists of five members with four elected from individual districts and one elected at-large. The current members of city council are:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Common Council |url=http://www.hartfordcity.net/common-council |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=Hartford City, Indiana |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Tony Scaggs ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]], AL)
* Michael Wolfe ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]], 1st)
* Dustin George ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]], 2nd)
* Ron Parrott ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]], 3rd)
* Ron Dudelston ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]], 4th)

==Religion==
[[Image:Hartford City Presbyterian Church.JPG|thumb|upright|Hartford City's Presbyterian Church]]
The United Methodist Church is the city's largest congregation; other churches include [[Catholic Church|Catholic]], [[Church of the Nazarene]], [[Christian Church|Christian]], [[Lutheranism|Lutheran]], [[Wesleyan Church|Wesleyan]], [[Baptist]], and [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]].<ref name="Data">See City-Data.com web site for Hartford City. [http://www.city-data.com/city/Hartford-City-Indiana.html Data]</ref> The Methodists, and then the Presbyterians, were the first to build churches in town.<ref>See Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford Counties..., p. 745.</ref> The First Presbyterian Church and the Christian Church buildings were built during the Gas Boom in the 1890s.

==Media==
{{See also|List of defunct newspapers of Hartford City, Indiana}}
The local daily (except Sunday) newspaper is the News Times, and it is also available from its web site.<ref>News Times web site link: [http://www.hartfordcitynewstimes.com NewsTimes.]</ref> Hartford City has a history of difficulty supporting two newspapers, and the News Times can trace its lineage back to the Hartford City News and the Hartford City Times. During the Gas Boom, the town had two weekly and two daily newspapers: Hartford City Telegram, The Hartford City Times, Hartford City Evening News, and The Daily Times.<ref>See Biographical and historical record of Jay and Blackford Counties, pp. 734-737, for a discussion of the Hartford City press in the 1800s. See the IN.gov web site for listing of the state's collection of Blackford County newspapers. [http://www.in.gov/library/2818.htm Newspapers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090424132828/http://in.gov/library/2818.htm |date=2009-04-24 }} See also Hartford City Illustrated for the four newspapers in 1895.</ref>

There are at least fourteen radio [[List of radio stations in Indiana|stations]] that send moderate to very strong signals to the Hartford City area.<ref>See Radio Locator web site for Hartford City area. [http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/locate?select=city&city=47348&state=&x=0&y=0 Radio]</ref> These stations are typically located nearby, or they have an exceptional signal, such as Fort Wayne's 50,000 watt [[WOWO (AM)|WOWO]] AM station.<ref>See Radio Locator web site for WOWO broadcast area. [http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/pat?call=WOWO&service=AM&status=L&hours=D Area]</ref> The two local radio stations are [[WMXQ]] and WHCI, both FM stations.

Indianapolis television stations such as [[WTTV]], [[WRTV]], [[WISH-TV]], [[WTHR]], and others, reach the antennas of households in Hartford City. Stations located near Hartford City include Tipton's [[WJSJ-CD]], Marion's [[WSOT-LD]], and Muncie's [[WIPB]].<ref>See broadcast TV listings for Hartford City from AOL. [http://tvlistings.aol.com/listings/in/hartford-city/broadcast?zipcode=47348 TV] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226233000/http://tvlistings.aol.com/listings/in/hartford-city/broadcast?zipcode=47348 |date=2018-12-26 }}</ref>

==Education==
The state of Indiana has many college options available, including well-known universities such as [[Ball State University]], [[Indiana University]], [[Purdue University|Purdue]], and [[University of Notre Dame|Notre Dame]]. The state also has one of the largest private boarding high schools, the [[Culver Academies]].

===Higher education===
Hartford City has at least four universities located within {{convert|21|mi|km}} of town. [[Ball State University]] is the largest and most well known, and is about {{convert|18|mi|km}} away in Muncie, Indiana. (Ball State is named for the [[Ball Brothers|Ball brothers]], who made much of their fortune with the [[Ball Corporation]] in the same [[Indiana Gas Boom]] that boosted Hartford City.) Muncie is also home to [[Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana|Ivy Tech State College-East Central]]. Private school [[Indiana Wesleyan University]] is about {{convert|21|mi|km}} away, in Marion, Indiana.<ref name="Data"/> Another private school, [[Taylor University]], is about {{convert|7|mi|km}} away in [[Upland, Indiana|Upland]]. Its location in Upland dates from 1893, attributed to the population boom in the area at the time, and is another example of the impact of the [[Indiana Gas Boom]].<ref>See Taylor University web site. [http://www.taylor.edu/about/heritage.shtml Taylor] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527104138/http://www.taylor.edu/about/heritage.shtml|accessdate=27 May 2010}}</ref>

===Primary and secondary schools===
[[Image:Blackford High School.JPG|thumb|Hartford City's Blackford High School]] [[Blackford High School (Hartford City, Indiana)|Blackford High School]] is located on the north side of Hartford City, and it has served the entire county since 1969. Enrollment for the 2008-2009 school year is 702 students, and 41 teachers are listed on the school roster. Hartford City High School was the town's high school prior to the 1969 consolidation of Montpelier High School. Hartford City Middle School is located on the town's west side, within easy walking distance from Sigma Phi Gamma Park. Students from grades 6 through 8 attend the middle school, and 23 teachers are listed on the roster. Students for grades 3 through 5 attend Northside Elementary School, and grades K through 4 attend Southside Elementary School.<ref>See Blackford County Schools web site. [http://www.bcs.k12.in.us/ Schools]</ref>  Hartford City also has a private school – Saint John's Riedman Memorial School is a private Catholic elementary school with approximately 60 students.<ref>See Private School Review web site. [http://www.privateschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/10441 Private] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726105803/http://www.privateschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/10441|accessdate=26 July 2008}}</ref>

==Transportation==
[[Image:East Central Indiana National Hwy System Map.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|East Central Indiana]]
Hartford City's early transportation advantage came from the two railroad lines that crossed in the city, running north-south and east-west. The east-west line is now out of service as of 2008, but the north-south line is still in service. Both are operated by [[Norfolk Southern Corp.|Norfolk Southern]].<ref>See Indiana DOT railroad web site. (5 MB PDF) [http://www.in.gov/indot/files/MAIN-RR-08.PDF Railroads] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317193047/http://www.in.gov/indot/files/MAIN-RR-08.PDF |date=2009-03-17 }} Hartford City is in north-east-central Indiana.</ref> Hartford City also has a good highway system. [[Indiana State Road 3]] runs north-south through the city, known as Walnut Street. [[Indiana State Road 26]] runs east-west through the city, known as Washington Street. [[Indiana State Road 22]] used to run concurrently with State Road 26 through Hartford City, but that segment was decommissioned in the 1970s.<ref>See Indiana Highway Ends web site. [http://highwayexplorer.com/EndsPage.php?id=1022&section=1 SR22] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007192319/http://highwayexplorer.com/EndsPage.php?id=1022&section=1 |date=2011-10-07 }}</ref> Although [[Interstate 69 in Indiana|Interstate 69]] does not run through Hartford City or Blackford County, it is less than {{convert|10|mi|km}} away and a convenient way to drive to [[Fort Wayne, Indiana|Fort Wayne]] or [[Indianapolis]]. From Hartford City, drive west on State Road 26 to reach Interstate 69. Driving north from Indianapolis, the State Road 26 exit is number 255. The Interstate's northbound exit 259, at Upland, is an easy route to travel to the north side of Hartford City. Some small airports are located near Hartford City, and larger airports in Fort Wayne and Indianapolis offer commercial flights.

== Notable People ==
[[File:Edward Everette Cox circa 1930.JPG|thumb|Edward Everett Cox, founder of the first newspaper in Hartford City.|234x234px]]
* [[Edward Everett Cox]], newspaper publisher
* [[Henry Crimmel]], glassmaker
* [[Larry Monroe (radio personality)|Larry Monroe]], radio personality
* [[Jay H. Neff]], newspaper publisher and Mayor of [[Kansas City, Missouri]] from 1904 - 1906.
* [[George Washington Steele]], U.S representative from Indiana.
* [[Wayne Townsend]], member of the [[Indiana Senate]].
* [[Cheryl Willman]], cancer researcher and executive director of Mayo Clinic Cancer Programs at the [[Mayo Clinic Cancer Center|Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center]].
* [[Kevin A. Ford]], retired [[United States Air Force]] [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]] and [[NASA]] [[astronaut]].
* [[Edwin Ford|Edwin H. Ford]], founder of the [[The Ford Meter Box Company|Ford Meter Box Company]] and inventor of the meter box.
* [[M. Clifford Townsend|Maurice Clifford Townsend]], Indiana governor<ref>Maurice Clifford Townsend died in Hartford City.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Van Cleve Opera House]], a former opera house in Hartford City
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Blackford County, Indiana]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{NIE Poster|year=1905|Hartford City}}
* [http://www.hartfordcity.net City website]
* [http://www.blackfordcoedc.org/ Blackford County Economic Development Corp] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324080538/http://www.blackfordcoedc.org/ |date=2016-03-24 }}
* {{Cite Collier's|wstitle=Hartford City|short=x}}
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Hartford City|short=x}}

{{Blackford County, Indiana}}
{{County Seats of Indiana}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Indiana]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1839]]
[[Category:Cities in Blackford County, Indiana]]
[[Category:County seats in Indiana]]
[[Category:1839 establishments in Indiana]]