The Indianapolis-Carmel-Fishers Triangle

So it seems some patterns are emerging for a new Indiana. As reported in today’s Indianapolis Star, 57% of the state’s growth in the last decade occurred in the suburban counties around Indianapolis. Carmel and Fishers both doubled. Yes… doubled (annexations are included, but its still a major indicator of trends). The population losers in the state were the rural areas and smaller cities like South Bend, Hammond and Gary (all northern cities suffering in this new economy). This follows a national pattern of people migrating to more urbanized areas with diverse economies and more opportunities for jobs. But when people get down to choosing where to live in those more urbanized areas, they are still choosing the suburban side of the coin. Schools, recreational opportunities, shopping, newer infrastructure and increasingly the jobs are mostly found outside the inner city. Of course, those suburbs exceeding at providing those amenities are the population winners. Carmel stands at about 80,000 people today. Fishers is nearing 75,000. Both of these communities will surpass 100,000 sometime in the next decade and together hold about 20-25% of the population of Indianapolis. As this occurs, starting now, the “triangle” between these three communities needs to embrace regional thinking and planning, promote it widely, and accept the fact that people are attracted to the area collectively. There really is no competition among them as people look from the outside. This triangle is a leader in the Midwest. Numbers do not lie.