Emerson Heights, like Indianapolis itself, owes much of its character to the form of transportation that was available at the time it was developed.

The Water Transportation Era
Early Midwestern cities grew along rivers because water transportation was vital for moving people and commodities. In fact Indianapolis was located here, in part, because of the mistaken idea that the White River could be navigated by boat. The Central Canal project (remnants seen downtown and in Broad Ripple) was a failed attempt to remedy this situation by connecting the town to the Wabash and Erie Canal starting near Ft. Wayne and going through to Evansville. The canal project was to provide the landlocked region with a much-needed link to vital commerce. The project was never completed and the idea was abandoned when the state neared bankruptcy in 1839.

Without a transportation link the town grew slowly. And although the National Road— what is now Washington Street— was completed through the state in 1834, it was slow, harsh going (the “road” was originally a dirt path with the remaining tree stumps to be just low enough not to catch the axle of a wagon). It was the railroad that effectively connected Indianapolis to other markets, in a big way, starting in 1847.

The Railroad Era
The railroad provided a way to move goods and people long distances. But once off of the train, they were still limited to a carriage ride or walking. It was this limitation on local transportation that governed the development patterns of the city. While wealthier households could afford the cost and upkeep associated with a horse and carriage; initially, the daily commute for most people in the urban setting was limited by how far a person could reasonably walk in a day. For this reason, older parts of the city tend to be more compact and mixed-use, with residential and small shops in the same area. It would not be until late into the automobile era that it would be practical to have the exclusively residential development on sprawling lots that we see today.

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Founded in 1983, the mission of the Emerson Heights Community Organization is to preserve and protect the historic, cultural and economic value of our community through organization, education, empowerment, and action.

Emerson Heights is fortunate to be served by a variety of good schools with a proven track record of academic performance. Parents can choose from a menu of schools that offer innovative teaching styles, extended school days, enhanced art and music programs, focused curriculum and an emphasis on leadership and values—just to name a few of the possible options. Because these schools vary greatly in their teaching styles and emphasis, parents are encouraged to visit and learn about these schools in order to find the best fit for their child. Several of these schools are located very near the neighborhood.

Some of the school choices include:

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New Photos including the Steer-In, Northway Drive-In and the Bank.

New Additions:
Old photos including the the Steer-In and the Northway Drive-In
Thanks to Jim Schrum for the photos.
Historic Photos Including the Steer-In

Advertisements for our neighborhood when it was being developed.
Newspaper Ads for Emerson Heights


Photos of the neighborhood being developed
This book was put together by the development company, Emerson Heights Realty Company, that developed the neighborhood.

Note: Some of the home addresses have changed since this was published – see if you can find your home.
You can add comments to the photos if you find your home by clicking on "No Comments have been submitted yet" at the bottom of the photo.

Thanks to Rick and Tina Jones for providing the scans.

To see all of the neighborhood photos, go to the neighborhood photo gallery.

Little People's Prep Day School & Arlington Elementary#1 is 3.3 miles NE from Emerson Heights. It is located at 5935 E. 27th Street, Indianapolis.

This is a pre-school and elementary school starting at 3 years old. It is a private school and is specifically designed for working parents. They operate from 6am-6pm, Monday through Friday, 52 weeks of the year. Tuition information is available from the school.

See their website for more information.

Testing and academic performance information for LPP and Arlington Elementary

This school is a community asset and one of many schools with a track record of academic performance that serve Emerson Heights. Click here for a list of other schools.

Herron High School is located 6.9 miles nw of Emerson Heights near 16th and Meridian streets.

It is a public charter school located in downtown Indianapolis, providing a classical liberal arts, college preparatory education. The school's curriculum is structured around an art history timeline and emphasizes the classic art and literature of many cultures. Through an integrated curriculum and classical methodology, Herron High School believes that all students can learn to think logically, express themselves creatively, appreciate aesthetics fully, and approach any subject intelligently.

It is a public school; there is no tuition and it is open to all students.

If you are interested, please contact them at 231-0010 for more information or go to http://herronhighschool.org/admissions.jsp
Open Enrollment begins on October 1st and continues through November 15.

Testing and academic performance information for Herron High School

This school is a community asset and one of many schools with a track record of academic performance that serve Emerson Heights. Click here for a list of other schools.

Irvington Community High School (ICHS) is a charter school sponsored by Ball State University. It is located about 2.1 miles E of Emerson Heights at 6040 E. Pleasant Run Parkway South Drive, Indianapolis.

They are an high school (9-12) that is focused on college prep with a liberal arts curriculum. The school includes a strong faculty that implements best practices such as service learning, differentiated instruction, freshman mentoring, academic advisory program, weekly Town Hall meetings, Advanced Placement (AP) and dual-college credit classes. It is a public school; there is no tuition and it is open to all students.

If you are interested, please contact them at 357-5359 for more information or go to http://www.ics-charter.org/admissions/

Application Deadline is in March with a lottery shortly afterward.

Testing and academic performance information for Irvington Community School. Note: This is a new school and reporting is currently combined with Irvington Community School (k-8).

This school is a community asset and one of many schools with a track record of academic performance that serve Emerson Heights. Click here for a list of other schools.

EHCO-newsletter-may.pdf

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Emerson Heights Community Organization is community driven; it’s made up of volunteers from the neighborhood who serve the neighborhood. And although no one likes asking for money, the truth is that operating our organization requires us to pay for some things. Please support EHCO so that we can continue to do the work that we do.

Annual Support Options

Neighborhood Friends	$12 per year
Neighborhood Supporters	$25 per year
Neighborhood Builders	$60 per year
Neighborhood Leaders	$120 per year
Level Not Listed	Enter an amount

Or if it’s easier, consider signing up for monthly billing. This allows you to make a substantial contribution without the burden of paying for it all at once.

Monthly Support Options

Neighborhood Builders-Monthly Billing	$60 per year ($5 per month)
Neighborhood Leaders-Monthly Billing	$120 per year($10 per month)

We use PayPal – a secure way for you to donate to Emerson Heights Community Organization with your credit card. If you would prefer, you can pay by check. Please make the check payable to:

Emerson Heights Community Organization
PO Box 11686, Indianapolis, IN 46201

Donors will be listed in our neighborhood newsletter.

Emerson Heights Community Organization is an all volunteer, non-profit organization but is not registered as a 501c3 and donations are not tax deductible.