Carmel Info
Carmel, Indiana is located in Hamilton County, about 15 miles from downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. It is just north of I-465 and roughly 25 minutes away from the Indianapolis International Airport. As of a 2004 U.S. census Carmel’s population was around 43,000, although recent estimates have put its population closer to 80,000. The Gazebo in Carmel is located south of the Fountain, just over a mile from the intersection of Keystone Avenue and 126th Street.
Carmel History
The area that is now known as Carmel had, until 1874, been known as “Bethlehem”. The Rotary Club donated the plot that marked Bethlehem to Carmel in 2002. A clock tower now marks this plot. One of the nation’s first traffic lights was put into place at the intersection of Main Street and Rangeline Road in 1924. The traffic signal was invented by Leslie Haines and can be found on the Monon, in the old train station.
Ask many residents why they chose to live in Carmel and you’ll often hear Carmel’s school system cited as the top reason. Indeed, Carmel students excel in all areas of scholastic, artistic and athletic aptitude. Carmel High School was ranked by the Indiana Business journal as the top public school in all of Indiana. The Carmel-Clay School System consists of 14 schools, K-12, including Carmel High School, Clay Middle School, Creekside Middle School, Carmel Middle School, Woodbrook Elementary School, Towne Meadow Elementary School, Smoky Row Elementary School, Orchard Park Elementary School, Mohawk Trails Elementary School, Forest Dale Elementary School, Prairie Trace Elementary School, College Wood Elementary School, Cherry Tree Elementary School and Carmel Elementary School.
Carmel Government
Carmel operates under city form of government, with an elected mayor, 7-member city council and clerk-treasurer. The mayor is elected at-large, in a city-wide vote. Five of the 7 city council members are elected in their respective districts while the remaining 2 are elected at-large.
Carmel Neighborhood Association Network
The Carmel Neighborhood Association Network (CNAN) was established in 2001 by the city of Carmel for the purpose of strengthening the overall Carmel community. CNAN meets on a quarterly basis and all local HOA representatives gather to discuss issues that affect Carmel residents as well as to learn more about plans that are in the works for Carmel. Carmel’s mayor attends these meetings and is available for open discussions.
Carmel, Indiana Police Department
Close to 100 full-time police officers and an additional 19 civilian personnel make up the Carmel Indiana Police Department. To say that the Carmel Police Department is on top of things is no understatement, as it is just one of 10 Indiana police departments to have achieved accreditation as an international law enforcement agency. The department was among the very first in the state to have equipped its patrol cars with video surveillance cameras and recorders. The department responds to thousands of calls for assistance annually. Officers are highly trained in all aspects of law enforcement, including firearm usage, self-defense, vehicular pursuit, crime scene investigation and management, drug investigation, traffic laws and more.
Carmel Fire Department
Over 150 personnel make up the Carmel Fire Department, including firefighters, administrators and various civilian staff members. The department’s area of coverage includes 51 square miles and some 64,000 residents. The department is one of the busiest in the area, responding to hundreds of calls for assistance throughout the year. Firefighters are trained in all aspects of fire protection and all possess basic EMT-level medical skills. Specially appointed members conduct fire safety inspections throughout the city. The department operates from six fire stations that are strategically located around the city.
Quality of Life
Carmel residents enjoy a quality of life that few central Indiana cities can claim. With an affluent populace and above average purchasing power Carmel businesses are always thriving. Carmel’s outstanding school system alone is reason enough for many residents to have chosen Carmel as their home. The Clay Terrace Mall provides residents with a great shopping environment and a diversity of shops and merchandise from which to choose. Downtown Carmel is as charming as it gets, with life-size, nostalgic statues decorating the sidewalks that run along the many old-town shops and restaurants. It is truly a special shopping experience. And when it comes to recreation and relaxation the Carmel Parks and Recreation Department offers a wide assortment of beautiful and functional parks. The Monon Center, with its hundreds of educational courses, both physical and academic, is also an excellent resource.
