MEDIAN CENTER OF POPULATION
According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, The Median Center of US Population is located at the intersection of two median lines, a north-south line constructed so that half of the nation's population lives east and half lives west of it, and an east-west line selected so that half of the Nation's population lives north and half lives south of it.
Median center of nation's population moves nearer to Evansville.
Many economic developers brag that their cities or towns are centrally located. But developers in southwestern Indiana can honestly make the claim.
Latest U.S. Census Bureau figures place the median center of the nation's population just north of Interstate 64 and east of U.S. 41 in neighboring Gibson County, Ind.
The median center is edging closer to Evansville all the time, and that's great news for attracting new industries, including warehousing and distribution. It means Evansville is in a powerful position.
"Evansville is closer to the center than Indianapolis, and we like to talk about that," said Jim Holderread, acting executive director of Economic Development Coalition of Southwest Indiana, a regional economic development corporation based in Evansville.
"The median center formerly wasn't that high on a company's list of priorities," said Holderread. "But with fuel costs going up, transportation has become a much larger issue and companies are now becoming a lot more transportation sensitive."
As the median center closes in on Evansville, it gives the area a very significant advantage in transportation costs.
Holderread already knows the impact of being located nearly at the median center. About six years ago, a top official of Virginia T's (VaT's), a Petersburg, Va.-based distributor of t-shirts and other sportswear, contacted him, requesting a tour of the area for possibly locating a distribution center here.
As the two drove around, Holderread asked the official how he found Evansville. The official said a UPS ground transit time map ranked Evansville high as the location to be for its central location. Shortly after the tour, the city landed Virginia T's, which decided on the location almost purely because of its geographic benefits.
Today, Virginia T's thrives here and recently expanded into a portion of old Faultless Caster property off Tennessee and North Garvin streets, noted Phillip Turner, general manager of the local operation.
It can promise one-day delivery service to such locations as Toledo, Ohio; Pigeon Forge, Tenn; and northern Alabama, he said.
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In 1950 the Median Center of U.S. Population was located north of Richmond, Indiana in Wayne County. Since that time, it has moved south and west at every census. The 2000 U.S. Census data show the Median Center of U. S. Population has moved to a point in northeast Daviess County approximately 75 miles north of Evansville.Because of its strategic location near the Median Center of U.S. Population and the major urban centers and markets the Evansville Region is a prime location for manufacturing, distribution or back office facilities.
Five cities with a metropolitan population of over one million are within three and one-half hours of the Evansville Region.
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