​This is the content for a companion website that was integrated into an mobile phone app built with students in CS495 in 2019. The domain and app have become discontinued as I was not able to maintain it after changes were made to the Google and Apple play stores.
About
Our mission is to help people discover interesting things to see, hear, and do in Muncie, Indiana, and to support locally-owned businesses. A vibrant local scene will make life here more enjoyable for residents and help attract people to settle in the area rather than following the bright lights to Indy's suburbs. The trickle-up economic effects of spending 10% of our money here will go towards solving many problems that are difficult to untangle individually. ​​
Calendar
We partnered with muncieevents.com to display their calendar data, and will have mobile apps for Android and iOS by May, 2019.
Refreshment​

​FoodDessertDrink
​Coffee
​Things to Do
Here are some companies that offer opportunities to do something.

The Artist Within - girl shop, art gallery, party place, group events, and paint your own pottery
Children's Museum
Clancy's Village Bowl - cosmic bowling, college night, birthday parties, leagues
Escape HousesGibson Arena - roller skating since 1949
Made in Muncie - ceramics and fused glass studio specializing in walk-in makers, workshops, parties, camps, and private lessons.
​Madjax Muncie Maker Space
Tonne Winery - wine tasting
  • Escape Muncie - stimulating fun for all
  • Epic Escape Game - you're locked in a room and have 60 minutes to find clues, solve puzzles, and unlock your freedom


Places to Wander
​Here are some places you can walk around or sit without having to pay an admission fee.

Public Art
Bronze statues by Cyrus DallinMuncie Public Art - thanks to Chris Flook and the Muncie Arts & Culture CouncilWhite River

Drive By
Park
Ball State University
  • The Great Spirit
  • The Passing of the Buffalo
  • Ball Mansions - don't you wish you lived here!
  • Cardinal Greenway - bike trail through Muncie...and beyond!
  • David Owsley Museum of Art
  • Brown Planetarium - sit back and explore the universe


Things to See
Here are some places to go to look at what others have done or are doing.


Places to Shop

AntiquesArt SuppliesBooksGiftsMusicSports


Recreation
Here are some places to get some exercise or to just relax.

GymsParksYoga
​Books
​Schools and Lessons


Organizations
​
Muncie Visitors Bureau

City of Muncie​
Non-profits


History

​A Brief History of Muncie
By Chris Flook
Delaware County Historical Society
 
Human activity in Muncie goes back thousands of years. The first prominent archaeological record of human habitation is categorized as New Castle Phase - a set of remains left by people related to the Adena and Hopewell peoples around 2,000 years ago. The most prominent New Castle Phase remains are the earthworks scattered throughout east-central Indiana. Although no earthworks are known within the current city limits of Muncie, archaeologists suspect that many unexcavated sites exist. The White River watershed area was inhabited by various Early, Middle, and Late Woodland Native Americans up until the time of the Europeans. When the French came down into Indiana in the 1600s, the Muncie area was controlled by the Miami Native Americans, using the White River watershed as a hunting ground.
 
After the Northwest Indian War in the 1790s, the Miami invited their allies the Lenape (Delaware) to live along the White River. Beginning in 1796, several bands of Lenape established 14 villages in east-central Indiana. Four of the villages were located in Delaware County including: Wapicomikoke, Wapikamikunk, the Brotherton or ‘York’ Village, and Owenachki. The Lenape signed a treaty at Fort St. Mary’s in 1818, which opened up the area to pioneer settlement. Rebekah Hackley, a granddaughter of Miami Chief Little Turtle, received a land reservation along the White River at the site of Wapikamikunk. The Lenape living at this location spoke the Munsee language, thus early pioneers referred to Wapikamikunk as ‘Munsee Town.’ Contrary to popular legend, there was never a Lenape chief named Munsee.
 
Hackley later sold the 672-acre reserve to the pioneer Goldsmith Gilbert.
 
Gilbert established several commercial operations south of the Hackley Reserve including taverns, a distillery, and a mill. In 1827, Delaware County was established, followed by an influx of farmers in the 1830s. Our records indicate that Delaware County sent at least 2,300 volunteers to fight in the Union during the Civil War. Muncie officially became a city in 1865 with approximately 2,000 individuals living within city limits.
 
In 1876, a miner was searching for coal near Eaton when he inadvertently discovered natural gas. The importance of the discovery wasn’t understood until 1886. By November of the same year, the first gas well was drilled in Muncie’s and the Gas Boom, as we call it today, began in earnest.
 
The gas radically changed Muncie. From an agricultural backwater, Muncie became a leading manufacturing center in a few short decades. New businesses employed thousands and the population grew. In 1880, 5,200 individuals lived in Muncie and by 1910, this number had risen to 24,000!
 
Unfortunately, the Gas Boom was short lived, with production stopping by 1910. By 1917, most of the energy companies had moved out of Muncie. While many gas-related businesses went with them, Muncie had decidedly evolved into a manufacturing center.
 
The population of Muncie continued to grow in the Twentieth Century. In 1920, 36,500 lived in Muncie; 49,700 in 1940; and 68,600 in 1960. The highest recorded population was in 1980 at 76,460 individuals.
 
During the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s the city population began to decline, primarily stemming from the loss of manufacturing jobs. The industrial plants that had employed thousands left for other communities. The population fell to 67,430 by 2000.
 
While manufacturing continues to play an important role, Muncie has shifted to a post-industrial economy. With the growth of Ball State University and IU Health - Ball Memorial Hospital, Muncie is transforming to an education-centric community with a service oriented economy. While the loss of so much manufacturing is disconcerting, a growing effort to revitalize the city based on quality of life initiatives has taken hold. Led by numerous foundations and organizations, efforts to improve Muncie have centered on the expansion of green spaces and public parks; the restoration of the Downtown area; the growth of a small business community; and other new efforts to bring Muncie back to a place of prominence in east-central Indiana.


From the Mayor's Office
Historic Muncie
Lost Muncie Facebook page
Muncie: Zhuji, Zhejiang's sister city
Muncie Neighborhoods
Wikipedia


Maps

​The Foodie List
​Downtown Directory