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1 <br />GENERAL PHYSICAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION <br />LOCATION <br />The City of South Bend is located in St. Joseph County in north central Indiana, approximately 140 miles <br />north of Indianapolis and 90 miles east of Chicago. The City borders on the State of Michigan and is <br />in what is commonly known as the "Michiana" area. <br />HISTORY AND GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS <br />The City of South Bend was incorporated in 1865. In the 1800's Potawatomi Indians, trappers and <br />missionaries traveled through sections of South Bend on the banks of the St. Joseph-Kankakee River. <br />The Indians and Frenchmen settled in the area surrounding the southernmost tip of the St. Joseph River <br />(to be known as "South Bend"). Through the years many businesses started in South Bend including <br />the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company which became the largest wagon maker in the world. <br />In 1842 the Holy Cross Brothers founded the University of Notre Dame which has grown to over 1,200 <br />acres and 10,000 students. Notre Dame is an integral part of South Bend's economy and community. <br />The South Bend area has a mix of agriculture, manufacturing, commercial and tourism industries. This <br />diversification provides the City with varied employment opportunities. <br />POPULATION <br />The population for the City of South Bend and St. Joseph County is provided by the U.S. Bureau of <br />Census. <br /> City of South Bend St. Joseph County <br /> Percentage Percentage <br /> Increase/ Increase/ <br />Year Population Decrease Population Decrease <br />1950 115,911 14.4 % 205,058 26.7 % <br />1960 132,445 14.3 % 238,614 16.4 % <br />1970 125,580 (5.2)% 244,827 2.6 <br />1980 109,727 (12.6)% 241,617 (1.3)% <br />1990 105,511 (3.8)% 247,052 2.2% <br />GOVERNMENT <br />The City government of South Bend is composed of a Mayor, a nine member Common Council and a <br />City Clerk all elected to four-year terms of office. The Common Council consists of six members elected <br />from districts and three members at-large. Supplemental governing bodies include the Redevelopment <br />Commission, Board of Public Works, Board of Safety, and Board of Parks and Recreation. <br /> <br />A-4 <br />