Earth Day Network
 Urban Environment Report: How Does Your City Perform?
 
CITY ENVIRONMENT DATA
Indianapolis, Indiana
State Indiana
City Indianapolis
County1 Marion*
City Population (2005)2 765,310 12.6% of state population
City Population Rank in United States, largest 50 Cities (2005) 13 (of top 50 in U.S.)
City Population Rank in Urban Environment Report (2005) 13 (of 72 in EDN study)
City Population Rank in State (2005) 1
City Size Classification - Population Large
City Size Classification - Population Density Medium Low Density
State Capitol City Indianapolis
State Population (2005)2 6,093,372
 
 
CIVIC LEADERSHIP INFORMATION
Mayor Name (as of 1/1/2007) Bart Peterson
Mayor/City Website (as of 1/1/2007) http://www.indygov.org/home.htm
Mayor/City Contact (as of 1/1/2007) 317-327-4MAC
Mayor Political Affiliation (as of 1/1/2007) Democrat
Next General Mayoral Election Tuesday, November 6, 2007
US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as of 10/18/06  No
State Governor Name Mitch Daniels
State/Governor Website http://www.in.gov/sic/officials/
State/Governor Contact Information 317-232-4567
State/Governor Party Affiliation Republican
State Governor Current Term Ends January 1, 2008
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Note: All rank information is out of 72 cities, though not all may have reported in every category.
1 is the 'best' (least polluting, most tree cover, etc) and 72 is the 'worst'.
 

(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
 
EDN VULNERABLE POPULATION INDEX (EDN VPI) 1.31    
Vulnerable Population Estimate 17.6%    
     Disability Status 15.0% 36  
     Emphysema 1.16% 34  
     Cardiovascular Disease 23.46% 29  
     Diabetes 4.92% 29  
     Pediatric Asthma 8.51% 47  
     Adult Asthma 8.65% 44  
     Adult Obesity 24.0%   47
     People Without Health Insurance 14.3%   28
     Age: Children under 5 years 8.7% 62  
     Age: 65 years and over 10.4% 31  
     Not Literate (Adult Level 1 Literacy) 20.0% 29  
     Adults without High School Degree (or higher) 15.8% 41  
     High School Drop-Out Rate 69.4% 3  
     Unemployed (Civilian Labor Force) 9.0% 48  
     Individuals Below Poverty 13.1% 20  
     Children (under 18 years old) Below Poverty 16.2% 22  
     Free or Reduced Lunch 75.0% 57  
     Other Languages Spoken at Home (primary language is not English) 9.1% 19  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
1 • TOXICS & WASTE     (metadata) (score) 3.9    
Overall Toxics Rank Average 42.0 (of 51) 61  
Cumulative Cancer-Causing Chemical Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 225,223,101 pounds   50
Cumulative Developmental Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 207,301,304 pounds 47
Cumulative Reproductive Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 41,267,565 pounds 45
Cumulative Suspected Neurological Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 1,033,681,944 pounds 46
Cumulative Suspected Respiratory Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 1,059,450,485 pounds 46
Dioxin Releases by State (grams in 2000) 190.8 grams 44
Number of Superfund Sites in County 1 site 16  
Municipal Solid Waste Generation, tons per person (1997) 1.432 tons per person 45
Recycling Rate (1997) 23.0% 30
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Generated by State (2004) 12,945,873 tons 42
Municipal Solid Waste Generated Per Capita by State, tons/person (2004) 2.1 tons/person 50
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 4,531,056 tons 7
% Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 35.0% 11
% Municipal Solid Waste to Waste-to-Energy (2004) 5.0% 17
% Change in Municipal Solid Waste Generated (1997 to 2004) 46.6% 36
% Change in State Recycling Rate (1997 to 2004) 52.2% 4
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
2 • AIR QUALITY     (metadata) (score) 3.9    
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Released, Tons in 2002 778,900 tons   46
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Released, Tons in 2002 281,100 tons   47
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Released, Tons in 2002 130,523,200 tons   45
Mercury Released, Pounds in 2002 6,790.0 pounds   45
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2001-2003) 10.5 days 46  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2001 - 2003) 6.0 PM2.5 53  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2001 - 2003) 16.7 PM2.5 51  
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2002 - 2004) 8.5 days 42  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2002 - 2004) 3.5 PM2.5 48  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2002 - 2004) 16.0 PM2.5 53  
EPA Ambient Carbon Monoxide (CO) (8-hr ppm) 3 ppm 16  
EPA Ambient Lead (PB) Q Max (ug/m3) 0.05 ug/m3 18  
EPA Mean Ambient Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2 ppm) 0.016 ppm 21  
EPA Larger Particle (PM10) 24-hr (ug/m3) 26 ug/m3 24  
EPA Mean Ambient Sulfur Dioxide (SO2 ppm) 0.005 ppm 33  
EPA Days over 100 AQI (Warning Level) 16 days 36  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
3 • DRINKING & SURFACE WATER     (metadata) (score)    2.0***    
DRINKING WATER QUALITY
Tap Water Quality & Compliance Grade (Not Available) ---  
Right to Know Report, What's in your Tap Water Grade (Not Available) ---  
Drinking Water Source Protection Grade (Not Available) ---  
WATERSHED & RESOURCES
Watershed Name Upper White ---  
# of Units in Watershed 368 units 4  
# of Assessed Watershed Units 269 units 3  
# of Threatened & Impaired Watershed Units 136 units 60  
% of Watershed Units Assessed as Impaired or Threatened 50.6% 20  
% of Watershed Units Not Assessed 26.9% 40  
U.S. Census Annual Rainfall, inches (1961-1990) 39.94 inches 27  
Water Area Total, square miles 550 square miles 56  
Water Area Inland, square miles 315 square miles 64  
Water Area Coastal, square miles 0 square miles 35  
Water Area Great Lakes, square miles 235 square miles 9  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Station Indianapolis ---  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Length of record in years 59 years 11  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Annual 126 days 13  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Station Indianapolis ---  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Length of record in years 67 years 4  
Snow & Ice Pellets, Annual inches (thru 1998) 23.3 inches 25  
WATER WITHDRAWN
Water Withdrawn - Total, gallons/day 9,140,000,000 gallons/day 32  
Fresh Water Withdrawn - Per capita, gallons/day 1,570,000,000 gallons/day 24  
Ground water, gallons/day 709,000,000 gallons/day 46  
Surface water, gallons/day 8,430,000,000 gallons/day 32  
Irrigation, gallons/day 116,000,000 gallons/day 50  
Public Supply, gallons/day 784,000,000 gallons/day 36  
Industrial, gallons/day 2,410,000,000 gallons/day 9  
Thermo-Electric, gallons/day 5,690,000,000 gallons/day 30  
Fresh Water Consumption, gallons/day 505,000,000 gallons/day 48  
WATER POLLUTION
Water Supplier Indianapolis Water Company ---  
Number of People Served by Water Supplier 865,400 people 19  
Year(s) Included in Summary 1999-2002 ---  
Total Contaminants Detected 13 contaminants 21  
Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 4 contaminants 40  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected 4 contaminants 37  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 1 contaminant 52  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected 1 contaminant 6  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Industrial Pollutants Detected 6 contaminants 18  
Industrial Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected 5 contaminants 17  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected, Over Health Based Limits 4 contaminants 39  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected 4 contaminants 13  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
WATER HEALTH & TESTING SUMMARY
Contaminants in Tap Water 13 contaminants 21  
Contaminants in Tap Water, Over Health Based Limits 4 contaminants 40  
Contaminants Reported as Tested by this Water Supplier 102 contaminants 42  
Contaminants with Federal Legal Limit in Tap Water 73 contaminants ---  
Regulated Contaminants Tested 91 contaminants 41  
Unregulated Contaminants Tested 11 contaminants 46  
WATER VIOLATION SUMMARY
Total Violations 0 violations 1  
Health Violations 0 violations 1  
Monitoring Violations 0 violations 1  
Reporting Violations 0 violations 1  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
4 • QUALITY OF LIFE (SITES4)     (metadata) (score) 2.9    
DENSITY & SPRAWL
Population Density, people per square mile of land area 2,160.9 people per square mile 56  
Housing Density, units per square mile of land area 974.1 housing units per square mile 53  
TRANSPORTATION
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2000) 22.7 minutes 32  
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2004) 21.1 minutes 27  
Means of Transportation - % Carpool (2000) 12.3% 47  
Means of Transportation - % Public (2000) 2.4% 50  
Means of Transportation - % Walk or Bike (2000) 2.2% 56  
Means of Transportation - % Work @ Home (2000) 2.5% 45  
Cost of Living: Transportation, % of National Average 93.6 5  
Motor Vehicle Registrations per 100 Residents (2003) 94.2 MV registrations   42
% Change in Motor Vehicle Registrations (1980 to 2003) 50.0%   36
Motor Vehicle Registrations - Autos Only per 100 Residents (2003) 53.4 MV registrations   45
Motor Vehicle Registrations per Licensed Driver (2003) 1.27 MV registrations   37
Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 94,597 miles   34
Total State Highway Mileage, Estimated % of Land Area (2003) 0.599%   42
Urban Highway Mileage, % of Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 21.8%   25
Total Highway Mileage per Licensed Driver (2003) 0.02 miles   23
Total Highway Mileage per Motor Vehicle Registration (2003) 16.48 miles   22
State $ Disbursements for Highways (2003) $2,445,000,000   38
State $ Disbursements for Highways, per highway mile (2003) $25,846 per mile   29
% Change in State Disbursements for Highways (1995 to 2003) 70.6%   39
Annual Person Hours of Delay, per person (2003) 21.0 hours per person 26  
Annual Congestion Cost, $ per person (2003) $350 per person 26  
Annual Congestion Delay and Fuel Cost (2003) $362,000,000 23  
Fuel Wasted, gallons per person (2003) 14 gallons per person 29  
INCOME & EMPLOYMENT
Median Household Income (2004) $39,815 32  
Median Household Income (2000) $40,051 22  
Per capita income (2004) $22,945 30  
Per capita Personal Income (2000) $21,640 29  
% of Families Below Poverty Level (2004) 11.4% 29  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (1999) 11.9% 19  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (2004) 13.1% 20  
% of Households with Public Assistance Income (2000) 3.1% 19  
% of Children Under 18 Years Old Below Poverty Level (1999) 16.2% 22  
People In the Labor Force, Unemployed (2005) 36,099 people 58  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 6.3% 50  
% of the Civilian Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 9.0% 48  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2000) 3.8% 29  
% of the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000) 5.5% 25  
% Change in the Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 39.4% 63  
% Change in the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 38.9% 62  
State Minimum Wage Laws (2006) Same as Federal ---  
State Minimum Wage Rates (2006) $5.15 per hour 28  
EDUCATION
# of School Age Kids K-12 (ages 5 to 17) 149,079 kids (2.4% of total pop.) 13  
Largest School District Enrollment 41,008 kids (0.7% of total pop.) 48  
% on Free or Reduced Lunch 75.0% 57  
Cumulative Promotion Index (CPI) Graduation Rate 30.6% 67  
Level of Education: % with High School Degree or Higher (2004) 84.2% 31  
Level of Education: % with Bachelor's Degree or Higher (2004) 26.2% 45  
Adult Level 1 Literacy Rate 20% 29  
State School Bus Efficiency (2002) Middle of the Road   ---
State School Bus Soot Pollution Grade B   ---
State School Bus Cleanup Program Rank (2006) Average   ---
State School Bus Smog Pollution Rank (2006) Above Average   ---
HOUSING & COST OF LIVING
Occupied Housing Units (2004) 316,856 units 11  
% of Owner Occupied Housing 39.4% 54  
Cost of Living: Housing 58.1 14  
Cost of Living: Utilities 97.8 28  
Cost of Living: Miscellaneous 93.6 5  
Cost of Living: Overall 81.9 10  
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Voter Turnout in the Election of November 2004 55.69%   43
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2002 Election 39.90%   40
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2004 Election 57.20%   43
State Volunteering Rate: 2002-2005 Combined 29.4%   28
SAFETY/SECURITY
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 6,753.1 incidents per 100,000 people 41  
Violent Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 882.7 incidents per 100,000 people 41  
Property Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 5,870.4 incidents per 100,000 people 42  
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2003) 6,555.3 incidents per 100,000 people 35  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
5 • PARKS & RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES     (metadata) (score) 3.1    
Average # of Parks, per square mile 0.5 parks per square mile 39  
Average Area Dedicated to Parks, per city square mile 27.8 park acres per city square mile 30  
Park Area per 1000 Residents, acres 15.0 acres 20  
Parkland as % of City Area 5.1% 41  
Adjusted Park Spending, per resident $32 per resident 2  
Total City Tree Canopy % 7.4% 38  
Total City Urbanized Area % 54.9% 29  
Park Programs to Assist Low-Income Park Users Yes ---  
Disability Advisory Committees Yes ---  
Collection of Data on Crime in Parks Yes ---  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
6 • HUMAN & PUBLIC HEALTH     (metadata) (score) 3.1    
Pediatric Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 8.51% 47
Adult Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 8.65% 44
Chronic Bronchitis, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 3.02% 21
Emphysema, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 1.16% 34
Cardiovascular Disease, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 23.46% 29
Diabetes, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 4.92% 29  
% of Adults with Obesity (2001) 24.0% 47
Change in % of Adults with Obesity (1991-2001) 9.2% 31
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1992 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1992) 10%-14% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1997) 15%-19% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (2003) >25% ---
% of Adults Lacking Healthcare Insurance, ages 18 - 65 (2001) 10.0% 16
Infant Mortality Rate (2002) 7.7% 36
Number of Cancer Deaths per 100,000 people (2002) 209.5 43
Cost of Living: Health 99.7 24  
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2003-04 Average) 14.1% 25
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2004-05 Average) 14.3% 28
Rate of Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 1.4% 31
Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 0.2% 30
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farms 12 farms 25
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farmers' Markets 13 markets 28
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Restaurants 0 restaurants 37
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Groceries 3 grocery stores 18
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Other 3 other sources 24
Cost of Living: Food 95.9 14
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Men (1999-2003) 105.2% 70
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Women (1999-2003) 60.0% 72
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
7 • GLOBAL WARMING CLIMATE CHANGE     (metadata) (score)    3.6***    
Mini-Kyoto Participant, US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (as of 10/18/06) No ---
Number of State and Local Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Programs 4 programs   1
Net Metering Net Metering Offered by only one or more Individual Utilities   ---
Net Metering Residential Size Limit 10 kW   34
Net Metering Commercial Size Limit 10 kW   36
Completed Climate Action Plans No State Climate Action Plan   ---
Regional Initiatives No   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Inventories Yes   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Reporting & Registries Yes   ---
States with Public Benefit Funds None   ---
States with Renewable Portfolio Standards 0%   20
Date set for Renewable Portfolio Standards (Not Available)   (Not Available)
States with Green Pricing Programs Optional   ---
States with Renewable Energy Credit Tracking Systems No   ---
States with Mandates and Incentives Promoting Ethanol Excercises Tax credit/exemption and/or grant supporting ethanol use   ---
States with Residential Energy Codes State Codes without ECPA Compliance   ---
States with Commercial Energy Codes 1998 ASHRAE or Earlier (Not ECPA Compliant)   ---
Green Building Standards for State Buildings None   ---
ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection Participant (US CCP) No ---
% of State Generation that is from Renewable sources (2003) 0.5%   49
Average percentage of possible sunshine thru 1998: Length of record (years) 64 years 3
Average percentage of Possible Sunshine: Annual 51% 51
Annual Average wind speed, m.p.h. 9.6 mph 22
January Average wind speed, m.p.h. 10.9 mph 15
July Average wind speed, m.p.h. 7.5 mph 40
Heating Degree Days 5,615 days 37
Cooling Degree Days 1,014 days 27
Average Relative Humidity (%), Length of record (years) 39 years 15
Annual Morning Average Relative Humidity (%) 84% 50
Annual Afternoon Average Relative Humidity (%) 62% 50
Elevation, feet 715 feet 47
 
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
BACKGROUND INFORMATION      
SIZE & CLASSIFICATION
City Population (2005)2 765,310 13 (of 72 in EDN study) 12.6% of state population
City Population (2000) 781,870 12 (of 72 in EDN study)  
State Population (2005)2 6,093,372 15 (of 51 in EDN study)  
General Region Midwest ---  
EPA Region 5 ---  
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
City Land Area, square miles 361.0 square miles 9 1.0% of state land area
State Land Area, square miles 35,870 square miles 38  
Watershed Name Upper White ---  
Elevation, feet 715 ft. (217.5 m) 35  
Average Daily Temperature - January 26.5°F (-3.1°C) 57
Average Daily Temperature - July 75.4°F (24.1°C) 30  
DEMOGRAPHIC SUMMARY
Median Age 33.9 years 29  
18 years and older, % of population (2004) 71.9% 55  
65 years and older, % of population (2004) 10.4% 41  
Under 5 years of age 66,438 kids (8.7% of total pop.) 11  
One Race-White % (2005) 66.3% 30  
One Race - Non-white % (2005) 33.7% 43  
Hispanic or Latino, of any race % (2005) 6.2% 49  
% of Population who Speak a non-English Language at Home (2004) 9.1% 54  
Largest School District Name Indianapolis Public Schools ---  
 
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1 Use of the * within the County field indicates the city is in multiple counties. Typically the county for which the city serves as a county seat was selected.
2 Use of the * within the Population Rank Indicates year 2000 data was used since year 2004 data was not available.
3 Scores in parenthesis indicate partial scores, e.g. at least one scored indicator was not available or reported for this city.
4 SITES is an acronym developed by EDN as a summary for the 'Safety, Income, Transportation, Education and Sprawl' Topic.
 
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© 2006 Earth Day Network