Fort Wayne, Indiana

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Coordinates: 41°04′49.62″N 85°08′20.94″W / 41.08045°N 85.13915°W / 41.08045; -85.13915

Fort Wayne is a city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 255,824 as of the July 1, 2011 Census estimate making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second-largest in Indiana after Indianapolis. The municipality is located in northeastern Indiana, approximately 18 miles (29 km) west of the Ohio border and 50 miles (80 km) south of the Michigan border.

Fort Wayne is the principal city of the Fort Wayne metropolitan area, which for statistical purposes is defined as Allen, Wells, and Whitley counties, for an estimated population of 419,453, In addition to those three core counties, the combined statistical area, defined as including Adams, DeKalb, Huntington, and Noble counties, has a population of about 615,077.

Under the direction of American Revolutionary War statesman General "Mad" Anthony Wayne, the United States Army built Fort Wayne last in a series of forts near the Miami Indian village of Kekionga in 1794. Named in Wayne's honor, Fort Wayne established itself at the confluence of the St. Joseph River, St. Marys River, and Maumee River as a trading post for European settlers. The village was platted in 1823 and experienced tremendous growth after completion of the Wabash and Erie Canal.

By the 21st century, Fort Wayne's economy was based on manufacturing, education, insurance, health care (particularly medical devices), transportation and distribution, and defense. The city has been an All-America City Award recipient in 1982, 1998, and 2009.