Fort Wayne is a Midwestern American city, located in the state of Indiana. It is the county seat of Allen County, and is located in the northeast quadrant of Wayne Township, close to the center point of the county. http://www.cityoffortwayne.org/fort-wayne-history.html The rivers and waterways in Fort Wayne provide access to the Great Lakes and much of Ohio and Indiana, creating a natural trade network in the area. http://www.cityoffortwayne.org/fort-wayne-history.html The city is connected to Pittsburgh and Chicago via the Pennsylvania Railroad, making it a key stop for manufacturing shipment. http://www.cityoffortwayne.org/fort-wayne-history.html The most productive truck manufacturing plant in North America is located in Fort Wayne: the General Motors Fort Wayne Assembly Plant, which produces Silverado and Sierra pick up trucks. http://media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/news/news_detail.brand_gm.html/content/Pages/news/Plant_Facts/Assembly/FortWayne

The city is home to multiple colleges and universities, including Indiana University, Purdue University, the Indiana Institute of Technology, the University of St. Francis, Ivy Tech State College and Saint Francis College. http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=5353

Fort Wayne is the home of night baseball. The first night game was played in 1883, where a team of professional players from Quincy, IL played the students of Fort Wayne Methodist Episcopal College under electric lights. http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=5353 The pro players won the game, 11 – 10. http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=5353

Fort Wayne was initially built as an American outpost to replace several frontier outposts established by the French. http://www.cityoffortwayne.org/fort-wayne-history.html Because of the proximity of the rivers, the area had been a trading area for the Miami, Potowatomi, and Wea Native American tribes for centuries, with a Native American city by the name of Kekionga flourishing at the site of Fort Wayne before European settlers arrived. http://www.cityoffortwayne.org/fort-wayne-history.html

The U.S. Land Office opened in Fort Wayne in 1823, and sold off all Native American lands eliminated by treaty to pioneers. http://www.cityoffortwayne.org/fort-wayne-history.html Allen County was also established in 1823, though the first courthouse was not built until 1831. http://www.cityoffortwayne.org/fort-wayne-history.html The Erie Canal, built in the 1830s, brought more commercial development to the area, including the John Brown Stone Warehouse and much of the industry on Columbia Street. http://www.cityoffortwayne.org/fort-wayne-history.html

Fort Wayne is located at latitude 41° 7' 50"N and longitude 85° 7' 44"W. http://www.travelmath.com/city/Fort+Wayne,+IN It is 78 square miles in area, with a population density of 2,605 persons residing per square mile. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/18/1825000.html The city has an elevation of 810 feet above sea level, and sits at the confluence of the St. Joseph and St. Mary Rivers, where they combine to form the Maumee River. http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=5353 Major roads in the area include Interstates 69 and 469, U.S. Highways 30 and 27, and Highway 930. http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=5353

• Fort Wayne Children's Zoo: 38-acre facility with children's rides, animals and landscaped gardenshttp://www.kidszoo.org/
• Science Central: Hands-on, educational science exhibitshttp://www.visitfortwayne.com/Visitors/WhatToDo/attractions.aspx/science-central
• Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory: Desert garden, waterfall and seasonal garden displayshttp://www.visitfortwayne.com/Visitors/WhatToDo/attractions.aspx/foellingerfreimann-botanical-conservatory
• History Center: Museum focusing on inventions that originated in the areahttp://www.fwhistorycenter.com/
• Grabill Amish Community: Shops, rural scenes, craft and antique displays and homemade cookinghttp://www.grabill.net/
• African-American Historical Museum: Exhibits and docent-led tours focusing on contributions of African-Americans to local history, including diaries, photographs and personal historieshttp://www.myblackinfo.com/african_americanfw.htm
• Cathedral Museum: Roman Catholic museum with Bavarian stained glass windows and religious artifacts dating back to the time of Jesus Christ.http://www.museumsusa.org/museums/info/1166551
• Fort Wayne Museum of Art: Gallery focused on American art created after 1850http://www.fwmoa.org/
• Mad Anthony Brewing Co.: Brew pub offering tours and ale and lager tastingshttp://www.madbrew.com/
• Lazer-X: Laser tag facilityhttp://lazerxfw.com/
• Putt-putt Golf & Games: Family fun center with three miniature golf courses, go carts, and an arcade.http://www.puttputt.com/intro.html

• Jenna Fischer: Actresshttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0278979/
• Shelley Long: Actresshttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001480/
• Carole Lombard: Actresshttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001479/
• Zuzanna Szadkowski: Actresshttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm2351500/
• Robert Rusler: Actorhttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0750852/
• John Rezig: Actorhttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm2101814/
• Tad Atkinson: Actorhttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm2338800/
• Julia Barr: Actresshttp://thebarrassociation.tripod.com/id3.html
• Eric Baus: Poet http://www.littleredleaves.com/LRL3/baus.html
• E. Jean Carroll: Journalist, advice columnisthttp://archeralumni.org/Famous/DG1996/Famous1996.html
• Michael Martone: Authorhttp://www.fortwaynereader.com/story.php?uid=1091
• Dave Thomas: Founder and CEO, Wendy's restaurant chainhttp://www.biography.com/articles/Dave-Thomas-9542110
• Patrick Byrne: CEO Overstock.comhttp://www.inspireroad.com/successful-entrepreneurs/patrick-byrne
• Richard "Grass" Green: Cartoonisthttp://www.powerslamcollectibles.com/RichardGrassGreen.html
• Bill Blass: Fashion designerhttp://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/designers/bill-blass/?designername=bill-blass&action=
• Stephanie Larimore: Playboy playmatehttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm2463307/
• Jason Baker: NFL playerhttp://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100513/SPORTS/5130319/1002
• Trai Essex: NFL playerhttp://fwnextweb1.fortwayne.com/ns/video/super_bowl/
• Le'Ron McClain: NFL playerhttp://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=10580
• Bernard Pollard: NFL playerhttp://www.nfl.com/players/bernardpollard/profile?id=POL249174
• Anthony Spencer: NFL playerhttp://www.nfl.com/players/anthonyspencer/profile?id=SPE434038
• Jon Fitch: UFC fighterhttp://www.wmee.com/WMEEViewArticle/tabid/124/ArticleId/104/Fort-Waynes-very-own-Jon-Fitch-is-a-big-WINNER-104.aspx