unincorporated community
An unincorporated area is a region that is not governed by a local municipal corporation. Widespread unincorporated communities and areas are a distinguishing feature of the United States and Canada. Most other countries of the world either have ...
South Bend
South Bend is a city in and the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total of 103,453 residents and is the fourt ...
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Mishawaka
Mishawaka is a city on the St. Joseph River, in Penn Township, St. Joseph County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 51,063 as of the 2020 census. Its nickname is "the Princess City". Mishawaka is a principal city of the South Be ...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally incorporated as a city or tow ...
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History
In 1922 the National Realty and Development Co. of
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border ...
launched the sale of one to five acre lots in Maple Lane with a giveaway of $500 in gold, a free homesite, a band and a free lunch. By 1928, the population was estimated to be 200. In 1971, the population was estimated to be 3,238.
In 1937, Maple Lane became the site of Ponader Park, the first public park in St. Joseph's county, with a donation of land from William J Ponader, owner of Maple Lane Realty. In 1961 the park was donated to the South Bend Board of Park Commissioners.
n 1939, the Maple Lane and Wilmette Civic Association fought off an attempt at annexation. In 1945, action by the Maple Lane Civic Association resulted in increased transportation services.
By 1957, the 950-acre area had around 1,800 homes and a population of at least 5,500. In September 1957, the Maple Lane Business Men's Association, a group of 22 Maple Lane businesses, organized a meeting to discuss issues with wells,
septic tank
A septic tank is an underground chamber made of concrete, fiberglass, or plastic through which domestic wastewater ( sewage) flows for basic sewage treatment. Settling and anaerobic digestion processes reduce solids and organics, but the treatm ...
s, and to discuss annexation by
South Bend
South Bend is a city in and the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total of 103,453 residents and is the fourt ...
. In 1971, South Bend voted to annex Maple Lane. Over 1000 residents attended the South Common Council public hearing to object to the annexation. Proponents of the annexation went so far as to suggest that if the annexation did not go through, they would consider abandoning its city government and turning all municipal functions to the county government. The annexation was tied up in the courts for several years. In 1977, the annexation was rescinded.