Whitely Neighborhood architectural survey records

The Whitely Neighborhood, located on the northeast side of Muncie, Indiana, was established in 1892 during the Gas Boom as an industrial neighborhood to house the workers of the Whitely Harvesting Company. The “reaper works” was founded by William Needham Whitely, and until its untimely demise in 1894, served as the center of the industrial neighborhood. After the destruction of the plant, the Whitely Neighborhood continued to endure through various transformations.

After the Great Migration in the early 20th century, the Whitely Neighborhood became known as a predominately African American area of Muncie. Whitely became a strong center for the African American community, as they navigated the challenges of racial, social, and economic discrimination experienced across much of the United States. Nearing the end of the 20th century, the neighborhood began to deteriorate as it became increasingly economically depressed. The start of the 21st century saw an increase in rehabilitation to save and revitalize the neighborhood by both city government and members of the Muncie community.