Bicknell, Indiana

Proving that ‘Bicknell is Better’

With its roots stemming from the coal-mining industry, this city is evolving and embracing new economic directions

Bicknell Indiana may be a city of just 3,000 residents, but it’s brimming with history, community pride, and ambitious plans for the future. Known for its coal-mining history, Bicknell continues its evolution, embracing change while preserving the close knit community values of small town America.

In the words of Mayor Thomas Estabrook, “We’re small enough to know our neighbors, but big enough to have businesses run by local individuals that can supply most of our everyday needs. We very much have that small town feel that you might see in Hallmark movies. Folks like me who were born and raised here often say that Bicknell is home, and there’s no place like it.”

A Community Rooted in History

“I use the hashtag ‘Bicknell is Better’ every time we have some success or a good thing going for us,” he continues. “That’s kind of a way to show what we have if you compare us to other communities.”
It was the coal industry that attracted immigrants and spurred Bicknell’s early growth, and today, the city is honoring this past while building a new legacy. The Bicknell Heritage Circle is a focal point of this effort, commemorating military service and showcasing a storied sports history.

The Heritage Circle includes flags representing the United States, Indiana, and each branch of the military, along with monuments honoring residents who served and sacrificed their lives in service. The choice of location on Bicknell’s Hooper Field, a former high school sports venue, was twofold. “We wanted it to be prominent,” Mayor Estabrook explains .

“We moved it to the highway for visibility. We wanted it to be something that people could see all the time.” The site also honors Hooper Field’s rich history as a venue for local athletics. The Mayor recounts, “Bicknell native Herdis McCrary played on the field and later played for the Green Bay Packers, and in 1921 an exhibition baseball team of Bicknell players defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, led by future hall of famer Roger Hornsby, by a score of 9 to 6.”

Nearby, restored railroad equipment and coal mining artifacts pay homage to Bicknell’s industrial roots. Mayor Estabrook elaborates, “We took this whole area, and we made it about military service and about some of the heritage that made Bicknell into what it is. It will give future generations an idea of what Bicknell was like, what the community has sacrificed, not only locally, but nationally.”

Bicknell Heritage Circle dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony on August 31, 2024

A Thriving Business Climate

Mayor Estabrook reflects on Bicknell’s evolving commercial landscape and the shift in business focus over the years. “From the mid 90s backwards, it was more of a traditional downtown, old style storefronts, traditional service and commodity based businesses. We are talking about furniture vendors, clothing vendors, shoe stores, and jewelry stores. Those types of things were running locally for years, and then the proprietor passed away, or the business model didn’t work anymore, and we saw a lot of vacancy downtown.”

This eventually led to the demolition of many buildings in the downtown area. “That’s been disappointing,” he admits. “But it’s also opened up a lot of space for new development, and we’re trying to figure out the right way to make that happen.”

At the same time, Bicknell’s state highway corridor has emerged as a bustling hub of activity. “A lot of folks recognized that new business development was going towards the highway. That’s where there was better access, there was more visibility. That’s where we’ve seen the most growth in the time that I’ve been mayor,” Estabrook shares. Businesses like McDonald’s, Family Dollar, and Dollar General have established themselves there, along with a bank and a recently opened laundromat.

The industrial park near the highway has also seen significant growth. JAM Feeds, a family owned business started out of a garage, is a notable success story, “That was one of the first major sales in the industrial park,” Estabrook portrays. “They have people come from counties away to buy feed from them.”

Basiloid Diversified Products, a metal fabrication company, is one of the biggest developments in the industrial park. “Owner Rob French bought the building and then came to us for what I believe is our first ever granted tax abatement,” details the mayor. “He doubled the size of that building, created 20/25 jobs and invested seven figures worth of money in our industrial park. Rob has now become a leader in the community, and somebody that I can call anytime.” All Point Supply, a local farm supply and hardware store is also located in the industrial park and is a valued community partner.

Another highlight is RTC Communications, a locally owned rural cooperative from a neighboring county, which invested $4 million in Bicknell’s broadband infrastructure. “It’s not a corporate model. It’s fantastic. They’ve become, basically another group in our business community that has really contributed to the city and done a lot of things. They came in and invested $4 million in broadband infrastructure, and we have fiber Internet, some of the fastest in the county,” reports Estabrook.

Owen County State Bank is another example of Bicknell’s economic vitality and community engagement. When a long-standing regional bank closed its doors, they stepped in to fill the gap, later establishing a second branch downtown. “They committed to Bicknell and took a risk on us,” Mayor Estabrook underscores. “Their presence has helped liven up downtown, finance local projects, and strengthen our community ties. If I need to call their CEO, I can have him on the phone in 10 minutes.”

Currently, approximately 85% of businesses in Bicknell are locally owned. “There is a much different atmosphere and attitude with locally owned businesses compared to those inside the corporate model, and we experience that daily,” touts Estabrook. “Most of the business owners in this community have my cell phone number. Anytime they need something, it’s not a problem. There’s not a big separation between them and me, because they’re the ones who are supporting the community, and their time is valuable.”

Restored coal mine wheel from local mine near Bicknell.

Building for Growth

Recognizing the connection between population growth and economic strength, Bicknell is tackling its housing challenges and preparing for the future. One effort includes the city’s participation in a federal Blight Elimination Program, which opened up vacant properties, and paved the way for new residential development. “We used that program to clear 39 houses, some of which before we really got into the construction part, became yards for neighbors or other green space that we control,” Estabrook conveys.

The city is also focused on attracting homebuilders, and has provided land for development, leading to the construction of nearly 20 new homes in the past four years with more planned. “We have adopted the view that population solves all the other problems. New homes solve property tax revenue issues. New development brings new people, which then increases demand for businesses, they put more kids in the schools, which then brings more funding to the school corporation. But you can’t increase the population with nowhere to live,” the mayor acknowledges.

On the infrastructure side, Bicknell has invested $7.3 million through the state’s Community Crossings grant program, improving roads, sidewalks, and drainage. “We completed the industrial park road, and we’ve paved in neighborhoods that hadn’t been paved in 30 years,” says Estabrook.

“We’ve been able to invest in infrastructure that was not possible outside of this program.” The city has also implemented a sidewalk replacement plan, making it easier for residents to upgrade their properties while enhancing neighborhood aesthetics. This popular program has resulted in $140,000 of investment in sidewalks in the city over three years. He expands, “In Bicknell, like many other communities the public sidewalk is a property owner’s responsibility, but when you figure out what it actually takes to replace it, it’s quite a bit of money. So, we began to offer a program where we would split the cost 50% and we do that through one of our local contractors, who is also a new business owner, Myers Contracting LLC.”

A Vision for the Future

Looking ahead, Mayor Estabrook sees a community that will continue to grow as a center of opportunity and innovation. “My hope is to continue the housing conversation, to continue new home construction, and to figure out how we can best leverage our strengths to bring new commercial and industrial development, regardless of what that is,” he states.

“We take every opportunity we can to say yes. Moving forward, that’s going to continue to be our attitude. We are going to be the first ones to say ‘yes’ to Bicknell, so others can too.”

AT A GLANCE

Bicknell, Indiana

What: A small community with big plans for the future

Where: Knox County, Indiana

Website: www.bicknell.in.gov