The town has gained 32,884 residents, accounting for the most growth of any city or town in the state, according to a study of U.S. census data released Wednesday by Indiana University.

Indianapolis had the second-most growth, adding 25,717 people from 2000 until July 2009.

“Gee, there wasn’t anything here when we started,” said Steve Sharp, who has owned a printing company in Fishers since 1983. “There were a few of us here, but not very many.”

The first McDonald’s in Fishers was built downtown shortly after Sharp arrived, bringing the downtown area a water main and taking it off well water.

A wide range of factors play into a once-rural town’s sudden growth, but for Fishers, the highly ranked school system and suburban space has had a big effect, said Matt Kinghorn, state demographer at the Indiana Business Research Center at IU’s Kelley School of Business, which analyzed the census data.

“If you have a family,” he said, “not only can you get into a good school first but you have a little more space for longer yards and less traffic.”

Hamilton Southeastern Schools is the fastest-growing school district in the state, and its school system is often mentioned in magazine reports on why Fishers is an emerging place for families to live.

In 1989-90, the district had 2,845 students and six schools. Twenty years later, enrollment increased to 17,797 — an eightfold increase — and 20 schools. More than 75 percent of residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher, according to city-data.com.

Town Council President Scott Faultless moved to Fishers in 1991 after he completed law school. There were about 7,500 residents then. The reason people move to town is simple, he said: “People who are educated want to make sure their kids are educated, and they get that kind of education here.”

Dennis Olmstead, a project coordinator for Fishers-based engineering firm Stoeppelwerth & Associates, started working for the company in 1981. From his office on Allisonville Road, he could see and hear rabbit hunters on the prowl in a field behind the building.

“You really felt you were out in the middle of the country back then,” he said. Now, the area is home to a mortuary, dentist’s office and apartment complex.

Fishers and most suburbs’ growth have slowed during the recession as the housing market slump and wobbly employment scares people into staying put. Still, in 2000, Fishers had 39,043 residents. It now has 71,052.

Indianapolis-area suburbs Carmel, Noblesville and Greenwood had the third through fifth highest population gains in the state, respectively.

Sharp, the print-shop owner, remembers there not being a stoplight in town. Back then, he thought overflow population from Marion County would come into Fishers eventually. “But I don’t know that anyone envisioned that we’d grow this much.”

For more details about Anytime Fitness visit:  www.anytimefitness.com

Click here to visit website or call 317-776-6006 to reserve your seat at Conner Prairie Interactive History Park, 13400 Allisonville Road, Fishers, Hamilton County.

The critical mass group is reading <em>Heart of Darkness</em> by Joseph Conrad, and will meet on Wednesday, January 6 from 7:00-8:30 pm.

The page turners group is reading <em>Same Kind of Different as Me</em> by Ron hall, and will meet on Wednesday, January 3 from 9:20-11:00 am.

The books for lunch group will meet from noon to 1:00 pm. Bring your lunch and meet with other book lovers to talk about your favorite books.

All book discussion groups meet in the book talk room.

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays  9:30-10:20 a.m.

Now-Apr 30 at The Fieldhouse 11825 Technology Dr, Fishers

May 1-Oct 31 at RoyG.HollandMemorial Park

* 7:00 PM: Fall Musical: Cabaret

December 11, 2009

* 8:00 PM: Fall Musical: Cabaret

December 12, 2009

* 2:00 PM: Fall Musical: Cabaret
* 8:00 PM: Fall Musical: Cabaret

The Fishers High School spell team will head to state finals this month after they placed first at the Spell Bowl held in Arcadia in October.Fishers High School was among the top three winners in the Class 1 category before Pendleton Heights High School, which came in second place, and Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers, which placed third.

The 13-member team placed sixth statewide among 11 in its class and will compete Nov. 14 at the Indiana Academic Spell Bowl State Finals at Purdue University in West Lafayette.

“This is our fourth year and our third state final,” said coach Deborah Hejl. “We’re pretty proud of that.”

Hejl, who is also the social studies department chairwoman at Fishers, said students are meeting twice a week to study a list of about 3,700 words in preparation for the state contest.

“There’s a great deal of pride in this team,” said Hejl. “And I share it with them.”