Evansville, settled in 1839, developed as an important agricultural trade center. Log cabins, farms, and small industries were built, and the population grew from less than 10 families in the beginning to nearly 5,000 people in 2009. Then and Now: Evansville is a unique look at how the community has changed from the 1900s to today. Ruth Ann Montgomery, author of Images of America: Evansville for Arcadia Publishing, is Evansvilles historian. John Ehle, an Evansville resident for many years, has conducted interviews with local veterans and those who lived through the Great Depression.

World War II changed the face of Evansville, Indiana. In December 1941, the city was still recovering from the Great Depression, yet within three months, a series of blockbuster announcements transformed the region. Several corporations received major defense contracts to manufacture parts and ammunitions, while two new installations were launched: a shipyard to construct Landing Ship Tanks and a factory to manufacture P47 airplanes. Industrial employment rose dramatically, producing social, economic, and racial tensions as thousands of newcomers poured into a city that lacked adequate housing and public facilities. The citizens of Evansville persevered, and most workers stayed following the end of the war. One federal official commented that the citynot just its many defense plantsdeserved the coveted Army-Navy E (for excellence) award.

Evansville, a river town in the truest sense, established itself as the commercial center of the area, but not without a bit of luck. After Hugh McGary bought land along the Ohio River 200 years ago, fortune smiled on the city when it became the county seat of the newly formed Vanderburgh County in 1818 and again when it was chosen as the terminus of the Wabash and Erie Canal. Evansville, which also played a vital role in World War II manufacturing, continued to grow yet kept its small-town charm. While the scenes in Postcard History Series: Evansville may have come and gone, it is the people that truly make this city the heart of the tri-state area.

In Evansville Indiana, there is more than meets the eye. For over two centuries this city has tried to keep its dirty secrets hidden, but that time has come to an end. "Evansville Monsters: Weird Tales of Goblins, Ghoulies, and Ghosts." is a collection of ten of these stories. Illustrated and expanded upon by author Kyle Darnell.The Green Clawed Beasts snatches tourists out of the Ohio River. The Grey Lady haunts just around the corner. Potholes swallow people up whole. Thrill yourselfWill you be able to avoid the Maniac of Mesker Park Zoo? Probably not, but why not find out in "Evansville Monsters: Weird Tales of Goblins, Ghoulies, and Ghosts."

During World War II, the city of Evansville manufactured vast amounts of armaments that were vital to the Allied victory. The Evansville Ordnance Plant made 96 percent of all .45-caliber ammunition used in the war, while the Republic Aviation Plant produced more than 6,500 P-47 Thunderbolts--almost half of all P-47s built during the war. At its peak, the local shipyard employed upward of eighteen thousand men and women who forged 167 of the iconic Landing Ship Tank vessels. In this captivating and fast-paced account, University of Evansville historian James Lachlan MacLeod reveals the enormous influence these wartime industries had on the social, economic and cultural life of the city.

Nestled in a horseshoe bend along the Ohio River, Evansville bestrides the border between the Mid-South and the Midwest. This location allowed the city to build a culinary tradition all its own. For generations, cherished eateries like Turoni's, House of Como and Hilltop Inn have served delicious and unique local fare like brain sandwiches, cracker-crisp thin crust pizza, Ski slushies, burgoo and more. In recent years, revitalized historic districts have housed cafés, coffeehouses and breweries that hearken back to Evansville's past even as they embrace the present and look to the future. Historian and University of Southern Indiana professor Kristalyn Shefveland explores the historic restaurants and contemporary legends that define two centuries of Evansville's food history.