The History of South Bend, INThe city of South Bend is located along the St. Joseph River in North Central Indiana, approximately 10 miles south of the Michigan state line. Originally established as a fur trading settlement by representatives of the American Fur Company, South Bend was founded in the 1820’s, first as “Big St. Joseph’s Station,” then as “Southold,” and finally as “South Bend” in 1830. One year later it was made the seat of St. Joseph County. South Bend’s early economy was centered around the mills on the man-made canals (referred to as “races”) that ran off the St. Joseph River. The area’s largest signature industry was manufacturing, particularly production coming from Studebaker, Singer Sewing Company, and the Oliver Chilled Plow Company. The presence of these companies, together with the University of Notre Dame founded by Reverend Edward Sorin in 1842, brought much growth and prosperity to South Bend throughout the 20th century. With the decline of manufacturing in the 1960’s and 70’s, the city expanded its economic base to include education, healthcare, and small business.
© 2008 Reliance Relocation Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Contributed by:  | More Local Area InformationSouth Bend, Indiana, is the fourth largest city in Indiana and the county seat of St. Joseph County. According to the 2006 census, the population wa... Read moreWith so much to offer its residents—a vibrant arts community, intriguing historic districts, and an array of attractions—South Bend is a great plac... Read moreSaint Joseph County is located on the southernmost bend of the St. Joseph River in northern Indiana. The river dips down into Indiana from Michigan... Read moreToday South Bend is a thriving city with a diverse population of around 105,000 people. It continues to be the seat of county government, as well a... Read moreMishawaka, Indiana, established in 1899, is the birthplace of the Hummer (produced by AM General) and home to approximately 49,000 people. The city’... Read morePrior to 1883, the region now known as Granger, Indiana, served as a depot for Lake Huron and Chicago Railroad. The only structures that existed a... Read moreAt the southernmost tip of Michigan, on the banks of the St. Joseph River, the first settlers set up Fort St. Joseph and a trading post in 1691... Read moreSquire Isaac Thompson built the first homestead in Berrien County in 1823. The county became official in 1831 and received its name from U.S. Senato... Read moreA Cass County village, Edwardsburg, Mich., provides a country setting in a quiet environment. This small community is located just northeast of Sout... Read moreCass County, Michigan, was established in 1828 during the presidency of Andrew Jackson and named after Lewis Cass who served as territorial governo... Read moreLocated in the heart of Amish Country, Elkhart, Indiana, is the birth place of Alka Seltzer and claims to have produced more patents than any othe... Read moreElkhart County, Indiana, offers a mix of urban and rural living with a population of nearly 200,000. The large Amish population contributes to th... Read moreBerrien Springs, Michigan, received its namesake from John M. Berrien, a U.S. Senator and Attorney General serving under President Andrew Jackson. I... Read moreThe first settlers of Cassopolis were the Putnams, a small family from Indiana who took up residence in October of 1825. Their humble floorless hom... Read moreThe “Grand Old City” of southwestern Michigan, Dowagiac, located in Cass County, was named after the Native American word meaning “foraging ground.... Read moreA small town in Elkhart County, Bristol was founded by European settlers approximately 200 years ago. Today, Bristol looks forward to the future wit... Read moreWith an estimated population of 31,882 in 2006, Goshen, Indiana, is the county seat of Elkhart County. The neighborly, service-oriented environment... Read moreNestled in northeastern Elkhart County, Middlebury covers approximately 100 square miles of scenic, semi-rural landscape. The large Amish an... Read moreOriginally populated by the Potawatami Indians, Van Buren County, Mich., is considered “Michigan’s Fruit Basket.” Sometime in the mid 1800s, settler... Read moreMichigan City, IN is a historic community located along the south shore of Lake Michigan, not far from the Indiana/Michigan state line. A popula... Read more |
