Elkhart County, INElkhart County, Indiana, offers a mix of urban and rural living with a population of nearly 200,000. The large Amish population contributes to the local economy, drawing tourists to learn about their conservative lifestyles and to buy their fine handmade crafts and food. Numerous recreational vehicle manufacturing facilities contribute to the top industries of the region which has earned the county the title “RV Capital of the World.”
Pioneers began building homesteads on the Elkhart Prairie in 1829, among the Chippewa, Potawatomi and Ottawa Indian tribes. Although no clear documentation exists defining the origin of the name Elkhart, the strongest theory argues the county was named after Shawnee Chief Elkhart, father to Princess Mishawaka. Another city located nearby is named after his daughter, Mishawaka.
The cities and towns that make up this county today include Elkhart, Middlebury, Goshen, Nappanee, Bristol, Millersburg and Wakarusa. Many parks, museums and annual events keep residents and tourist busy. The Amish craftsmen, farmers and merchants draw crowds throughout the year, but even more so during the Amish Acres Arts and Crafts Festival. Music lovers enjoy the Jazz Festival and Rhapsody in Green Summer Festival. The Elkhart County is also home of the second largest 4-H fair in the entire United States. | More Local Area InformationLocated 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 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 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 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 moreCass County, Michigan, was established in 1828 during the presidency of Andrew Jackson and named after Lewis Cass who served as territorial governo... 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 moreA Cass County village, Edwardsburg, Mich., provides a country setting in a quiet environment. This small community is located just northeast of Sout... 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 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 moreSouth 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 moreThe city of South Bend is located along the St. Joseph River in North Central Indiana, approximately 10 miles south of the Michigan state line.... 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 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 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 moreThe “Grand Old City” of southwestern Michigan, Dowagiac, located in Cass County, was named after the Native American word meaning “foraging ground.... Read moreIn 1840 Three Rivers, Mich., was named for the three rivers—Rocky, Portage and St. Joseph River—that flow together to become one. In 1895, 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 more |
