Learn More About Elkhart County
A well-crafted life begins in Elkhart County, where the word quality defines your experience. Quality craftsmanship. Quality collaboration. Quality connections.
Here, our creative community marries tradition with innovation. From quilts to RVs, musical instruments to motorcycles, Elkhart County swells with passionate people, creating a future built on a solid foundation of the past. Here, you not only see the work of our large Amish community alongside our technical innovators, you can meet the creators, draw from their accomplishments, and chart your own course.
Bristol
Bristol was platted in 1835, making it one of the oldest towns in Elkhart County. Initially, it was two villages: Bristol on the east side of Vistula Street and Sydneyham on the west. Eventually, the two developers agreed on the name of Bristol, after some of the residents’ former homes in the U.K.
Learn more about Bristol at bristol.in.gov.
Elkhart
Downtown Elkhart is a vibrant, diverse, and unique community. The Gateway Mile features a wide variety of amenities; the Wellfield Botanical Gardens, beautiful parks, the scenic Riverwalk, boutique shops, fabulous restaurants, cozy coffee shops, architecture, and exciting festivals. Come and visit Downtown Elkhart and see for yourself why so many choose to Live-Work-Play in Elkhart’s downtown.
Learn more about Elkhart at elkhartindiana.org.
Goshen
The City of Goshen, Indiana, also known as “The Maple City,” offers a vibrant, welcoming community for residents and visitors alike. In Goshen, neighbors come together to support one another and work for the common good. Our richly diverse community thrives with a spirit of inclusion, collaboration, and generosity. You’ll find retirees, young professionals, and families enjoying concerts, First Fridays, and downtown’s vibrant charm.
Discover why Goshen is an exceptional place to live, work, and visit. Everything truly comes together here.
Learn more about Goshen at goshenindiana.org.
Middlebury
Middlebury has one of the best school systems in the state, receiving a “B” corporation status. Many churches will welcome you to town, and our shopping district will provide you with all the amenities you might need without driving to a surrounding city.
If you enjoy biking, walking or running, you will find the top rated trail in Indiana here in Middlebury. The Rails to Trails Conservancy says “the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail steals the show in Indiana. If you want to experience genuine Midwestern Americana, this is it. Pastoral scenes of Amish life and fields of gold line the path. A must-visit trail!”
Learn more about Goshen at middleburyin.com.
Millersburg
We’re small, but friendly with big smiles and big hearts, and we hope you’ll share in the joy and happiness that we find in our community.
Surrounded by rich farmland, we like to feel like we’re not only growing a variety of agricultural products to meet the needs of our nation, but more importantly, we’re growing strong families and raising our children in a way that will help them find the joy in living that we have found in the heartland of America.
Learn more about Millersburg at millersburgin.org.
Nappanee
Nappanee, Indiana has a strong heritage of hard work, service above self, and future vision that has continued to shape us. While we may have lost some of the original buildings, we are blessed to have a solid architectural inventory still in use today. Our downtown has re-purposed many of the existing buildings as we continue to evolve and adapt to changing times. While the buildings tell an interesting story, it is the people that make our City so special. These families have graciously welcomed and embraced new families along the way to create an incredibly warm and inviting atmosphere for all of those that call Nappanee home and those that are visiting or just passing through.
Learn more about Nappanee at nappanee.in.gov.
New Paris
New Paris was laid out in 1839 by settlers from Preble County, Ohio. It was likely named after New Paris, Ohio. By the 1890s, New Paris had become a shipping point at the junction of two railroads.
Wakarusa
In 1836, rural Olive Township was formed in western Elkhart County, and in 1849, as the population grew, a post office named Mt. Olive opened. After more population growth, a new village named Salem was established to prevent people from having to travel to either Goshen or Elkhart to conduct business. Since there is already a town named Salem in Indiana, the name was changed to Wakarusa in 1859. The Mt. Olive Post Office was renamed for Wakarusa a year later. The etymology of the name “Wakarusa” is not known. It is thought that that the name Wakarusa is from a native American language, meaning “knee deep in mud”.
Learn more about Wakarusa at townofwakarusa.com.
