Home of “Turtle Town, USA,” Whitley County has the highest number on Indiana license plates, 92, because it’s last alphabetically in Indiana’s counties list. Whitley County also has six landmarks on the National Register of Historic Places, including the former home of Thomas R. Marshall, the 28th U.S. vice president. Shell-ebrating a local legend  Churubusco,… Continue reading.

By Nicole Thomas Located in central Indiana, Hancock County is a part of the National Road Heritage Trail, a project repurposing old railways into recreational paths across the state. The county’s Pennsy Trail follows the route of the former Pennsylvania Railroad, offering a scenic path for walkers, runners, and cyclists while honoring the county’s transportation… Continue reading.

By Nicole Thomas In the late 19th century, Wells County joined the Trenton Gas Field oil boom, contributing to Indiana’s expanding oil and natural gas industry during the 1880s and early 1900s. The county’s seat, Bluffton, Indiana, also hosts one of the state’s oldest and largest street fairs, dating back to 1898.  Bison and beyond… Continue reading.

By Nicole Thomas Scott County honors its pioneer past at the Scott County Heritage Center and Museum, located in the former Scott County Poor Farm. Established in the late 19th century, the poor farm provided shelter and care for those unable to support themselves because of economic hardship or disabilities before modern social welfare programs… Continue reading.

By Nicole Thomas Known as “The Home of the Classics,” DeKalb County in northeastern Indiana features four automotive museums honoring the county’s rich classic car heritage.  A century of pickling The town of St. Joe has celebrated its Pickle Festival every July since 2000. Featuring a variety of activities like a pickle-eating contest and a… Continue reading.

BY NICOLE THOMAS Known as the home of outdoor recreation, Sullivan County has more than 26,000 acres of recreational grounds for various activities, from hunting and golfing to ATV riding and water skiing. Shakers, a Christian sect known for their celibacy and communal lifestyle, were the county’s first settlers in the early 1800s. This group… Continue reading.

By Nicole Thomas Shelby County is home to several of Central Indiana’s firsts, like St. Vincent DePaul, one of the first Catholic churches built in the area in 1839. Indiana’s first railroad, built in the 1830s, passed through the county’s seat, Shelbyville, to connect Madison — the largest city along the Ohio River — to… Continue reading.

By Nicole Thomas Spanning 400 square miles in central Indiana, Clinton County features historical buildings, recreational parks, and rural charm with more than 200,000 acres of farmland. Its county seat in Frankfort is home to the only high school in the country whose mascot is the Hot Dogs, which won ESPN’s best Indiana nickname in… Continue reading.

Covering 80 square miles with less than 6,000 residents, Ohio County is Indiana’s smallest and least populous county. Rising Sun, Indiana — the sole incorporated municipality within Ohio County — is home to Ree’s Harps, one of the state’s only two harp manufacturers. Setting sail in Southeastern Indiana The Ohio County Historical Society Museum’s star… Continue reading.

By Nicole Thomas Located between the Wabash River and the Illinois state border, Vermillion County was Indiana’s 50th official county. It is adjacent to Illinois’ own Vermilion County, making it one of 11 counties in the U.S. bordering a county with the same name in another state. Clinton, Indiana, is Vermillion County’s largest city. A… Continue reading.

Covering 236 square miles, Vanderburgh County is southwestern Indiana’s smallest county. Besides the city of Evansville, Vanderburgh County’s other incorporated municipality is Darmstadt, a small German-heritage town. Darmstadt’s 111-year-old International World War Peace Tree was brought over from Germany as a seedling in 1912. The linden tree was planted in 1918 on Darmstadt’s southwestern edge… Continue reading.

By Nicole Thomas After forming in 1818, Randolph County became home to many Quaker settlers from North Carolina who supported abolitionism. Abolitionist Levi Coffin worked with these Quakers to help nearly 3,000 enslaved Americans find freedom through the Underground Railroad’s sites in Indiana and Ohio. In 1846, Quakers and free people of color founded the… Continue reading.