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 history.

Riley’s rural inspiration

Known as the “Hoosier Poet,” James Whitcomb Riley was born in Greenfield, Indiana, in 1849. He wrote more than 1,000 poems capturing children’s imagination and small-town life. “Little Orphant Annie” and “The Raggedy Man” are his most famous poems. Greenfield’s Parks and Recreation Department operates a museum out of Riley’s boyhood home, the James Whitcomb Riley House. The museum allows visitors to explore a pioneer-era homestead and see the family items that influenced Riley’s poetry. Greenfield is also home to the Riley Festival, one of Indiana’s largest craft fairs. With more than 460 exhibitors, the festival celebrates Riley’s birthday each year with a unique theme inspired by one of his poems. 

Farm fresh fun

Tuttle Orchards in Greenfield is a fourth-generation family-owned and operated farm open year-round. Its first 10 acres of apple trees were planted in 1928, including Grimes Golden, Rambo, and Delicious. Now, Tuttle Orchards has nearly 200 acres where they grow more than 30 apple varieties and 30 types of vegetables, including sweet corn, tomatoes, fall squash, and pumpkins. The farm also has 10,000 square feet of greenhouse space to grow flowers and vegetable plants. Each year, more than 20,000 students visit Tuttle Orchards for hands-on life science classes that explore how fruits and vegetables are grown, harvested, and prepared.

Eight sides of history

Built in 1879, the Jane Ross Reeves Octagon House is one of five octagon houses left in Indiana. Ross Reeves discovered the octagon house design in a magazine and had it built for roughly $2,500. The two-story, wood-frame house has 16 rooms and originally four chimneys. These were removed and rebuilt along with a full basement when the house was relocated in 1997 from Wilkinson, Indiana, to Shirley, Indiana. Visitors can request a tour of the 145-year-old house, renowned for its well-preserved condition.

County facts

Founded: 1828

Named For: John Hancock, a Founding Father and longest-serving president of the Continental Congress

Population: 79,840

County seat: Greenfield

Indiana county number: 30          

Nicole Thomas is a freelance writer from Indianapolis.