Newton County has the dubious distinction of being the only Indiana county that was penciled in and actually appeared on maps, erased in a merger into its neighboring county, then pulled back out from that county and reappear. This close kinship with its neighbor, Jasper County, began with the two men for whom the counties… Continue reading.

“Tippecanoe” is easily the most poetic and fun-to-say county in the state. But its meaning has nothing to do with capsizing a boat. Tippecanoe is the anglicized word for a Miami Indian term meaning “place of the succor fish people” — because succor (also known as buffalo fish) were abundant in the waters in the… Continue reading.

Most towns have a mural or two depicting aspects of the town’s history or famous residents. But Jasper County has turned itself into a giant art gallery for murals — painted on buildings throughout the county seat of Rensselaer.  Beginning with just one mural a half dozen years ago, Rensselaer now hosts an annual mural… Continue reading.

Muzzleloaders and bumbershoots make Ripley County burst with the curious combo of clouds of black powder and showers of color this month. The county, in the southeast pocket of the state, has long been known for hosting the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association in Friendship with its spring and fall competitions. The NMLRA was established… Continue reading.

Bartholomew County celebrates its bicentennial this year. Parts of the county’s yearlong celebration will focus on looking forward to what’s next. But in celebrating the county, the story of county seat Columbus cannot be emphasized enough. For a city of its size, Columbus, population around 46,000, has a unique place in the nation for its… Continue reading.

Our state may be called “Indiana” but only two of the state’s 92 counties, Delaware and Miami, honor groups of Native Americans by name. Miami County was founded in 1833 in north central Indiana, an area that was home to the Miami tribe. But at the very time the state was being forever dubbed “the… Continue reading.

Benton County’s two most prominent claims to fame both pertain to the “harness” — as in harness racing and harnessing the wind. At the turn of the 20th century, harness racing was one of the most popular sports in the nation. And into the limelight paced Dan Patch, a dark bay Standardbred stallion who went… Continue reading.

Noble County is situated in northeastern Indiana’s “lake country.” And two lakes — or rather, a series of nine connecting lakes and one other — are especially significant in the county’s culture and its attractions. The Chain O’Lakes State Park, in south central Noble County, is a series of serene kettle lakes — created by… Continue reading.

Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday of each April. But one Indiana county holds a special place in its heart for a tree that towers daily over the county’s affairs — an attraction that has been around for over 150 years. That county is Decatur County. That tree is none other than “The… Continue reading.

Huntington County is home of the J.E. Roush Lake, the only impoundment on the Wabash River; and the county hosts the only museum dedicated to the vice presidents of the United States, particularly former resident Dan Quayle. J.E. Roush Lake, first known as Huntington Lake, was completed in 1968 by the U.S. Army Corps of… Continue reading.

Jackson County was not named after the President Andrew Jackson — contrary to popular perception. Rather, it was named in honor of Gen. Andrew Jackson, the hero of the Battle of New Orleans at the end of the War of 1812. Obviously, the same person — but different circumstances. Jackson County was formed in 1816,… Continue reading.

LaGrange County was settled and founded in 1832 by mostly Yankee immigrants from New England. They so admired the Marquis de Lafayette, the French aristocrat and military officer who fought alongside the Americans in the American Revolutionary War, they named their county after his French estate outside of Paris.  But within a dozen years, LaGrange… Continue reading.