By Richard G. Biever Though its seat is known as “City of Firsts,” Howard County was one of Indiana’s last counties. Howard and southern neighbor Tipton joined the state the same day, Jan. 15, 1844, as the 90th and 91st of the state’s 92 counties. Howard County’s wide rectangular shape filled in some of the… Continue reading.

By Richard G. Biever Between a U.S. naval base occupying its northern third and a chunk of Hoosier National Forest occupying its southeastern quarter, there isn’t much of Martin County that’s Martin County. But what is left is filled with unique natural attractions and small towns that complement the base, which is known for developing… Continue reading.

By Richard G. Biever Franklin D. Roosevelt probably didn’t dub his successful 1932 presidential campaign — “New Deal” — after unsuccessfully playing cards in a French Lick gambling house. But he first laid what became his bold “new deal for the American people” on the table at the 1931 National Governors’ Conference at the renowned… Continue reading.

By Richard G. Biever Enter Dubois County through its southeasternmost doorway, and you’ll think you’ve somehow crossed into rolling European countryside. Gently sloping fields flow around a hillside where ascends … a castle. The Monastery of the Immaculate Conception, a magnificent red brick Romanesque structure with its dome and corner turrets, majestically looks over the… Continue reading.

By Richard G. Biever The west-central Indiana county named after Benjamin Parke, a founding father of Indiana, ends with an “e.” But the county’s cornucopia of well-preserved natural and man-made historical features gives Parke a larger-than-life “park-like” personality. Parke County is best known for its 31 quaint covered bridges. But it’s also home to two… Continue reading.

By Richard G. Biever For a county as renowned for its genealogy research center as Allen County, it’s no surprise it traces its own cultural and economic impact back long before the county’s 1824 founding.  The confluence of the St. Joseph and St. Mary rivers, where the Maumee River begins, created a natural crossroads that… Continue reading.

BY NICK ROGERS Brown County, just an hour’s drive south of Indianapolis, has become a multifaceted mecca for live music, noteworthy artwork and outdoor recreation. Pick-and-grin pilgrimages don’t get bigger than those to the Bill Monroe Music Park & Campground in Bean Blossom. Founded by the Father of Bluegrass, the park will host the 21st… Continue reading.

BY NICK ROGERS Indianapolis may be Indiana’s hub, but the heart of our state’s history hugs the Ohio River just two hours south in Harrison County. Named for William Henry Harrison, who went on to serve as the ninth President of the United States, the county was founded in 1808. Eight years later, on what’s… Continue reading.

BY NICK ROGERS From historical events and culinary delights to beautiful parks and trails, Boone County offers enjoyable activities for everyone. Founded in 1830 and named for legendary frontiersman Daniel Boone, the county is the site of Indiana’s first Rural Electric Membership Corporation. Today, it’s a day-trip destination from Indianapolis and surrounding counties. In Zionsville,… Continue reading.

Floyd might be Indiana’s second smallest county by area, but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in geographical features and history. From the banks of the Ohio River, the county’s terrain quickly rises to the rugged Southern Indiana upland. The eroded hills along the edge of this plateau — the… Continue reading.

The frugal farmers of Fulton County cut corners building their barns a century ago — literally. The barns they built were round. In doing so, the northcentral Indiana county became known as the “Round Barn Capital of the World.” The county’s appreciation and preservation of its special marks in history make the county special, too…. Continue reading.

Two feast days this month make St. Joseph County a divine choice to feature. The first is March 17 — St. Patrick’s Day. The county on the Michigan border, of course, is home to the renowned University of Notre Dame, whose athletic teams are known as “The Fighting Irish.” The pugilistic leprechaun with raised dukes… Continue reading.