7 Eclectic Small Towns In Indiana

Away from larger Indiana destinations like the city of Indianapolis, the state's small towns provide varied, even eclectic, reasons to visit this vibrant part of the US Midwest. Whether their main attractions include history, architecture, or greatest-of-all-time athletes, Indiana holds a collection of fascinating and exciting experiences waiting to be discovered.

Much of Indiana's history comes from the 18th- and 19th-century trade along the state's rivers, including the Ohio and Wabash, which helped develop Indiana from territory to state in 1816. The number of state attractions have only multiplied since those early days. Some of Indiana's best, most unusual draws await the curious tourist in towns like the ones below.

French Lick

Sports enthusiasts celebrate French Lick as the hometown of legendary Boston Celtics forward Larry Bird. Today, the town has barely 1,700 people, though its legend lives on. The term "French Lick" stems from its past as a French trading post built near a natural salt lick, which attracted animals and their human predators.

The town features various notes of recognition to its most famous, basketball-playing native: Larry Bird Boulevard, lies in north-central French Lick, while a bust of Mr. Bird also stands in town. Fun-seekers should head to the French Lick casino, or try the French Lick West Baden Museum, which focuses on history. The French Lick Scenic Railway offers pleasure rides for train fans of all ages.

Goshen

Goshen, home to around 34,400 people, thrives in north-central Indiana. The seat of Elkhart County, the town also goes by its nickname, "Maple City," given the abundance of local maple trees. Goshen is likewise home to Goshen College, a liberal arts school with just 800 students. The town maintains a busy arts and events calendar, notably through its "First Fridays" program. Operating since 2007, the series produces family-friendly events for residents and visitors alike. Culture lovers will enjoy the town's River Bend Film Festival, which screens movies and documentaries year-round.

Greenfield

Greenfield, with 24,800 residents calling it home, sits east of Indianapolis. The town boasts not one but two historic districts: Courthouse Square, and a separate residential area, Greenfield Residential Historic District. Architecture fans can take in the town's examples of Romanesque Revival and Second Empire, not to mention historic homes in the Queen Anne and Bungalow styles. Greenfield's Lilly Biological Laboratories helps push horticultural science forward, not to mention a local love of gardening.

For fresh air, head to Greenfield's green zones, especially Brandywine Park and the Thornwood Nature Preserve. For fans (or fanatics) of golf, the Hawk's Tail of Greenfield offers links galore.

Madison

The southeast town of Madison, with 12,200 residents, sits along the Ohio River, forming part of Indiana's natural border with Kentucky. A broad downtown historic district in Madison offers eclectic charm, and spans more than 130 square blocks—the largest contiguous National Historic Landmark District in the United States. Culture-minded tourists should head to the Lanier Mansion Historic Site, built before in 1844 before the Civil War.

For those looking for a break from so much urban history, Clifty Falls State Park offes access to no fewer than four waterfalls. Other outdoor zones include the downtown John Paul Park and Sunrise Golf Course, which lies northeast of Madison proper.

Nashville

With the same moniker as the larger destination in Tennessee, Indiana's Nashville is home to fewer than 1,300 full-time residents. Yet, like its Tennessee counterpart, cultural signficance lives here: the Brown County Art Colony, a commune for creatives, sprang up here in 1908. The haven for creatives became one of the most influential sites of artistic production in the Midwest.

For history lovers as well as for familes, the Pioneer Museum, which offers lessons about Indiana's frontier days, operates in town. The town runs a popular antique market, as well as restaurants, cafes, and an enduring artistic tradition upheld by the town's numerous artisan shops and galleries.

Paoli

Paoli, with 3,600 people, lies in south-central Indiana. The town's name suggests an eccentric inspiration: Pasquale Paoli Ashe, the son of onetime North Carolina governor Samuel Ashe. The elder Ashe named his child after Pasquale Paoli, an 18th-century resistance leader in Corsica, which is now a part of France. Paoli, once a key stop on the Underground Railroad, now has a large historic district with upwards of 140 protected constructions.

Just south of Paoli, the Hoosier National Forest offers a great natural escape. The nearby Pioneer Mothers, an old-growth oak forest, enjoys protection as a part of the the National Natural Landmark program, which the US National Park Service helps maintain.

Wabash

Wabash, a north-central town with 10,300 residents—which takes its name from the nearby Wabash River—has its place in Indiana's economic history. The town became the world's first electrically lighted location, going electric in 1880. Wabash's relationship with its river has attracted homsteaders going back centuries.

Foodies will enjoy the town's eclectic mix of restaurants and eateries, running the culinary gamut from Colombian and Japanese to all-American classics. Kids will enjoy a slice from Pizza King, a downtown parlor. Wabash is also full of diverse architecture, including the historic Eagles Theatre, the County Courthouse, and the Wabash County Historical Museum—which pays homage to the town's economic and industrial achievements. The Wabash River Trail makes a place for scenery, birdwatching, and walking off a hearty lunch or dinner.

Eclectic Small Towns Thrive in Indiana

Indiana's small, eclectic towns offer more than variety—they hold a chance to understand what makes this Midwestern state tick. From protected architecture and natural areas, to the hometown of basketball legend Larry Bird, Indiana has something diverse, and diverting for everyone. Towns like Greenfield and Madison promise world-class architectural tourism. Natural spaces, like the all-but-vanished virgin forests protected with Pioneer Mothers Memorial Forest, offer a first-hand experience of the region's formerly abundant tree varieties and forest environments.

Whatever a visitor's taste, and no matter how unusual their interest, the eclectic charm of small-town Indiana deserves a visit, or several.