Interesting Facts

Here are some interesting tidbits, facts, and trivia that might help you come up with story ideas or when you’re looking for that extra something to kick start an article.

Did you know…

Elkhart County is considered the Recreational Vehicle Capital of the World. For every two RVs you see on the road, one was built in Elkhart County. Its humble beginnings were in 1935 when Schult (the first producer of trailers in Indiana) began producing one trailer per day, each selling for $198. Today, the RV industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. In fact, nearly 1,000 manufacturers of RVs, RV supplies and parts are located in Elkhart County.
C.G. Conn is credited for Elkhart becoming the Band Instrument Capital of the World. A cornet player, legend has it he became involved in a street brawl that left him with a badly cut lip and scar – making it difficult for him to play his instrument. So, he invented a special mouthpiece cushion out of rubber for himself, which drew great attention. He soon began manufacturing these mouthpieces for the public, his business grew rapidly, and it evolved into the manufacturing of band instruments. In fact, in its heyday, the CG Conn Company manufactured most of the world’s band instruments. As a sidenote, Conn also founded the Elkhart Truth, a local newspaper still in publication today.
Bonneyville Mill is Indiana’s oldest continuously operating grist mill.
Speedy Alka-Seltzer, the character symbolizing the product Alka-Seltzer, is a notable native. Alka-Seltzer was produced in Elkhart by Miles Laboratories – now Bayer Corp, which holds the trademark on Speedy. Originally known as Sparky, his name was changed to reflect the promotional theme: Speedy Relief. Radio actor Dick Beals was the voice of Speedy.
Nappanee boasts the most native cartoonists for a city of its size. Information on these cartoonists and displays of their work can be found at the Nappanee Public Library.
The spelling of the town called “Nappanee” is a rarity. Every letter appears exactly twice.

Although our Amish residents reject having telephones in their homes, it is common for them to have cellphones.
Das Dutchman Essenhaus in Middlebury is Indiana’s largest restaurant and cooks over 3,600 chickens per week.
Alka-Seltzer was created in Elkhart and it’s the birthplace of “Speedy.”
Every letter in Nappanee appears exactly twice.
When North Side Gymnasium in Elkhart was opened on November 24, 1954, the facility was the largest high school gym in the United States, seating 8,200 at the time
Elkhart County is home to numerous famous sports figures including Shawn Kemp, Goshen, a six time NBA all star; Rick Mirer, Goshen, a 2nd round NFL draft pick in 1993, and Lindsay Benko, Elkhart, a two-time Gold and Silver Olympian in swimming.
The little police bunker on the corner of Lincoln and Main in downtown Goshen was built to protect the city’s banks from the likes of John Dillinger. It was never used.
Hand-dipped chocolate turtles from Olympia Candy Kitchen in Goshen were served during President George H. W. Bush’s inauguration.
Back in 2009, a high speed police chase at 3am took the perpetrator and the police right through the middle of the petunia packed Quilt Garden at Amish Acres in Nappanee.
Over 84% of the nation’s RVs are made in Elkhart County - hence the moniker “RV Capital”.
The biggest event, by far, in Elkhart County is the Elkhart County 4-H Fair, a nine-day event that is one of the largest county fairs in the United States.
Elkhart County is the center of pontoon boat manufacturing with over 50% of the boat inventory produced by four of the nation’s top boat manufacturers located in Elkhart and New Paris.
Colonel C.G. Conn, whose Elkhart-based company once produced most of the world’s band instruments, started his instrument empire back in 1876 when he developed a process to vulcanize rubber to metal and began manufacturing his revolutionary rubber mouthpiece.
Bristol is the Corndog Capital with 1.1 million stick corn dogs and 2.9 million mini corn dogs made daily which equals over 78 million pounds of corn dogs a year.

Elkhart

When was Elkhart not called Elkhart? In 1829, some local residents named their home Pulaski, building a small community that included cabins, a grist mill and a post office. Only a couple years later, Dr. Havilah Beardsley founded the city of Elkhart nearby. In only a few more years, Elkhart grew large enough to absorb Pulaski.

How did the rich and famous of Elkhart’s early years live? Find out more at the Ruthmere campus, which feature the homes of Elkhart’s founding family.

Bristol

Quilt Gardens are planted in late May, including this one at the Elkhart County Historical Museum.

It’s only fitting that the Elkhart County Historical Museum takes up an historical place of its own. The museum fills the former Bristol High School. It’s easy to imagine kids filing from classroom to classroom (or playing basketball in the gym) in this classic space. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday. Make sure to check out the photos of every graduating class till the school closed in 1966.

Just down the street from the museum is the historic Bristol Opera House. If the timing is right, catch a performance of the Elkhart Civic Theatre, which calls this 1892 theater its home.

Middlebury

The founder of the town of Middlebury, Enoch Woodbridge, liked his hometown in Vermont so much he brought the name with him! Later on, a notorious criminal spent a night in the town...John Dillinger.

Goshen

Is the city becoming a hotbed for independent filmmakers? You can’t be blamed for thinking that thanks to the success of the River Bend Film Festival, which has found a home in the historic Goshen Theater. The theater also hosts concerts and community events and is soon to undergo a major renovation. Independent film luminary Steve Buscemi filmed “Lonesome Jim,” starring Casey Affleck, in and around Goshen in 2004.

Nappanee

For a small city, Nappanee has turned out a number of notable cartoonists who made their name across the nation. Check out a tribute to these artists as well as other artifacts from the city’s past at the Nappanee Welcome Center.

Wakarusa

Wakarusa is a quaint small town with a single stoplight surrounded by century-old buildings, friendly shops and tree-lined sidewalks. Discover the “wall-of-a-thousand drawers” at the 110-year old Wakarusa Hardware.

Elkhart County Facts & Figures

Elkhart County

Time Zone: (EST)
Population: 207,436 (2024 est.)
Sales Tax: 7%
Distance to Nearest State Park: 76 miles
Elevation: 748 ft.
Median Household Income: $65,617 (2019-2023 ACS)
Major Employers

Elkhart and LaGrange Counties are home to the third largest Amish settlement in the country, with Amish populations totaling over 26,000+ Amish residents.

Bristol

Time Zone: (EST)
Population: 1,723 (2023 est.)
Sales Tax: 7%
Distance to Nearest State Park: 76 miles
Elevation: 748 ft.
Town Manager: Mike Yoder

Elkhart

Time Zone: (EST)
Population: 53,726 (2023 est)
Mayor: Rod Roberson
Sales Tax: 7%
Distance to Nearest State Park: 65 miles
Elevation: 748 ft.

Goshen

Time Zone: (EST)
Population: 34,487 (2023 est)
Mayor: Gina Leichty
Sales Tax: 7%
Distance to Nearest State Park: 72 miles
Elevation: 801 ft.

Middlebury

Time Zone: (EST)
Population: 3,586 (2023 est.)
Sales Tax: 7%
Distance to Nearest State Park: 77 miles
Elevation: 833 ft.
Town Manager: Mary Cripe

Millersburg

Time Zone: (EST)
Population: 892
Sales Tax: 7%
Distance to Nearest State Park: 15 miles
Elevation: 883 ft.

Nappanee

Time Zone: (EST)
Population: 6,995 (2023 est.)
Mayor: Phil Jenkins
Sales Tax: 7%
Distance to Nearest State Park: 72 miles
Elevation: 876 ft.

New Paris

Time Zone: (EST)
Population: 1,630
Sales Tax: 7%
Distance to Nearest State Park: 30 miles
Elevation: 820 ft.

Wakarusa

Time Zone: (EST)
Population: 1,956 (2023 est.)
Sales Tax: 7%
Distance to Nearest State Park: 65 miles
Elevation: 840 ft.

Founded: Around April 1, 1830

County Seat: Goshen

Land Area:

Total Land Area: 467.97 sq mi (1,212.0 sq km)
Land: 463.17 sq mi (1,199.6 sq km) •
Water: 4.80 sq mi (12.4 sq km) roughly 1% of total land area.

Population (all population information is an estimate and NOT based on newest 2020 census data.)

Total Population: approximately 206,341
Population Density 448/sq mi (171/km2)
The median age was 35.5 years.

2020 United States Census Information (newest census data will be provided when available.)

Total households (ACS 1-year, 2024): 72,379.
Households with children under 18 (ACS 1-year, 2024): ~29.8% (21,558 of 72,379).
Non-family households (ACS 5-year, 2019–2023): 32.6%.
Households made up of individuals / living alone (ACS 5-year, 2019–2023): 27.7%.
Average household size (ACS 5-year, 2019–2023): 2.88.
Average family size (ACS 5-year, 2019–2023): 4.28.
Average family size (ACS 5-year, 2019–2023): 4.28.

There are 3 cities (Elkhart, Goshen and Nappanee) and 5 towns (Middlebury, Bristol, Wakarusa, New Paris and Millersburg)

Time Zone: Elkhart County is on Eastern Standard Time Zone and participates in Daylights Savings Time

Sources:
Indiana Business Research Center, 2024
U.S. Census Bureau ACS, via DataUSA.io
Census Bureau, ACS 2023
DataUSA - Elkhart
DataUSA - Goshen
DataUSA
Datahood.ai
data.census.gov

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