A Little About Goshen
The Location
Goshen is the heart of the Midwest and the Amish country as well as the middle of Elkhart County. Chicago, just 120 miles to the west, is within easy reach by way of the Indiana Toll Road. Other major cities in proximity to Goshen include:
- Elkhart, 12 miles
- South Bend, 25 miles
- Detroit, 170 miles
- Indianapolis, 140 miles
- Toledo, 130 miles
- Cleveland, 250 miles
The History
The area that would become Goshen, Indiana was originally inhabited by Indians speaking Algonquian languages, including the Miami, Potawatomi, and Delaware peoples. In 1679 the French explorer Sieur de La Salle began exploring the Great Lakes region and claimed it for France. The area began to be settled by the French after La Salle had made peace with the local Miami Indians. Following the French and Indian war, the English came into power and the area was permanently settled. The city was officially named Goshen (probably named after Goshen, New York) in 1831, and at the same time it was declared the county seat for Elkhart County.
The city is known as a center of manufacturing for recreational vehicles and accessories, the home of Goshen College, a nationally recognized liberal arts college, and home to the Elkhart County 4-H Fair, the second largest county fair in the United States.
The Attractions
There are four parks in Goshen with greenways and trails that wind through the city. The Elkhart County Fairgrounds is the venue of the Elkhart County Fair, which is held in late July every year. It is the biggest county fair in Indiana and is reported to have the second largest attendance in the country. Another interesting local event is the Goshen Air Show, which is held annually at the Goshen Municipal Airport.
- Indulge in the flavor-of-the week at the The Chief ice cream
- Stroll, bike or run the Mill Race Trail – beautiful in any season
- Step up to the old-fashioned lunch counter at Olympia Candy Kitchen, serving up sweets and memories since 1912
- Shop downtown’s one-of-a-kind finds - Jules Boutique, Woldruff’s Footwear & Snyder’s Men's Shop - to name just a few
- Don’t miss the Depression-era police booth at the corner of Main and Lincoln
- Soak up the Main Street scene at monthly First Fridays
- Find it fresh - local produce, cheese from area farm and crusty breads fresh from the oven at the Mill Race Farmers Market
