Mishawaka, Indiana

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Mishawaka, the Princess City, lies nestled along the meandering path of the St. Joseph River. The city is named after Princess Mishawaka, daughter of Shawnee Chief Elkhart. The legend of her romance with white trapper Deadshot, and abduction by her jealous Indian suitor Grey Wolf, characterizes the mixture of romance and history still found in Mishawaka today.

The city’s history began with the discovery of bog iron deposits in the early 1830’s. Settlers arriving to mine these deposits founded the town of St. Joseph Iron Works in 1821. Within a couple years, the town had a blast furnace, a general store, a tavern, and about 200 residents. Business prospered, and in 1833, St. Joseph Iron Works plus three other small towns nearby were incorporated into one— Mishawaka.

In September of 1872, a fire destroyed three quarters of Mishawaka’s business district. However, the persevering citizens rebuilt and attracted new industry. The Dodge Manufacturing Company, Perkins Windmills and the Mishawaka Woolen and Rubber Company (later Ball Band then Uniroyal) all helped the town to prosper industrially. The town also grew agriculturally. In the late 1800’s, the city gained the title as the "Peppermint Capital of the World" due to the rich black loam found in the area that yield great quantities of mint.

Many European immigrants journeyed here spurred on by the promise of plentiful jobs. Belgians and Italians, along with smaller numbers of Hungarian, Greeks, Germans and Poles established separate neighborhoods, commercial areas and clubs. This European heritage remains a vital influence on present day Mishawaka.

Present day Mishawaka is a community on the go…and the grow. Massive commercial retail development areas within the northern end of the city has caused the Grape Road Commercial Corridor to become the second largest retail market in the state of Indiana. The Grape Road area not only provides for the commercial needs of Mishawaka residents but for residents in many of the north central Indiana and south central Michigan communities too. Although many of the large industrial users have since closed their doors, many smaller industrial facilities operate in the city’s industrial parks producing a variety of products. The Edison Lakes Corporate Park, located along North Main Street, is the city’s prime office area with several regional and national headquarters located within the corporate park area.

While the City has grown and expanded in the retail, office and industrial sectors, Mishawaka remains a great place to live and recreate. Old fashioned neighborhoods still exist all over the city where neighbors are willing to help each other with yard chores, share desert recipes or offer friendship. Many of the newer residential subdivisions that have been developed within the city in recent years have replicated the community spirit and "hometown" neighborhood feel. Because neighborhoods are such a vital resource to the success of Mishawaka, the city continually upgrades and develops new neighborhood park and recreation facilities. Presently, a total of 27 parks allow Mishawaka residents to golf, play ball, fish and exercise or enjoy some local historical attractions like the Battell Park Band Shelter or the Works Progress Administration Rock Garden.

With a rich history and a strong sense of that history, Mishawaka continues to prepare and grow for the future. New development within the Central Business District and the continual development and support of the city’s commercial and industrial sectors guarantees the city’s continued strength and success in the future. Princess Mishawaka was a strong warrior, an energetic athlete and a citizen committed to the betterment of her tribe and it is these characteristics that the city embodies and continues to make the Princess City the "Best Hometown in America."