LaGrange County, Indiana

 county, draw only border

www.lagrangecounty.org/
www.backroads.org/

Home to the third largest Amish community in the United States. Approximately 37 percent of the county's population is Amish.

LaGrange County was once home to the Potawatami Indians. The first white settlers came from the east to establish communities in this Midwestern wilderness in the early 1830’s. The area has experienced continued growth, attracting modern-day pioneers with its rural landscape and unspoiled natural areas.

The town of Shipshewana, located in the northwest corner of the county was named for the Potawatomi chief, Shipshewana, with the first white settlers arriving in 1831. The first Amish settlers came from Pennsylvania in 1844. By 1854, both German Baptist and Mennonites had also established churches in Shipshewana.

The neighboring town of Topeka was settled in 1832. Topeka was officially named in 1892 and it is said to have been named by Kansas railroad workers who constructed the tracks for the Wabash Railroad in 1891. The home of the Sycamore Literary Society, Sycamore Hall was built in Topeka and dedicated in 1905.

In 1832, two French traders settled in the southeastern part of the county, in what is now known as Wolcottville. A log cabin, a dam, a sawmill, a gristmill and a general store were soon built. In 1837, a businessman named George Wolcott came to the settlement started a number of businesses that served settlers’ needs; in 1848, the settlement was named after him.

In the center of the county is the town of LaGrange, platted in 1836 by William Beavers, George F. Whittaker, Rueben J. Dawson and James McConnell. LaGrange became the county seat in 1843.

Howe, the former county seat, settled in 1834, was originally called Mongoquinong, and was later changed to Lima. The town’s name was eventually changed to Howe in honor of John B. Howe, one of the founders of the community’s first bank. Mr. Howe’s mansion now houses the rectory and administration building for Howe Military School.

Several other historic sites also remain in the county. Brighton is home to a 150-year-old English Prairie Church of the Brethren, and remnants of the one of the areas first one-room schoolhouses. Two general stores, one complete with the original soda fountain remain much as they were an era ago and are still open for business today.

The towns of Mongo, Stroh and South Milford, originally farming villages are now attractive to visitors and residents alike who enjoy taking advantage of the lakes, rivers, and nature preserves surrounding their communities.