The South Bend and Mishawaka Community
The Michiana community—Mishawaka and South Bend—is rich in education, culture and history; it is a wonderful place to live. The area boasts wonderful downtown river walks and a charming entertainment district built out of an old industrial site, and is home to the second largest retail center in the state. The greater South Bend-Mishawaka area is a regional center for higher education. In addition to Bethel College, South Bend welcomes students to the University of Notre Dame, Brown Mackie College-South Bend, Holy Cross College, Indiana University South Bend, Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, Saint Mary's College and Trine University South Bend/Mishawaka. Each campus brings a rich variety of visual and performing arts, sporting events and year-round cultural activities.
As the shortest portage point between the St. Joseph River and the Kankakee River, this area was well known among Native Americans, fur traders and missionaries who traveled from eastern shores to the Mississippi River and beyond. Officially established in 1830, St. Joseph County was home to the Studebaker family and their iconic Studebaker Automobile Company. It was here that James Oliver developed his Chilled Plow into the most popular plow in the world. And it was a South Bend resident, Frank Herring, who first requested that a special day be set aside to honor all mothers.
Visitors find more than 400 animals in Indiana’s oldest zoo, a chocolate factory tour that offers free samples, an active farmer's market in operation since 1924,and three children’s museums that teach with infectious fun. Mishawaka’s Grape Road/Main Street shopping corridor offers major mall and boutique shops. The University Park Mall alone has more than 120 stores to explore.
The greater South Bend area is located in the center of north central Indiana, 96 miles east of Chicago, 138 miles north of Indianapolis, 215 miles southwest of Detroit and 245 miles northwest of Cincinnati. Chicago and its many cultural delights is only a train ride away. The South Bend Airport is the second busiest airport in Indiana. It is the only airport in the United States to offer air, intercity rail and interstate bus service all at one location. More than one million travelers are served annually.
For more information about the area, visit VisitSouthBend.com.
