It is popularly believed that Elkhart was named for a local island in the shape of an elk's heart. It is more likely that the community, county, Elkhart River and Elkhart Prairie were named for the Shawnee Indian Chief Elkhart, a cousin of the famous Chief Tecumseh.
Dr. Havilah Beardsley, who arrived in the area in 1830, laid out the first lots of the Village of Elkhart in 1832. The village became a town in 1858 and a city in 1875.
During this time, the railroad's presence was growing. By 1900, a fourth of the population was employed by the railroads. I still have family members and friends who work for the railroad today. Early in this century, industrial growth began in the area, with a focus on automobile manufacturing.
The former Miles Laboratories was founded in Elkhart and was the home of notable medicine, like Alka Seltzer. The city became the "Band Instrument Capital of the World," thanks to individuals like colonel C.G. Conn, founder of the C.G. Conn Company. It continues to be an important center for musical instrument manufacturing. In more recent decades, the area became an international center for manufacturing recreational vehicles. The history of this industry is traced in the area's RV/Mobile Home Hall of Fame and Museum.
The entrepreneurial spirit still lives on, improving the infrastructure, challenging old ideas with new, and encouraging.
This information is brought to you by your local Elkhart County Real Estate Expert and Certified Short Sale Specialist Evelyn Johnsotn, with Prudential One Realty, 574-304-7148.
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