Mishawaka is a city in Indiana, located along the St. Joseph River. It's part of St. Joseph County. In 2020, about 51,063 people lived there. Mishawaka is often called "the Princess City." It's also a main city in the larger South Bend-Mishawaka area.

History of Mishawaka

Early Days and Growth

Mishawaka's story began in the early 1830s. People found bog iron here, which is a type of iron ore. Settlers came to mine this iron and started a town called St. Joseph Iron Works in 1831.

Just a few years later, the town was growing fast. It had a furnace for melting iron, a general store, a place to eat, and about 200 people. In 1833, St. Joseph Iron Works joined with other small towns nearby to create the city of Mishawaka. The Mishawaka post office also started that same year.

Challenges and Rebuilding

Not everything was easy. On June 27, 1859, a train bridge collapsed. A train with over 150 people on board fell, and 60 people died.

In September 1872, a big fire destroyed three-quarters of Mishawaka's main business area. But the people of Mishawaka didn't give up. They rebuilt their city and brought in new businesses.

Industry and Agriculture

Companies like Dodge Manufacturing, Perkins Windmills, and Mishawaka Woolen and Rubber Company (later called Ball Band and then Uniroyal) helped the city grow. Mishawaka became known for both its factories and its farms. In the late 1800s, it was even called the "Peppermint Capital of the World" because its rich soil was perfect for growing mint.

From 1906 to 1915, fancy American Simplex cars were made in Mishawaka. Ball Band, which made rubber clothes, had a big worker strike in 1931. The company did very well in the 1940s but closed in 1997 because of cheaper products from other countries.

Factory work in Mishawaka was at its peak in the 1940s. After that, it slowly started to decrease as industries changed. The city's economy then shifted more towards shopping and smaller businesses.

Modern Industry

In 1979, the University Park Mall opened in the northern part of Mishawaka. Later, in 1990, AM General started making the Hummer vehicle at its Mishawaka factory. They also built the MV-1, a special kind of taxicab. Since 2015, AM General has also been making Mercedes vehicles at this plant.

What's in a Name?

Origin of "Mishawaka"

There are a few ideas about where the name "Mishawaka" came from. One idea is that it comes from the name of a Potawatomi village. This village was located where the Elkhart and St. Joseph rivers meet. There were many dead trees there. In the Potawatomi language, the name might have meant "at the firewood-tree land." In another local language, Miami-Illinois, it could mean "it is firewood-tree land."

The most likely origin, according to the city's website and local historian Peter DeKever, is from the Potawatomi term "M’Shehwahkeek." This means "swift flowing water" or "heavy timbered rapids." This name makes sense because the Potawatomi people liked this area for its easy river travel, a shallow crossing near rapids, lots of fish and game, and access to wood.

The "Princess City" Nickname

Mishawaka's nickname, "Princess City," comes from a different story about the name. This story says that "Mishawaka" was the name of the daughter of a Shawnee chief named "Elkhart." The story involves a love triangle between Princess Mishawaka, a white trader called "Dead Shot," and a Shawnee warrior named "Grey Wolf." This tale was first written down by Flavius J. Littlejohn in 1875. In his version, the princess's name was "Mishawaha." This story became very popular and helped create the legend we know today.

Geography of Mishawaka

Mishawaka covers about 17.35 square miles (44.9 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 17 square miles (44 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.35 square miles (0.9 square kilometers), is water.

Population and People

How Many People Live Here?

The number of people living in Mishawaka has grown a lot over the years. Here's how the population has changed:

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1850	1,412	—
1860	1,488	5.4%
1870	2,617	75.9%
1880	2,640	0.9%
1890	3,371	27.7%
1900	5,560	64.9%
1910	11,886	113.8%
1920	15,195	27.8%
1930	28,630	88.4%
1940	28,298	−1.2%
1950	32,918	16.3%
1960	33,361	1.3%
1970	36,060	8.1%
1980	40,201	11.5%
1990	42,608	6.0%
2000	46,557	9.3%
2010	48,252	3.6%
2020	51,063	5.8%
Source: US Census Bureau

A Look at the Community (2010 Census)

In 2010, there were 48,252 people living in Mishawaka. There were 21,343 households, which are groups of people living together in one home. About 11,730 of these were families.

The city's population was mostly White (86.1%). Other groups included African American (6.9%), Asian (1.9%), and Native American (0.4%). About 4.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average age in Mishawaka was 34.7 years old. About 23.1% of residents were under 18, and 13.6% were 65 or older. The population was slightly more female (52.9%) than male (47.1%).

Culture and Fun

Neighborhoods and Parks

Mishawaka has many charming, older neighborhoods. Newer neighborhoods are also designed to feel like a "hometown" to help build community spirit.

The city works hard to improve its parks and recreation areas. There are 29 parks where people can play golf, play ball, fish, and exercise. Merrifield Park has an outdoor Olympic-size swimming pool and an ice skating rink, which opened in 1968. George Wilson Park on the south side is a popular spot for winter tobogganing. It also has an 18-hole frisbee golf course.

Local Traditions

Some people in Mishawaka have Italian backgrounds and still play traditional games like bocce. Others with Belgian roots enjoy playing Rolle Bolle. A few people of Belgian descent also continue to raise and race homing pigeons.

Mishawaka used to host the oldest and largest wiffleball tournament in the country, called the World Wiffle Ball Championship. It ran from 1980 to 2012 and returned in 2020.

High School Sports

Mishawaka has three high schools: Mishawaka High School, Penn High School, and Marian High School. Together, these schools have won 11 state championships in football since 1920.

Getting Around Mishawaka

Public Transport

Mishawaka has a public bus system called TRANSPO. This system also serves South Bend and other nearby towns. The Interurban Trolley has a route that stops at Martin's Supermarket, connecting riders to Elkhart and Osceola.

Travel by Train and Air

The closest Amtrak train station and commercial airport are both in western South Bend. There is also an Amtrak stop in Elkhart, which is a bit closer.

Major Roads

Here are the main highways that serve Mishawaka:

Indiana Toll Road (which is Interstate 80 and Interstate 90)
U.S. Route 20
Indiana State Road 23
Indiana State Road 331
Indiana State Road 933

Education in Mishawaka

Public Schools

Mishawaka High School, part of the School City of Mishawaka

Different school districts serve Mishawaka. The School City of Mishawaka covers the central part of the city. It has 9 schools, including Mishawaka High School and John Young Middle School. Its elementary schools are Battell, Beiger, Emmons, Hums, LaSalle, Liberty, and Twin Branch.

Other parts of Mishawaka are served by the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation and the South Bend Community School Corporation. Penn High School is the main high school for the Penn-Harris-Madison district. Walt Disney Elementary is one of their schools located within Mishawaka.

Private Schools and Colleges

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend runs four private Catholic schools in Mishawaka, including Marian High School.

Bethel University is a Christian liberal arts college with about 1,700 students.

Libraries

Mishawaka has a public library that is part of the Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library system.

Media and News

Newspapers and Radio

The main daily newspaper for the South Bend and Mishawaka area is the South Bend Tribune. It's delivered across north central Indiana and southwestern Michigan.

Mishawaka also has many local radio stations. They play different types of music and programs, including public radio, classical music, religious shows, country, and urban contemporary music. You can find more details on the List of Radio Stations in Mishawaka, Indiana.

Television

The South Bend-Mishawaka-Elkhart area is a major television market. Most of the big TV networks have local channels here.

TV stations located in Mishawaka include WSBT-TV (CBS), WBND-LD (ABC), WCWW-LD (CW), and WMYS-LD (My Network TV). Stations in nearby South Bend include WNDU-TV (NBC), WNIT-TV (PBS), and WHME-TV (LeSEA).

Famous People from Mishawaka

* Robin Hood (golfer) — LPGA Tour golfer

Sarah Evans Barker — judge
Remo Belli — creator of Remo Drum Heads
Kyle Bornheimer — actor
John Brademas — politician
Conte Candoli — jazz musician (played trumpet in Doc Severinsen's The Tonight Show Band)
Pete Candoli — jazz musician (played trumpet in Woody Herman's Big Band)
Devin Cannady — professional basketball player
Timothy J. DeGeeter — politician
Adam Driver — actor
Norman Eddy — Indiana Secretary of State
Tom Ehlers — NFL football player
Buddy Emmons — pedal steel guitarist
Freddie Fitzsimmons — Major League Baseball pitcher and manager
Todd A. Fonseca — author
Daniel L. Gard — Navy chaplain
Lisa Germano — musician
Ben Goldwasser — keyboardist
Kevin Gosztola — journalist, writer, documentarian
George Gulyanics — professional football player (Chicago Bears)
Charles Kuhl — World War II soldier, famous for being slapped by General Patton, which led to Patton losing his command
Allan Lane — actor
Chick Maggioli — professional football player
Ruth McKenney — author
Lou Mihajlovich — professional football player
William J. Oliver — contractor
Anna Rohrer — long distance runner
Mike Rosenthal — NFL offensive lineman
Zander Horvath — NFL running back for the Los Angeles Chargers
Irene Vernon — actress
Sharon Versyp — Purdue women's basketball coach
Joy Lynn White — country western musician

Places to Visit

The Battell Park Historic District is one of nine sites in Mishawaka listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Beutter Park - This new park has a river race with cool-looking overlooks and lights under the water. It also has two bridges over the St. Joseph River, the Mishawaka Riverwalk, a sculpture called "Shards," and a long garden.
Battell Park Historic District - This park features a band shell in a classic style and a terraced rock garden built during the Great Depression.
Old Mishawaka Carnegie Library - This building on N. Hill St. used to be a library but closed in 1969. Now, it's a restaurant.
Shiojiri Garden - Located in Merrifield Park, this Japanese garden shows the special connection between Mishawaka and Shiojiri City, Japan.
The Beiger Mansion - Built in 1903, this mansion was restored in 1973 but then damaged by fire in 1974. It has since been fixed up and now operates as a bed-and-breakfast and a place for events.
The Otis R. Bowen Museum - Found on the campus of Bethel College, this museum displays items related to Dr. Otis Bowen's time as Governor of Indiana and Secretary of Health and Human Services. It also has a copy of the Otis Bowen bust.
Several other buildings and areas in Mishawaka are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Dodge House, Eller-Hosford House, Ellis-Schindler House, Kamm and Schellinger Brewery, Merrifield-Cass House, and Normain Heights Historic District.

Sister Cities

Mishawaka has special connections with two cities in other countries:

Soest, Germany
Shiojiri, Japan

Mishawaka, Indiana facts for kids

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