City: Indianapolis, IN

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (317) 718-8750

Description: Just minutes west of Indianapolis, Hendricks County covers 408.4 square miles with a population of 137,240. The largest town in Hendricks County, Plainfield boasts 25,739 people on close to 40 square miles. Incorporated in 1839, Plainfield got its name from the early Friends (Quakers) who settled around the area and established several meetinghouses throughout the county. The Friends were “plain” people and thus the name Plainfield. The high school continues to honor the Quakers, using the name for the school’s mascot. Plainfield has long been associated with the National Road, US 40, which goes through town as Main Street. In 1842 the nation’s spotlight was turned on Plainfield when President Martin Van Buren was deliberately dumped from his stagecoach into the thick mud of the highway. The practical joke was in response to Van Buren’s veto of a bill from Congress to improve the highway. Western setters were angered by the vote and showed their displeasure when Van Buren came through Plainfield to gather votes for the 1844 election. The roots of an elm tree caused the incident and later became known as the Van Buren Elm. Van Buren Elementary School is located near the site.