Looking for small town in Indiana (Greensburg, Batesville: school, living, shops)

[CAtoWY]

Hello everyone,

I would like to write a short story for a class I am taking that is based in a small town in Indiana. I am looking for a small town, possibly in a farming community. I appreciate any information you can give me about your small town! Thank you.

Here are some questions...

What is this place known for?
What type of people live here?
What do you like best about living here?
What’s difficult about living here?
Tell me about the types of people who live in this area.
What would surprise an outsider about this area?
Where do the tourists hang out?
Where do the locals hang out?
Are there any local myths or legends?
Do you have a historical society?
Who are some of the more well-known residents past or present?
What stories do you find yourself telling others about the area?
What kind of agriculture is in the area?

[CAtoWY]

Just to clarify...

I am supposed to choose a place other than where I live as the setting of a short story. I want it to feel very personal and I like the idea of it being in Indiana from the pictures I have seen of it. I am not going to make fun of the town or anything like that, I was looking for kind of an idyllic American small-town setting. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[kasey36]

What is this place known for? Greensburg Indiana. Known for the tree in the courthouse square
What type of people live here? Farmers, factory workers, a few white collar jobs as well.
What do you like best about living here? I no longer live here, but I liked most (Now that I am gone) the smallness of it. I didn't appreciate it when I was there but now as an adult I can see the value in that small city.
What’s difficult about living here? Umm..lots Limited shopping. Not a lot of exposure to arts/culture/or even people of a different race.
Tell me about the types of people who live in this area. Hard working, christian people. Family and faith are first in nearly all the people you will meet.
What would surprise an outsider about this area? Some of the great little dive restaraunts they have
Where do the tourists hang out? On the square, staring and taking photos of the tree in the courthouse tower
Where do the locals hang out? Stories Restaraunt on the square is a popluar place. Pizza King. Ball fields when sports are in action.
Are there any local myths or legends? ?? Besides the danged tree
Do you have a historical society? Yes
Who are some of the more well-known residents past or present? Drawing a blank. There is a kid from Greensburg play pro baseball right now. Can't recall his name though. Greg Maddox, former pitcher of the Cubs and Braves, is from Westport, which is small town just down the road (OK HE was not born there but his mom and dad were from there and nearly his entire family still lives around here)
What stories do you find yourself telling others about the area? How small it is, how close minded some people can be
What kind of agriculture is in the area? Corn, wheat, beans, animals

[kasey36]

You might also try researching a little town, Oldenburg. not sure what you are looking for exactly, but this is just a tiny town of a few hundred people. It is nicknamed the City of Spires. It's what my mom calls a "catholic town"- (a lot of those in Southeast Indiana) meaning it is a few hundred people, a catholic church, and a great restraurant and not really anythign else (no offense to catholics. I am catholic. I just always laugh at my mom calling them that )
oldenburg has a catholic convent (with spires) a stunning church (with the spires...) a nice catholic school. (if I remember right, it has spires)...two FANTASTIC chicken places that serve fab chicken, great beer and some out of this world hot german potato salad--Wagnor's and Koch's. (pronounced Cooks) and the street names are all in german and most of the business names are too (Koch's is technically called the Bra Hous)
They have a nice apple orchard on the north side of town that is busy this time of year.
They have a great festival in July. Freudenfest (sic??) They shut down the streets, and have a german polka band playing....it's a blast.
Beautiful area. the people are probably driving to Batesville to work and aren't "farmers" (well most won't be) so they are a mix of white and blue collar people. Not sure it will be the "Ag" feel it seems you are looking for, but it is a quaint little town that might fit your bill to.

[kasey36]

i could do this all day lol
Another town you might research if Nashville Indiana (I know there are some pics in the photo area of the Indiana thread)
it's a little town that draws tons of visitors a year. It is located near Brown County State Park which in the fall, and height of tree color changes, is bursting with people who come to see the different colors. Town is full of quaint litttle shops that ooze the smell of "fall"--pumpkin, spices, apples, cinnamon....it prides itself as an "artist colony" of types and there are a lot of little art shops in town.

[CAtoWY]

Thank you Kasey36! I appreciate the help!