South Bend, IN

South Bend is located on the Saint Joseph River in northern Indiana. With a population of 104,000, it is the fifth-largest community in the state.

South Bend is most widely known as the home of the University of Notre Dame and the world-famous Fighting Irish football team. Each year about 80 percent of Notre Dame students take part in voluntary community service in South Bend. Notre Dame's presence in the community has steadily contributed to the growth of the city's culture and economy.

The area's original settlers were fur traders who set down roots during the 19th century. In the early part of the 20th century, South Bend's industry was centered around the Saint Joseph's River, where numerous furniture factories and wool mills were located on manmade canals.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

The average cost for a home in South Bend is $87,000, but that varies from area to area. There are 44 distinct neighborhoods from which to choose, ranging from urban to industrial to collegiate to rural.

• Riverside Drive is one of the more popular neighborhoods in South Bend. The residents in this area are typically upwardly mobile urban sophisticates. Retail stores, entertainment, and restaurants are all within walking distance in this artsy urban area. The median value for homes in the Riverside Drive area is approximately $103,000.
• The Ardmore neighborhood is a quiet community with many well-established homes built between 1940 and 1960. The majority of the residents in this area work in manufacturing and labor.
• There are several parks within the city limits of South Bend, including Belleville Park, Southeast Park, and Pinhook Park, and there are four gorgeous state parks just a few miles away: Kingsbury State Fish and Wildlife Area, Potato Creek State Park, Warren Dunes State Park, and Warren Woods State Park.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

The University of Notre Dame plays such a key role in South Bend's economy that it is said to be responsible for an average of one out of every ten dollars that is circulated in the area. The university brings in approximately 700,000 visitors a year. It is the largest employer in Saint Joseph County.

The shuttering of the Studebaker automobile-manufacturing plant in 1966 had a major impact on South Bend, because until that time it had been South Bend's largest employer. In time, other companies set up shop in South Bend, and soon its economy was once again on the upswing. Today the largest employer in South Bend itself is Memorial Health Systems. Other major employers include:

• Oliver Corporation
• Birdsell Manufacturing Company
• Bendix Corporation
• Honeywell
• Singer Sewing Machine Company
• South Bend Toy Company

SPORTS TEAMS

• Notre Dame Stadium is the home of the storied Fighting Irish football team. Legendary coach Knute Rockne played a key role in the design of the stadium. It was first opened in the 1930s. Because Notre Dame has more than 100,000 alumni who are devoted to the school and to the Fighting Irish, game days are big business for South Bend.
• Joyce Center is the home of the Fighting Irish basketball and volleyball teams. The center has also been used for NCAA men's basketball tournaments.
• Stanley Coveleski Regional Stadium is the 5,000-seat home field of South Bend's Class A minor-league baseball team, the Silver Hawks.

BEST BETS

• College Football Hall of Fame features exhibits and events about the history of football and its players. The National Football Foundation established the Hall of Fame in 1951.
• Studebaker National Museum showcases more than 114 years of automobile history, from Henry Studebaker's wagon shop all the way to the last Studebaker created at the factory in 1966, as well as more than 70 other vehicles.

Other museums and historical sites in South Bend include:

• The Northern Indiana Center for History
• Healthworks Kid's Museum
• The Navarre Cabin
• The Copshahlom Mansion

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• Morris Performing Arts Center is the home of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, the Southhold Dance Theater, and the Broadway Theater League. It has been the cultural heart of South Bend for more than 85 years.
• South Bend Symphony Orchestra is a professional orchestra that performs 15 concerts each year and draws well-known artists and musicians from around the world

EDUCATION

The University of Notre Dame is famous for its sports programs, but its stellar academic program cannot be overlooked. The university offers bachelor's degree programs in business, engineering, architecture, and science as well as graduate degree programs.

Notre Dame is organized into four different colleges and six major research institutes with more than 40 centers and special programs. The campus of 1,250 acres contains 2 lakes and 138 buildings in a beautiful parklike setting.

Indiana University has a branch in South Bend, and Ivy Tech Community College is also located in the city.