WELCOME TO WAKARUSA
The Best Communities Make You Want To Stay
Linger Longer in Wakarusa
QUICK LINKS
THINGS TO SEE WHEN YOU VISIT
Elkhart County Quilt Garden- Wakarusa
Wakarusa is home to one of the prettiest quilt gardens on the Heritage Trail.
Annually, May 30-September 15
Maple Syrup Festival
Established in 1969, the Festival brings visitors from all around every Spring.
Sponsored by the Wakarusa Chamber of Commerce
Holiday Trees
Every October the Pumpkin Tree shows up in the middle of Town, followed by the Christmas Tree in early December. Together, the community celebrates the season with carols, hot cocoa, and homemade cookies!
ABOUT WAKARUSA
A quaint little town — the kind of place where the volunteer firemen still decorate a Christmas tree in the middle of the tow square at Christmas!
In 1836, rural Olive Township was formed in western Elkhart County, and in 1849, as the population grew, a post office named Mt. Olive opened. After more population growth, a new village named Salem was established to prevent people from having to travel to either Goshen or Elkhart to conduct business. Since there is already a town named Salem in Indiana, the name was changed to Wakarusa in 1859. The Mt. Olive Post Office was renamed for Wakarusa a year later. The etymology of the name “Wakarusa” is not known. It is thought that that the name Wakarusa is from a native American language, meaning “knee deep in mud”.
Wakarusa Mill
Downtown Wakarusa
Wakarusa Train Station
Tractor Portable Saw Mill
POPULATION
1,998 – 2020 US Census
HOUSING
771 Units – 2020 US Census
FAMILIES AND HOUSEHOLDS
755 – 2023 American Community Survey
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME
$76,008 – 2023 American Community Survey
EMPLOYMENT
59.1% – 2023 American Community Survey
MEDIAN AGE
37.2 – 2020 US Census