LaGrange County and its communities offer a high quality of life in a rural setting with easily accessible solutions for transportation in every direction. LaGrange County is made up of four incorporated towns: LaGrange, Shipshewana, Topeka, and Wolcottville, as well as a large number of unincorporated communities such as Brighton, Emma, Honeyville, Howe, Ontario, Mongo, South Milford, and Stroh. Learn more about a few of these communities below.

Shipshewana

Shipshewana, located in the western half of the county, is home to the Shipshewana Auction & Flea Market, which attracts visitors from all over during the summer months as do numerous specialty and craft shops.  It is also home to the Michiana Event Center (MEC), and the Blue Gate Restaurant & Bakery, Blue Gate Garden Inn, and Blue Gate Performing Arts Center.

The Town of Shipshewana is named for the Potawatomi Chief Shipshewana, was settled in 1831, and by 1844 had welcomed its first Amish settlement from Pennsylvania.

LaGrange

The Town of LaGrange was platted in 1836, and became the county seat in 1843 due to its central location. The town, and county itself, is named after French General Marquis de Lafayette’s estate, and literally translates to “the Farm”.

It is also home to some of the county’s architectural jewels including the county courthouse, completed in 1879.

Topeka

Topeka, just a few miles south of Shipshewana, is known around the world for its draft horse auctions. The town also boasts a growing industrial base while being home to the Amish.

Howe

The community of Howe is located in unincorporated LaGrange County, with the Indiana State line marking its northern boundary.

Howe boasts access to the I-80/90 Indiana Toll Road (Exit 121), and is located only two hours from the eastern edge of Chicago. Howe also claims access to many amenities not typical for a small unincorporated community, including shopping and dining options in nearby Shipshewana, IN and Sturgis, MI.

Wolcottville

Wolcottville, along the southern border of the county, offers a central business and shopping district for year-round and summer residents living on the nearby lakes.