Moving Companies South Bend, IN

South Bend, Indiana

The University of Notre Dame, famous for its football program and its 1,250-acre campus, anchors the South Bend community. However, you will soon discover that there is a lot more to this charming community, including excellent attractions, culture and arts, and sports and recreation. Offering big city amenities mixed with small town charm, those moving to South Bend, Indiana will discover a wonderful place to eat, shop, explore and thrive.

History:
In 1820, Pierre Navarre built a cabin on the North side of the Joseph River near what is now the Michigan State Bridge. Three years later, Alexis Coquillard founded a fur trade post a short distance from the site of La Salle’s landing, and the settlement known as South Bend was founded. Over the next two decades, South Bend grew slowly. That changed in1842, when Rev. Edward Sorin and six Catholic brothers established one of South Bend’s most famous institutions, the University of Notre Dame. During the second half of the 19th Century, South Bend’s growth was marked by rapid industrial expansion. Locally owned industry included the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company, the world’s largest produce of wagons, the Oliver Chilled Plow Works, the Birdsell Manufacturing Company, and the Bendix Corporations. These corporations provided the foundation for South Bend’s growth over the next 100 years. Railroads were built connecting South Bend to Toledo and Chicago in 1851. Streetcar lines were developed in 1880. By 1890, an extensive commuter line had been established. And by 1920, South Bend had grown to be Indiana’s fourth largest city. The massive industrial growth that marked the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries slowed in the years following World War II. A number of the large industries that had helped build South Bend are no longer in the area. The city has rebounded and forged ahead into the new century.

Economy:
South Bend's diversified economic base consists principally of educational and health services, wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing and government. The city benefits greatly from being a college town, in particular, Notre Dame University has a considerable impact on the economy of South Bend, Indiana. The university further contributes to the area economy by collaborating with area businesses for research and development projects and providing strong job market candidates.

Health services have also expanded in South Bend in recent years. Memorial Health System has grown to become the city’s second-largest employer. Memorial's success has been linked to its central location, medical research conducted through Notre Dame and a recent proliferation of medical-related business startups in the area. St. Joseph County is the second-largest retail market area in the state next to Indianapolis, with nationally recognized retailers including Old Navy, Marshall Fields, Barnes & Noble and Ethan Allen. Manufacturing industries in the area include non-electrical machinery, transportation, equipment and various plastic products. Another important industry in the county is tourism, which generates a significant number of jobs and revenues. Aside from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Notre Dame University attracts the most visitors in the state; the county gains nearly $40 million through the university's football games alone.

Tourism:
Head over to the College Hall of Fame. The National College Football Museum is open daily for self guided tours and features 360-degree theatre film viewing area and The Training Center interactive skills course. The history and spectacle of college football lives in downtown South Bend. Next, check out the Health Work Kids museum. HealthWorks! is a state-of-the art, 12,000 square foot facility aimed at teaching children that the choices they make today will impact the quality of life they have tomorrow. Children learn through interactive displays about the human body and innovative computer stations to help reveal important facts about their own skills and talents. The facility offers several different learning stations for visiting area students, with additional programs on the weekends. Finally, the Century Center Modern structure, located on an 11-acre riverfront park, provides not only space for meeting, trade show and convention facilities, but the Century Center complex also includes two attractive theatres, an art museum and a gift shop.

Colleges/Universities:
• Indiana University South Bend
• University of Notre Dame
• Brown Mackie College

Interesting Facts:
• The South Bend Chocolate Company produces more than 3,000 pounds of chocolate daily.
• The first Notre Dame football game was played against the University of Michigan in 1887.
• Build it 1984, South Bend's East Race Waterway was the first artificial whitewater course built in North America.

Helpful Links:
• South Bend Real Estate
• South Bend Storage Facility
• South Bend Insurance
• South Bend Moving Companies