South Bend

The South Bend Division consists of a Branch Supervisor and has a current staffing of attorneys and support staff. The South Bend Division serves 11 counties (LaPorte, St. Joseph, Elkhart, Starke, Marshall, Kosciusko, Pulaski, Fulton, Wabash, Miami and Cass) with a combined population of 847,435.

About South Bend and St. Joseph County

South Bend is located in the heart of St. Joseph County.  St. Joseph County and the surrounding region provide more attractions than the average visitor can see in a single day. The area offers a variety of fairs and festivals, a top-notch zoo, historical and interactive museums adults and children alike can enjoy. But if Mother Nature is more your style, St. Joseph County offer gardens, parks and even a world-class waterway, perfect for kayaking. The East Race Waterway is North America’s first artificial whitewater course, hosting national and international slalom races featuring Olympic champions. Many explore the numerous universities that are abundant in the region. The performing arts shine brightly in St. Joseph County. From the Broadway Theater League that attracts national touring Broadway shows to the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, perfection never sounded better. The Morris Performing Arts Center houses both groups.

The University of Notre Dame ranks as the top tourist attraction in the region. The University of Notre Dame, founded in 1842 by Rev. Edward F. Sorin, C.S.C., of the Congregation of Holy Cross, is an independent, national Catholic university located in Notre Dame, Ind., adjacent to the city of South Bend and approximately 90 miles east of Chicago. Admission to the University is highly competitive, with five applicants for each freshman class position. Sixty–nine percent of incoming freshmen were in the top five percent of their high school graduating classes.

The University is organized into four colleges—Arts and Letters, Science, Engineering, and the Mendoza College of Business—the School of Architecture, the Law School, the Graduate School, six major research institutes, more than 40 centers and special programs, and the University library system.

With 1,250 acres containing two lakes and 137 buildings with a total property replacement value of $2.2 billion, Notre Dame is well known for the quality of its physical plant and the beauty of its campus. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the 14–story Hesburgh Library with its 132–feet–high mural depicting Christ the Teacher, and the University’s beautifully renovated 128–year–old Main Building with its famed Golden Dome are among the most widely known university landmarks in the world.

Souht bend area higher learning facilities

• Bethel College (Mishawaka, Indiana)
• Goshen College (Goshen, Indiana)
• Ivy Tech Community College (South Bend, Indiana)
• Saint Mary’s College (Notre Dame, Indiana)
• University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, Indiana)

Interesting Facts

Elkhart County is known as "The RV Capital of the World" because of its substantial Recreational Vehicle-based economy. Farming, naturally, also plays a big role in the local economy along with other smaller industries. Tourism rounds out Elkhart County's economy. Destinations such as Das Dutchman Essenhaus (an Amish style restaurant and store that has something for everybody) in Middlebury, Indiana and Amish Acres (a tourist attraction created from an 80 acres old order Amish Farm) in Nappanee, Indiana along with annual events such as the Elkhart Jazz Festival, the Amish Acres Arts & Crafts Festival (conducted the first weekend August in Nappanee, Indiana), and the Elkhart County 4-H Fair draw in thousands of tourists every year. The Fair is the second largest county fair in the United States.

Cass County has many activities for families to explore.  Take the time to walk one of their scenic trails, shop Logan’s Landing (a downtown retail-shopping district) and take a turn on the Dentzel Carousel (a historic hand-carved carousel in Logansport, Indiana), where you can grab for that brass ring.

While visiting Cass County, discover the best that outdoor recreation has to offer at France Park. Swimming or scuba diving in the crystal clear water of a long ago abandoned stone quarry, hiking, biking or cross country skiing the 5-7 miles of well maintained trails, fishing in Lake Trimer, camping at one of the 200 modern or primitive campsites and the 18 hole Disc Golf course are some of the many activities available.

Miami County in home to the City of Peru, Indiana which was the winter headquarters for several famous circuses. These circuses include Ringling Brothers, Barnum and Bailey, Wallace and others.  (Peru shared the notoriety of winter headquarters for some of these circuses with Baraboo, Wisconsin.) The International Circus Hall of Fame is located in Peru, Indiana. Annually during the third weekend of July, the Peru Amateur Circus holds performances for the whole week, ending with a Circus City Festival and Parade. All of the performers are amateurs, ranging in age from 7 to 21 years.  Peru is also the site of the tribal headquarters of the Miami Nation (A Native American Indiana Tribe).