Our third stop of the day was LaGrange, county seat for LaGrange County. Thirty-seven percent of the county's population is Amish and together, with Elkhart, is known as Northern Indiana Amish Country. LaGrange has the third largest Amish community in the United States. We rode the back roads from Elkhart to LaGrange and were lucky to share the roads with numerous Amish families making their way to weekly Sunday gathering. Most of the families traveled by buggy. We also saw many traveling by bicycle and by foot. Many smiled and waved at us as we rode by.
**Update added 10/7/13 Have you ever wondered why Lima Road on the Northwest side of Fort Wayne, traveling north to Kendallville, was named Lima when it seemed to lead in the opposite direction of Lima, OH? The answer lies here in LaGrange County. The original county seat was Howe, formerly called Lima. The road now known as State Road 3 was an established Indian trading path that was also used by white settlers. In 1847 a group of business men "planked" the road, making travel easier. It was known as Lima Plank Road. The road was built as an investment with toll booths placed every few miles. In Huntertown, just off of Old Lima Rd, is an industrial park named "Lima Plank Park". This link leads to a page that tells the story. Reflections of the Century
**Update added 10/7/13 Have you ever wondered why Lima Road on the Northwest side of Fort Wayne, traveling north to Kendallville, was named Lima when it seemed to lead in the opposite direction of Lima, OH? The answer lies here in LaGrange County. The original county seat was Howe, formerly called Lima. The road now known as State Road 3 was an established Indian trading path that was also used by white settlers. In 1847 a group of business men "planked" the road, making travel easier. It was known as Lima Plank Road. The road was built as an investment with toll booths placed every few miles. In Huntertown, just off of Old Lima Rd, is an industrial park named "Lima Plank Park". This link leads to a page that tells the story. Reflections of the Century