Goshen IN
Many theories and accounts of how Elkhart County got its name have been provided over the years, but the origins of its name have really yet to be verified. One of the most popular theories is the county was named after the Shawnee Indian chief Elkhart, cousin of the famous Chief Tecumseh, and father of princess Mishawaka.
From many accounts, the county’s current boundaries were mainly inhabited by the Potawatomi tribe of Native Americans. Some early Anglo settlers began settling in the Elkhart Prairie around 1829. April 1830, Elkhart County was officially established with its original county seat in Dunlap. After some reorganizing of the county borders, the seat was moved to the center of the county, Goshen.
Elkhart County was founded by immigrants from New England. The completion of the Erie Canal in 1821 caused a surge in immigration from New England to what was then the Northwest Territory.