Centerville has historic charm, quaint shops and easy access to I-70
Heading across Interstate 70, drivers recognize the giant candle outside the Warm Glow Candle Company as a sure sign that the Ohio border is only 15 minutes away. The candle store is one of several unique shops in Centerville, a community of less than 3,000 people in western Indiana. Historic U.S. Route 40 runs through the center of town, forming a small Main Street, and the community is proudly part of Antique Alley, a 70-mile stretch of antique dealers from Richmond to Knightstown. “On Main Street, you have rowhouses from the 1800s, which are beautiful and have a lot of character, and some nice little stores,” says Mary Mayberry, a real estate expert with Coldwell Banker Lingle in Richmond. “It’s got a good school system for parents who want that smaller community, and it’s close to so many different communities and Interstate 70.”
Impressive homes on Main Street and new subdivisions
Some of the town’s stately Federal homes date back to the early 1800s, but most homes were built in the 20th century. Buyers can also find newly constructed Craftsman-inspired and New Traditional homes in subdivisions and infill housing. “Not only is it a mixture of those historic homes on Main Street from the 1800s, but you’ve got your smaller one-level homes on a slab and subdivisions outside in the country on larger lots,” Mayberry says. Mature trees and sidewalks line the quiet residential streets, and driveways and garages are standard. The median sale price of a single-family home is $260,000, higher than Richmond’s median of roughly $200,000. Plus, thanks to the area's rural location, a federal loan program can help with financing. “One of the great things about Centerville is that there’s USDA funding you can qualify for and get 100% financing,” Mayberry says.
Antiquing indoors and abundant nature at Cope Environmental Center
Since 1995, Warm Glow Candle Company has brought travelers to town with its sprawling outlet store, antique mall and restaurant. Antiquing is a pastime in its own right. “You can make a whole day or weekend of visiting Warm Glow, then take a short little drive just a few minutes into Centerville and enjoy hours of antiquing,” Mayberry says. “If you want to look at antiques outside of what we have in Richmond, you want to start in Centerville and go onwards straight to Cambridge City.” Maplewood Park, the city’s primary green space, features a playground and the Crown Creek Hiking Trail. Just a few miles outside of town, the 130-acre Cope Environmental Center has more than 3 miles of trails through wetlands, prairies and hardwood forests. The center also offers hands-on programming focused on sustainability and nature.
Downtown Centerville has small businesses in historic rowhouses
Local restaurants, shops and services fill the historic brick buildings downtown. Auntie Em’s Farm Fresh Pies serves coffee and sweet treats, while 5 Arch Brewing Company offers burgers and craft beer. The brewery gets its name from the five archways carved into rowhouses along Main Street. Lavendar and Sage Garden and Home Décor offer plants, all-natural goods and workshops. Antiquers can search for unique finds at Wheeler’s Antiques downtown or peruse more than 80,000 square feet of antique and vintage goods at Centerville Antique Mall and Auction House. Dollar General has essentials, but residents drive to Richmond for groceries.
Career classes and college credit at Centerville-Abington schools
Kids can attend Centerville-Abington Community Schools, a district that serves about 1,800 students across four schools and receives a B-plus rating from Niche. The district offers Advanced Placement classes and dual-credit courses through Ivy Tech and Vincennes University. High schoolers can take career and technical education courses in fields like art, education and health care. Students can also choose from 14 career programs at Whitewater Career Center in nearby Connersville.
Commute to Cambridge City or Richmond in 15 minutes
U.S. Route 40 is a major east-west thoroughfare that runs through the heart of town and connects to the nearby communities of Richmond and Cambridge City, both within a 10-mile drive. Interstate 70 is a few miles north of town and leads to Indianapolis, about 70 miles away. “It’s excellent for commuting because you can just jump on Interstate 70 and get to Ohio or Indy,” Mayberry says. The closest hospital is Reid Health in Richmond.
Archway Days is a summer send-off
Warm Glow hosts events like a fall festival, a Christmas open house and Oktoberfest. Shoppers can pick up local produce and goods at the Centerville Farmers Market every Saturday from June through October. However, the event of the year is Archway Days. “The Centerville Archway Days are a pretty big deal in August,” Mayberry says. “All of Main Street is closed, and it’s kind of that reminder that it’s the end of the summer.” The festival features a community parade, vendors, carnival rides and live entertainment.
Written By
Leslie Klosterman
