About 27 miles north of Fort Wayne, Kendallville stands out among the farms, lakes and fields of Noble County, Indiana. In 1837, this sleepy farming community was primarily known for its post office. Hence, the city was aptly named after the postmaster general of the time, Amos Kendall. A century later, Kendallville has evolved into a thriving rural center tucked between Lima Road and North Street — Routes 3 and 6. “We’re kind of far to be a suburb of Fort Wayne; Our city is more like a small town,” says Sharon Montoya, executive director of the Kendallville Area Chamber of Commerce. “We have just over 10,000 people, our Main Street is a historic district, and the chamber is celebrating our 100th anniversary this year, so we’ve been around for a while.”
Kendallville is a small historic town surrounded by rural farming.
Kendallville's downtown is a historic district with cute restaurants, antique stores, and shopping.
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The gridded residential streets of rural Noble County
Surrounded by vast farmland and smaller townships, Kendallville is arranged in a grid of residential streets with a wide range of home styles. Traditional century-old properties frame the Main Street corridor. Farther out, ranch-style homes vary in age from the midcentury to the late 1990s. Over the last decade, new construction has steadily increased along the city’s outskirts. Modern subdivisions, like Orchard Place and Noble Creek, offer convenient access to the city’s only major thoroughfares: Routes 3 and 6. Altogether, the median home price in Kendallville is $200,000, lower than the national median and that of Fort Wayne.
According to FBI crime data, the city’s violent and property crime rates have steadily decreased since 2018, paralleling similar trends in nearby Fort Wayne.
There are many housing options including traditional homes in Kendallville.
Ranch homes are a popular option for families looking to move to Kendallville.
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Home to Noble County’s leading employers
Kendallville’s industrial corridors primarily surround the city’s central thoroughfares, Routes 3 and 6. Kraft Heinz is one of Noble County’s leading employers, alongside Parkview Noble Hospital and Hendrickson, a regional truck and trailer manufacturer. “We have several factories; I mean, Creative Liquid Coatings has three plants here in Kendallville,” Montoya says. “There are people here that work in Fort Wayne, and there are people in Fort Wayne who work here. It’s a good mix.” Most Fort Wayne commuters rely on Route 3 for the 28-mile trip south. From there, travelers fly commercially out of Fort Wayne International Airport.
Kraft Heinz in Kendallville produces some of the most popular commercial grocery options.
Creative Liquid Coatings in Kendallville manufactures injection-molded parts.
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The Kendallville Downtown Historic District
The Kendallville Downtown Historic District, which occupies a short stretch of the city's Main Street, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Antique shops, home goods and restaurants neighbor the Strand Theatre, a popular two-screen cinema dating back to the prohibition era. "We're working on getting more shops downtown because we still have some vacant buildings," Montoya explains. "But you'll always see people walking to Jen's Bistro for breakfast and lunch or Jenny's Tacos later in the afternoon." For standard amenities, residents need only head north to Route 6 for Kroger, Rural King, Walmart Supercenter and regional chains like Scooter's Coffee.
Come to Alley Cat Antiques in downtown Kendallville for all your vintage treasures.
The Strand Theater in Kendallville has been showing movies to the community for over 100 years.
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The East Noble School Corporation
Kendallville students generally enroll in the East Noble School Corporation system, which earns a B on Niche. Though the public school district encompasses the nearby communities of Rome City, Avilla and LaOtto, most schools are located in Kendallville. On Oak Street, St. John Lutheran Church & School offers a private, faith-based curriculum. The historic church has sat at Kendallville’s heart since 1859. Alternatively, Avilla is home to both St. Mary’s School, which enrolls sixth through eighth grade, and Oak Farm Montessori School, which enrolls kindergarten through twelfth grade. Niche gives Oak Farm an A and ranks it as the second best private high school in the Fort Wayne area.
East Noble High School is a public school in Kendallville that houses students grades 9-12.
Wayne Center Elementary is a public elementary school in Kendallville that houses students grades K-5.
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Bixler Lake attracts campers countywide
Bixler Lake occupies a large portion of east Kendallville, where residents recreate along the shoreline and its surrounding green space. Noble County locals often head to the lake’s campgrounds for swimming, fishing and boating at Bixler Lake Beach and its public boat launch. The Kendallville Outdoor Recreation Complex sits next door, offering a skate park and ball fields for local leagues. “There are always softball tournaments going on down there,” Montoya says. “It has eight diamonds, so it’s always busy in the summer.” Noble County has 117 lakes and proudly clams Chain O’ Lakes State Park, a nearly 3,000-acre preserve with seven miles of shoreline. But many opt to check out the county’s family-owned steads, like Orchard Hill Farms. Since the 1960s, the orchard has harvested cherries, peaches, pears and apples just a few miles outside the city.
Bixler Lake is a large lake that residents of Kendallville can enjoy for outdoor recreation.
The Kendallville Outdoor Recreation Complex has so many amenities for the residents of Kendallville including a playground, campground, and Bixler Lake.
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Annual events at the Noble County Community Fairgrounds
The Noble County Community Fairgrounds hosts many of Kendallville's annual events. Aptly located on Fair Street, the grounds back up to many homes in the city, meaning residents can easily walk to the county fair each July. From tractor pulls to a rodeo and demolition derby, the county fair draws thousands to Kendallville each summer. In the fall, the Apple Festival uplifts local crafters, food vendors and farmers. "It's our biggest event in the city. We get people from everywhere to come out that first weekend of October," Montoya says. "There's so much food, and it's all apple-themed." She cites that the city's new Memorial Day parade, founded by a resident, has inspired others to engage with the community. "People are happy to do it," she concludes.
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