Major investments spark new homes, jobs and civic pride in Rushville
Once challenged by population decline, aging homes and vacant storefronts, Rushville has made significant progress over the past decade. The city of 6,000 began its turnaround in 2016 after being named a Stellar Community by the state of Indiana, a designation that led to $18 million in housing and downtown improvements. The new energy helped spark even more investments from businesses and developers. "Our downtown looks completely different from what it was 10 years ago," says lifelong resident Kyle Gardner, Rushville's director of special projects. “A lot of people have moved to Rushville and made comments about the appearance and how it’s improved.” And more growth is on the way: Several manufacturers plan to bring hundreds of jobs to the area, and new housing developments are underway across town. “We like to say we’re leading the way in rural Indiana,” Gardner says. “That’s not to say we’re the best. But we hit the ground running in 2016, and we’re working to make it better."
New subdivisions and infill homes are reshaping Rushville
Years of neglect deteriorated many of Rushville’s bungalows, foursquares and National-style homes from the early 1900s. The city has demolished dozens of blighted buildings, clearing the way for new construction and infill housing. Two new subdivisions will add nearly 100 single-family homes, and 40 market-rate apartments are planned. “We’ve got eight homes under construction right now, and I’m thrilled,” Gardner says. “That’s common elsewhere, but we’ve had to fight for this kind of growth. We’ve never seen residential development at this scale before.” Fixer-uppers range from $50,000 to $150,000, while move-in ready homes sell for $150,000 to $300,000. New builds in Grandview Village will be priced at $300,000 to $350,000, and homes in the upcoming Washington Street addition are expected to sell for $175,000 to $225,000.
A former Walmart is now a $20 million community hub
Rushville has diverse recreational options, from quiet green spaces like Carol Jenkins Park to The Overlook, which features a splash pad, playground and walking paths beside Riverside Park. Riverside Park is the city’s main activity hot spot and home to the Riverside Park Amphitheater, an outdoor concert venue styled after a covered bridge in tribute to the county’s heritage. The city’s newest highlight is the Love Community Center, a more than $20 million transformation of a former Walmart into a modern resource and recreation hub. It houses the Rushville Public Library, Rush County Recreation Center, a food pantry and a new childcare facility. Downtown, the once-abandoned Masonic Temple has been revitalized and now hosts the city center, Ivy Tech Community College, and the Princess Theatre, which screens first-run films.
College credit and career coaching at Rush County Schools
Kids can attend Rush County Schools, which receives a B-minus rating from Niche. The district has an enrollment of less than 2,000 students with three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. High schoolers can take dual credit courses and graduate with an associate’s degree. The high school also has a dedicated career coach that offers one-on-one sessions to help students identify career goals, create a resume and practice mock interviews. The private St. Mary Catholic School serves kids in Kindergarten through sixth grade.
Lions, local restaurants and libations downtown
Rushville residents are sure to point out the hundreds of painted lion statues found throughout town. “The lion is our high school mascot and we started painting these lions to show community pride,” Gardner says. “Businesses today will open and they’ll ask where you get a lion, and they paint them and make them their own.” The community’s shopping and dining scene centers around its walkable historic downtown, where small boutiques, a seasonal farmers market and local eateries reflect the town’s revitalized character. “After the Stellar designation, we had a ton of projects like Fish Moon Brewing Company,” Gardner says. “The city purchased a building that was in pretty rough shape and renovated it. Now Fish Moon has Rushville-themed beers and food with local names that they’ve tried to tie in.” Another unique addition is Chocolat Café, which specializes in bean-to-bar chocolate and pastries. Residents can grab groceries at Kroger.
Agriculture and industry shape daily life
State Roads 3 and 44 and U.S. Route 52 intersect in Rushville, providing easy access to Shelbyville, about 20 miles away, and Indianapolis and its airport, roughly 50 miles away. Major employers include Rush Memorial Hospital, Trane, INTAT Precision and Diamond Pet Foods. Expansion projects at Diamond Pet Foods and other manufacturers are projected to bring over 300 new jobs to Rushville.
Although Rushville has a growing manufacturing base, it’s an agricultural community at heart, and most farmers use manure to fertilize their fields. “You smell it certain days of the year, but it’s not that way all the time. That’s just part of country life,” Gardner says.
Rush Fest and concerts at Riverside Park
Rush Fest, also known as Willkie Days, is Rushville’s annual fall festival featuring a parade, live music, local vendors and a covered bridge bike ride. The Live by the Levee concert series brings six free musical acts to Riverside Park every summer. “We get 1,200 to 1,500 people, sometimes up to 4,000 if it’s a bigger band,” Gardner says.
Written By
Leslie Klosterman
