What’s it like in Alexandria, Indiana?

Small Town Breakdown No. 59: Alexandria, Indiana 

For this week’s small town breakdown we’re going from Edinburgh in Johnson County to Alexandria in Madison County. Alexandria is just over 1 hour northeast of downtown Indianapolis, 30 minutes west of Muncie, and 1 hour and 15 minutes south of Fort Wayne.

What’s it like in Alexandria, Indiana?

Alexandria, Indiana is home to the Madison County 4-H Fair and a baseball program with multiple state championships. Plus, there’s a world record that keeps on growing in size – one layer of paint at a time.

The History of Madison County and Alexandria, Indiana

Madison County was organized in 1823 and named for James Madison, the fourth president of the United States. Anderson was selected as the county seat.

Alexandria was platted in 1836 and established on the promise of the proposed Indiana Central Canal. However, railroad development interfered with the canal project, and it was never completed. Fortunately for early settlers, the railroads and natural gas boom in the 1880s accelerated the area’s growth, and Alexandria became incorporated in 1893.

As of the 2024 census, Alexandria’s population is 5,211, making it the fourth-largest incorporated town/city in Madison County behind Anderson (55,851), Elwood (8,495), and Pendleton (5,758). It is the 133rd-largest incorporated town/city in Indiana.

Small Town, U.S.A.

In 1943 during World War II, the U.S. government made Alexandria its small town poster child for a book titled “Small Town, U.S.A.” to showcase the ideal American town built on Midwestern values and picturesque streets. Alexandria was a “bedroom community” where automobile industry workers and farmers raised their families, and where church suppers were the norm.

Things to Do In or Near Alexandria, Indiana

If you like festivals and fairs, Alexandria knows how to throw a party.

For almost 100 years, Alexandria has hosted the Madison County 4-H Fair, bringing over 12,000 visitors to Beulah Park every summer for livestock shows, carnival rides, fair food, a parade, and more. The 2026 fair is set for July 27 – Aug. 1.

When the fair packs up, the 6th Annual Summer Dayz Car Show & Vendor Festival takes center stage on Aug. 8, 2026. This event features hundreds of bikes, trucks, and cars competing for over 100 trophies, plus food trucks, a silent auction, and a kids’ zone.

If you enjoy the outdoors, Beulah Park is the perfect spot with walking trails, tennis and basketball courts, a playground, pool, and picnic areas.

And if you’d like to set a world record for a day, Alexandria is home to the World’s Largest Ball of Paint, as recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records. What started as a baseball in 1997 now has over 30,000 coats of paint and weighs almost six tons! It was featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and Jimmy Kimmel is one of many celebrities to have added a layer of paint to the giant blob.

Places to Eat in Alexandria, Indiana

Start the day at Sunshine & Cinnamon Cafe for breakfast and pastries. Locals swear by their biscuits and gravy, cinnamon rolls, and pies.

For fine dining, head to the Harrison Restaurant & Event Center located inside The Golf Club of Alexandria.

Of course, no small town is complete without a solid pizza option, and in Alexandria, that joint is an Indiana staple – Pizza King.

If you’re looking for something nostalgic and simple, give BK Rootbeer Stand a go. They’ve got coney dogs, chili cheese dogs, root beer, and root beer floats. Mark your calendar, too – they re-open on March 30.

There are two bar-and-grills in town you have to hit up. First up is The Curve, a well-known establishment that has been serving the community since 1960. Expect good burgers, tenderloins, cold drinks, and the game on. Another hot spot is Tillie’s Icon, where they serve an elite breaded tenderloin sandwich and host karaoke nights.

High School and IHSAA History

Alexandria-Monroe High School is home of the Tigers. They have won three IHSAA state titles in school history.

With schools separated into four classes based on enrollment for the first time during the 1997-98 school year, Alexandria defeated Southwestern (Hanover) in the 2A boys basketball championship. Three months later, the Tigers’ baseball team knocked off Evansville Mater Dei in the 2A state title game.

Baseball secured the school’s most recent state championship as well, doing so in 2019 with a 4-3 win over Southridge in the 2A championship.

That’s it for small town breakdown No. 59. Where should we head next?