The History of Wayne County and Cambridge City, Indiana
Wayne County was founded in 1811 and named after Revolutionary War General “Mad” Anthony Wayne, who was mainly remembered for his service in the 1790s in the Northwest Indian War. The county played a vital role in the early development of eastern Indiana, particularly because of the National Road, which helped connect travelers and traders across the Midwest.
Cambridge City was platted in 1836 and named after Cambridge, England. Its location along the Whitewater Canal made it an early hub for trade from Cincinnati and manufacturing in the mid-1800s. The town’s prosperity grew further when the National Road passed through, transforming Cambridge City into one of Indiana’s earliest commercial centers.
As of the 2024 census, Cambridge City’s population was 1,736, making it the third-largest incorporated town/city in Wayne County behind the county seat Richmond (35,561) and Centerville (2,769). It is the 252nd-largest city in Indiana.
Things to Do In or Near Cambridge City, Indiana
Downtown Cambridge City is known statewide as a hotspot for antique lovers. The town boasts multiple antique shops within walking distance of each other, including Building 125 Antiques, National Road Antique Mall, and Vinton House Antiques, the last of which resides in a former hotel that was established in 1847 near the National Road and Whitewater Canal. Each store is filled with unique finds from vintage furniture to old signage and memorabilia, making the perfect weekend treasure hunt.
Cambridge City’s annual Canal Days Festival is a celebration of the town’s canal heritage with food, crafts, carnival games, a famous duck race, and evening concerts. It’s held annually on Labor Day weekend, with the 2025 edition being the 55th.
The Golay Community Center is a nonprofit that was presented to western Wayne County in fall 1981. It offers locals a pool, weight room, cardio room, basketball court, gym, aerobics classes, and other amenities, plus it’s a great location to host private events like birthday parties. Memberships are open to all ages, and day passes are available for youth 18 and under ($5) and adults 19 and older ($7).
If you’re a history buff, make sure to visit the Huddleston Farmstead, which sells native plants and is home to a restored 1840s brick farmhouse that served as an inn for travelers along the National Road.
For children and adults interested in receiving dance lessons, Dance Dynamics is a dance studio that offers dance classes for all ages.
Winding Branch Golf Course is an 18-hole course just southeast of town. New ownership took over in 2021, and the course and clubhouse have improved with renovations. In town, Creitz Park is home to walking paths, a picnic shelter, disc golf course that was added to the park in fall 2021, and a brand-new playground introduced in spring 2025.
Places to Eat or Drink in Cambridge City, Indiana
Start your day at Lumpy’s Cafe, the go-to spot in town for breakfast, brunch, and lunch all week long. Everything on the Lumpy’s menu is affordably priced, with favorites being its biscuits and gravy, cinnamon rolls, and tenderloin sandwiches.
For a newer morning option, Legato Coffeehouse and Market serves up morning brews and baked-from-scratch goods. Legato opened in March 2025 but is already building a strong reputation with over 1,100 Facebook followers.
No. 9 Grill is a must-visit for lunch, dinner, and dessert lovers, and it’s open seven days a week. It’s known for its breaded tenderloin sandwiches, premium cut steaks, Rihm’s smoked pork chops, cajun shrimp pasta, plus desserts like New York cheesecake and fresh strawberry cake. It has 4.7 stars among more Google reviews than the entire population of Cambridge City.
If you’re looking for a classic small-town drive-in with window service, Hilltop Drive-In offers burgers, tenderloin sandwiches, ice cream cones, milkshakes, and onion rings locals love. It has 4.6 stars on 640 Google reviews and over 5,400 Facebook followers.
For lunch or dinner with a view of fish, turtles, blue herons, and more Indiana wildlife, head to Lakeview Restaurant and sit on the patio while enjoying live performances on select nights. Bonus: It’s heated during the cooler months. Guests can’t get enough of Lakeview’s tenderloin sandwiches, beef manhattan, and peanut butter pie.
For the late-night crowd, the barn-looking Chug-A-Lug Pub is filled with auto racing murals of Cambridge City native and driver Larry “Crash” Crockett, who finished ninth and earned Rookie of the Year honors in his first Indianapolis 500 in 1954. Tragically, he died in a sprint car racing accident at Langhorne (PA) Speedway in spring 1955.
Cambridge City Lincoln High School
Cambridge City is part of the Western Wayne School District, and is home of the Lincoln Middle/High School Golden Eagles. They do not have any IHSAA state championships in school history but have won sectional titles in baseball (1986, 1994), boys basketball (1951, 1961), girls basketball (1983, 2004, 2005, 2016), volleyball (1991, 1996, 2006, 2022), and softball (2004, 2005, 2007, 2015, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2025). The 2019 softball team was the only one to win its regional and make a semi-state semifinals appearance.
That’s it for small town breakdown No. 42 of 2025. Where should we head next?
