In 2025 we are highlighting 52 small towns across the state of Indiana in 52 weeks. For our 15th small town breakdown of the year, we’re making the trek from Winfield in Lake County to Ellettsville in Monroe County. Ellettsville is 15 minutes northwest of downtown Bloomington, 1 hour southwest of Indianapolis and 2 hours northwest of Louisville.
The History of Monroe County and Ellettsville, Indiana
Monroe County was founded by the Indiana General Assembly in 1818 and named for James Monroe, who served two terms as the fifth President of the United States from 1817-25. State Seminary was founded in 1820 and renamed to Indiana College in 1828 before again being renamed to Indiana University in 1838. Beyond IU, the county’s economy is centered around limestone quarries and milling. In fact, limestone from Ellettsville can be seen in memorials, cathedrals, government buildings, libraries, churches and other historic buildings across the United States. Many craftsmen from Ellettsville’s limestone mills traveled the country to complete work on these magnificent structures.
As of the 2023 census Ellettsville’s population was 6,694, making it the second-largest of three incorporated towns/cities in Monroe County. Bloomington is the county seat with a population of 78,840, and Stinesville comes in on the much lower end with a population of 202.
Things to Do In or Near Ellettsville, Indiana
The Monroe County Fall Festival takes place in Ellettsville’s Marci Jane Lewis Park and is scheduled for Sept. 11-13 this year. It attracts over 50,000 people annually and features a parade, exhibits, craft vendors, queen contest and, of course, top-notch festival food.
The half-mile Limestone Heritage Trail in downtown Ellettsville has artifacts and sculptures for walkers and bikers to enjoy before connecting to the Karst Farm Greenway trail. If you head to the north side of town, you’ll come across limestone sculptures of Bigfoot, Yoda and an elephant, too.
While it’s a Bloomington address, Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park is located just east of Ellettsville and is the perfect spot for indoor family fun. It offers fitness classes and sports training in addition to open jump, a Ninja Warrior course, dodgeball and more.
We can’t talk about Monroe County without mentioning Indiana’s largest man-made lake… Lake Monroe, also known as Monroe Reservoir. Construction began on the reservoir in 1960 and it spans nearly 11,000 acres. Needless to say, it’s a hot spot for fishing and recreational activities throughout the year.
Expanding seven miles northwest of Ellettsville into Owen County, visitors can enjoy Indiana’s first state park — McCormick’s Creek State Park. It has an impressive limestone canyon, flowing creek and scenic waterfalls for hikers to explore.
Places to Eat in Ellettsville, Indiana
Start your day with a visit to The Caffeinated Cook, where breakfast — highlighted by their delicious pastries — is served until close. You can also enjoy sandwiches, soups and salad for lunch. Regardless of your order, you’ll be greeted and taken care of by a very welcoming staff. The restaurant has over 100 Google reviews and a 5-star rating.
There’s also plenty of pizza to go around in Ellettsville. You can enjoy deep dish at Chicago’s Pizza of Ellettsville/Bloomington, but Ellettsville Pizza Pantry is the go-to pizza joint with a full salad bar and soup to enjoy. Not only does it have great pizza, but guests rave about the salad bar, breadsticks and a must-have… Stromboli. If you prefer chain pizza restaurants, then Pizza Hut, Domino’s, Papa Johns and Hunt Brothers are all available in or on the outskirts of town, too.
That’s it for small town breakdown No. 15 of 2025. Where should we head next?
