For this week's small town breakdown we're going from Speedway in Marion County to Frankfort in Clinton County. Frankfort sits 50 minutes northwest of downtown Indianapolis and just 30 minutes southeast of Lafayette. It's almost two hours northeast of Terre Haute and two hours southwest of Fort Wayne.
What’s it like in Frankfort, Indiana?
Founded in 1830, Frankfort is the heart of Clinton County and is home to one of the most iconic high school mascots in all of Indiana.
The History of Clinton County and Frankfort, Indiana
Clinton County was established on March 1, 1830, from eastern parts of Tippecanoe County. It was named in honor of DeWitt Clinton, the sixth Governor of New York, who was known as the “Father of the Erie Canal.” He is best remembered as the driving force behind the canal that connected the Great Lakes to the Atlantic and opened up the Upper Midwest to a wave of settlers.
The area in which Frankfort sits was settled by brothers John, William, and Nicholas Pence in 1829. The following year, they donated 60 acres to the county commissioners to secure Frankfort's place as the county seat, and the town was platted that May. The trio of brothers named it Frankfort after Frankfurt am Main, Germany, the home of their great-grandparents.
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Frankfort became incorporated as a city in 1875. It earned the nickname "Gem City" because its new electric streetlights were visible for miles across the prairie, a sight to see in an era when many rural towns were still lit by kerosene.
As of 2024, Frankfort's population was 16,459, making it the 60th-largest city in Indiana and the largest in Clinton County.
Every summer, downtown Frankfort hosts its signature event: the Hot Dog Festival. Held in late July, the two-day celebration pulls in visitors from across the country with a hot dog trail featuring over 20 varieties of hot dogs, a hot dog eating contest, DockDogs Premier Canine Aquatics competitions, dachshund races and games, car and truck show, magic and comedy show, 3 ring circus, and more than 200 vendors spread across downtown.
Frankfort's most popular park is TPA Park, an 88-acre green space on the north side of the city.
It is home to a petting zoo where visitors can meet peacocks, goats, pigs, llamas, donkeys, ducks, chicken, sheep, and more, along with dozens of bird species in an aviary. It’s open all summer long from 1–7 p.m.
TPA park's newest addition – the Sapphire Bay Aquatic Park – opened to the public in 2024 and has a lazy river, raft slide, two water slides, and beach entry pool. There are also baseball diamonds, tennis, basketball, pickleball, and volleyball courts, playgrounds, and picnic shelters.
From Thanksgiving through New Year's Day, the drive-thru Festival of Lights at TPA Park has hundreds of illuminated displays, and admission is completely free.
Moving north of town, head to the Frankfort Lagoons for some of the best fishing in the area. It’s a quiet spot to connect with nature, and spot geese, ducks, turtles, and other wildlife.
For thrill seekers, Skydive Indianapolis operates out of Frankfort Municipal Airport just a few miles west of downtown and has the largest drop zone in Indiana. Tandem skydives launch from 13,000 feet.
Even further west but still with a Frankfort address is Deer Track Golf Club, an 18-hole course with rates starting at just $31 during the summer.
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Places to Eat or Drink in Frankfort, Indiana
Formerly known as The Island, start your day at The Vintage Cafe, a local favorite known for its delicious cinnamon roll french toast, hearty portions, and wall art. It’s open daily from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., and has 4.7 stars among over 350 Google reviews. Another well-established breakfast and lunch spot is the Downtown Diner, established in 2013. For a newer morning wildcard, give COCA Craft Coffee & Roasters a visit.
If you’re looking for a juicy burger, breaded tenderloin, coneys, or fried Oreos, head south of town to The Oasis. Pizza lovers have no shortage of options, either, with iconic Indiana-based spots like Arni’s, Greek’s Pizzeria, and Pizza King all in town.
And you can’t skip out on ice cream in Frankfort, home to Glover’s Ice Cream since 1925. It was founded by Foster Glover, who sold ice cream sandwiches on passenger trains rolling into Frankfort, and is still in the family name. You can order its flavors of ice cream in 8 oz. cups, 48 oz. containers, and 3-gallon party-sized containers, including two new flavors launching this June as part of a Glover’s-Get Indiana partnership – Hoosier Pothole and Indiana Sugar Cream Pie.
Frankfort High School is home to one of the most distinctive and beloved mascots in Indiana: the Hot Dogs. With the town named after Frankfurt am Main, Germany, home of the Frankfurter sausage, the choice of Hot Dogs was a natural decision. They play their basketball games in Case Arena, named after Everett Case, one of the most influential coaches in the history of American basketball.
Case spent 17 seasons at Frankfort, leading boys basketball to IHSAA state titles in 1925, 1929, 1936, and 1939. Frankfort became the first school in Indiana with four boys basketball state championships, and Case is one of only six coaches with four or more boys basketball state titles in IHSAA history. He had a career record of 726-75 in high school.
Case then enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1941 during World War II and coached aviation cadet teams at DePauw and in Iowa.
Once his military service ended, the “Old Gray Fox” took over at North Carolina State University for the 1946–47 season and won his first of nine career regular season conference titles, and first of 10 career conference tournaments, defeating North Carolina in the finals. After the win, Case cut down the nets and is credited with founding the post-championship tradition. He also led the Wolfpack to the NCAA Tournament six times, peaking with a 1950 Final Four appearance and third-place finish. He retired just a few games into the 1964–65 season due to health issues and died in April 1966.
That's it for small town breakdown No. 69. Where should we head next?
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
Why is Frankfort, Indiana called the "Gem City"?
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Frankfort earned the nickname "Gem City" when it became one of the first towns in the area to install electric streetlights. The lights were visible for miles across the prairie, making Frankfort sparkle like a gem at a time when most rural Indiana towns were still lit by kerosene. The city was officially incorporated in 1875.
Why is the Frankfort High School mascot the Hot Dogs?
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The Frankfort High School Hot Dogs got their name from the city's German roots. Frankfort was named after Frankfurt am Main, Germany, the home of the Pence brothers' great-grandparents and the birthplace of the frankfurter sausage. The mascot is widely considered one of the most distinctive in Indiana, and the team plays in Case Arena, named after legendary coach Everett Case.
Who was Everett Case and why is the Frankfort gym named after him?
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Everett Case spent 17 seasons coaching at Frankfort High School and led the Hot Dogs to four IHSAA boys basketball state championships in 1925, 1929, 1936, and 1939, making Frankfort the first school in Indiana to win four titles. He later took over at North Carolina State, where he won 377 games (still a program record), reached the 1950 Final Four, and is credited with starting the tradition of cutting down the nets after a championship. Case was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982.
Originally from small-town Iowa and a Hawkeye at heart, Cheyne has proudly called Indiana home for nearly a decade. Following 12 years of media relations, communications, and broadcasting duties in minor league baseball, Cheyne joined Get Indiana as content manager to write weekly Get Indiana, Get INvolved, and Small Town Breakdown newsletters, blog posts covering everything from travel guides and small towns to Indiana sports, and scriptwriting for social content.
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