Small Town Breakdown No. 10: Gas City, Indiana
In 2025 we are highlighting 52 small towns across the state of Indiana in 52 weeks. For our 10th small town breakdown of the year, we’re headed north from Sellersburg in Clark County to Gas City in Grant County. Gas City is located 1 hour and 15 minutes northeast of Indianapolis off I-69 and 55 minutes southwest of Fort Wayne.
The History of Grant County and Gas City, Indiana
Located in central Indiana, Grant County was founded in 1831 by settlers from Kentucky and Virginia, and was named after Samuel and Moses Grant, who were killed by indigenous warriors near the Ohio River years prior. In 1867, Gas City was originally founded as Harrisburg just to the east of the Mississinewa River by Noah Harris, a local fur trader. It held that name for the next 25 years before being renamed by its 150 residents as Gas City because of the discovery of natural gas in the area. As of the 2023 census, Gas City’s population was 6,091.
Gas City was a “Boom Town”
Natural gas was found in the vicinity of Harrisburg in 1887. Five years later, the Gas City Land Company was formed by local citizens and in March 1892, Harrisburg was officially changed to Gas City. Locals believed there was an endless supply of natural gas and thought the city could swell to a population of 25,000. Thousands of people moved to the area to work in factories or to start their own businesses. A bank, opera house, hotels, offices and homes were built, and the demand was so great to live in the area that those who moved had to live in tents until their homes were built. Gas City’s population exceeded 3,600 in 1900, but over the next few years, factories went out of business or relocated after the natural gas was depleted. The Gas City Land Company dissolved in 1904 and land around Gas City went back to farmland.
"Now, the name has stuck around a lot longer than the supply of natural gas did. It truly was America's first boom city."
Nate Spangle, Small Town Breakdown video, posted March 7, 2025
Things to Do in Gas City, Indiana
If you want to take a trip down memory lane, visit the Gas City Museum to learn all about Gas City’s founding and the natural gas that made the area boom in business and population.
First Fridays have become a summer tradition in Gas City. Mark your calendar for May 2, June 6 and August 1 this summer, when attendees can enjoy food vendors, live music and shop from local businesses. First Fridays are family friendly and include a free fun zone for kids, too!
"Check out the Main Street Gas City Facebook page to get all the details about the First Friday events happening this summer."
Nate Spangle, Small Town Breakdown video, posted March 7, 2025
Gas City Park is a hot spot in town for many reasons. Not only does it have ball diamonds, tennis courts, pickleball courts, a swimming pool and playgrounds, but there’s a pond for fishing and a petting zoo. Gas City Park also hosts a summer concert series every Tuesday from June through August in its amphitheater.
Staying outdoors, Cardinal Greenway is the perfect rail-trail to bike, hike, walk or jog. It spans 62 miles from Marion through Muncie to Richmond, and it cuts through Gas City/Jonesboro. I’ve run the entire Monon Trail… do I dare take on the longest rail-trail in Indiana!? There’s only one correct answer here.
While it’s not Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Gas City I-69 Speedway satisfied Hoosiers’ need for speed. Fans enjoyed races from May through September, including modified and street stock on the quarter-mile clay track. Retired NASCAR drivers Jeff Gordon and Cole Whitt, and former IndyCar and current NASCAR driver J.J. Yeley have all raced at the track. The track did not operate in 2024, and a petition to save it began in February 2025.
Gas City is also home to popular boutiques including The Wispy Pine Boutique and Crave More Boutique, and Mama Pearson’s Soaporium is a great place to shop or enjoy its spring and fall fests. Gentlemen, be a gentleman and take your significant other to downtown Gas City.
Places to Eat in Gas City, Indiana
If you’re in Gas City and need a place to eat, try to find the local spots that start with a ‘P’ or ‘G’ — you can’t miss with any of them.
First up is Payne’s Restaurant, which has a 4.5 Yelp rating among nearly 500 reviews. Payne’s is known for its bangers and mash (traditional British sausage, Rutabaga/Potato Mash and Sweet Apple Cider & Onion Gravy) and fish & chips, which Yelpers rave about in the reviews. To top it off, order Payne’s popular Sticky Toffee Pudding for dessert.
"Payne's Restaurant, and you have to get the bangers and mash."
"I had no idea Gas City had such global influence, but they serve up traditional British sausage with potato mash and sweet apple cider and onion gravy."
"I know it sounds strange, but multiple people and a ton of reviews have sworn by it."
Nate Spangle, Small Town Breakdown video, posted March 7, 2025
Batting second is Pappies Smokehouse & Lunch Box. What began as a BBQ food truck, Pappies has now expanded into a full-blown smokehouse with smoked meats, ribs and more on the menu. The Brisket Jalapeño Mac Bowl is calling my name. Guests have given Pappies a 4.6 star Google rating with over 250 reviews, so you know they’re dishing up somethin’ right.
"For starters, when you build a bowl, you pick a meat from the smoker and it's served over mac and cheese. Talk about a food coma."
Nate Spangle, Small Town Breakdown video, posted March 7, 2025
When you’re in small town Indiana, you always need to have a trusty pizza joint in your back pocket. In Gas City that pizza joint is Gabriella’s Old Time Pizza, offering big city taste and small town love. Pizza, pasta, sandwiches, wings and breadsticks are on the menu. If you can’t narrow to one pizza, pasta or dessert with your order, you can order each of them in flights, allowing you to mix and match. The Chicken Bacon Ranch ‘za is top of the line. You can’t go wrong with any of the five dessert pizzas, either — Dirt Pie, Sea Salt S’mores Pie (yes, please!), Cinnamon Toast Crunch Pie, Coco Pebbles Pie and Fruit Loop Pie. Delicious.
Our final stop in Gas City is Gas City Brewing Co., which has everything you need in a brewery. IPAs, stouts, sure thing, but comedy nights and “Singo” Nights (you have to sing to cover the space on your bingo card!) attract guests and keep the taps flowing. Pour me another and get home safely.
That’s it for small town breakdown No. 10 of 2025. Where should we head next?
