Lagro, Indiana may be the smallest incorporated town in Wabash County, but its rich Irish history, river trails, Canal Creamery and 950 Speakeasy Bistro, and community pride make it a small town worth visiting.
Small Town Breakdown No. 74: Lagro, Indiana
For this week's small town breakdown we're staying in Wabash County and going from the county seat of Wabash to the county's smallest incorporated town of Lagro. Lagro is one hour and 45 minutes north of downtown Indianapolis, 50 minutes west of Fort Wayne, and one hour and 30 minutes south of South Bend.
The History of Wabash County and Lagro, Indiana
Wabash County was initially formed in 1820 but wasn't organized until 1835 from parts of the original county formed after the Treaty of St. Mary's. It was re-formed in 1832 out of portions of Cass and Grant counties. The name “Wabash” derives from a Miami-Illinois term that means “water over white stones.”
Lagro was established in 1834 along the Wabash River and was named after Miami Chief Le Gris. It is rich in Irish history, with early Irish settlers arriving to work on the Wabash and Erie Canal project.
St. Patrick's Catholic Church was founded in 1836, and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. In 2020, both the Red Men Hall (built in 1911) and Masonic Temple (built in 1913) were added to the National Register of Historic Places as well.
As of 2024, Lagro's population was 348, making it the 586th-largest incorporated city/town in Indiana and the smallest of six incorporated cities/towns in Wabash County.
Things to Do In or Near Lagro, Indiana
The annual Lagro Good Ole Days is a street fair with live music, a car show, parade, food vendors, kids attractions, fireworks, and more. Get Indiana attended the Good Ole Days in June 2026 and had a great time.
The historic Citizens State Bank built in 1913 has been converted into an antique store called the Red Clover Shoppe, and they have tons of cool items to shop. Speaking of renovations, the old cafe in town is currently being remodeled into a local grocery store.
Outdoors lovers have plenty of options, too. You can walk, run, or bike the seven-mile Wabash River Trail that connects Lagro and Wabash, or explore the Salamonie River State Forest with Salamonie Lake, Hanging Rock National Natural Landmark, and Kokiwanee Nature Preserve, all within minutes of Lagro.
Places to Eat or Drink in Lagro, Indiana
Over the summer months, locals make their way to Canal Creamery, where they serve Bliss Artisan Ice Cream from Tell City. Don't let the name fried corn ice cream scare you away because its flavor is so Indiana and so good. If you're looking for another unique flavor, go with brown sugar maple cinnamon. They're open seasonally from March to October.
Another spot where you might find all 348 residents in one place is 950 Speakeasy Bistro. This bar and eatery opened in 2020 and has 12 beers on tap, delicious pizza and subs, an outdoor fire pit, karaoke nights and live music, and offers excellent views of the Wabash River.
High School History
Lagro High School traces its roots to the 1870s when it was established as one of the first four-room schools in Wabash County. Its athletic teams were known as the Comets, and its final graduating class was the Class of 1962.
After it closed its doors, Lagro consolidated with Roann High School and Urbana High School – both also in Wabash County – into Northfield Jr/Sr High School. It is centrally located between Roann, Urbana, Lagro, and Wabash.
The Northfield Norsemen have won three IHSAA state titles in school history, each coming on the diamond. Baseball claimed the first title in 2001, defeating Speedway 4-2 in the 2A championship game. Northfield baseball won the 2A championship again in 2012, knocking off Evansville Mater Dei 3-2. The Norsemen almost repeated in 2013 but lost to South Spencer in the 2A final, 3-2.
The softball program added to the school's trophy case in 2021, winning 3-1 over Clay City in the 1A state championship game.
That's it for small town breakdown No. 74. Where should we head next?
