North Manchester is the birthplace of a U.S. Vice President, home to Manchester University, and sits along one of Indiana's most scenic rivers.
Small Town Breakdown No. 72: North Manchester, Indiana
For this week's small town breakdown we're going from Kirklin in Clinton County to North Manchester in Wabash County. North Manchester is two hours north of downtown Indianapolis, 45 minutes west of Fort Wayne, and one hour and 20 minutes south of South Bend.
The History of Wabash County and North Manchester, 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.
Brothers Peter and John Ogan purchased land in Wabash County in 1835, and Peter is credited as the founder of North Manchester after platting the town in the mid-1830s. It was named after Manchester, England, and became incorporated in 1874. In the early 1900s, North Manchester had its own automobile manufacturer called the DeWitt Motor Company.
As of 2024, North Manchester's population was 5,237, making it the 137th-largest city in Indiana and the second-largest in Wabash County behind the seat of Wabash (10,275).
Things to Do In or Near North Manchester, Indiana
Check out the North Manchester Covered Bridge, one of only two remaining covered bridges in Wabash County along with the Roann Covered Bridge. It was built in 1872 by the Smith Bridge Company out of Toledo, Ohio, repaired in 1977, and underwent a $724,000 rehabilitation project in 2013. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
If you want to get out on the Eel River, Ride the Eel Kayak Experience is the best local option to do so.
Visitors can also enjoy community events like the Eel River Farmers Market, held every Saturday from May through October, and the Eel River Music Fest, which includes a parade, car show and bike show, pickleball tournament, food vendors, and more.
Manchester University
You can't write about North Manchester without mentioning Manchester University. They recently built a literacy lab where kids from the local community can receive free tutoring, and they also built a new football field.
More changes are coming to Manchester University as well thanks to a $12.1 million grant they received through Lilly Endowment's College and Community Collaboration initiative. The funds will go toward the College Row housing development, which includes 20 townhouse-style units, the Manchester Mile that connects downtown to campus, and the Eel River Commons, complete with a bridge across the river and a community space for lectures, programs, festivals, and entertainment.
And here's a fun fact: On February 1, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered a speech titled "The Future of Integration" on campus. It was his last speech on a college campus before he was assassinated that April.
Places to Eat or Drink in North Manchester, Indiana
Tenderloin lovers have plenty of options to choose from in town, and Nate Spangle did a taste test for four locations.
Mr. Dave's has a thick version, The Crystal Main Street Grill has the most seasoning, Beef-a-Roo has good breading, and The Inn Pub & Grill has the best hand-breaded tenderloin.
The Inn Pub & Grill is the go-to spot for a night out in North Manchester. In addition to comfort food and prime rib locals love, there's pool, darts, a jukebox, and occasionally live music and karaoke on weekends.
For lunch or dinner, Sandwich Cellar serves sandwiches and pizza and is open seven days a week.
And for dessert, Chillz Delights is the place to be. Donuts, ice cream, and so much more. They've got 4.8 stars on Google and just recently expanded operations to Fort Wayne.
High School History
Manchester Jr-Sr High School is home to the Squires, who have had some memorable moments in IHSAA history.
The baseball team claimed an improbable 2A state title in 2002, defeating Batesville 9-8 at Victory Field. They started the season losing 13 of their first 17 games and became just the second school in IHSAA sports history to win state while finishing the season with a sub-.500 record. The Squires ended the campaign 14-16 and joined 2000 1A baseball state champion Rossville (16-17) in the record books.
In 2025, boys basketball brought home the 2A state championship with a 59-54 victory over University to cap off a 26-2 season. Ethan Hendrix and Gavin Betten each scored 21 points in the win.
Notable Alumni
Thomas Riley Marshall was born in North Manchester on March 14, 1854. He went on to become the 27th Governor of Indiana from 1909 to 1913 and the 28th Vice President of the United States under President Woodrow Wilson from 1913 to 1921. He was just the third VP to serve two full terms. He is best remembered for his overall wit and famous quip, "What this country needs is a really good five-cent cigar."
That's it for small town breakdown No. 72. Where should we head next?
