Small Town Breakdown No. 82: Fowler, Indiana
For this week's small town breakdown we're going from the county seat of Lebanon in Boone County to the county seat of Fowler in Benton County. Fowler sits 90 minutes northwest of Indianapolis, 35 minutes northwest of Lafayette, and is in the heart of wind turbine country.
The History of Benton County and Fowler, Indiana
Benton County was founded on Feb. 18, 1840, from a portion of Jasper County’s territory. It was named for Thomas Hart Benton, a U.S. senator from Missouri and leader of westward expansion. Indiana is one of seven states to have counties named after him. Oxford was named its original county seat in 1843.
Fowler was platted in October 1872 by Moses Fowler and his wife, Eliza. Nearly 600 lots were laid out along the Cincinnati, Lafayette & Chicago Railroad, a line Fowler helped organize. In 1873, he campaigned to move the county seat to Fowler and made a $40,000 donation toward a new courthouse. The county seat officially moved in 1874, and Fowler became incorporated the following year.
Today, Fowler serves as the largest incorporated town/city in Benton County with a population of 2,360 as of February 2026. It is the 205th-largest incorporated town/city in Indiana.
The Wind Farm Capital of Indiana
Benton County is home to the first wind farms in Indiana. The Fowler Ridge Wind Farm is Indiana’s largest wind farm and was built in four phases. It has a total capacity of 750MW, can provide enough power for nearly 170,000 homes, and is one of the largest onshore wind farms in the world. There are nearly 650 wind turbines across the entire county.
Things to Do In or Near Fowler, Indiana
Downtown Fowler is home to the historic Art Deco style Fowler Theatre, built in 1940. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. The Benton County Courthouse is also worth a visit. It was built in 1874 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
If you are mesmerized by the hundreds of wind turbines while driving and are curious of just how big they are, drive south of Fowler Town Park to see a full-sized wind turbine blade. It is painted with murals, is longer than a basketball court, and is the perfect photo op.
Golfers can take a swing at Benton County Golf Course, a 9-hole layout designed by William Diddle in 1943 and opened in 1945. The clubhouse is home to the 1871 Grille and is a popular spot for wedding receptions and events.
Places to Eat in Fowler, Indiana
Start your day at Sun Dog Cafe for coffee, paninis, and baked goods. They have 4.8 stars among nearly 150 Google ratings and have over 3,700 Facebook followers, over 1.5 times Fowler’s population.
If you’re looking for made-from-scratch comfort food, Dottie’s 100 Mile House is the place to be. The house-cut pork chops, strip steak, and sandwiches are the go-to options on the menu. Plus, it’s 100 miles south of Chicago and just under 100 miles from Indianapolis.
For a drive-in experience, head to the Black Dog Chocolate Shop for a smashburger, tenderloin, chicken wings, and tacos.
Famous People From Fowler, Indiana
Otis Johnson was born in Fowler and went on to play shortstop in the major leagues for the New York Highlanders in 1911, just two years before they were renamed the Yankees. Johnson died in a hunting accident in New York in 1915.
Rolland Richey, known professionally as Robert Keith, was born in Fowler, became an actor, and was the father of actor Brian Keith. Robert’s most prominent roles came in The Lineup, Guys and Dolls, Written on the Wind, and My Foolish Heart.
High School History
Benton Central Jr/Sr High School is home of the Bison, and they compete in the Hoosier Athletic Conference. The Bison do not have any state titles in school history, but they do have a handful of runner-up finishes. Girls basketball finished as state runner-up in 1989 following a 74-72 overtime loss to Scottsburg, dropped the 2011 3A final to Evansville Memorial 58-50 in overtime, and came up short in the 2019 3A championship game against Northwestern. Girls volleyball also reached the 2A state finals in 2025 but lost in a five-set thriller to Barr-Reeve.
That's it for small town breakdown No. 82. Where should we head next?
