The History of Knox County and Vincennes, Indiana
Knox County was established in 1790 and is the oldest county in Indiana. The county was named for Major General Henry Knox, who served as U.S. Secretary of War for the Confederation Congress from 1785-89 before serving as the first U.S. Secretary of War under the new Constitution during President George Washington’s first term (1789-94).
Prior to the formation of the Indiana Territory, Knox County extended to Canada and stretched in all or part of the present states: Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio.
The Northwest Territory was divided in 1800, and the western part became Indiana Territory that contained what would later be the states of Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, the eastern part of Minnesota, and the western half of Michigan. By 1809, when the Illinois Territory was formed, the part of Knox County beyond the Wabash River became St. Clair County, Illinois.
Vincennes was the capital of the Indiana Territory from 1800 to 1813 because of its central location in the settlement.
As of the 2024 census, Vincennes’ population is 16,506, making it the largest of nine incorporated towns/cities in Knox County. It ranks as the 56th-largest city in Indiana.
Things to Do In or Near Vincennes, Indiana
With the city’s long history, there are plenty of historical sites to explore, like the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park. This park captures Fort Sackville and features a visitor center with exhibits on the Revolutionary War in the West. The visitor center also has a bookstore, plus a 30-minute introductory movie, “Long Knives” that shares the backstory of George Rogers Clark and his campaign during the American Revolution. And the best part, it’s all free!
Vincennes is also home to the Indiana Military Museum, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit museum with a wide collection of military artifacts from vehicles and aircrafts to uniforms and other equipment. Admission is $10 for adults 18 and older, and $9 for active military, veterans, or seniors over 65.
After you’ve soaked in some of Vincennes history, head to Main Street in downtown Vincennes for shopping and small bites. Attic Salt Boutique is one of the locally owned shops on Main Street offering women’s clothing and a great selection of home decor and gifts. Pretty Posies by Jan is another gift shop on Main Street with beautiful floral services provided throughout southern Indiana.
For local entertainment, check out Vincennes Escape Adventures for unique escape rooms packed with mystery and fun. Prices range from $15-28 depending on the room. This attraction has 4.9 stars on Google with locals complimenting the friendly staff and family, fun atomsphere.
Places to Eat or Drink in Vincennes, Indiana
For a classic breakfast, you can’t go wrong with Olde Thyme Diner located on Main Street. This diner serves all-day breakfast, plus your favorite Midwest comfort meals like breaded tenderloins and Manhattans. This spot is only open Thursday through Monday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays).
If you’re looking for a good pick-me-up, stop by Impressed Coffee Company for coffee and other breakfast fare. Their menu is expansive with coffee, lattes, teas, energy drinks, breakfast sandwiches, and more. With over 600 reviews and a 4.5 star rating on Google, visitors and locals can’t get enough!
Pea-Fections is a delicious lunch spot in downtown Vincennes. Established in May of 1996, this restaurant specializes in unique cheesecakes, pistachio torte, and other desserts! Don’t miss out on their seasonal cheesecakes – pumpkin and dutch apple. From housemade soups and sandwiches to seasonal specials, there’s truly something for everyone.
For lunch or dinner, Kelso’s 19th Hole is a great option. Located on the Cypress Hills Golf Course, this restaurant and bar serves pizza, sandwiches, salads, and more. Kelso’s is open to the public seven days a week, and you don’t want to miss the beautiful views of the golf course.
Bill Bobe’s Pizzeria has been a staple in Vincennes since 1954, serving up the best pizza in Knox County. Guests can’t get enough of its Chicago-style pizza, breadsticks, and salad bar. Few restaurants achieve legendary status in a community, but Bill Bobe’s has done just that after more than seven decades of service.
If you’re looking for some Mexican cuisine, El Corral Mexican Restaurant & Bar has been open since 2014, providing all the traditional Mexican dishes in Knox County. Enjoy sizzling fajitas, mouthwatering enchiladas, and top-shelf margaritas. They also have plenty of options for children, making it the perfect family dinner destination.
Vincennes Pub ‘N’ Grub is another dinner option for families to check out. This pub has all the bar classics like burgers, wings, pulled pork sandwiches, loaded fries, and cheesecake for dessert. Their craft burgers like the All American, Chopped Cheese, and the Mac ‘N’ Cheese Guy (yes, it’s a cheeseburger loaded with mac and cheese) are some of their most popular. It’s closed on Mondays but open the rest of the week: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m to 7 p.m. on Sundays.
Vincennes University
Vincennes University was founded in 1801 as Indiana’s first college. Originally named Jefferson Academy, Vincennes University was chartered in 1806 as the Indiana Territory’s four-year university and remained the state’s publicly funded four-year university until Indiana University began in 1820. Today, the main campus spans 160 acres alone with over 16,000 students enrolled as of 2024.
Additionally, Vincennes University’s athletic teams are known as the Trailblazers, reflecting the early years of Vincennes as a French fur-trading post. Competing in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), Vincennes University holds teams in baseball, bowling, golf, basketball, cross country, volleyball, and track and field. The Trailblazers have won numerous national championship titles. They’ve owned the bowling lanes in both men’s and women’s with over two dozen total national championships. The men’s basketball team also won NJCAA national titles in 1965, 1970, 1972, and 2019.
Vincennes Lincoln High School and Rivet High School
Vincennes is home to three schools: Lincoln High School, Rivet High School, and South Knox High School just east of town.
Vincennes Lincoln High School (or Lincoln High School) was established in 1897 and started in a building near downtown. A 20-room addition was built in 1916, and the school eventually moved to a larger building. By fall of 1988, the school was renamed to Lincoln High School. Lincoln’s mascot is the Alices, a nickname inspired by the 1900 novel Alice of Old Vincennes. They have won three total IHSAA state championships – two in boys’ basketball in 1923 and 1981, and one in baseball in 2002.
Rivet Middle/High School, formally known as Jean Francois Rivet High School, is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Vincennes. Its history goes back to 1924, when Gibault High School opened for Catholic boys. It closed in 1935, re-opened as Central Catholic High School in 1947, and became co-educational and was renamed Rivet High School, in honor of Jesuit priest Jean François Rivet, during the 1970-71 school year. Rivet’s mascot is the Patriots, and they compete in the Blue Chip Conference. One of their defining athletic moments came in 2011, when the girls’ basketball team went 28-0 to win the IHSAA 1A State Championship Game. They finished as Class 1A runner-ups in 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2018, and 2019, too.
South Knox Middle/High School is home of the Spartans. Girls basketball secured the school’s first-ever state championship in March 2025, defeating Rensselaer Central 55-33 in the 2A title game.
That’s it for small town breakdown No. 45 of 2025. Where should we head next?
