What’s it like in Whiteland, Indiana?

Small Town Breakdown No. 60: Whiteland, Indiana 

For this week’s small town breakdown we’re going from Alexandria in Madison County to Whiteland in Johnson County. Whiteland is 25 minutes south of downtown Indianapolis, 30 minutes north of Columbus, and 50 minutes northeast of Bloomington.

What’s it like in Whiteland, Indiana?

Located off US-31 and accessible via Exit 95 on I-65, Whiteland in north-central Johnson County is experiencing the fastest growth rate of any town in the county. It’s home of famous Hoosiers, thrilling go-kart tracks, a garden of retro gas station signs, and plenty of small-town charm.

The History of Johnson County and Whiteland, Indiana

Johnson County was created on Dec. 31, 1822, when Indiana Governor William Hendricks signed a bill. It was officially platted in 1823 and named after Indiana’s first Supreme Court Chief Justice John Johnson.

Whiteland was platted in 1863 by Joel B. White. The town officially became incorporated in 1886.

As of the 2024 census, Whiteland’s population is 5,511, making it the fifth-largest incorporated town/city in Johnson County behind Greenwood (68,175), Franklin (26,158), Bargersville (11,283) and New Whiteland (5,842). It is the 132nd-largest city in Indiana.

Things to Do In or Near Whiteland, Indiana

If you’re a Hoosier with a need for speed, or have kids who want to get behind the wheel, check out K1 Circuit Whiteland. It was established in 1958 as one of the first purpose-built tracks for karting and is America’s oldest continuously operating go-kart track. Historically known as Whiteland Raceway Park, it has served as home to nationally sanctioned kart races and earned “Master Track” designation by the World Karting Association.

Rascal’s Fun Zone is another popular spot for families, offering go-karts, mini-golf, duckpin bowling, bumper cars, blaster boats, an arcade, and more. It’s the go-to spot for birthday parties and get-togethers.

For outdoor fun, play the frequented Grassy Creek Disc Golf Course, which has 19 challenging holes to play.

And for something a little quirky, check out the roadside attraction of old gas station signs set on 18-foot-tall poles. Alan Whitaker started the collection in 2013 and has almost 40 signs on display ranging in age from 1934 to 1961.

Places to Eat in Whiteland, Indiana

First on the menu is Nailers Brewing Co., a brewery and distillery known for craft beers favorites like peanut butter stout and blueberry pilsner, plus a menu that includes loaded tots and pulled pork nachos.

All located in the same Whiteland Retail Center strip, you can’t go wrong with the Mexican food at the popular El Abuelo Mexican Restaurant, homestyle cooking like chicken and dumplings, country fried steak, meatloaf, and hashbrown casserole from Friend’s Diner, or a smoothie, shake, or acai bowl from Warrior Nutrition. 

For casual bar vibes, Whit's Inn is a great place to grab a breaded tenderloin, pizza, and classic bar bites while watching the game. Plus, there’s live music weekly on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. They’ve got 4.3 stars on Google among over 800 reviews.

Famous Hoosiers

The Crowe brothers and Bob Glidden are a few notable Hoosiers from Whiteland.

Ray Crowe graduated in 1934 from Whiteland High School, where he was captain and led the boys basketball team in scoring two seasons. He then attended Indiana Central College, today known as the University of Indianapolis, and was a team captain for two years in basketball and another in track.

Ray’s greatest achievements came during his seven seasons as head coach of the boys basketball team at Indianapolis Crispus Attucks. He led them to the state semifinals in 1951 before winning back-to-back titles in 1955 and ‘56, the latter which finished off a 31-0 season – the first perfect season in IHSAA history. They also reached the state championship game in 1957 but finished as runner-up.

While at Crispus Attucks, he served as the school’s athletic director for 11 years. He went on to serve 4½ terms in the Indiana House of Representatives and was director of the Indianapolis Department of Parks and Recreation. He was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1968. 

Ray’s younger brother George had a standout career as well, playing both professional baseball and basketball. George was born in Whiteland and was a 1939 graduate from Franklin High School, where he was named as the very first Indiana “Mr. Basketball” following his senior season. He then attended Indiana Central College and served in the U.S. Army during World War II before playing pro baseball and basketball. His baseball career began in the Negro National League with the New York Black Yankees before major league baseball’s color barrier was broken. His 11 seasons included two All-Star nods and featured a pair of three-year stints with the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals.

George played professional basketball in the National Basketball League and American Basketball League, most notably in 1946-47 with the pioneering Los Angeles Red Devils. One of his teammates was Jackie Robinson, the man who broke Baseball’s color barrier and was a future MLB Hall of Famer. He was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1976.

Professional drag racer Bob Glidden, one of the greatest National Hot Rod Association drivers of all time, was also from Whiteland. At the time of his 1997 retirement, he was the winningest driver in NHRA history and had 85 wins in Pro Stock, the most in any NHRA class. He won 10 NHRA Pro Stock championships, including five in a row from 1985-89. Glidden was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2005.

High School and IHSAA History

The first schoolhouse in Whiteland was built in 1869 and was the town’s school until the 1950s, when a new high school was built. In 1965, Clark High School and Whiteland High School merged, forming Clark-Pleasant Community School Corporation and what today is known as Whiteland Community High School, home of the Warriors.

They have won one IHSAA state championship in school history, courtesy of girls wrestling in 2026. Led by two individual state champions, senior Kaitlynn Fouty in the 100-pound weight class and sophomore Mikayla Perkins at 120 pounds, Whiteland finished ahead of Crown Point in the team race, 99.5 to 78.5 points.

Football has also experienced recent success, finishing as 5A runner-up to Valparaiso in 2022.

That’s it for small town breakdown No. 60. Where should we head next?