BOONE COUNTY
County Offices
116 West Washington Street
Lebanon 765-483-5710
https://boonecounty.in.gov
Chamber of Commerce
221 North Lebanon Street
Lebanon 765-482-1320
http://www.boonechamber.org
Located approximately 25 miles northwest of Indianapolis, Boone County offers the potential for small-town living in close proximity to major metropolitan amenities. This area has been experiencing rapid growth as new residents and businesses discover the many advantages of open, sparsely populated country. Many companies appreciate the location near major interstates, while newcomers are drawn to the relaxed atmosphere of small towns. Some of the nation’s leading companies have joined the diversified and continually expanding economic base in Boone County, from high-tech innovators to grassroots manufacturers and well-known names in publishing like Macmillan.
The major regional cities of Lafayette and Indianapolis provide expanded shopping, cultural, and recreational opportunities. Approximately 40 percent of Boone County residents are commuters, and 30 percent of that group travel daily to Marion County. Within Boon County, the two largest communities are Lebanon and Zionsville. A number of unincorporated communities dot the landscape, including Advance, Jamestown, Thorntown, and Ulen.
Services
New residents to Boone County can look forward to a public education system that strives for excellence in every respect. Four school corporations serve the area: Lebanon Community, Marion-Adams School Corporation, Western Boone County Community, and Zionsville Community. Opportunities for higher education are abundant in the Indianapolis metropolitan area, where community college campuses combine with state-supported and private colleges and universities to offer degrees in programs that range from undergraduate through doctoral and post-graduate studies.
Anchoring the county’s outstanding network of healthcare facilities is Witham Memorial Hospital in Lebanon, offering state-of-the-art technology and services in a new 128,000-square-foot facility. This progressive regional institution is known for technical excellence and was one of the first hospitals in the state and the nation to implant intraocular lenses. Witham Health Services are also available in Jamestown, Thorntown, and Zionsville.
Lifestyle
Community spirit is evident throughout Boone County, from the annual fall festival in Advance that supports the local volunteer fire department to the home and garden tour that raises funds for the Tri-Area Library. Other events include the American Indian Council Pow-wow with Native American food, dancing, singing, art and crafts. The Boone County Fairgrounds is a popular location for special events, from the county fair and 4-H Fair to car shows. Holidays bring family activities and exciting events from the July 4th celebration to autumn corn mazes and the holiday craft bazaar. Cultural attractions include local community theatre and outdoor concerts by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and other musical groups in the summertime, Munce Art Center, and Patrick Henry Sullivan Museum and Genealogy Center.
Recreational opportunities close to home include golf courses, private clubs, and local parks with a wealth of sports facilities and amenities. Lighted tennis courts, swimming pools, fitness walking course, creative play centers, picnic shelters, landscaped picnic areas, first-rate sports courts, nature trail, sledding hill, and fishing pond are just a few of the opportunities for outdoor exercise and relaxation. Nature lovers will appreciate the Brookshire Arboretum, a 14-acre nature preserve for wildlife and vegetation. Cultural attractions include community theatre and the Cragun House Museum, displaying the lifestyle of early America. Thorntown Heritage Museum offers exhibits of historical memorabilia and artifacts from the surrounding area.
Attractive housing is available throughout the county, from cozy homes shaded by mature greenery in the heart of a small town to new construction in a variety of architectural styles. Horse properties and homes with acreage are possibilities in this developing region. Merchant sidewalk sales, street dances, school and church events, and strong civic groups are just a few of the warm and friendly features of Boone County living. Preserving the best of yesterday, Boone County balances growth and progress with quality of life to offer an idyllic environment within the Indianapolis metropolitan region.
Community Profiles
Lebanon
City Hall
765-482-8845
https://lebanon.in.gov
Chamber of Commerce
765-482-1320
http://www.boonechamber.org
The county seat of Lebanon City is well known for its beautiful courthouse square and the “Back to the 50s” festival held each fall. “The Friendly City” is strategically located along Interstate 65 just 20 miles northwest of Indianapolis, the city is only 2 miles from Boone County Airport. Two state highways intersect in Lebanon, enhancing regional transportation and adding to the attraction for impressive residential and industrial development. Although the diversified economy blends agriculture, manufacturing, service industries, and a growing high-tech sector; Lebanon retains the appeal of a small-town atmosphere. Residents enjoy excellent services that include a Carnegie Library, state-of-the-art healthcare facilities, charming shops and modern plazas, and the highly respected public Lebanon Community School Corporation. The selection of attractive housing includes handsome new construction in single and multi-story designs graced by sweeping lawns or charming older homes with wide front porches.
Thorntown
Town Hall
765-436-2205
Chamber of Commerce
765-482-1320
http://www.boonechamber.org
Approximately 20 miles from Indianapolis, Thorntown Town in Sugar Creek Township is one of several small, friendly communities in Boone County. Children in Thorntown attend Western Boone Community Schools, and the town strongly supports educational activities and events. Residents and shop owners tend to greet each other by first name in this classic Indiana small town, where the spirit of yesterday combines with easy access to world-class metropolitan amenities. Charming specialty shops and the landmark of the stately Thorntown Public Library with its Italianate architectural elements enhance the town’s distinctive character. Families enjoy the attractive park, while visitors are drawn to the unique museum displaying Native American artifacts and history. Only minutes from Thorntown by car, Lebanon City is home to a regional hospital and many other expanded amenities.
Whitestown
Town Hall
317-769-6557
https://whitestown.in.gov
Chamber of Commerce
765-482-1320
http://www.boonechamber.org
The small community of Whitestown Town offers a family-oriented atmosphere and opportunities to enjoy a relaxed pace of life near outstanding urban and metropolitan amenities. Whitestown is best known for its Annual Pioneer Days Festival, although residents enjoy a variety of outdoor activities in area parks. Area youth are served by the Lebanon Community Schools Corporation. Witham Health Services operates a number of regional facilities for outstanding healthcare close to home, from the hospital in Lebanon to health services in several other county locations. Area youth attend the Eagle Union Community Schools CA diversity of commercial and service conveniences as well as expanded cultural and recreational amenities are available in the county seat of Lebanon, although the world-class advantages of Indianapolis are approximately 15 miles from home. Newcomers find that housing prices in Whitestown compare very favorably to those in more highly developed areas in and near Indianapolis.
Zionsville
Town Hall
317-873-5410
http://www.zionsville-in.gov
Chamber of Commerce
317-873-3836
https://www.zionsvillechamber.org
Famous for its quaint atmosphere, Zionsville Town is located in the rapidly growing southeast portion of Boone County. The town’s village setting serves as a hub of local activity, showcasing charming shops that line a brick main street. The town claims its own chamber of commerce, which plays an active role in organizing holiday celebrations and special events throughout the year. The Munce Art Center and Patrick Henry Sullivan Museum and Genealogy Center are among the local attractions. Residents and visitors alike enjoy the year-round calendar of activities in Zionsville, from the farmers market and country market to Lincoln Park concerts, Christmas in the Village, street dance, sidewalk sale, Zionsville Five Mile Classic Run/Walk, and the Traders Point Hunt Charity Horse Show. Lions Park, also home to the Zionsville Little League Park, offers a beautiful gazebo and playground areas as well as first-rate sports courts and facilities. Area youth receive a quality education in Zionsville Community Schools.
