Grant County
Located at the midpoint between Indianapolis and Fort Wayne on the Interstate 69 corridor, Grant County is home to a diverse blend of people, businesses, industry, and history. We have peaceful small towns, urban centers of Marion and Gas City, two world class universities, Indiana Wesleyan University and Taylor University, a state of the art Ivy Tech campus, three state run reservoirs close by, the annual James Dean Festival, and much more.
County Government Website: www.grantcounty.net
County Seat: Marion
Cities in Grant County
Marion- Wikipedia
Sitting at the eastern edge of the great Midwestern prairie are Marion and Grant County, Indiana. It is a place almost 75,000 people call home. We live, work, and play here. Our children grow up here and go to school here, and many of them choose to stay here when they become adults.
Gas City- Wikipedia
Gas City was first known as Harrisburg when settled on May 25, 1867 by Noah Harris. It became something of a boom town when natural gas was found in the area in 1887. The Gas City Land Company was founded on March 21, 1892 and the town of about 150 people changed its name to Gas City a few days later.
Annual festivals and parades
James Dean Festival
Grease back your ducktail and head to Grant County, the birthplace of cool, the hometown of The Rebel! Fabulous 50’s style fun awaits you at the James Dean Days September 26-28 in Fairmount, hometown of the 50’s film legend James Dean. See all three of Dean’s films, Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden, and Giant. See the Grand Parade in downtown Fairmount. Then grab your best girl, slide on your penny loafers, and see if you can beat the competition! Think you look like James Dean? See if you can convince the judges at the James Dean Look-Alike Contest. Stroll through Playacres Park to marvel at 3,000 hot rods, muscle cars and antique cars, all 1972 or older. Everyone loves the flame-throwing contests, the muffler rapping contest, and the ever popular Parade of Neon! And be sure to tour the Fairmount Historical Museum’s tributes to hometown natives James Dean and James Davis, creator of Garfield the Cat. The museum will be open daily for your convenience.
During the James Dean Weekend in Grant County, Gas City hosts the Ducktail Run Rod & Custom Show. Gas City’s Beaner Linn Park features a huge classic car show, a large swap meet, and even a craft fair. Music from your favorite era surrounds you all weekend at the park, and transports you back in time.
Van Buren Popcorn Festival
The annual Van Buren Popcorn Festival is held each August in Van Buren, Indiana in celebration of the central role of popcorn in the town's identity. First held in 1973 (the 2006 celebration was the 34th Annual Festival), the Popcorn Festival has become a homecoming event to many "expatriate" residents of this small community. Enthusiastic festival goers find a blend of small town charm, yet a summer festival that is big enough to be interesting year after year.
Resources
Chambers of Commerce
Libraries
- Barton Rees Pogue Memorial Public Library
- Fairmount Public Library
- Gas City-Mill Twp Public Library
- Jonesboro Public Library
- Marion Public Library
- Matthews Public Library
- Swayzee Public Library
- Van Buren Public Library
Universities
- Indiana Business College
- Indiana Wesleyan University
- Ivy Tech
- Taylor University
