Greencastle
Around Greencastle
Photo: WhisperToMe · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Indiana · 37k people
Greencastle
A college town with country soul
DePauw GoldFarmland Green
Welcome to Greencastle, where the courthouse square is the heart of town and the covered bridges are just a short drive away. Whether you're here for DePauw's campus or the small-town charm, you'll find friendly faces and a slower pace.
Clubs for Greencastle
No clubs for Greencastle yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Greencastle. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
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Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Greencastle. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- DePauw University campus Historic liberal arts college with a tree-lined campus and old stone buildings.
- Putnam County Courthouse Iconic courthouse in the center of the town square.
- Big Walnut Creek Scenic waterway with several historic covered bridges.
- Heritage Lake Popular spot for boating, fishing, and lakeside living.
- DePauw Nature Park 520 acres of trails, wetlands, and wildlife.
- Greencastle City Park Community park with a pool, playgrounds, and picnic areas.
- Outdoors Hike the trails at DePauw Nature Park
- Outdoors Fish or boat on Heritage Lake
- With kids Visit the Putnam County Museum
- With kids Attend a DePauw Tigers football game
- Evenings Catch a show at DePauw's Green Center for the Performing Arts
- Evenings See a community theater production at the Greencastle Civic Theatre
- Locals love Covered bridges
- Locals love Farm stands
Through the year
- Putnam County Fair summer County fair with livestock, rides, and food.
- Greencastle Farmers Market summer Weekly market on the square with local produce and crafts.
- Music in the Park summer Concert series at the city park.
- Monon Bell Classic fall Rivalry football game between DePauw and Wabash.
- Greencastle Christmas Walk winter Holiday stroll downtown with lights and shops.
Humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. Best: Spring and fall are mild and ideal for being outdoors.
Talk like a local
- “The square”
- The downtown area around the courthouse.
- “Crick”
- Creek, as in Big Walnut Crick.
- “Pop”
- Soft drink.
- “Hoosier”
- Someone from Indiana.
Getaways
- Crawfordsville Home of Wabash College and the Lane Place.
- Terre Haute Indiana State University and the Terre Haute Children's Museum.
- Bloomington Indiana University campus and Lake Monroe.
- Indianapolis State capital with museums, sports, and dining.
Local flavour
Eat and drink
- Pork tenderloin sandwich Breaded and fried, served on a bun with pickles and onion.
- Sugar cream pie A Hoosier classic, also called 'desperation pie'.
- Persimmon pudding Made from wild persimmons, a fall treat.
Where people go
- Covered bridges Putnam County is known for its historic covered bridges.
- DePauw University campus A beautiful, wooded campus with old stone buildings.
- Small-town square with courthouse The heart of downtown, with shops and a classic courthouse.
- Lakes and farmland
Heritage and traditions
Greencastle is proud of its classic Indiana small-town charm, anchored by the historic DePauw University campus and a courthouse square that feels like a movie set, plus a network of covered bridges that harken back to the 19th century.
This time of year in Greencastle
- Persimmon pudding season Fall Fall treats and covered bridge tours.
- Greencastle Farmers Market May-October Weekly market on the courthouse square featuring local produce and handmade goods.
Say it like a local: “crick” — a small stream or creek
Festivals
- Putnam County Fair July A traditional county fair with livestock, rides, and 4-H exhibits, a summer staple since 1852.
- Greencastle Farmers Market May-October Weekly market on the courthouse square featuring local produce and handmade goods.
- Music in the Park Summer Free outdoor concerts in Greencastle City Park on summer evenings.
- DePauw Performing Arts Series Seasonal A year-round lineup of music, theater, and dance performances at DePauw University.
- Greencastle Christmas Walk December A downtown holiday celebration with carols, lights, and visits with Santa.
Landmarks with a story
- Putnam County Courthouse Built in 1854, this Greek Revival courthouse anchors the town square.
- DePauw University East College One of the oldest buildings on campus, dating to 1877, now a National Historic Landmark.
- McKim Observatory A working 19th-century observatory on the DePauw campus, open for public viewing.
- Putnam County Museum Housed in a historic building, it tells the story of the county's past.
- Cataract Covered Bridge A 19th-century covered bridge over Big Walnut Creek, one of several in the county.
- Historic Downtown Greencastle A walkable square with 19th-century storefronts and the courthouse.
Food traditions
- Pork tenderloin sandwich A breaded, fried pork cutlet served on a bun, a Hoosier classic found at local diners and the county fair.
- Sugar cream pie A simple, creamy pie made with sugar, cream, and flour, a state pie with roots in Indiana's Shaker and Amish communities.
- Persimmon pudding A dense, spiced pudding made from wild persimmons, a fall treat in southern Indiana.
- Lenten fish fries Many local churches host fish fries on Friday nights during Lent, a community tradition.
- Church supper chicken and noodles Homemade noodles and chicken served at church fundraisers, a comfort food staple.
Music and arts
- DePauw University School of Music Renowned for its conservatory-level training and performances.
- Putnam County Playhouse A community theater that has produced shows since the 1950s.
- Local art galleries on the square Small galleries showcasing regional artists.
- High school band and choir concerts A proud tradition of music education in the schools.
A little history
- Greencastle founded as the county seat. 1821
- DePauw University founded as Indiana Asbury University. 1837
- First county fair in Indiana held in Putnam County. 1852
- First Monon Bell football game between DePauw and Wabash. 1890
- Covered bridges built across Big Walnut Creek. 1900s
Rivalries
- DePauw vs Wabash The Monon Bell rivalry in football.
- Greencastle vs Cloverdale High school sports rivalry.
- Game day Monon Bell Classic
- Game day Friday night high school football
- Outdoors Hike the trails at DePauw Nature Park
- Outdoors Fish or boat on Heritage Lake
- With kids Visit the Putnam County Museum
- With kids Attend a DePauw Tigers football game
People speak with a classic Hoosier accent—flat vowels and a few distinctive words. They say 'pop' for soda, 'crick' for creek, and 'warsh' for wash. The evening meal is often called 'supper.'
Only here
- The Monon Bell rivalry is one of the oldest in college football.
- Putnam County hosted the first county fair in Indiana.
- The county has several covered bridges, a nod to 19th-century engineering.
- DePauw's campus is a National Historic Landmark district.
New here? A few tips
- Learn to say 'pop' for soda.
- Be ready for four distinct seasons, including humid summers and cold winters.
- Try a pork tenderloin sandwich at a local diner.
- Visit the covered bridges in the fall.
- Support local businesses on the square.
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Part of Indianapolis area
Nearby
Every areaCrawfordsvilleIndianaWhere covered bridges meet the cornfields.Terre HauteIndianaWhere the Wabash flows and the Sycamores grow.BloomingtonIndianaWhere limestone meets hoosier heart.IndianapolisIndianaWhere the checkered flag meets the hardwood.ParisIllinoisHeart of the Illinois prairieLintonIndianaFriendly hills, coal heritage, and quiet lakes.FrankfortIndianaWhere the cornfields meet the skyDanvilleIllinoisWhere the corn meets the sky
Greencastle, IN. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.