|
|
Knightstown
is a small community located along the Big Blue River in Henry County, Indiana. The town is considered part of the New Castle metro area in the east-central portion of the state. In 2006, the population of Knightstown was 2,007 residents. New Castle, which serves as the county seat, has a population of 20,524. The community of Knightstown was named for engineer John Knight, who oversaw the construction of the historic, scenic byway known as the Old National Road. Indiana is known as the “Crossroads of America,” and many major highways meet in the Knightstown area. The Old National Road, which is also known as U.S. 40, is the oldest of these highways that cuts across the entire southern part of Henry County. When Interstate 70 was built in the late 1960s, it took many travelers away from U.S. 40. For those seeking a more northern route, there is U.S. Highway 36 or State Road 38, while State Road 3 is a major four-lane highway that runs north and south linking to Interstate 74 and the city of Muncie, Indiana. Knightstown is conveniently within a short drive to the metropolitan areas of Indianapolis and Cincinnati.
Knightown's slogan proclaims, “Knightstown is a great place to visit and a better place to live.” Nestled in the lovely Blue River Valley, Knightstown owes much of its heritage to the Old National Road and the travelers who used to traverse the old highway. The town is rich in history and contains many nostalgic attractions and historic homes and buildings. Among those are the Old Hoosier Gym, which was featured in the 1986 movie, “Hoosiers.” In Knightstown, you'll find museums dedicated to Indiana high school basketball and also aviation's pioneer, Wilbur Wright, who was born here. Take a ride on the historic CKS Railroad, browse antique shops, visit a 160-acre “agri-tourism” farm or play a round of challenging golf at the Royal Highlands Golf Club. For such a small town, Knightstown has a lot to offer visitors. The town's pretty tree-lined streets and friendly residents offer a snapshot of the charm of a small Midwestern “hometown.” Yet all the conveniences of a major metropolitan area are less than an hour away.
Knightstown is just minutes to the city of New Castle, the county seat of Henry County. Just a few of the attractions in New Castle include the Arts Center & Arts Park of Henry County, which offers classes and shows year round. The Henry County Historical Society Museum, which is listed on the Indiana Register of Historic Places, is also in New Castle, as is the Mt. Lawn Speedway. If you love the outdoors, Knightstown has much to offer you, as well. Several beautiful parks in the region, including the Summit Lake State Park, offer swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, camping, horseback riding and picnicking. Ice fishing is a popular activity in wintertime, along with sledding and cross country skiing. All of this, along with a variety of unique festivals and seasonal special events, does indeed make Knightstown a “great place to visit and a better place to live.”
|
|
|
