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Antique Shops & the Best Baked Goods in Indiana
The small town of Kirklin is booming in popularity because of its shops and eateries on Main Street.
Austin Sellers & Nate Spangle
June 21, 2026
Kirklin
Small Town Breakdown
Kirklin, Indiana has less than 1,000 people, but it hits above its weight class with a bustling Main Street full of shops, a tasting room, and some of the best baked goods in the Hoosier State.
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Fast Facts
📍LOCATION: North-central Indiana
Kirklin is in the southeast quadrant of Clinton County near the Clinton/Boone County line.
U.S. Highway 421 runs north-south through town, leading north to Frankfort and south to Waugh and Zionsville.
State Road 38 runs northwest-southeast through town, leading southeast to Sheridan and Noblesville, and northwest to State Road 39 that also takes you to Frankfort.
45 minutes north of downtown Indianapolis
45 minutes southeast of Lafayette
One hour and 15 minutes west of Muncie
👥 POPULATION & RANKING
710 residents (as of 2024)
Ranks as Indiana’s 370th-largest town/city
Fourth-largest incorporated town/city in Clinton County behind the seat of Frankfort (16,459), Rossville (1,513), and Mulberry (1,222).
📏 LAND AREA
0.42 square miles (269 acres)
📅 FOUNDED
Clinton County was established on March 1, 1830, from eastern parts of Tippecanoe County.
It was named in honor of DeWitt Clinton, the sixth Governor of New York and known as the “Father of the Erie Canal.”
Kirklin was organized in 1837.
It was named for Nathan Kirk, the first permanent settler in the eastern half of Clinton County.
Kirk moved to the county in 1826 and was its only resident until 1829, with his cabin serving as a stopping point for travelers and hunters.
Two roads called New Castle Road (State Road 38) and Michigan Road (U.S. Highway 421) intersected in Kirklin Township, and that eventually became the site of the town Kirklin.
Kirk opened a tavern at the intersection along with a small mill near Sugar Creek.
Kirklin became incorporated in 1876.
The Monon Railroad came through town in the 1880s and helped boost the local economy.
🏥 MAIN INDUSTRIES: Retail Trade, Agriculture
Main Street in Kirklin is filled with shops. The area is also plentiful with farm ground.
Baked Goods Capital of Indiana
Rise & Brew Coffee Co. serves up delicious bagels, cinnamon rolls, muffins, cheesecake cups, and your favorite morning beverages, and they’ve got a 4.9-star rating on Google. Nate tried a bagel with cream cheese and an iced coffee and loved both. They’re open Tuesday thru Sunday into the early afternoon.
The other breakfast spot is Baked, established in 2020 as Baked: A Cookie Company. It started with oatmeal cookies for a disc golf league and has evolved into a full-blown bakery with fresh baked bread, sourdough, jams, and pastries. Some of the favorites include Swedish cardamom bread, jalapeño cheddar bread (#1 seller on Saturday), and scones. It’s open Tuesday thru Saturday and has 5.0 stars on Google. And it qualifies as a hidden gem…
Main Street Happenings
Shoppers have no shortage of places to explore on Main Street in Kirklin during the weekend, including Ten Thousand Treasures (open Saturday and Sunday), Antique Cellar (open Friday thru Sunday), Fireside Primitives (open Friday thru Sunday), and White Lion Antiques & Collectibles (open Saturday and Sunday).
The second Saturdays in June (art show), August (car show), and October (Oktoberfest) are can’t-miss events with vendors and a guaranteed good time.
Bookers Bar & Grill is the place to grab lunch or dinner. Start with their breaded mushrooms, then dive into a breaded tenderloin sandwich or if it’s Friday, all-you-can-eat fish. The bar in Bookers is unique because it once served as the bench for the late Kathy Smith, who was a judge in Clinton County for 26 years. They’ve got 4.6 stars on Google and nearly 700 reviews.
Whiskey lovers need to swing by Travelers Point Distillery, established in 2019. It’s locally owned as a grain-to-glass distillery, and visitors can enjoy their tasting room on Main Street Tuesday thru Saturday.
One of the internet’s favorite golf course cocktails, the Water Hazard, mixes Barkeep Vodka with blue Gatorade, a splash of lemonade, and Sprite for an ultra refreshing drink perfect for the course, the pool, or any warm weather hangout.
It’s light, smooth, and easy to make for a crowd. One sip and you might start wondering… is it too smooth? 🍸
Explore more cocktail ideas and recipes on the Barkeep Vodka Website, and find a bottle at your local grocery or liquor store.
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The Kirklin Public Library is Kirklin’s most prominent early twentieth century building. It was completed in 1915 thanks to a grant from the Carnegie Foundation and became listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.
Go ‘Dogs
Clinton Central High School in nearby Michigantown serves the Kirklin community. The Bulldogs have never won an IHSAA state championship, but girls basketball won regional titles in 1985, 1997, and 2024, volleyball won regional championships in 2004 and 2005, boys basketball won a regional in 1980, and football won a regional in 2009.