Attica

Small Town Breakdown

Small Town Breakdown: Attica, Indiana

On the east bank of the Wabash River in northern Fountain County lies Attica, an Indiana small town where going off the beaten path is second nature.

Fast Facts

📍LOCATION: West Central Indiana

• The Wabash River is the northern and western border of Fountain County; it runs from the northeast corner of the county to the southwest corner

• Attica is located in northern Fountain County on the east bank of the Wabash River

• State Road 28 runs east-west while U.S. Route 41 runs north-south through town

• 30 minutes southwest of Lafayette

• 1 hour and 20 minutes northwest of downtown Indianapolis

👥 POPULATION & RANKING

• 3,352 residents (as of 2023)

• Ranks as Indiana’s 170th largest city

• Largest of eight incorporated cities/towns in Fountain County, but Covington (2,764) is the county seat

📏 LAND AREA

• 1.6 square miles

📅 FOUNDED

• Fountain County was founded on April 1, 1826

• It was named after Major James Fontaine of Kentucky, who was killed in 1970 during the Northwest Indiana War

• Attica was founded in 1825 when George Hollingsworth platted the town and built a few log cabins at the edge of the Wabash River

• Attica became incorporated in 1849

🏥 MAIN INDUSTRIES: Manufacturing, Retail Trade

• Harrison Steel Castings is the largest steel manufacturer in the area

• imi Concrete and Supply is a ready mix concrete supplier

• County Market is the local grocery store

KICK THE DUST UP

Badlands Off Road Park is made up of over 1,400 acres with sand dunes, wooded trails and an abundance of rocky terrain. You can rent a two- or four-seater for hours or bring your own ATV, SUV, 4x4 or Side x Side and enjoy a day spraying sand, dirt and mud with family or friends. 🛻

BRING YOUR CLUBS

Harrison Hills Golf & Country Club is a top 10 public course in Indiana according to GolfWeek Magazine, and it ranks No. 16 on GolfPass in 2025. The course celebrated its 100th anniversary last year and is a fun play for golfers of all levels of experience. ️⛳️

MOVIE OR ARCADE NIGHT, ANYONE?

Catch a movie at the single-screen and historic DEVON Theater. Movie-goers can check it out on select Thursdays at 7 PM, Fridays and Saturdays at 7 PM and Sunday matinees at 2 PM. It’s got old-school charm and real buttered popcorn. 🍿

Pinball on Perry is a fun spot for locals to play dozens of pinball machines, arcade games like Pacman, Street Fighter 2, Galaga and Cruisin’ Exotica, super shot basketball, air hockey and more. 🎮

PARKS AND REC

There is no shortage of parks and fields in Attica. Ravine Park is 90 acres and has a 1/2-mile nature trail and Brady’s Branch stream running through it. McDonald Park is in the center of town and has a playground, two tennis courts also marked for pickleball use and basketball hoops. Ben & Mary Bowies Park has a climbing wall, merry-go-round, swings and a slide for families to enjoy. Ouabache Park consists of 18 acres near the Wabash River and has a boat ramp and four tent campsites. Riley Park is home to two soccer fields, and Happy Walter Field has three public baseball and softball diamonds. ️⚽️🥎

CATFISH TUESDAYS

Visit Budreau’s Steak and Taphouse where you’ll enjoy delicious food and drinks in a fun and inviting atmosphere. The ribeye and tenderloin sandwich are the go-to options, and you can’t go wrong with its all-you-can-eat catfish option available every Tuesday starting at 5 PM. Budreau’s has 10 rotating beers on draft and an outdoor patio to soak up Indiana weather. 🐟🍺

COMEBACK OF THE CENTURY

Attica Junior-Senior High School has one state championship to its ledger, and it came in dramatic fashion. The boys basketball team won the 2001 IHSAA Class A state title 64-62 over Blue River Valley at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, overcoming a 54-40 deficit with 6:27 left in the fourth quarter. Senior Josh Smith sank a tiebreaking free throw with 7.8 seconds remaining that proved to be the game winner. Start the video below at 1:11:37 to watch the comeback unfold! 🏀🏆

GOIN’ UP TO THE ATTICA

• Start your day at Attica Coffeehouse located in the heart of Attica, where you can grab your morning cup of coffee, sip on a frappe or bite into a bagel sandwich or breakfast burrito. They’ve got a 100% recommendation rating on Facebook and 4.6 star rating on Google. ☕️

• Enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner at Crossroads Family Restaurant. Among over 1,000 Google reviews and a 4.4 star rating, many guests rave about the breakfast, hearty portions and affordable prices. 🥞

• One of two Wolf’s Fine Handmade Chocolates locations resides in Attica, the other being in West Lafayette. Wolf’s has a little bit of everything from boxed chocolates to holiday candy, caramel and cheddar corn, fudge and more. 🍫

• Sightseers can enjoy over 20 pieces of art and sculptures throughout all of Attica, highlighted by “The Caddy” at Harrison Hills Golf & Country Club, “Saturday’s Distraction” outside the Attica Public Library and the “Talonted Fisherman” eagle behind the Old Library created by Gary Hovey on New Knoxville, Ohio, who makes his sculptures from stainless steel flatware despite suffering from Parkinson’s disease. 🗿

• Attica is the birthplace of George Dewey Hay, who founded the Grand Ole Opry. He became known as “The Solemn Old Judge” and always made two suggestions for people who appeared on the Opry stage — keep it down to earth and make it from the heart. 🧑‍🎤

• Located a short distance southwest of Attica in Fountain County is the Portland Arch Nature Preserve. The 0.8-mile loop trail is great for hiking and running and is the only place in Indiana where Canada blueberries can be found. 🫐

The next time you’re driving I-74 west of Indianapolis, take the back roads to Attica and soak up some of the best country Indiana has to offer.

Check out Nate’s breakdown of Attica ⬇️