Boonville

Small Town Breakdown

Boonville, Indiana is where Abraham Lincoln learned the law and an ice cream shop became a community staple for generations.

Fast Facts

📍LOCATION: Southwest Indiana

• Boonville sits near the center of Warrick County.

• State Road 61 runs north-south through Boonville, leading north to Lynnville and eventually Vincennes.

• State Road 62 runs east-west through town, leading west to Chandler and Evansville and east to Spencer County.

• Old Indiana 261 runs southwest out of town toward Paradise and Evansville and intersects with the Ohio River Scenic Byway.

• 1 hour and 30 minutes west of Louisville

• 30 minutes east of Evansville

👥 POPULATION & RANKING

• 6,687 residents (as of 2024)

• Ranks as Indiana’s 106th-largest town/city

• It is the largest incorporated town/city in Warrick County.

📏 LAND AREA

• 2.95 square miles

📅 FOUNDED

• Warrick County was organized in 1813 from part of Knox County.

• It was named by William Henry Harrison for Captain Jacob Warrick, a leader who was killed in the Battle of Tippecanoe.

• The county’s original size encompassed what are now Posey, Vanderburgh, Spencer, Perry, and parts of Crawford counties.

• The first county seat was Evansville, then Darlington, and eventually Boonville.

• Boonville was founded in 1818 and is historically rooted in coal mining and agriculture.

• It was named after Jesse Boon, father of Ratliff Boon (Indiana’s second governor), who donated the land.

🏥 MAIN INDUSTRIES: Manufacturing, Agriculture, Healthcare

• Zoeller Custom Molding is a family-owned injection molding company in town.

• Founded in 1936 by the Kramer family, Prime Foods produces hard-boiled eggs and on-the-go snacking solutions. Its expertise is shared through private label and contract manufacturing services.

  

“Where Lincoln Learned the Law”

Boonville is connected to Abraham Lincoln’s youth and is known to be “Where Lincoln learned the law.” Young Abe, who lived in the part of Indiana that was Warrick County when his family arrived and later became Spencer County in 1818, walked to Boonville for books and to watch a local attorney argue legal cases.

Parks and Rec

City Lake Park is home to playgrounds, a basketball court, two picnic shelters, two gazebos, and best of all – a spray park. The spray park opened in 2006 and is a popular spot during the summer months.

Just northeast of Boonville sits Scales Lake Park. It has a 66-acre lake that is perfect for boating and fishing, has plenty of room for camping and picnicking, and park-goers can swim, hike, and pursue countless outdoor activities. If you aren’t into primitive camping, there are cabins available to rent.

History Lesson

For history buffs, the Warrick County Museum has been serving guests since 1977. Located in Boonville’s historic Ella Williams School, which was a school for children from 1901 to 1976, the museum has current exhibits showcasing Warrick County High Schools through the years, World War II, and War memorabilia, with upcoming exhibits including the history of Ella Williams School and Festival of Trees.

Boonville’s downtown square is also worth exploring and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Bring Your Clubs

Quail Crossing Golf Club is a beautiful 18-hole course just a few minutes west of town. You might see some quail while playing, too, thanks to the bluestem and other prairie grasses that were selected with Quail Unlimited to provide them an ideal habitat.

Boonville Bites

Start your day at Pioneer Bakery for classic donuts, pastries and cakes. If you’re on the square, check out 2 Chicks Bistro & Bakery. They’re best known for their sandwiches, cheesecake and blooming onion.

For lunch or dinner, head to Commander’s Grill for some of the best homemade fried chicken in Warrick County. They also serve prime rib, tenderloins, and a pickle chip appetizer locals love. RJ’s Restaurant & Bar is the go-to spot to catch the game while enjoying an all-you-can-eat homestyle buffet.

If you’re looking for good pizza, Una Pizza is the spot with deep dish on the menu.

For dessert, TF Ice Cream takes the cake. Terry Fortune bought the Tastee Freez in Boonville in 1978, which had already been open for 25 years. In 2007 a fire almost wiped away the building, but Terry and his wife rebuilt and TF Ice Cream has prospered ever since.

Late-night crowds meet at 3rd Street Saloon. Catch ‘em during a bingo night, and be sure to order the signature mashed potato bowl topped with a warm biscuit.

Boonville Pioneers

Boonville High School is home of the Pioneers, and their softball program is a powerhouse.

The Pioneers have made 10 state finals appearances (fourth-most in the state) and four state championship game appearances (tied for ninth-most in the state), winning 3A titles in 2006 and 2021 while finishing as runners-up in 2007 and 2010.

In ‘06, pitcher Erika Taylor threw a no-hitter in a 5-0 win over Northridge in the semifinals and followed that up with a two-hit shutout in a 5-0 win over New Prairie in the championship. She went on to play collegiately at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and became one of the best pitchers in program history.

The ‘21 championship featured another shutout victory in the finals, 1-0 over Guerin Catholic. The winning run came on a suicide squeeze in the bottom of the seventh inning that gave Boonville a thrilling walk-off win.

During the 2025-26 wrestling season, junior Sam Howard became the first wrestler in school history to compete in the state finals match, falling in an 18-15 thriller to Lawrence North senior Michael White, the then-No. 1 ranked wrestler in the country at 190 pounds.

Howard will be a favorite this coming winter to become Boonville’s first individual wrestling state champion.

Check out Nate’s breakdown of Boonville ⬇️