Cicero

Small Town Breakdown

From strolls across the Jackson Street Causeway and lakeside sunsets at Morse Reservoir to grabbing a bite at one of many trendy spots in the heart of downtown, Cicero is another small Indiana town that makes a big impression with its charm and natural beauty.

Fast Facts

📍LOCATION: Central Indiana

• Cicero is located in north central Hamilton County, surrounding a large portion of Morse Reservoir on its northern end

• Indiana State Road 19 begins in Noblesville and leads north through Cicero before continuing all the way to the Indiana-Michigan state line

• 45 minutes north of Indianapolis

• 1 hour and 15 minutes east of Lafayette

• 1 hour and 45 minutes southwest of Fort Wayne

👥 POPULATION & RANKING

• 5,607 residents (as of 2024)

• Ranks as Indiana’s 124th-largest city

• Fifth-largest of eight incorporated towns/cities in Hamilton County behind Fishers (103,986), Carmel (103,606), Noblesville (75,239) and Westfield (62,994)

📏 LAND AREA

• 2.04 square miles

📅 FOUNDED

• Hamilton County was established in 1823.

• It was named for Alexander Hamilton, one of America’s Founding Fathers and the first Secretary of the Treasury.

• Over the last few decades, it has become one of Indiana’s fastest-growing counties, blending suburban growth with its originally rural identity.

• Noblesville is the county seat.

• Cicero was platted in 1834.

• It was named after the nearby Cicero Creek, which was named after Cicero McLaughlin, the son of a surveyor.

• It was home of the first bridge built in Hamilton County over Cicero Creek in 1838, and the bridge was later converted to a covered bridge and painted red in 1870. It stood until being demolished in the 1950s to make way for Morse Reservoir, which transformed Cicero from a quiet farming town into a lively lakeside community.

🏥 MAIN INDUSTRIES: Healthcare, Tourism & Recreation

• Many businesses, restaurants in particular, focus on attracting out-of-towners who are enjoying the fruits of Morse Reservoir.

Morse Reservoir

Morse Reservoir is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Cicero. It opened in 1956 and is a 1,500-acre body of water that’s become a summer playground for boating, fishing, kayaking, and lakeside activities. Get Indiana explored Morse this summer via kayak with a furry friend.

Lights Over Morse Lake Festival

Cicero’s biggest annual celebration is the Lights Over Morse Lake Festival, held every Fourth of July weekend. The event features a parade, live music, food trucks, vendors, kids’ activities, and a massive fireworks show over the lake that draws thousands of spectators each year (we were one of those spectators this summer). Community Park off Stringtown Pike is the site of the food trucks and vendors.

Cicero Cuisine

Located off Jackson Street in the heart of downtown is 10 West Restaurant & Bar, known for its peppercorn steak, bacon wrapped pork medallions, walleye filet and craft beer selection. Plus, it’s one of the best places around for a date night or celebration dinner, with cozy spots to dine and sip on adult beverages in The Cellar and The Hideout.

For lakeside dining, head to Boathouse Kitchen & Swan Dive, located on Morse Reservoir off Jackson Street. Get used to live music on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays during the summer, plus good eats and drinks. The pet-friendly outdoor deck is bustling in the summer, and the menu includes everything from burgers, ribs and fish tacos to crab-stuffed mushrooms and specialty cocktails.

If you’re looking for a great dinner or catering option, Bronko’s of Cicero serves the best Chicago-style pizza and sandwiches in town, plus breadsticks and stuffed mushrooms guests can’t get enough of. It has nearly 400 Google reviews and a 4.6 star rating.

Bear Slide Golf Club

If you want to play 18 beautiful holes, Bear Slide Golf Course is a gem just west of town. The course has a 4.5 star rating according to Golf Digest, and it’s been rated as one of the top 75 most affordable courses in the country. It’s a tale of two nines as well – the front nine is Scottish links style, the back nine is traditional, and there are elevation changes throughout the round.

Cicero Clips

• Red Bridge Park and Marina is on the northwest side of town along Morse Reservoir, and it includes walking trails, a playground, picnic spots, fishing pier, kayak launch and lake access.

• Downtown Cicero features stores like Betsey’s Boutique Shop and Nolan James Boutique.

• Dark Side Coffee House on Jackson Street has earned a loyal following for its morning beverages, bagels, breakfast sandwiches, cozy atmosphere and friendly staff. It has 4.7 stars among 175 Google reviews.

• Alexander’s on the Water is the No. 1 option in Cicero for sweet treats. This is one of two Alexander’s locations, the other being on the square in Noblesville. The Cicero location has 16 hand dipped ice cream flavors, 24 soft serve flavors, and a menu that includes sandwiches and a jumbo breaded tenderloin.

• Hamilton Heights, that with an Arcadia address but the high school for Cicero students, is home of the Huskies. The Huskies do not yet have a state championship, but they were 2012 3A runner-ups in football to Bishop Chatard. They also have two runner-up finishes in girls wrestling, led by recent Women’s Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame inductee Gary “Iron Bear” Myers, who has coached 28 female wrestlers that have qualified or medaled at the IHSGW/IHSAA state tournament. Where did he get the “Iron Bear” nickname? Myers was a heavyweight hammer in MMA fighting during the 1990s and 2000s.

The next time you come across Cicero, park the car, grab dinner at 10 West Restaurant and Bar or Boathouse Kitchen and Swan Dive, and soak up one of those surreal Indiana sunsets over Morse Reservoir.

Check out Nate’s breakdown of Cicero ⬇️