Clinton

Small Town Breakdown

Tucked away in western Indiana near the banks of the Wabash River, Clinton is a small town with big charm. Whether you're stopping by for the Little Italy Festival or just passing through on a scenic drive, slow down, explore, and discover what makes this community so special.

Fast Facts

📍LOCATION: West Central Indiana

• Clinton is located in the southeast corner of Vermillion County near the Wabash River

• State Road 63 runs north-south just west of Clinton, State Road 163 runs east-west through the middle of town, and U.S. Route 41 runs north-south east of town on the other side of the Wabash River

• 1 hour and 30 minutes west of Indianapolis

• 20 minutes north of Terre Haute

👥 POPULATION & RANKING

• 4,790 residents (as of 2023)

• Ranks as Indiana’s 137th-largest city

• Largest of seven incorporated towns/cities in Vermillion County

📏 LAND AREA

• 2.26 square miles

📅 FOUNDED

• Vermillion County was created in 1824 from land that was previously part of Parke County.

• Newport was selected as the county seat in 1824.

• The county was named for the Vermilion River.

• Vermillion County’s 37-mile eastern border is the Wabash River and its western border is the Indiana-Illinois state line. The river draws many visitors for canoeing, kayaking, and boating.

• Vermillion County borders its twin county across the Indiana-Illinois state line, also named Vermillion County. This is a rarity across the entire United States, with twin counties bordering each other in opposite states.

• Clinton was founded in 1829 and named for DeWitt Clinton, who was New York governor at the time.

• Coal mining attracted many immigrants, with Italians forming a significant contingent.

🏥 MAIN INDUSTRIES: Manufacturing, Healthcare

• Elanco is Clinton’s top employer and produces animal health and food safety drugs.

• Union Hospital Clinton is a critical access hospital that provides emergency, inpatient and outpatient services.

Little Italy Festival

The Little Italy Festival was introduced in 1966 and every Labor Day Weekend since has been a celebration of Clinton’s Italian-American heritage. It draws 60,000-80,000 visitors annually as one of the state’s biggest local festivals and embodies traditions passed down through decades. The festival includes grape stomping, wine gardens, bocce ball tournaments, parades, live music, delicious food, and more. This year’s festival begins Friday, August 29 and continues through Monday, September 1.

Exploring Town

Be sure to visit Immigrant Square where the statue of a man was created in 1971 to represent those who have immigrated to Clinton. A coal fountain representing the coal mining in the area was later added in front of the statue.

Riverfront Park sits along the Wabash River and is home to walking trails and its own fountain — the Four Seasons Fountain. The Wabash River Conservation Area is nearby as well and is a peaceful setting to take a stroll and observe wildlife.

Gerrie’s, Gerrie’s, Gerrie’s!

Gerrie’s Italian on 9th Street has a 4.6-star rating among over 600 Google reviews, many of which rave about the Italian beef. Want it on a sandwich? You got it. How about as a pizza topping? They’ve got that, too. No matter how you slice it, you have to go with the Italian beef.

On top of that, they’ve got bruschetta and cannoli locals can’t get enough of. Hungry yet?

Thousand Trails Horseshoe Lakes

Drive 15 minutes northwest of Clinton to Thousand Trails Horseshoe Lakes, a 290-acre, family-oriented RV campground situated among spring-fed lakes and wooded landscapes. On top of its amazing campsites, there are 11 accessible lakes to fish for crappie, catfish, bass, and bluegill. There are also volleyball and badminton courts, plus a playground for the kids.

Clippings on Clinton

• If you want to play a little golf, swing by one of Indiana’s premier 9-hole courses – Matthew’s Park Golf Course – with fast greens and tough pin locations, or try out Geneva Hills Golf Course located northwest of town.

• The Co-Op Grill is another popular eatery with over 500 Google reviews and 4.5 stars, and it’s open seven days a week. Expect affordable fare and hearty portions. Our recommendation (and that of many others!) — the Breaded Tenderloin Manhattan that comes smothered in gravy.

• During the Little Italy Festival, check out the Coal Town and Railroad Museum that showcases the region’s rich coal mining and railroad history. The museum today is the renovated Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad Depot and includes hundreds of artifacts, photos and documents that detail the lives of the miners along with memorabilia from the railroad.

When you find yourself near the Indiana-Illinois state line in west central Indiana, pop into Clinton for some Italian beef at Gerrie’s and, if your timing is right, enjoy one of Indiana’s most popular summer festivals.

Check out Nate’s breakdown of Clinton ⬇️