Winfield

Small Town Breakdown

Small Town Breakdown: Winfield, Indiana

Near the eastern border of Lake County is Winfield, one of Indiana’s newer incorporated towns that has established itself as a must-visit destination in the Region.

Fast Facts

📍LOCATION: Northwest Indiana

• Sits on the eastern edge of Lake County between Crown Point and Valparaiso

• Take the E. 109th Ave. exit off I-65 and drive five miles east until you hit Randolph St., which runs north-south through town

• 50 miles south of downtown Chicago

• 2 hours and 10 minutes northwest of Indianapolis

• 2 hours and 20 minutes west of Fort Wayne

👥 POPULATION & RANKING

• 8,045 residents (as of 2023)

• Ranks as Indiana’s 96th largest city

• Fourth-smallest of 19 incorporated cities/towns in Lake County

📏 LAND AREA

• 12.46 square miles

📅 FOUNDED

• Lake County was founded in 1837 and named because of its northern border connection to Lake Michigan.

• Lake County is the second-most populated county in Indiana behind Marion County with over a half-million Hoosiers.

• Winfield became an incorporated town in 1993; it was previously part of the unincorporated Winfield Township.

• Local farmers and business leaders collected signatures to essentially save the town.

• It was named after U.S. Army Commanding General Winfield Scott, who served in that role from 1841-61, was a veteran of four wars and was the Whig Party’s presidential nominee in the 1852 election.

🏥 MAIN INDUSTRIES: Specialized Services, Healthcare and Education

• Because of its proximity to Crown Point, Valparaiso and Chicago, there are many industries that fuel the local economy.

• Levin Tire & Service Center has one of its five locations in the Region in Winfield. NWI Elite Electric is a leading contractor that specializes in residential, commercial and industrial projects.

• Winfield is also home to an Anytime Fitness and Moses Eyecare Center.

LAKE COUNTY AND WINFIELD HISTORY

Lake County was founded in 1837 and named for its location on the southern edge of Lake Michigan. It is the northwestern-most county in the Hoosier State. Liverpool served as its original county seat until Lake Court House (later renamed Crown Point) was chosen in 1840. Winfield became an incorporated town in 1993 after previously being part of the unincorporated Winfield Township. A group of local farmers and business leaders collected signatures that summer to save the soon-to-be-town from a planned annexation attempt by nearby cities. 🙅

IT’S SIMPLY SPLASH-TASTIC

Located a short drive north of Winfield is Deep River Waterpark, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this summer and is open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Rated as one of the best waterparks in the Midwest, Deep River has a lazy river, rip tide wave pool, body and tube slides, speed slides, cabanas and more. It’s the perfect summer spot to take family and friends for fun in the sun. And about that catchy jingle? 🎶 Deep River Waterpark, it’s simply splash-tastic. 🎶

WHERE WE EATIN’?

La Carreta Mexican Restaurant and Bar is known for serving up authentic Mexican food and delicious margaritas, including its special margarita flights where you can enjoy up to four options. The best part? The flight is served in a wooden toy airplane. The Winfield location is one of three in the region, with the others in nearby Schererville and Merrillville. 🌮

W.B. Steakhouse is a popular spot for locals and travelers, too. It has a 4.4 rating among nearly 150 Google reviews, many of which suggest ordering the 6oz filet mignon. 🥩

As is tradition with most Indiana small towns, there is almost always a go-to ice cream shop. In Winfield, that’s Sundae Funday. Guests can indulge in push-pops, floats, shakes and, of course, sundaes. Sundae Funday has a near perfect 4.9 star rating from over 165 Google reviews. 🍨

If you’re thinking breakfast, Saturday Sangria Bakery and Cafe is a good place to start. Cakes, cupcakes and cookies are standard, but the cozy ambiance also offers coffee, sandwiches, salads and more.

CROWN ‘EM

Winfield is part of the Crown Point Community School Corporation, which also serves the communities of Crown Point, Cedar Lake and Lakes of Four Seasons. Crown Point High School has racked up 12 IHSAA state championships across six different sports, with eight coming in a single-class format. Boys tennis brought home the school’s first state title in 1972, and girls basketball won back-to-back championships in 1984 and ‘85 and added a 4A title more recently in 2021. After the ‘85 girls hoops title, the Bulldogs went without a state championship until 2009, when wrestling claimed its first of three team championships (also: 2022, ‘23). Girls gymnastics has become a force as well, winning single-class titles in 2022 and ‘24. In addition to the girls basketball 4A title in the classed format, boys soccer won 2A championships in 2011 and ‘13, and softball was the 4A state champion in 2017. 🏆

LAPPING THE (WIN)FIELD

• Randolph Street Park hosts a little bit of everything, including an Easter Egg Hunt for kiddos (which happened yesterday!), Touch-A-Truck on May 31, Movie in the Park nights on June 13 (“Despicable Me 4”), July 11 (“E.T.”) and Aug. 8 (“Monsters University”), and a Trunk or Treat Halloween event on Oct. 25 this fall. 🐰🎃

• Movie nights include food trucks and outdoor activities for more family fun.

• Randolph’s pinnacle event is the Harvest Festival hosted this year on Sept. 13. Attendees can shop from local vendors and food trucks, enjoy live music and hang out in the family-friendly beer garden.

• For the late-night crowd, pop in to Two Bills Tap for pub grub, beer, cocktails and live entertainment.

• Jesse Mendez, from nearby Crown Point, is arguably the best wrestler to come out of Crown Point High School (respect to Jason Tsirtsis) and one of Indiana’s all-time greats. He went 157-1 in his high school career and was the 10th wrestler in Indiana history to win four state championships. He took sixth at 133 pounds at the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships before bumping up to 141 and winning consecutive NCAA titles each of the last two seasons. 🤼

The next time you’re in the populated Region or on your way to Chicago, make some time for the small town charm of Winfield and thank us later.

Check out Nate’s breakdown of Winfield ⬇️