- Get Indiana
- Posts
- 🏆The IN Town with a Championship Pedigree
🏆The IN Town with a Championship Pedigree
Plus - Barrel Racing Baristas, New Pal Pub, and Frosty Boy are the go-to spots to grab a bite in New Pal!
Austin Sellers & Nate Spangle
January 25, 2026
New Palestine
Small Town Breakdown
Nate Spangle’s quest of visiting 1,000 towns across Indiana in 2026 is in full swing, and New Palestine was part of his Day 5 journey, coming in as town No. 40 checked off. New Palestine is 30 minutes east of Indy and is home to great local eats, outdoor fun, and a high school with 12 IHSAA state titles on its resume.
Looking for a home that fits your lifestyle? J.C. Hart Company has been creating enjoyable living experiences across Indiana for 50 years. Explore over 30 communities, including Downtown Indy, Hamilton County, Bloomington and much more with seven brand-new luxury locations. With dedicated leasing agents ready to give personalized tours, finding your next home has never been easier. Interested in a career in property management?
Check out open positions and see why J.C. Hart is recognized as one of Indiana’s Best Places to Work 👉 homeisjchart.com
Fast Facts
đź“ŤLOCATION: Central Indiana
New Palestine is located in the southwest corner of Hancock County.
U.S. Route 52 runs through town, leading northwest to Indianapolis and southeast to Carrollton, Fountaintown, and Morristown.
30 minutes east of downtown Indianapolis
đź‘Ą POPULATION & RANKING
3,621 residents (as of 2024)
Ranks as Indiana’s 161st-largest city
Fourth-largest incorporated town/city in Hancock County behind Greenfield (26,268), Cumberland (7,211), and Fortville (4,927)
đź“Ź LAND AREA
1.99 square miles
đź“… FOUNDED
Hancock County was founded in 1828 from a southern portion of Madison County.
It was named after John Hancock, who is best known for having the first signature on the Declaration of Independence.
Greenfield is the county seat of Hancock County.
New Palestine was platted by Jonathan Edwards on Oct. 1, 1838, as part of Sugar Creek Township.
New Palestine became incorporated on May 22, 1871.
Edwards’ house was the first one in town, and he operated both the store and post office, the latter being known as Sugar Creek. Many people did not know the post office was named Sugar Creek instead of New Palestine, so mail was often wrongly delivered to an unincorporated town called Palestine in Kosciusko County. It wasn’t until Jan. 16, 1889 that the post office’s name was officially changed to New Palestine.
🏥 MAIN INDUSTRIES: Small Business, Healthcare
Hancock Family Medicine, Hancock Dermatology - New Palestine, and the Hancock Wellness Center are located just west of New Palestine.
Physical Wellness
The Hancock Wellness Center is one of three Hancock Wellness Centers in Hancock County. Memberships include access to the pool, basketball courts, sauna, steam room, fitness amenities and equipment, classes focused on aquatics, mind and body, and strength and cardio, plus on-site child care.
The Great Outdoors
For those looking to get outdoors, Sugar Creek Township Park spans 88 acres and has a paved trail, playground, 9-hole disc golf course, dog park, and incredible Southern Hancock County veterans memorial.
Nature lovers will also enjoy the Jacob Schramm Nature Preserve for bird watching, wildflowers, and some of Hancock County’s most photogenic spots.
At Fire & Ice Café, guests say they feel relaxed while dining out — and that’s no accident. The café is 100% gluten-free and allergen-friendly, but it’s also warm and modern. Whether you're new in town or a regular, Fire & Ice Café has a way of making everyone feel like a familiar face.
 See what’s on the menu at fireandicecafe.com.
Championship Pedigree
The mascot for New Palestine High School is the Dragons, and they’ve won 12 IHSAA state championships in school history.
Since 2003, Dragons softball has made it to the state championship game eight times, winning six of them – tied for second most behind only Center Grove’s seven softball titles. They beat West Lafayette 5-1 in the 3A championship in 2004 and added 3A titles in 2008 (4-0 vs. Jasper), 2009 (10 in 5 innings vs. Andrean), 2017 (13-6 vs. Kankakee Valley), 2018 (3-1 vs. South Bend St. Joseph), and 2019 (10-0 vs Yorktown). New Pal is the only program in IHSAA softball history to three-peat as champions.
Shortly after softball secured the school’s first state championship, baseball doubled down with its own 3A title in 2004, defeating Andrean 3-2.
Dragons football has become a 4A/5A powerhouse over the last decade behind head coach Kyle Ralph. In 2014, they scored a state finals record 77 points in the 4A final vs. New Prairie to cap a perfect 15-0 season. They also won championships in 2018 (5A, 28-14 vs. Decatur Central), 2019 (5A, 27-20 vs. Valparaiso), 2024 (4A, 56-26 vs. East Noble), and 2025 (5A, 38-17 vs. Merrillville) to finish off perfect 14-0 campaigns each year.
Individually, Chad Red Jr. put together a historic career on the wrestling mat for New Pal, finishing his prep career with a perfect record of 183-0 while becoming Indiana’s ninth four-time state champion. He went on to wrestle collegiately at the University of Nebraska.
Start your day at Barrel Racing Baristas. Established in 2022, they’ve racked up 4.5 stars on Google because of their breakfast featuring crepes, sandwiches, and pastries, plus unique ice cream flavors all day long.
The New Pal Pub is another popular spot in town. They’re known for serving up traditional pub grub that includes favorites like pizza and wings. The place fills up on trivia and karaoke nights, too.
Veal’s Ice Tree
In the winter months, you have to check out Veal’s Ice Tree less than 10 miles southwest of New Palestine in Acton. This winter tradition first began in 1961 and is a must-see attraction every winter.
New Pal Nuggets
New Pal Summer Fest occurs annually every June and is full of fun including food vendors, live music, fireworks and much more.
We can’t wrap up our New Palestine breakdown without mentioning Frosty Boy Drive-In. Open seasonally, Frosty Boy is the best spot for ice cream — and over 1,200 Google reviews support that belief.