Vincennes

Small Town Breakdown

Vincennes is known for its rich history as Indiana’s oldest city. It was established by the French as a fur trading post in 1732 and became the first capital of the Indiana Territory from 1800 to 1813 before Indiana entered statehood in 1816.

Fast Facts

📍LOCATION: Southwest Indiana

• Vincennes is located in west central Knox County near the Wabash River/Indiana-Illinois state line.

• U.S. Route 41 runs north-south through town, leading north to Terre Haute and south to Evansville

• U.S. Route 50/150 expressway runs east-west, leading west into Illinois and east to Loogootee

• 2 hours southwest of Indianapolis

• 1 hour north of Evansville

• 1 hour south of Terre Haute

👥 POPULATION & RANKING

• 16,506 residents (as of 2024)

• Ranks as Indiana’s 56th-largest city

• Largest of nine incorporated towns/cities in Knox County

📏 LAND AREA

• 7.48 square miles

📅 FOUNDED

• Knox County was established in 1790 and is the oldest county in Indiana.

• It was named for Major General Henry Knox, who served as U.S. Secretary of War for the Confederation Congress from 1785-89 before serving as the first U.S. Secretary of War under the new Constitution during President George Washington’s first term (1789-94).

• Prior to the formation of the Indiana Territory, Knox County extended to Canada and stretched in all or part of the present states: Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio.

• On July 4, 1800, the Northwest Territory was divided, and the western part became Indiana Territory that contained what would later be the states of Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, the eastern part of Minnesota, and the western half of Michigan.

• President John Adams appointed William Henry Harrison as the first territorial governor. He later became the ninth President of the United States.

• By 1809, when the Illinois Territory was formed, the part of Knox County beyond the Wabash River became St. Clair County, Illinois.

• Vincennes was established as a French fur-trading post in the 1730s.

• It became the first capital of the Indiana Territory from 1800 to 1813 before Indiana entered statehood in 1816.

🏥 MAIN INDUSTRIES: Manufacturing, Healthcare

• SCHOTT’s production plant employs over 300 people and produces CERAN® glass-ceramic cooktop panels, as well as glass products for refrigerators and washing machines.

• Good Samaritan Hospital has been around for more than 110 years and is the main hospital that serves Knox County and Lawrence County in Illinois.

Historical Sites

As Indiana’s oldest city, Vincennes has no shortage of historical sites to explore.

We’ll begin with George Rogers Clark National Historical Park, which features Fort Sackville and a visitor center with exhibits on the Revolutionary War in the West. The visitor center also has a bookstore, plus a 30-minute introductory movie “Long Knives” that shares the backstory of George Rogers Clark and his campaign during the American Revolution.

Next up is the Indiana Military Museum, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit museum with a wide collection of military artifacts from vehicles and aircrafts to uniforms and other equipment. Admission is $10 for adults 18 and older, and $9 for active military, veterans, or seniors over 65.

You can also tour the Grouseland, a beautifully restored mansion that was once the former home of William Henry Harrison, who was appointed governor of the Indiana Territory and later became the ninth president of the United States. It was built in the early 1800s, and family members owned the home until approximately 1850. The museum features a collection of art, furniture, and military and campaign memorabilia, plus original portraits of Harrison.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Dessert

For a classic breakfast, you can’t go wrong with Olde Thyme Diner on Main Street. This diner serves all-day breakfast, plus Midwest comfort meals like breaded tenderloins and Manhattans. This spot is only open Thursday through Monday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays). 

If you’re looking for a morning pick-me-up, stop by Impressed Coffee Company. Their menu is expansive with coffee, lattes, teas, energy drinks, breakfast sandwiches, and more. They’ve got more than 600 Google reviews and 4.5 stars.

Bill Bobe’s Pizzeria has been a staple in Vincennes since 1954, serving up the best pizza in Knox County, along with top-notch breadsticks and a salad bar. Few restaurants ever achieve legendary status in a community, but Bill Bobe’s has done just that after more than seven decades of service.

Vincennes Pub ‘N’ Grub has all the bar classics like burgers, wings, pulled pork sandwiches, loaded fries, and cheesecake for dessert. Their craft burgers like the All American, Chopped Cheese, and the Mac ‘N’ Cheese Guy (yes, it’s a cheeseburger loaded with mac and cheese) are some of their most popular. It’s closed on Mondays but open the rest of the week: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays.

Established in May 1996, Pea-Fections is a delicious downtown lunch spot that specializes in unique cheesecakes and pistachio torte. Be sure to grab their seasonal cheesecakes for the fall, including pumpkin and Dutch apple.

Vincennes University

Located alongside the Wabash River, Vincennes University was founded in 1801 as Indiana’s first college. Originally named Jefferson Academy, Vincennes University was chartered in 1806 as the Indiana Territory’s four-year university and remained the state’s publicly funded four-year university until Indiana University began in 1820. Today, the main campus spans 160 acres alone with over 16,000 students enrolled as of 2024. 

Additionally, Vincennes University’s athletic teams are known as the Trailblazers, reflecting the early years of Vincennes as a French fur-trading post. Competing in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), the Trailblazers have won numerous national championship titles. They’ve owned the lanes in both men’s and women’s bowling with over two dozen national championships combined.​​ Men’s basketball also won NJCAA national titles in 1965, 1970, 1972, and 2019.

Lincoln, Rivet, and South Knox

Vincennes Lincoln High School (or Lincoln High School) was established in 1897 near downtown. Its mascot is the Alices, a nickname inspired by the 1900 novel “Alice of Old Vincennes.” They have won three total IHSAA state championships – two in boys basketball (1923, 1981) and one in baseball (2002).

Rivet Middle/High School, formally known as Jean Francois Rivet High School, is a private, Roman Catholic high school. Its history goes back to 1924, when Gibault High School opened for Catholic boys. It closed in 1935, re-opened as Central Catholic High School in 1947, and became co-educational and was renamed Rivet High School, in honor of Jesuit priest Jean François Rivet, during the 1970-71 school year.

Rivet’s mascot is the Patriots, and they compete in the Blue Chip Conference. One of their defining athletic moments came in 2011, when girls basketball went 28-0 to win the IHSAA 1A State Championship Game. They finished as Class 1A runner-ups in 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2018, and 2019, too.

South Knox Middle/High School is home of the Spartans. Girls basketball secured the school’s first-ever state championship in March 2025, defeating Rensselaer Central 55-33 in the 2A title game.

Vincennes Nuggets

• Magnolias on Main is a small boutique florist and gift shop that was once Pretty Posies by Jan.

• Pretty Posies now offers event design services throughout Indiana and southern Illinois.

• Attic Salt Boutique is located on Main Street and sells women’s clothing and a great selection of home decor and gifts.

• Backed by a 4.9-star rating on Google, you need to check out Vincennes Escape Adventures. Their unique escape rooms are packed with mystery and fun; prices range from $15-28.

• Kelso’s 19th Hole at Cypress Hills Golf Club is a go-to spot for lunch or dinner, serving pizza, sandwiches, salads, and more.

• For Mexican cuisine, El Corral Mexican Restaurant & Bar has been serving sizzling fajitas, mouthwatering enchiladas, and top-shelf margaritas since 2014.

If you’re looking to explore eateries and attractions with a dose of history, Indiana’s oldest town is guaranteed to deliver.

Check out Nate’s breakdown of Vincennes ⬇️