About Bartholomew County

Bartholomew County, Indiana Area Guide

Discover beautiful Bartholomew County, Indiana! Bartholomew County was founded in 1821 and offers visitors and residents alike with 409 square miles of scenic landscapes to explore. Bartholomew County is located in the southeastern part of Indiana, with Columbus serving as the county seat, and provides easy access to Interstate Highway 65 and U.S. Highway 31. Enjoy living in the “ Athens on the Prairie” with its world-renowned architecture, booming businesses, and a wide variety of attractions and events to discover annually. To start planning your trip to Bartholomew County today, please visit their official website and discover all the ends and outs of this friendly community.

History

Bartholomew County was officially organized by legislative act on January 8, 1821, although it was not effective until February 12, 1821. The county began after John Tipton, who would later become a United States Senator, donated thirty acres of land for the founding of a County Seat at Columbus. The commissioners were so grateful for the donation that they named the County Seat Tiptona. However, on March 20, 1821, the commissioners decided to rescind their action on account of Tipton’s political views and changed the name of the County Seat to Columbus. Bartholomew County was soon divided into 12 Civil Townships including Clay, Clifty, Columbus, Flat Rock, German, Harrison, Haw Creek, Jackson, Ohio, Rock Creek, Sand Creek and Wayne.

Bartholomew County played an important role in the 1800s as acting as part of the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad ran through the Sandcreek Township of Azalia, a Quaker or “Friends” community. By the 1900s Bartholomew County had grown significantly. Along with blossoming communities, business began to boom. One business that grew during this time period and still plays an important role in the Bartholomew County community was the Cummins Diesel Engine Company, which was created in 1919. Another important feature to come out of this period was the founding of one of the first four colleges west of the mountains in Hartsville.

During World War II, Bartholomew County played an important role by housing the Wakeman Hospital in Camp Atterbury; the largest hospital in the nation. To find out this and more about Bartholomew County’s rich history, please visit their official historical web site.

Parks and Recreation

Bartholomew County is home to a dedicated Parks and Recreation Department that serves all of its citizen’s needs. The Bartholomew County Parks and Recreation Board works to provide the highest quality of life for visitors and residents alike through its 12 top-notch facilities, services, and caring personnel who maintain over 144.5 acres of land. Their mission is to protect the environment and to acquire, conserve, and protect natural resources. To find out this and more about the Bartholomew County Parks and Recreation Board, please visit their official website.

Attractions and Activities

Discover a rich variety of fantastic attractions and activities that await you in Bartholomew County. Bartholomew County offers superb shopping, delectable restaurants and eateries, and fun to be had by all. Enjoy taking in the incredible artwork of the Indiana Glass Trail or spend an afternoon enjoying a movie at AMC Showplace 12 or Yes Cinema. If you enjoy the great outdoors, why not play a challenging round of golf at the Otter Creek Golf Course or meander along People Trails. To find out more about the incredible attractions and activities that await you in Bartholomew County, please feel free to explore the links provide below.

AMC Showplace 12

555 Creekview Court , Columbus  -  (812) 372-1166

Bicycle Station

1201 Washington Street , Columbus  -  (812) 379-9005

Columbus Visitors Center

506 5th Street , Columbus  -  (812) 378-2622

Columbus Bowling Center

3010 State Street, Columbus -  (812) 372-7857

Indiana Glass Trail

Otter Creek Golf Course

11522 East 50 North, Columbus -  (812) 579-5227

People Trails

Simmons Winery

8111 E 450 N, Columbus, IN – (812) 546-0091

Yes Cinema

328, Jackson Street, Columbus -  (812) 378-4937

Zaharakos

329 Washington Street , Columbus  -  (812) 378-1900

Events

Bartholomew County is home to a variety of fun events throughout the year, always offering you and your family something new and exciting to experience! From holiday events to farmers markets and community gatherings, there’s something for people of all ages and interests. Please visit Bartholomew County’s official event calendar to discover just a few of these family-friendly events and activities that await you in the upcoming months.