Explore Southern Indiana’s Vibrant Communities
Southern Indiana is an incredible place to live, offering a rich variety of towns and cities that each bring something unique to the table. The counties that make up this region – Clark, Floyd and Scott – span from rural to urban and everything in between. Ahead, find out what makes each one of these Southern Indiana communities a cool place to call home.
Clark County
Borden
The rolling hills of Borden are beckoning, and during harvest season, everyone flocks to pick their own strawberries, peaches, pumpkins and other delights. Huber’s Orchard & Winery is a community staple, offering a fall festival annually in October. Also notable is Deam Lake State Recreation Area, a gorgeous place to fish, hike or hang on the beach.
“Borden also recently added a stage downtown at its community park for concerts,” says Anna Rosales-Crone, communications manager for SoIN Tourism. “They have Concerts by the Creek once a month during the summer, plus it’s a central part of the Star Valley Strawberry Festival, which is held every Memorial Day.”
Charlestown
In Charlestown, it’s easy to feel like you’re in a Hallmark movie, especially during the holidays, because the community goes all out the entire month of December. There’s a light show that syncs with music, appearances from Santa and the Grinch, and even plays and murder mysteries for residents to enjoy during other times of the year. The community also loves to gather for Founders Week, which includes a parade, an ice cream social and a hot air balloon glow, during the summer.
The city is also home to Indiana’s newest state park, Charlestown State Park, and several other attractions.
“One of the areas that tends to catch people’s eyes is Rose Island, which used to be a resort in the 1920s but got wiped out by a flood in 1937,” Rosales-Crone says. “You can walk through the remnants of the resort, and it’s a neat place to go.”
Clarksville
This historical hub has a storied past, serving as the starting point of Western exploration for early American explorers Lewis and Clark. Today, it’s grown into a thriving town with an appealing shopping district and new developments, like Origin Park, a climate-adaptive urban park on the Ohio River.
“There’s a lot of reinvestment right along the river, which has historically been an area that flooded a lot,” says Rosales-Crone. “They’re building a park with certain amenities that can still be enjoyed even during flooding events, like an elevated trail.”
The riverside is a fantastic place to enjoy Thunder Over Louisville, the largest fireworks show in North America, which is part of the Kentucky Derby Festival events. It’s an all-day tradition that locals love.
Jeffersonville
A riverside gem, Jeffersonville is just across the Ohio River from Louisville, and it has greatly benefited from the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge, which was constructed in 2014 and carries 1.5 million walkers, runners and cyclists across the river each year.
“When the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge opened, you really saw restaurants and boutiques opening and lots of growth in the area,” Rosales-Crone says.
The bridge links to the Ohio River Greenway, connecting Jeffersonville to Clarksville and New Albany, a route well-traveled by cycling enthusiasts. The city also hosts several community events, including Abbey Road on the River, the largest Beatles-inspired music festival in the world, held each May. Residents also enjoy a free concert series from June through September called Jammin in Jeff, which is held on Friday nights along the river at the RiverStage.
Sellersburg
This small town is extremely welcoming. Located right off Interstate 65, it’s a quick drive to more central, urban communities. Sellersburg has a reputation for having a great school system, and it is home to the local campus of Ivy Tech Community College.
“There’s a downtown district that’s really starting to grow with local businesses,” Rosales-Crone says.
Sellersburg is great for golfers, who can take advantage of the courses at Covered Bridge Golf Club and Champions Pointe in Henryville, both of which were designed by Masters champion Fuzzy Zoeller, a native of New Albany.
Floyd County
Floyds Knobs
Floyds Knobs is rural in nature with plenty of farmland. It’s home to many people who commute to Louisville for work and enjoy an 11% lower cost of living than the national average. Residents enjoy hiking its 400 acres of trails and fishing at Mt. St. Francis.
Georgetown
Though smaller and more rural, Georgetown is forging ahead with business development, thanks to the construction of Novaparke Innovation & Technology Campus, a hub that’s working to bring more businesses to the area.
While great for the local economy, it’s not a threat to the town’s charm, which can be experienced at nostalgic locations like the Georgetown Drive-In movie theater and Polly’s Freeze, which serves ice cream and diner cuisine. Natural beauty is also easily accessible here, like parks and a nature preserve.
“There’s a really great seasonally accessible playground, the Ashley Mariah Memorial Park and the Melvin and Vickie Jensen Nature Preserve, perfect for outdoor recreation,” Rosales-Crone says.
New Albany
New Albany is homegrown and full of local pride. In fact, many of the city’s residents grew up in the area, left and came back to invest and build it up. The downtown district offers locally owned boutiques, restaurants, art galleries and more. Another cool part of downtown is the Mansion Row Historic District, a fun selection of beautiful homes from the 1800s, some of which offer tours that you need to check out.
Along the river is the New Albany Riverfront Amphitheater, where many concerts take place. There’s also a summer concert series at Bicentennial Park, which you can attend for free on Friday nights.
Scott County
Austin
“Austin is a close-knit community that has recently made major advancements in public recreational areas, renewable energy and affordable new housing, all while maintaining its small-town character,” says Trevor McIntosh, who was born and raised in Austin.
The city’s two biggest industries are education and manufacturing, with plants for Morgan Foods, Pepsi Beverages and Austin Tri-Hawk Automotive.
When it comes to quality of life, outdoor recreation is a big draw, especially Hardy Lake, a more than 740-acre state reservoir that’s perfect for swimming, boating and hiking. The city’s main park is also undergoing major renovations, with promising improvements, including a splash park and pickleball courts.
Scottsburg
Scottsburg delivers on charm, as its downtown is a National Historic District featuring buildings in several classical architectural styles. The city has experienced decent growth, both in work opportunities and available housing.
Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy golfing at locally owned Westwood Golf Course, hiking the Knobstone Trail and exploring nearby Clark State Forest. Scottsburg also hosts many family-friendly events throughout the year, such as the Scott County Fair, Mayberry Comes to Scottsburg and the Fall Funfest.
“We are a rural community with friends, families and amenities readily available,” says Chris Wakeman, executive director for Visit Scott County. “We’re within minutes of the Ohio River and bigger cities, so we go visit and come back to our own peace and quiet.”
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