Bluffton

Read for yourself what one local resident has to say about living in Bluffton.

Bluffton was formed on the bluffs surrounding the south bank of the Wabash River where its name was derived. Founded in 1838, the city of Bluffton grew to become a prosperous community due to the advent of the railroad in 1869 and later the oil boom of the 1890s. These occurrences, as well as others, helped businesses to prosper in Bluffton. In fact, many of the prominent businesses in Bluffton today can be traced back to pioneer times, lending to a legacy of solidarity and reliability in Bluffton businesses.

For more than 40 years, Bluffton has also enjoyed the distinction of being the “Parlor City of Indiana”. This nickname is well-deserved due to Bluffton’s reputation for being the most beautiful and well-kept city within Indiana. Combining health, wealth, and beauty, Bluffton is often pictured as the perfect model of cleanliness and well-being.

Bluffton continues to draw attention with its distinctive downtown Victorian architecture and a number of sites that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A wide variety of parks, Angel of Hope Memorial Park, Ouabache State Park, Wells community swimming pool and Pickett’s Run splash pad and fitness trail to name a few, add to the city’s appeal.

Bluffton is led by Mayor Ted Ellis, a five-member Common Council, a clerk-treasurer, and a city court judge. The mayor is also charged with appointing two people to serve with him on the Bluffton Board of Public Works and Safety managing the city utilities. The city of Bluffton currently operates three utilities: electric, water, and sewage.

Mayor Ted Ellis has served in his current position since 1995, and he was one of the driving forces behind Bluffton becoming one of the first towns in Indiana, and across America, to promote itself as an inclusive town. Similarly, Bluffton was one of the first cities to join the National League of Cities’ Partnership for Working Toward Inclusive Communities.

Today, Bluffton is proud to be both the county seat and the largest town in Wells County. In 1898, Bluffton also became the home of the Bluffton Street Fair, the oldest continuously-running street fair in the state of Indiana. The Bluffton Street Fair is held during the third week of September each year, and it exemplifies the community spirit that is characteristic of Bluffton.