View source for Goshen, Indiana

{{For|the community in Scott County|Goshen, Scott County, Indiana}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Goshen, Indiana
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = "The Maple City"
| image_skyline      = GoshenIN Downtown Main & Lincoln.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Downtown Goshen (2015)
| image_flag         = Flag of Goshen, Indiana.svg
| image_seal         = 
| image_blank_emblem = Logo of Goshen, Indiana.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| image_map          = Elkhart County Indiana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Goshen Highlighted 1828386.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Goshen in Elkhart County, Indiana.
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{USA}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|Indiana}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Indiana|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Elkhart County, Indiana|Elkhart]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[List of townships in Indiana|Townships]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Elkhart Township, Elkhart County, Indiana|Elkhart]], [[Concord Township, Elkhart County, Indiana|Concord]], [[Jefferson Township, Elkhart County, Indiana|Jefferson]], [[Harrison Township, Elkhart County, Indiana|Harrison]]
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Gina Leichty ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://goshenindiana.org/mayorsoffice |title=Mayor's Office |publisher=City of Goshen, IN |access-date=July 25, 2023}}</ref>
| established_date   = 
| population_footnotes = 
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 34517
| population_density_sq_mi = 1963.98
| population_density_km2 = 758.28
| timezone           = [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset         = −5
| timezone_DST       = [[Eastern Time Zone|EDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = −4
<!-- Area -->| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_18.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 16, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_km2     = 46.50
| area_land_km2      = 45.52
| area_water_km2     = 0.98
| area_total_sq_mi   = 17.95
| area_land_sq_mi    = 17.57
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.38
| area_note          = 
| elevation_m        = 244
| elevation_ft       = 801
| coordinates        = {{coord|41|34|55|N|85|50|12|W|region:US-IN|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code        = 46526-46528
| area_code          = [[Area code 574|574]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 18-28386<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 0435227<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=October 25, 2007}}</ref>
| website            = [http://www.goshenindiana.org/ goshenindiana.org]
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
}}

'''Goshen''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɡ|oʊ|ʃ|ən}} {{respell|GOH|shən}}) is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Elkhart County, Indiana]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> It is the smaller of the two principal cities of the Elkhart–Goshen Metropolitan Statistical Area, which in turn is part of the South Bend–Elkhart–Mishawaka [[Combined Statistical Area]]. It is located in the northern part of Indiana near the [[Michigan]] border, in a region known as [[Michiana]]. Goshen is located 10 miles southeast of [[Elkhart, Indiana|Elkhart]], 25 miles southeast of [[South Bend, Indiana|South Bend]], 120 miles east of Chicago, and 150 miles north of [[Indianapolis]]. The population of Goshen was 34,517 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Goshen city, Indiana|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US1828386|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 30, 2022}}</ref>

The city is known as a prominent [[recreational vehicle]] and accessories manufacturing center, the home of [[Goshen College]], a small [[Mennonite]] [[liberal arts college]], and the [[Elkhart County 4-H Fair]], one of the largest county fairs in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.purduealum.org/elkhart/club_events.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060411082108/http://www.purduealum.org/elkhart/club_events.htm|url-status=dead|title=Purdue Alumni Club of Elkhart County<!-- Bot generated title -->|archivedate=April 11, 2006}}</ref>

==History==
Before the arrival of white colonists, the land that is today Goshen, Indiana, was populated by Native Americans, specifically the [[Miami people]], the [[Peoria people]], and [[Potawatomi]] peoples. These people inhabited this land for thousands of years.<ref name="History">{{cite web | url=http://www.pokagon.com/our-culture/history | title=History | publisher=Pokagon Band of Potawatomi | access-date=August 18, 2019 | archive-date=August 18, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818162920/http://www.pokagon.com/our-culture/history | url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1830, the US Congress passed the [[Indian Removal Act]], requiring all indigenous people to relocate west of the Mississippi River.

Goshen was [[plat]]ted in 1831.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofelkhart00inchic |title=History of Elkhart County, Indiana |publisher=Chas. C. Chapman Co. |year=1881 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/historyofelkhart00inchic/page/884 884]}}</ref> It was named after the [[Land of Goshen]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ |title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States |publisher=Govt. Print. Off. |author=Gannett, Henry |year=1905 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n139 140]}}</ref> The initial settlers consisted entirely of old stock "[[Yankee]]" immigrants, who were descended from the English [[Puritans]] who settled New England in the 1600s.<ref name="ReferenceA" /> The [[New England]] [[Yankee]] population that founded towns such as Goshen considered themselves the "chosen people," and identified with the Israelites of the [[Old Testament]] and they thought of North America as their [[Canaan]]. They founded a large number of towns and counties across what is known as the [[Northern Tier (United States)|Northern Tier]] of the upper midwest. It was in this context that Goshen was named.<ref name="ReferenceA">''The Yankee Exodus: An Account of Migration from New England'' by Stewart Hall Holbrook University of Washington Press, 1968</ref><ref>''American Zion: The Old Testament as a Political Text from the Revolution to ...'' By Eran Shalev, Yale University Press, March 26, 2013 {{ISBN|9780300186925}} page 70–71</ref>

The Yankee migration to Indiana was a result of several factors, one of which was the overpopulation of New England. The old-stock Yankee population had large families, often bearing up to ten children in one household. Most people were expected to have their own piece of land to farm, and due to the massive and nonstop population boom, land in New England became scarce as every son claimed his own farmstead. As a result, there was not enough land for every family to have a self-sustaining farm, and Yankee settlers began leaving New England for the [[Midwestern United States]].<ref name="ReferenceB">''A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of Elkhart County, Indiana'', edited by Anthony Deahl, Lewis Publishing Company, 1905</ref>

They were aided in this effort by the construction and completion of the [[Erie Canal]] which made traveling to the region much easier, causing an additional surge in migrants coming from New England.  Added to this was the end of the [[Black Hawk War]], which made the region much safer for white settlers to travel through and settle in. However, the Black Hawk War also forced the native people who called Goshen home for so long to leave. The [[1833 Treaty of Chicago]] ultimately set the conditions that would force the Potawatomi in particular to leave the Midwest, Goshen included, in 1837. This forced exile is known today as the [[Potawatomi Trail of Death]].<ref name="History" />

These settlers were primarily members of the [[Congregational church|Congregational Church]], though due to the [[Second Great Awakening]], many of them had converted to [[Methodism]], and some had become [[Baptists]] before coming to what is now Indiana. The Congregational Church has subsequently gone through many divisions, and some factions, including those in Goshen, are now known as the [[Church of Christ]] and the [[United Church of Christ]].<ref name="ReferenceB" /> When the New Englanders arrived in what is now Elkhart County there was nothing but a dense virgin forest and wild prairie. They laid out farms, constructed roads, erected government buildings, and established post routes.<ref name="ReferenceA" /><ref name="ReferenceB" />

[[File:1965 Elkhart Double Tornado-Palm Sunday.jpg|thumb|right|This double tornado hit the Midway Trailer Court northwest of Goshen on U.S. 33, Palm Sunday, 1965.<br /><small>This image has been [[commons:Commons:Deletion requests/File:1965 Elkhart Double Tornado-Palm Sunday.jpg|nominated for deletion as a potential copyright violation]].</small>]]
On Palm Sunday, April 11, 1965, a [[1965 Palm Sunday tornado outbreak|large outbreak of tornadoes]] struck the Midwest. The most famous pair of tornadoes devastated the Midway Trailer Park (now inside the city limits of Goshen), and the Sunnyside Housing Addition in Dunlap, Indiana. Another, smaller F4 tornado also struck neighborhoods on the southeast side of Goshen on the same day. Statewide, 137 Hoosiers died in the storms—55 of them in Elkhart County. Days later, President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] visited the Dunlap site.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/events/1965palmsun_torn2.htm|title=Weather Events: 1965 Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak Part II: Sunday Evening|website=Islandnet.com|access-date=August 27, 2017}}</ref>

The Goshen Historic District, added in 1983 to the National Register of Historic Places<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/IN/Elkhart/districts.html |title=National Register of Historical Places - INDIANA (IN), Elkhart County|website=Nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com |access-date=August 27, 2017}}</ref> is bounded by Pike, RR, Cottage, Plymouth, Main, Purl, the Canal, and Second Sts. with the Elkhart County Courthouse at its center.

In April 2006, Goshen was the site of an immigration march. Officials estimated that from 2,000 to 3,000 people marched from Linway Plaza to the County Courthouse.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goshen.edu/bulletin/Current_Issue/features/fuerza|title=Bulletin Issue Archives - News & Events - Goshen College|website=News & Events|access-date=August 27, 2017}}</ref>

Goshen has been called a "[[sundown town]]", and African Americans were allegedly prevented from living in, or entering, the town, under threat of violence. However, there was never a city ordinance or official policy to enforce such a restriction. Nevertheless, in March 2015, the city issued a formal apology for racial discrimination in the past. A documentary made at Goshen College, ''Goshen: A Sundown Town's Transformation'', tells the story of why Goshen has been called a sundown town.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://record.goshen.edu/features/light-is-shed-on-goshens-sundown-past-in-new |title=Light is shed on Goshen's 'sundown' past in new documentary|website=record.goshen.edu |access-date=October 7, 2025}}</ref>

The [[Elkhart County Courthouse]], [[Fort Wayne Street Bridge]], [[Goshen Carnegie Public Library]], [[Goshen Historic District (Goshen, Indiana)|Goshen Historic District]], [[William N. Violett House]], and [[Violett-Martin House and Gardens]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a|dateform=mdy}}</ref>

==Geography==
Goshen is located at {{Coord|41|34|55|N|85|50|12|W}}. The [[Elkhart River]] winds its way through the city and through a dam on the south side making the Goshen Dam Pond. Rock Run Creek also runs through town. The city is divided east–west by Main Street and north–south by Lincoln Avenue.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|16.59|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|16.23|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.36|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Indiana gazetteer 2010">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/2010_place_list_18.txt |title=not available |date=May 17, 2014|access-date=May 3, 2025|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517122604/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/2010_place_list_18.txt|archive-date=May 17, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

=== Environmental leadership ===
In February 2018, the Elkhart River flooded as a result of heavy rain and snowmelt. The river rose to a record 13.2 feet, damaging more than 300 structures and prompting evacuations. City government has responded to the [[Climate change in Indiana|increase in severe weather]] such as flooding, hail, and heavy rains with measures including [[Stormwater|stormwater management]], and "an initiative to grow the town's [[Canopy (biology)|tree canopy]] by 45%." Goshen completed 92 solar projects in 2019. Goshen outranked Phoenix, Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Denver with its 2019 production of 116 watts of [[Solar power in the United States|solar power]] per capita.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indianaenvironmentalreporter.org/posts/galvanized-by-disaster|title=Galvanized by disaster|website=Indiana Environmental Reporter|date=November 11, 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-11-13}}</ref>

===Climate===
{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | collapsed   = yes
 | single line = yes
 | location    = Goshen, Indiana (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1914–present)
 | Jan record high F  = 68
 | Feb record high F  = 73
 | Mar record high F  = 87
 | Apr record high F  = 88
 | May record high F  = 95
 | Jun record high F  = 104
 | Jul record high F  = 111
 | Aug record high F  = 106
 | Sep record high F  = 101
 | Oct record high F  = 90
 | Nov record high F  = 80
 | Dec record high F  = 69
 | year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 52.9
|Feb avg record high F = 56.0
|Mar avg record high F = 70.1
|Apr avg record high F = 79.7
|May avg record high F = 87.0
|Jun avg record high F = 92.1
|Jul avg record high F = 92.4
|Aug avg record high F = 90.7
|Sep avg record high F = 89.2
|Oct avg record high F = 81.4
|Nov avg record high F = 67.3
|Dec avg record high F = 55.2
|year avg record high F = 94.2

 | Jan high F = 31.7
 | Feb high F = 35.5
 | Mar high F = 47.2
 | Apr high F = 60.3
 | May high F = 71.7
 | Jun high F = 80.4
 | Jul high F = 83.3
 | Aug high F = 81.3
 | Sep high F = 75.2
 | Oct high F = 62.8
 | Nov high F = 48.4
 | Dec high F = 36.5
 | year high F = 59.5
 | Jan mean F = 24.7
 | Feb mean F = 27.9
 | Mar mean F = 38.0
 | Apr mean F = 49.5
 | May mean F = 60.8
 | Jun mean F = 70.0
 | Jul mean F = 73.1
 | Aug mean F = 71.3
 | Sep mean F = 64.5
 | Oct mean F = 53.0
 | Nov mean F = 40.6
 | Dec mean F = 30.1
 | year mean F = 50.3
 | Jan low F = 17.8
 | Feb low F = 20.2
 | Mar low F = 28.8
 | Apr low F = 38.7
 | May low F = 49.9
 | Jun low F = 59.6
 | Jul low F = 62.8
 | Aug low F = 61.3
 | Sep low F = 53.9
 | Oct low F = 43.3
 | Nov low F = 32.8
 | Dec low F = 23.7
 | year low F = 41.1

|Jan avg record low F = -4.6
|Feb avg record low F = 0.2
|Mar avg record low F = 10.4
|Apr avg record low F = 23.6
|May avg record low F = 34.8
|Jun avg record low F = 45.2
|Jul avg record low F = 50.9
|Aug avg record low F = 49.8
|Sep avg record low F = 39.4
|Oct avg record low F = 29.1
|Nov avg record low F = 18.3
|Dec avg record low F = 4.3
|year avg record low F = -8.6

 | Jan record low F  = -25
 | Feb record low F  = -21
 | Mar record low F  = -19
 | Apr record low F  = 1
 | May record low F  = 24
 | Jun record low F  = 32
 | Jul record low F  = 39
 | Aug record low F  = 37
 | Sep record low F  = 25
 | Oct record low F  = 16
 | Nov record low F  = -5
 | Dec record low F  = -25
 | year record low F =
 | precipitation colour   = green
 | Jan precipitation inch = 2.78
 | Feb precipitation inch = 2.33
 | Mar precipitation inch = 2.44
 | Apr precipitation inch = 3.79
 | May precipitation inch = 4.27
 | Jun precipitation inch = 4.12
 | Jul precipitation inch = 3.99
 | Aug precipitation inch = 4.05
 | Sep precipitation inch = 3.27
 | Oct precipitation inch = 3.33
 | Nov precipitation inch = 2.96
 | Dec precipitation inch = 2.52
 | year precipitation inch = 39.85
 | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
 | Jan precipitation days  = 13.4
 | Feb precipitation days  = 11.2
 | Mar precipitation days  = 10.8
 | Apr precipitation days  = 12.0
 | May precipitation days  = 11.7
 | Jun precipitation days  = 10.9
 | Jul precipitation days  = 10.1
 | Aug precipitation days  = 9.8
 | Sep precipitation days  = 9.1
 | Oct precipitation days  = 11.2
 | Nov precipitation days  = 11.5
 | Dec precipitation days  = 12.3
 | year precipitation days = 134.0
 | Jan snow inch = 13.8
 | Feb snow inch = 11.4
 | Mar snow inch = 5.4
 | Apr snow inch = 1.2
 | May snow inch = 0.0
 | Jun snow inch = 0.0
 | Jul snow inch = 0.0
 | Aug snow inch = 0.0
 | Sep snow inch = 0.0
 | Oct snow inch = 0.1
 | Nov snow inch = 3.4
 | Dec snow inch = 9.9
 | year snow inch = 45.2
 | unit snow days = 0.1 in
 | Jan snow days  = 10.4
 | Feb snow days  = 8.6
 | Mar snow days  = 4.3
 | Apr snow days  = 1.0
 | May snow days  = 0.0
 | Jun snow days  = 0.0
 | Jul snow days  = 0.0
 | Aug snow days  = 0.0
 | Sep snow days  = 0.0
 | Oct snow days  = 0.2
 | Nov snow days  = 2.8
 | Dec snow days  = 7.3
 | year snow days = 34.6
 | source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=iwx
|title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = November 17, 2023}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00123418&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = November 17, 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
[[File:Goshen-indiana-courthouse.jpg|thumb|left|[[Elkhart County, Indiana|Elkhart County]] courthouse in Goshen.]]
{{US Census population
|1850= 780
|1860= 2053
|1870= 3133
|1880= 4123
|1890= 6033
|1900= 7810
|1910= 8514
|1920= 9525
|1930= 10397
|1940= 11375
|1950= 13003
|1960= 13718
|1970= 17871
|1980= 19665
|1990= 23797
|2000= 29383
|2010= 31719
|2020= 34517
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing from 1790|publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 24, 2022}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name=2020CensusP2 />
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Goshen city, Indiana – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2010<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Goshen city, Indiana|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US1828386&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Goshen city, Indiana|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US1828386&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|21,140
|style='background: #ffffe6; |20,057
|66.65%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |58.11%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|740
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,079
|2.33%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.13%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|72
|style='background: #ffffe6; |45
|0.23%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.13%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|376
|style='background: #ffffe6; |471
|1.19%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.36%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|9
|style='background: #ffffe6; |13
|0.03%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.04%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|38
|style='background: #ffffe6; |120
|0.12%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.35%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|441
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,083
|1.39%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.14%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|8,903
|style='background: #ffffe6; |11,649
|28.07%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |33.75%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''31,719'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''34,517'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2010 census===
As of the census<ref name="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 11, 2012}}</ref> of 2010, there were 31,719 people, 11,344 households, and 7,580 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1954.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 12,631 housing units at an average density of {{convert|778.3|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 78.2% White, 2.6% African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 14.8% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28.1% of the population.

There were 11,344 households, of which 36.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.2% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.2% had someone who was 65 years of age or older living alone. The average household size was 2.67, and the average family size was 3.23.

The median age in the city was 32.4 years. 27.4% of residents were under 18; 11.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.1% were from 25 to 44; 20% were from 45 to 64, and 14.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.9% male and 51.1% female.

===2000 census===
As of the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 29,383 people, 10,675 households, and 7,088 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,227.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 11,264 housing units at an average density of {{convert|854.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 83.15% White, 1.53% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 1.10% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 12.00% from other races, and 1.94% from two or more races. 19.33% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 10,675 households, of which 32.6% had children under 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61, and the average family size was 3.14.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.9% under 18, 12.9% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 17.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 97.7 males.

The [[median income]] for a household in the city was $39,383, and the median income for a family was $46,877. Males had a median income of $32,159 versus $23,290 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,899. About 6.0% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those aged 65 or over.

==Economy==
Industry in Goshen centers around the automotive and [[recreational vehicle]] business. There are [[automotive component]] manufacturers such as [[Benteler International|Benteler]]; firms that build custom bodies onto chassis such as Supreme, Independent Protection, and Showhauler Trucks. RV manufacturing companies include Dutchmen, [[Forest River (company)|Forest River]], and Keystone.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://business.goshen.org/list/Category/manufacturing-1704.htm|title=Manufacturers - Goshen Chamber of Commerce|website=business.goshen.org|access-date=August 27, 2017}}</ref>

==Government==
The government consists of a mayor, a clerk-treasurer, a city council, and a youth advisor. The mayor and clerk are elected in a citywide vote. The city council consists of seven members. Five are elected from individual districts. Two are elected at large. The youth advisor position was added in 2016 and is elected by the students of [[Goshen High School (Indiana)|Goshen High School]].

Gina Leichty, a member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], is the first woman to become Mayor of Goshen in its 192-year history. Leichty became Mayor following the resignation of former mayor Jeremy Stutsman. Stutsman left the mayorship to be CEO of a local nonprofit housing agency, LaCasa.<ref><https://www.goshennews.com/news/leichty-named-interim-goshen-mayor/article_5485870e-ead4-11ed-b9f3-23b3cc3b38b4.html></ref>

==Education==
[[Goshen Community Schools]]<!--UNI 03930--> serves the portion of the city in Elkhart Township.<ref name=ElkhartCoSDMap2020>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st18_in/schooldistrict_maps/c18039_elkhart/DC20SD_C18039.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Elkhart County, IN|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-09-25}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st18_in/schooldistrict_maps/c18039_elkhart/DC20SD_C18039_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> This system consists of six elementary schools, Goshen Intermediate School, Goshen Junior High School, and [[Goshen High School (Indiana)|Goshen High School]].

In 2012, ''U.S. News & World Report'' ranked Goshen High School as the 12th best high school in Indiana and the top 6% of high schools in the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/indiana/districts/goshen-community-schools/goshen-high-school-7232|title=Goshen High School in GOSHEN, IN - Best High Schools|website=U.S. News & World Report|access-date=August 27, 2017}}</ref>

Small parts of the city of Goshen are covered by several other school districts, including [[Middlebury Community Schools]],<!--UNI 06600--> [[Concord Community Schools (Indiana)|Concord Community Schools]],<!--UNI 02400--> and [[WaNee Community Schools]].<!--UNI 12240--><ref name=ElkhartCoSDMap2020/>

Additionally, Goshen is served by [[Bethany Christian Schools]], a [[private school|private]] [[Christian school]] for grades 4–12.

[[Goshen College]], located on the south side of town, has an enrollment of approximately 773, with 37% male and 63% female. Tuition and fees for the 2024–2025 year were $38,890.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/goshen-college-1799|title=Goshen College in GOSHEN, IN|website=U.S. News & World Report|access-date=December 20, 2024}}</ref>

The town has a free lending library, the Goshen Public Library.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.in.gov/library/files/countyindex13.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513002218/http://www.in.gov/library/files/countyindex13.pdf |archive-date=2013-05-13 |url-status=live |title=Indiana public library directory |publisher=Indiana State Library |access-date=7 March 2018}}</ref>

==Transportation==

===Airports===
[[Goshen Municipal Airport]] is a public-use airport located about 3.5 miles southeast of downtown Goshen. The Goshen Board of Aviation Commissioners owns the airport.<ref>{{FAA-airport|ID=GSH|use=PU|own=PU|site=05308.*A}}. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective May 31, 2012.</ref>

The closest airports with regularly scheduled commercial service are [[South Bend International Airport]] (about {{convert|36|miles}} away) and [[Fort Wayne International Airport]] (about {{convert|61|miles}} away). [[O'Hare International Airport]] in Chicago is about {{convert|141|miles}} away.

===Bus===
The [[Interurban Trolley]] bus connects Goshen to the nearby city of [[Elkhart, Indiana|Elkhart]] and the unincorporated town of Dunlap via Concord and Elkhart-Goshen routes. The routes pass at Elkhart's [[Elkhart (Amtrak station)|Amtrak station]], allowing passengers to connect to the ''[[Capitol Limited (Amtrak train)|Capitol Limited]]'' and ''[[Lake Shore Limited]]'' trains. Riders can also transfer to the North Pointe and Bittersweet/Mishawaka routes. The former allows riders to connect to Elkhart's Greyhound bus station, while the later connects the riders to the city of [[Mishawaka]] and town of [[Osceola, Indiana|Osceola]]. The Bittersweet/Mishawaka route also allows them to transfer to [[South Bend TRANSPO|TRANSPO]] Route 9 to connect to destinations throughout the South Bend-Goshen metropolitan region and the [[South Shore Line (NICTD)|South Shore Line]]'s [[South Bend International Airport]] [[South Bend Airport (NICTD)|station]].

==Recreation==
[[File:Pumpkinvine Trail Outside of Goshen.jpg|thumb|right|Pumpkinvine Nature Trail]]
[[File:First Friday Cruising - July 2011.jpg|thumb|right|Cruising on First Friday, July 2011.]]

Goshen has seven parks and has a few different greenways and trails winding through the city, one of which runs along the old Mill Race and hydraulic canal, which was once used to power an old [[hydroelectricity|hydroelectric power plant]]. Plans were drawn up in 2005 call for the plant to be reopened and redevelopment to begin along the canal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://goshen.org/GoshenRiverRaceRedevelopmentProject91505B_002.pdf.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051222111156/http://www.goshen.org/GoshenRiverRaceRedevelopmentProject91505B_002.pdf.pdf |archive-date=2005-12-22 |url-status=live|title=Goshen Chamber of Commerce|website=goshen.org|access-date=August 27, 2017}}</ref>

The Pumpkinvine Nature Trail runs from Goshen to Middlebury and Shipshewana, along the former Pumpkin Vine Railroad. The trail starts northeast of Goshen at Abshire Park. It is one of the recreational highlights of Goshen.  Along with the Maple City Greenway and the Millrace trail, they provide many miles of easily accessible trails for walking, running, and biking.

The Elkhart County Fairgrounds are also located in the city, where the Elkhart County 4-H Fair is held in late July. It is the largest county fair in Indiana and one of the largest 4-H County Fairs in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elkhartcountyindiana.com/narrative.htm|title=Welcome to the Official Site For Elkhart County, INDIANA|website=Elkhartcountyindiana.com|access-date=August 27, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701082441/http://www.elkhartcountyindiana.com/narrative.htm|archive-date=July 1, 2007|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The Goshen Air Show is also an annual event that takes place at the Goshen Municipal Airport.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.freedomfestgoshen.com/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070730204952/http://www.freedomfestgoshen.com/|url-status=dead|title=天津浊吹信用担保有限公司|archivedate=July 30, 2007|website=freedomfestgoshen.com}}</ref>

In 2007, Downtown Goshen, Inc., a public-private partnership formed from the merger of Face of the City and the Downtown Action Team, started a First Fridays program. Occurring year round, First Fridays happens on the first Friday of each month with stores open until 9, music and other entertainment, and other events occurring within Goshen's downtown district.

One favorite pastime of Goshen residents is driving cars.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}

==Culture==
The south side [[Wal-Mart]] is rumored to be the first Wal-Mart in the United States to provide a covered stable for its frequent [[Amish]] customers. The Amish built the stable with lumber and other supplies donated by Wal-Mart.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3092/is_11_38/ai_54943765 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708200957/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3092/is_11_38/ai_54943765 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 8, 2012 |work=Discount Store News |title=Raising the barn in Amish country |year=1999}}</ref>

''[[Lonesome Jim]]'' (2005) which was written by former resident James Strouse, directed by [[Steve Buscemi]] and starred [[Liv Tyler]] and [[Casey Affleck]], was shot in Goshen.

==Notable people==
=== Mayors of Goshen ===
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" "style="width:100%; margin: 0;"
|+
!Name
!Term
!End Date
!Pol. Party
|-
|Henry Daniel Wilson
|May 1868
|May 1869
|Dem.
|-
|Melvin Barnes Hascall
|May 1869
|May 1871
|
|-
|Joseph A S Mitchell<ref>[[Joseph Mitchell (Indiana judge), "J.A.S. Mitchell House," Fifth and Madison]]</ref>
|May 1871
|May 1873
|Dem.
|-
|George Freese Sr
|May 1873
|May 1875
|Republ., Prohibitionist
|-
|Charles Bidwell  Alderman
|1875; 1877; 1879;
|May 1882
|Dem.
|-
|Philemon Doud Harding<ref>"Our Harding Family" by MARY E. HARDING BAIRD 1957, Mayor 1882-U & 1886-1888</ref>
|May 1882
|May 1884
|Dem.
|-
|Josiah B. Cobb
|May 1884
|May 1886
|Republi.
|-
|Philemon Doud Harding
|1886   See Above
|May 1888
|Dem
|-
|Charles Wesley Miller<ref>Who's Who in Finance, Incorporated (N.Y.), vol 1, pub. 1911; tr. by J.S. Centennial history and handbook of Indiana. Cottman, George S. (George Streibe), 1857–1941</ref>
|May 1888
|May 1890
|Republ.
|-
|John H. Lesh<ref>"Pictorial and Biographical Memoirs of Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties, Indiana: Together with Biographies of Many Prominent Men of Northern Indiana and of the Whole State, Both Living and Dead"</ref>
|May 1890
|May 1892
|Republ.
|-
|John B. Walk<ref>Pictorial and Biographical Memoirs of Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties, Indiana 1893; "GOSHEN—John B. Walk, ex-mayor of this city, whose suicide has been noted, shortly before hanging himself paid an assessment on a $5,000 life insurance/policy. . Ever since he failed in the drug business several years ago Mr. Walk has been despondent "Hoosier State Chronicles" 30 May 1901 & 5 June 1901 (https://newspapers.library.in.gov )</ref>
|May 1892
|Sept 1894
|Republ.
|-
|Dr Joseph H Heatwole<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Weaver |editor-first=Abraham E. |date=1916 |title=A Standard History of Elkhart County Indiana |url=https://archive.org/stream/standardhistoryo01weav/standardhistoryo01weav_djvu.txt |location=Chicago |publisher=American Historical Society |page=[https://archive.org/details/standardhistoryo01weav/page/245 245] | volume=1 |oclc=9304594 |access-date=May 3, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= |first= |date=1893 |title=Pictorial and Biographical Memoirs of Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties, Indiana |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Pictorial_and_Biographical_Memoirs_of_El/z55DAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22Joseph+H+Heatwole%22&pg=PA608&printsec=frontcover |location=Chicago |publisher=Goodspeed Bros. |page=608 |oclc=7798960 |access-date=May 3, 2025}}</ref>
|1894; 1896
|July 1898
|Republ.
|-
|Benjamin F Deahl<ref>Elected to fill unexpired term, then elec. To fill a full term, https://www.repository.law.indiana.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5174&context=ilj ;  (1930) "Obituaries," Indiana Law Journal: Vol. 6: Iss. 2, Article 16.</ref>
|Filled Unexpired term (July 1898 – May 1900); 1900–1902
|May 1902
|Dem.
|-
|George Finely Alderman
|5/1/1902
|May.1904
|Dem.
|-
|Alfred Lowry<ref>Year Book for the State of Indiana https://worldcat.org/en/title/11801547</ref>
|1/1/1904
|Dec. 1906
|Republ.
|-
|Charles Kohler
|1/1/1906
|Dec. 1908
|Dem.
|-
|Samuel Franklin Spohn
|1/1/1909
|Dec. 1918
|Dem.
|-
|Daniel Jackson "DJ" Troyer
|Jan. 1918
|Apr. 1919
|Republ.
|-
|William Herbert Charnley<ref>The Michigan Alumnus, Volume 43 1936; Hardwood Record, Volume 43 Hardwood Company, 1917 - Forests and forestry;</ref>
|Apr. 1919
|Dec. 1918
|Republ.
|-
|George R. Rimpler
|Jan. 1922
|Dec. 1925
|Dem.
|-
|John Orrien Abshire
|Jan. 1926
|Dec. 1929
|
|-
|Clell Eugene Firestone
|Dec. 1930; 1934
|Dec. 1938
|Dem.
|-
|Gordon Douglas Pease
|Jan. 1938
|Dec. 1942
|Republ.
|-
|Frank S. Ebersole<ref>The Ebersol Families in America – 1727-1937. Lansing, MI, 1937</ref>
|Jan. 1943
|Dec. 1947
|Republ.
|-
|Rollin Richard Roth Sr
|Jan. 1948
|Dec. 1955
|Republ.
|-
|Ray Bernard Messick
|Jan. 1956–59
|Dec. 1963
|
|-
|Ralph Bowman Schenk
|Jan. 1964; 1968;
|Dec. 1975
|Republ.
|-
|Steven Regis Chisick
|Jan. 1976
|Dec. 1979
|Dem.
|-
|Max Ronald Chiddister
|Jan. 1980
|Dec. 1987
|Republ.
|-
|Michael S. Puro
|Jan. 1988
|Mar.1997
|Dem.
|-
|Allan J. Kauffman
|Apr. 1997
|Dec. 2015
|Dem.
|-
|Jeremy P. Stutsman
|Jan. 2016
|Jun. 2023
|Dem.
|-
|Gina M. Leichty
|Jun. 2023
|
|Dem.
|}

===Politicians===
* [[John Baker (Indiana politician)|John Baker]], [[U.S. Representative]] from Indiana (1832–1915)
* [[Ebenezer M. Chamberlain]], U.S. Representative from Indiana (1805–1861)
* [[Joseph Hutton Defrees]], U.S. Representative from Indiana (1812–1885)
* [[Charles W. Miller]], [[Indiana Attorney General]], mayor of Goshen
* [[Joseph Mitchell (Indiana judge)|Joseph Mitchell]], Justice of the [[Indiana Supreme Court]], third mayor of Goshen

===Entertainment===
* [[James Carew]], silent film actor (1876–1938)
* [[Howard Hawks]], film director (1896–1977)
* [[Kenneth Hawks]], film director (1898–1930)
* [[Philip Proctor]], comedian and actor, [[Firesign Theatre]] (b. 1940)
* [[Raymond L. Schrock]], screenwriter (1892–1950)
* [[Strand of Oaks|Tim Showalter]], musician  (Strand of Oaks)
* [[James C. Strouse]], screenwriter
* [[Jordon Hodges]], actor
* [[Lotus (American band)|Lotus]], band (formed at [[Goshen College]], 1998)

===Sports===
* [[Shek Borkowski]], coach of Haiti national [[soccer]] team
* [[Eric Carpenter]], soccer player<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eric Carpenter |url=https://bupilots.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/eric-carpenter/172 |access-date=March 15, 2025 |website=[[Bethel University (Indiana)|Bethel Pilots]]}}</ref>
* [[Rick Mirer]], [[quarterback]] in the [[NFL]]
* [[Patricia Roy]], [[AAGPBL]] player and [[Indiana High School Athletic Association|IHSAA]] commissioner
* [[Doug Weaver]], [[college football]] player and head coach
* [[Justin Yoder]], [[gravity racer|soap box]] racer

===Other===
* [[:de:Friedrich Arnold Herring|Frederick A. Herring]], [[physician]] and [[botanist]] (1812–1908)
* [[Ida Shepard Oldroyd]], [[conchology|conchologist]] and curator (1856–1940)
* [[Lois Gunden]], a [[Righteous Among the Nations]] (1915–2005)
* [[Kate Bolduan]], [[CNN]] anchor
* [[Andrew Tate]], social media influencer<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/tomwarren/andrew-tate-early-life-friends-family|title=The Untold Story Of Andrew Tate, The Internet's Most Notorious Influencer|website=[[BuzzFeed News]]|date=9 March 2023|first1=Tom|last1=Warren|first2=Ikran|last2=Dahir|access-date=4 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240302093931/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/tomwarren/andrew-tate-early-life-friends-family|archive-date=2 March 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Sister cities==
Goshen has two [[sister cities]] as designated by [[Sister Cities International]].<ref>[http://www.sister-cities.org/interactive-map/Goshen,%20Indiana]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406020542/http://www.sister-cities.org/interactive-map/Goshen%2C%20Indiana|date=April 6, 2017}}</ref>
* {{flagdeco|Germany}} [[Bexbach]], [[Saarland]], Germany
* {{flagdeco|Netherlands}} [[Emmeloord]], [[Flevoland]], Netherlands

==See also==
* {{Portal inline|Indiana}}
* [[List of sundown towns in the United States]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Goshen, Indiana}}
{{Wikivoyage|Goshen}}
{{EB1911 poster|Goshen (Indiana)|Goshen, Indiana}}
* [http://www.goshenindiana.org Official website]
* [http://www.goshen.org/ Goshen Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.city-data.com/city/Goshen-Indiana.html Goshen on citydata.com]&nbsp;– collection of statistics and graphs of Goshen demographics.
* [http://www.pumpkinvine.org/ Pumpkinvine Nature Trail]

{{Elkhart County, Indiana}}
{{County Seats of Indiana}}
{{Indiana}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Goshen, Indiana| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Elkhart County, Indiana]]
[[Category:County seats in Indiana]]
[[Category:Cities in Indiana]]
[[Category:Sundown towns in Indiana]]
[[Category:1831 establishments in Indiana]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1831]]