South Bend, Indiana

The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 318,586 and Combined Statistical Area of 721,296. It is the fourth-largest city in Indiana, serving as the economic and cultural hub of Northern Indiana. The highly ranked University of Notre Dame is located just to the north in unincorporated Notre Dame, Indiana and is an integral contributor to the region's economy.

The area was originally settled in the early 19th century by fur traders and was established as a city in 1865. The St. Joseph River shaped South Bend's economy through the mid-20th century. River access assisted heavy industrial development such as that of the Studebaker Corporation, the Oliver Chilled Plow Company, and other large corporations.

The population of South Bend declined after 1960, when it had a peak population of 132,445. This was chiefly due to migration to suburban areas as well as the demise of Studebaker and other heavy industry. Today, the largest industries in South Bend are health care, education, small business, and tourism. Remaining large corporations include Crowe Horwath, Honeywell, and AM General.

South Bend International Airport

South Bend International Airport (IATA: SBN, ICAO: KSBN, FAA LID: SBN) is three miles northwest of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States. Formerly South Bend Airport and South Bend Regional Airport, it is the state's third busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic after Indianapolis International Airport and Fort Wayne International Airport.

The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 called it a primary commercial service facility.

Federal Aviation Administration records show the airport had 299,592 passenger enplanements in 2012, 328,992 in 2013, and 311,158 in 2014.

History

In the early days South Bend's main airport was Cadet Field in present-day Granger. Vincent Hugo Bendix, founder of Bendix Aviation, bought land northwest of South Bend to provide air service closer to the city. Bendix Field opened in 1933.

Bendix Field was later called St. Joseph County Airport, then Michiana Regional Transportation Center. The airport was renamed South Bend Regional Airport on January 1, 2000, to help identify the airport, many travelers not knowing the meaning of Michiana (taken from Michigan and Indiana).

South Bend station (South Shore Line)

South Bend was the eastern terminus of the South Shore Line located at the corner of LaSalle Avenue and Michigan Street in downtown South Bend, Indiana. This station, situated on the site of a former Masonic Temple, was the South Shore's third South Bend station and opened on August 3, 1921. In 1928, the station was remodeled to resemble the 11th Street station in Michigan City. The redesigned station featured restrooms, waiting rooms, food concessions, and was staffed by a ticket agent. The South Bend terminal remained in service until 1970, when the Chicago, South Shore and South Bend Railroad eliminated street running in South Bend by truncating the line. It was replaced by a new station at Washington Street.

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