South Bend, Indiana, sister city to Mishawaka, nestles along the winding banks of the St. Joseph River, from which it derives its name. South Bend began as a fur-trading center in 1820 when Pierre Freischutz Navarre came to the area on behalf of the American Fur Company. Incorporated in 1865, South Bend holds a population of 107,789 (Census 2000 data) and lies within a Metropolitan Statistical Area with 316,663 residents. South Bend ranks as IN’s fourth largest city.
South Bend has two major trial courts. The Circuit Courts have unlimited trial jurisdiction in every case, with the exclusion of cases with concurrent or exclusive jurisdiction belonging to other courts. The Superior Courts, which have general jurisdiction, hear all civil and criminal cases, and handle small claims where no county court systems exist.
Saint Joseph County’s has Circuit Court, Probate Court, and Superior Court locations in South Bend, and a Superior Court in Mishawaka. Walkerton also has a Town Court location. The local courthouse address is: 101 South Main Street, South Bend, IN 46601.
Indiana's personal injury cases are heard in civil court. This FAQs section gives you information about civil lawsuits. As law courts use their own terminology, you may find this list of common legal terms handy. Once you’ve gone through a trial, you may have the right to appeal your personal injury case to the state’s Appeals Court or the Supreme Court, both of which are in Indianapolis. Indiana’s Appeals Court is located on 115 W. Washington Street in Suite 1270, while the Indiana Supreme Court is located on 315 Indiana State House Street.
South Bend, the seat of Saint Joseph County, is a cultural and economic hub for the Michiana region. South Bend has IN’s second busiest airport and hosts several large businesses such as AM General and Crowe Horwath. Healthcare companies such as Memorial Health Systems and small businesses rank among its industries, while educational facilities, including the University Of Notre Dame, remain of primary importance to the local economy. Notre Dame, South Bend’s largest employer, provides jobs for 4,758 people. Other higher learning facilities include Indiana University South Bend, and campuses of Brown Mackie College and Purdue University.
Tourism also plays a vital role in the South Bend, where residents and visitors enjoy four distinct seasons. The Potawatomi Zoo, opened in 1902, is IN’s oldest zoo, and boasts 23 acres with more than 400 creatures. One can learn the history of chocolate at the South Bend Chocolate Company's Chocolate Museum or take an invigorating ride on the rushing rapids of the East Race Waterway, the first of only a handful of artificial white water courses in the United States. The Museums at Washington and Chapin, Potato Creek State Park, the Potawatomi Greenhouses, Shiojiri Niwa Friendship Gardens and the South Bend Regional Museum of Art are also popular destinations in South Bend.
South Bend, Indiana features a community rich in history and tradition, where Hoosier hospitality remains a way of life.
