Hope, IN

Hope is a quiet, friendly town of around 2,100 residents tucked into Bartholomew County, just fifteen minutes northeast of Columbus. Life here centers on a classic historic town square that feels like a throwback to a simpler time. Founded by Moravian settlers in the 1830s, the town has held onto its peaceful, rural character while giving commuters an easy drive to nearby employers, dining, and shopping.

ATTRSchaub, J. T. -- Photographer / Public domain

The square remains the heart of the community, lined with nineteenth-century brick storefronts, a local history museum, and Indiana's only active Moravian church. Longstanding traditions run deep here, from holiday candle services and fresh Moravian sugar cakes to the annual Hope Heritage Days festival every September. It is an inviting, close-knit place where neighbors know one another and small-town warmth is built into everyday life.