Carmel

Carmel is a suburban city in Hamilton County north of Indianapolis and spreads across a large area with residential neighborhoods, shopping centers, and green spaces along the White River. The streets connect different neighborhoods where parks and public spaces are distributed throughout the entire area.

The settlement was founded in 1837 as Bethlehem and received its current name in 1846 because the original name was already used by another town in Indiana. During the 20th century the place developed from a small community into a larger suburb of Indianapolis.

The name comes from the biblical Mount Carmel and was chosen in 1846 after the original name was already taken. Today residents associate the place mainly with a quiet suburban feel and the daily drive through the many traffic circles.

The place is best explored by car since the individual neighborhoods and shopping areas are spread across a wide street network. Many paths are suitable for cyclists, and during summer local markets take place regularly and are best visited in the morning.

The city uses more roundabouts than any other municipality in the United States and plans to build more intersections following this model. Visitors quickly notice that traffic lights are less common here than in other American suburbs of similar size.

Location: Hamilton County

Location: Indianapolis metropolitan area

Inception: 1874

Elevation above the sea: 260 m

Shares border with: Indianapolis, Home Place, Zionsville

Website: https://carmel.in.gov

GPS coordinates: 39.96667,-86.10000

Latest update: December 13, 2025 10:04