Kokomo

Kokomo is a town in Howard County in central Indiana, roughly sixty miles north of the state capital Indianapolis. The place spreads across flat agricultural land, with early twentieth-century residential neighborhoods surrounding the downtown core and factory sites along the railroad lines.

The settlement began in the mid-nineteenth century as a trading post and grew rapidly in the eighteen eighties following the discovery of natural gas deposits nearby. It later became a center for automobile parts manufacturing, which continues to shape its economic base today.

The town follows a grid street pattern established in the late nineteenth century that continues to shape everyday movement and neighborhood life. On weekends locals gather around the courthouse square, where public events and seasonal markets take place throughout the year.

Most points of interest lie within walking distance in the downtown area, while outer neighborhoods are easier to reach by car. The climate brings hot summers and cold winters with snow, so spring or early fall offer more comfortable conditions for walking around.

A monument on the boulevard marks the spot where Elwood Haynes tested a motorized vehicle in eighteen ninety-four, one of the earliest such runs in America. The exact location is marked by a small plaque that many visitors overlook as they pass by.