Warsaw

This county seat in northern Indiana sits between Pike Lake, Hidden Lake, and Center Lake. The compact downtown spreads across several blocks with shops and administrative buildings, while residential areas and public parks alternate along the lakeshores.

The founding in 1836 honored Polish general Tadeusz Kościuszko, with the first postal service established the following year. The arrival of the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1854 boosted commerce and brought the first industrial operations to the area.

The local industry has earned the town the nickname Orthopedic Capital of the World, which shows in company logos and the careers of many residents. Architectural details and street names in the downtown area recall the Polish roots of the place, while the three lakes shape leisure life especially during summer months.

The town offers public parking in the downtown area, while the lakeshores can be reached via walking paths and water access points. The mild climate of Indiana brings hot summers and cold winters with snow, so the best time to visit runs from May through September.

About half of all artificial joints implanted worldwide are produced in local factories, making the town a center of medical technology. Visitors notice the presence of research and production buildings in the cityscape, standing between residential neighborhoods and lakefront promenades.