South Bend (pop. 103,453; met. area pop. 324,501) is one of the largest cities in Indiana. It lies in the north-central part of the state, south of the Michigan state line. It is named for its location at the southernmost point of the Indiana bend in the St. Joseph River. Its factories make transportation equipment, rubber and plastic products, tools, and metalworking machinery. The city is a regional commercial, retail, and medical center. It is the county seat of St. Joseph County.
The University of Notre Dame, St. Mary’s College, and Bethel University are located near South Bend. A regional campus of Indiana University is in the city.
In 1823, Alexis Coquillard, a fur trader, founded South Bend. He called it Big St. Joseph Station. The name was later changed to South Bend. The village was incorporated in 1835 and became a city in 1865. South Bend has a mayor-council government.
