Allendale was founded in 1869, taking its name from Colonel C. M. Allen, a railroad official.

[3] On January 7, 1989, an F4 tornado leveled a good portion of the town of Allendale and injured 55 of its residents.

The high school portion, built in the late 1920s, withstood the storm with minimal damage, despite being condemned two years earlier due to lobbying by Mt.

According to the 2010 census, Allendale has a total area of 0.31 square miles (0.80 km2), all land.

It is in Allendale Community Consolidated School District 17,[8] which has grades Pre-Kindergarten through 8.

[9] Students are sent onward to Mount Carmel High School, of the Wabash CUSD 348.