Beech Grove is designated an "excluded city" under Indiana law, as it is not part of the consolidated government of Indianapolis and Marion County.

[7][8] By the turn of the 20th century, the Beech Grove area was a rural section of Marion County.

Notable residents included poet and women's-rights activist Sarah Tittle (Barrett) Bolton (1814–1893) and Indianapolis financier Francis McClintock Churchman (1833–1891).

This would eventually provide the reason for the city's name, although an early railroad stop in the area was known as "Ingallstown".

[9] In recognition of the city's heritage as a railroad town, Amtrak's business car 10001 is named The Beech Grove[10] and is often used by agency officials when they travel the system.

Although Beech Grove was incorporated in late 1906, it did not see rapid growth until the completion of the railroad facility in 1908; as of July 1907, for example, there were only four homes and two businesses in place.

Two famous actors have listed Beech Grove as their birthplace—Clifton Webb (November 19, 1889–1966) and Steve McQueen (March 24, 1930–1980).

On October 15, 1948, Beech Grove received the honor of a visit by a sitting President of the United States.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.39 square miles (11.37 km2), all land.

[11] The city's elevation, measured in feet above sea level, ranges from 766 (the Beech Creek waterway, where it is crossed by South 9th Avenue) to 845 (the northeastern portion of the Amtrak railroad property).

In order of city population, the list is Perry, Center, and Franklin; the Warren Township section is uninhabited railroad land.

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.

Although geographically completely surrounded by Indianapolis, Beech Grove is an excluded city so it maintains its own police, public works, and parks departments and operates its own senior-citizens' center.

The 1951 Mayoral election featured Democrat Alice Stratton, one of Indiana's first female candidates for such an office.

The circle contains a depiction of the tower complex of St. Francis Hospital, and bears the name of the city, the year "1906" and the motto "Where Tradition Welcomes Progress."

Between 1909 and 1929, a series of school buildings and additions were constructed in the 1000 block of Main; only the original gymnasium remains from these structures.

Before the 1990s, the kindergarten education experience was only offered in the city by private specialty schools (past examples being Cassidy's and Happy Time).

As part of the state's trend to incorporate this age level within the public schools, the city school system joined with the city's Parks Department in the development of Hornet Park, a dual-use facility built on the grounds of the former Olympia Club (a private swimming/recreation club).

From that team, senior Katie Gearlds won both the IHSAA's Patricia Roy Mental Attitude Award (for Class 3A) and the "Miss Basketball" honor for the entire State.

Beech Grove High School's "Marching Hornets" band program has earned four Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) State Band Finals berths in its history and earned their first ISSMA Regional Gold rating in nine years in 2005.

During the 2017 season, Beech Grove High School's growing enrollment reclassified the Marching Hornets as a Class B program.

[16] Also within the city limits are the Holy Name of Jesus School (Roman Catholic, grades pre-school to 8), built in 1922.

It contains meeting rooms, a gymnasium, and an indoor pool, which were part of the former Our Lady of Grace all-girls Catholic high school.

It organizes the city's two main public festivals—the 3rd of July Fireworks and the Fall Festival (since 1959) in September.

The Jaycees organized a "Buck-A-Brick" campaign in the 1950s to build a house-sized Beech Grove Civic Center on South 3rd Avenue, offering meeting rooms to the citizens.

Route 14-Prospect serves Emerson Avenue from the Amtrak railroad crossing all the way to Thompson Road, the southern end of Beech Grove.

With the post-World War II "Baby Boom" population growth, new streets were built south of Churchman Avenue in the modern style of sweeping curves and cul-de-sacs.

The Southside Times left its longtime Main Street home in November 2012 in favor of a house on US 31 South, while the space was filled by Shupe's Lawn Care company.

It is part of the Indianapolis radio/television market and has its own cable TV Government-access television channel available on the Comcast system.

[21] A live segment featured on the show in January 2023 brought Beech Grove international media attention following an incident where a toddler was caught on a doorbell camera waving a loaded gun while unattended.