[4] It, like the county, was named in honor of Dr. Benjamin Rush, who signed the Declaration of Independence.

Laughlin, who was a member of the Legislature when the county was formed, and is considered the founding father of the town.

The railroad was built in 1850 and after that a bank, factories, mills, and grain elevators sprang up.

Willkie is buried in the city's East Hill Cemetery.

The Durbin Hotel, John K. Gowdy House, Melodeon Hall, Rush County Courthouse, Rushville Commercial Historic District, St. Paul Methodist Episcopal Church, Booker T. Washington School, and Wendell Lewis Willkie House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

[9] According to the 2010 census, Rushville has a total area of 3.09 square miles (8.00 km2), all land.

31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.