[4] Wabash is notable as claiming to be the first electrically lighted city in the world, which was inaugurated on March 31, 1880.

However, closer inspection of the reference shows only the court house grounds were lighted.

The town of Wabash was platted in the spring of 1834 by Col. Hugh Hanna and Col. David Burr.

The town prospered due to its proximity to the Wabash and Erie Canal.

The construction of the Big Four Railway brought even more growth to the small town but led to the neglect of the canal.

[9][10] Wabash used a new type of carbon arc light invented by Charles Brush in 1870.

Two telegraph wires ran from the lamps to the courthouse basement, where they were connected to a generator powered by a 12-horsepower steam engine to provide power [11][12][13][14][15] The James M. Amoss Building, Downtown Wabash Historic District, East Wabash Historic District, First Christian Church, Honeywell Memorial Community Center, Honeywell Studio, McNamee-Ford House, North Wabash Historic District, West Wabash Historic District, and Solomon Wilson Building are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

[17] The Wabash River runs through the town, on its way towards Peru, where it splits creating a series of islands, and where the sandbars are quite common on this stretch.

The Eagles Theatre has one of the largest screens remaining in Indiana and has 2 balconies and a ballroom.

Construction of the 45,000-square-foot-facilaity began in 1940 but was postponed until 1957. in 1997 a 75,000-square-foot addition included the 1,500-seat Ford Theater, Eugenia's Restaurant and an art gallery.

The Honeywell Corporation was founded in the 1880s in Wabash, Indiana and still maintains a strong presence in the small town.

Wabash is home to The Ford Meter Box Company, a prominent manufacturer in the waterworks industry.

The current members of city council are:[22] The Wabash post office has been in operation since 1839.