Wakarusa is a town in Harrison and Olive townships in Elkhart County, Indiana, United States.

[5] In 1836, rural Olive Township was formed in western Elkhart County, and in 1849, as the population grew, a post office named Mt.

After more population growth, a new village named Salem was established to prevent people from having to travel to either Goshen or Elkhart to conduct business.

The line, which connected Chicago with Montpelier, Ohio, became part of the Norfolk & Western Railway in 1964 and lasted until the 1980s.

Today, the original Wabash depot along with two Norfolk & Western rail cars are featured along with many other displays at the Wakarusa Historical Museum.

According to tradition, the name Wakarusa is from a Native American language, meaning "knee-deep in mud".

Today, Wakarusa continues to have a thriving farming economy and has two grain mills within the town's limits.

It was announced in February 2012 that Utilimaster, a manufacturer of walk-in vans and commercial truck bodies, was moving all of its manufacturing and headquarters to nearby Bristol, about 20 minutes to the northeast in Elkhart County.

Since then, RV company Forest River has purchased nearly all of the buildings and currently employs around 600 in Wakarusa.

On July 17, 2008, Monaco Coach Corporation announced the closing of its Wakarusa production plant and laid off its approximately 1400 workers.

[13] Since then, the massive complex has been bought by Thor Industries, and they are using it for multiple operations for some of their RV brands.

business, a mechanic, insurance companies, restaurants, and a dime store candy shop that sells locally made maple syrup and jumbo jelly beans to a small but growing number of regional tourists.

Once a year, the town hosts the Maple Syrup Festival and holds a parade as well as other activities associated with small-town celebrations.