Bluffton, Indiana, was founded in 1838 and is the county seat of Wells County.
Bluffton was incorporated in 1851, when its population was about 850 persons. In its early years it was a primitive, backwoods village, subject to frequent floods of the Wabash and outbreaks of malaria. The advent of the railroad in 1869, guaranteeing access to distant markets for its numerous wood-products, brought prosperity to the town, while the ditching of the numerous swamps in the vicinity reduced the hazards of floods and malaria. The 1890s witnessed the construction of the town’s distinctive downtown Victorian architecture. In past years, pianos, windmills, furniture, shoes, radios, gloves, washing machines, and television tubes were important local products. Today, high-tech industries are increasingly significant locally.
According to the 2020 census, Bluffton’s population stood at 10,309.
Indiana’s Parlor City…
Bluffton was nicknamed “The Parlor City” over a century ago because its paved streets (a new phenomenon at the time) made the city “as clean as your parlor.” The parlor was the room in the house where guests were entertained and made to feel at home.
For more information, visit the Wells County Historical Society
