About New Haven

New Haven was platted by Henry Burgess, and was incorporated as a town under Indiana law in 1866. It became incorporated as a city in 1963. Several homes built by the Burgess family remain in New Haven. A Burgess home on Summit Street is the oldest brick structure in Jefferson Township. Henry Burgess' son-in-law, EW. Green built a large frame Greek Revival house on the hill above what is now Central Lutheran School. Another Burgess structure remains at the corner of Summit and Eben Streets.

Transportation

New Haven's history has been shaped significantly by transportation. It was located along the Wabash and Erie Canal (the Gronauer Lock of the canal was unearthed during construction of Interstate 469 in the late 1980s, and is now on display at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis). Later, the city was served by the Wabash and Nickel Plate and Railroads. Norfolk Southern Railway maintains a significant operation in New Haven today. (U.S. 24 and U.S. 30 and (the historic Lincoln Highway), as well as Interstate 469, all serve residents.

Historic Places

The historic French settlement of Besancon is on the eastern edge of New Haven along the Lincoln Highway. Saint Louis Catholic Church at Besancon is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

The City of New Haven offers the best of both worlds as a small, "front porch" community located in Allen County and sharing a border with Fort Wayne, the second largest city in the State of Indiana. Because of its proximity to Fort Wayne, New Haven offers accessibility to all of the attractions of a big city while maintaining the low cost of living and the high quality of life that can only be found in a small town.

Variety of Housing Choices

Over 15,700 people call New Haven home. From quaint older neighborhoods to new housing developments, apartment complexes to rural farmland, New Haven offers a variety of housing choices to suit one's style of living. As a part of the Fort Wayne Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), New Haven shares in the low cost of living index and in low housing costs. In fact, CNN Money named New Haven, Indiana as the Number 2 most livable city in America. Furthermore, New Haven includes some of the richest farmland in the Midwest, yet also offers a wide range of homes, both new and existing, with prices ranging up to $250,000.

Government

New Haven's Mayor and seven-member City Council govern the community, aided by the appointed positions of the City Plan Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, and the Board of Public Works and Safety. Comprehensive planning with a vision to the future is always kept in the forefront, as city officials strive to enhance city services, work with business retention and expansion programs and create economic development opportunities for business and industry.

Parks & More

With 11 local parks, dedicated emergency service departments and other services which enhance the quality of life, New Haven nourishes its residents by offering a variety of opportunities for a place to grow, worship and feel safe.

New Haven is a great place to live and for a small city with so much to offer, it is certainly understandable why so many people are proud to claim this unique community as their home.