A Tale of Two Divergent Indiana Towns

Let’s compare and contrast Warsaw, IN and Martinsville, IN.

• Both have populations of ~12,000.
• Martinsville is not quite a suburb of Indianapolis but is within 45 minutes of downtown.
• Warsaw has been identified as “isolated geographically” and is ~1 hour from Fort Wayne and ~2 hours from Indy.
• Warsaw is the Orthopedics Capital of the World and is home to several large, stable, and growing businesses.
• Martinsville is struggling to define its identity and has been the “victim” of company closures and job losses.
• Downtown Martinsville has several vacant buildings and store fronts.
• Downtown Warsaw has an eclectic mix of local eateries, retail, and professional businesses.

There are few similarities, from my perspective, other than the population. The differences are quite stark. These divergent towns seem to be growing further apart than the roughly 180 miles that separate them.

Warsaw has to potential to be a boom-town and Martinsville a ghost-town. I’m quite sure that neither community planned their current situation. Whether victims or lucky, these communities continue to foster their current status and perception.

But perception can change. And so can reality . . .