9 Facts About South Bend

1. Additionally, the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend operates eleven parochial grade schools and one high school in South Bend.

2. In 2010, South Bend became one of 303 communities in the United States to be recognized as a "Bicycle-Friendly Community" by the League of American Bicyclists due to the city's "remarkable commitments to bicycling.

3. In 2010, IU South Bend re-opened the building, and now offers tours and events focusing on the histories of civil rights and the experiences of African Americans, Latinxs, and LGBTQ peoples in South Bend.

4. In 2013, a new annual festival began in South Bend called South by South Bend, named after the famous South By Southwest of Austin, TX.

5. The City of South Bend recently announced it will provide free wireless internet access via the Metronet in the city's downtown and East Bank areas.

6. In 2015, the City of South Bend celebrated its 150th birthday.

7. On May 22, 1865, South Bend was incorporated as a city, and its first elections were held on June 5, 1865, with William G George elected as its first mayor.

8. Today, the largest industries in South Bend are health care, education, small business, and tourism.

9. Population of South Bend declined after 1960, when it had a peak population of 132,445.