The Story of Carmel

Carmel, Indiana, is an exceptional city with an exceptional history. The first settlement of record was established by the Lenape. The Quakers arrived a couple decades later and established the first school in the area. They also platted the town of Bethlehem. When the town was granted a post office in 1846, it was called Carmel. In the late 1800s, the tracks for the Monon Railroad were laid through town. The interurban streetcar line followed after the turn of the century and spurred the area’s development. However, the country was soon faced with two world wars, the flu pandemic of 1918 and the Great Depression. Carmel withstood the trials of the early twentieth century and emerged as the state’s fastest-growing community. The Story of Carmel is the fascinating history of the people and events that shaped the area over two centuries.