Where are the round barns of Indiana located?
Round barns are located in numerous areas around Indiana, including northern, eastern, western, central and southern regions. Dividing Indiana into three general geographic regions (See Figure 1 – Geographic Distribution of Round Barns in Indiana created by John T. Hanou based upon figures obtained during the Indiana Round Barn Survey conducted from 1985 to 1988), the majority of the round barns are located in the Central Flatlands. This is no accident as this is also where most corn, dairy and livestock production occurs in the state. At the turn of the century, the Indiana Prairie was not widely populated or forested. Known for its’ tall grasses and wetlands, this region was not conducive to experimental barn building. The Southern Hill Country is rocky and hilly with a limited amount of farmable land. It follows that with less farms, there would be less barns. Finding yourself in central Indiana with a little time for historic sight-seeing? Grab a picnic, a friend, and enjoy a day o
