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South Bend, IN is a vibrant city located in the northern part of Indiana. With a variety of activities and attractions to explore, the city offers something for everyone. South Bend is known for its bustling downtown area with shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues. There are also plenty of leisure activities available such as hiking trails, golf courses, museums, and more. The University of Notre Dame is also located in South Bend and has many athletic and cultural opportunities for visitors to take advantage of. Reviews of South Bend are generally positive with visitors noting that there are plenty of things to do in the area while still maintaining its small-town feel. People praise the community's hospitality and friendliness while enjoying all that South Bend has to offer. From its natural beauty to its lively atmosphere, South Bend makes for an enjoyable visit no matter what your interests may be.
based on 25 ReviewsGet to know South Bend with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited South Bend
It never too late to leave a bad situation - 8/14/2022
When it comes to standard of living, neighborhoods, safety, schools, wage earners and tax dollar contributing citizens Mishawaka hands down, will always made better choices than South Bend. South Bend does not learn from their mistakes. South Bend will brag about tearing down 1000 housing in 1000 days as a way of patting themselves on the back when all they have accomplished is to remove 1000 homes from the housing market; leaving 1000 vacant lots to maintain. Mishawaka takes action before it becomes too late. South Bend takes every opportunity to be known as the home of Notre Dame. While Notre Dame rarely acknowledges that South Bend exists. South Bend will continue to collect non-productive residents and continue to expect the community's shrinking number of income-tax contributors to pay more and more every year resulting in less and less improvements to the community. Being known for having a great homeless shelter drawing residents from all over the US is not something to be
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Over 19 years here, from child to adult. - 2/28/2021
Moving here is much harder than growing up here, I know from many people I've talked to. When you grow up here you learn how to interact with people, everyone will seem normal, act normal, then out of nowhere people are having a bad day and decide to go insane. >Road rage will get you killed, I promise you, 80% of people here probably have an illegal firearm in their car and aren't afraid to flash it or use it.
Keep calm and share the road, if you get upset by bad drivers don't live here basically.
Schools are very subpar (mainly the higher ups, principles etc cause the issues), some of the teachers here are AMAZINGLY caring and go above and beyond, but can only do so much having to stick to St Joseph Counties schooling system. (I've gone to multiple schools here, seen them all).
About the crime again... growing up here my house itself has had property crime about 5-6 times that I can remember, 3 cars have been broken into, multiple porch thefts (bikes locked to your
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Over all positive experience. - 7/18/2019
I’ve lived in the city for 4 years now and have honestly had a good experience so far. I live in a quite neighborhood and have had no issues with crime or violence. However, there are areas that are more dangerous so just research before buying or renting a home. There are plenty of nice and safe neighborhoods with reasonably priced
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Never witnessed a murder before moving here - 7/30/2018
I have never seen anyone murdered before moving here. Now I've had two friends murdered, a murder happen in my front yard, and another happenin front of my business. I constantly hear gunshots and fighting in the street. I actually live in what is considered a "good
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A great city - 3/10/2017
South Bend is my hometown and from an insider's perspective there is much more to do in this town than people believe. Take a day trip to Chicago on the South Shore, visit the beautiful, sandy Lake Michigan shoreline and climb the dunes towering over the Lake Michigan beaches, head to Rum Village or Potato Creek for a thrilling mountain bike ride or hike, visit downtown South Bend which is now better than ever, people walking up and down the streets swarming in and out of restaurants and cafes, eat some stellar pizza in one of the greatest pizza cities in the entire United States, visit Notre Dame and get a chance to see some of the most beautiful architecture you can find in the midwest and in the entire country for that matter, take a raft down the east race waterway, take a stroll down the river walk and enjoy the beauty of the river lights, take a trip to the Morris performing arts center or the Lerner theatre only a little while east of South Bend to catch plays such as Wicked
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Great little city - 3/8/2017
I am an outsider and I've been living here for 4 years but I have been traveling to Notre Dame since 1999 and I can tell you this city is much more better now than then and the University of Notre Dame has a lot to do with it. If you live close to ND you will enjoy a pretty nice area with much lower prices than Chicago, San Francisco or Houston. The city government has been working really hard on improving the city with really nice
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No Future, and They Like It That Way - 9/15/2015
I'm not a native of South Bend, so this is an outsider's view. South Bend has spent the last 50 years waiting for Studebaker to return. The people here want nothing more than a factory job they can work without requiring any real thought, and a case of beer for the weekend. They have no ambition beyond "good enough." The city is a dump with most areas unkempt and in disrepair. Crime is bad, and the weather worse. The brain-drain is serious (our kids are doctors and refuse to entertain offers to return, as is true for their classmates). Most non-natives we know have the singular ambition to move away as soon as possible, and none intend to retire here. Being equidistant between Chicago, Detroit and Indianapolis and on the main east-west interstate in the north, it should be able to attract satellite industries/businesses. Unfortunately, the people themselves stand in the way of opportunity with their slovenly, boorish
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This place is great if you have no prospects and h - 4/5/2014
There is not much about this town to tell. They have a nice Riverwalk when the harsh winter weather has cleared (hopefully by late April). If you like to drink, this is a great place to be. They have a museum that is not worth mentioning :( The past winter was harsh. The humidity in the summer is rough and you grueling. This is not a place I wish to live and am looking for places FAR from here. You may meet some Notre Dame football-loving @ssholes that can give you a good overview for the entire area. There are a lot of colleges nearby which could be an attraction. The usual crappy weather and lack of things to do make me a skeptic (which anyone that has grown up around here, with any sort of class, can appreciate and attest
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The 'Bend' on the Mend? - 2/22/2014
This old industrial town is trying to clean up its act and I hope it succeeds this time. The new mayor seems to understand that actions speak louder than words and has instituted some programs to curb youth violence. The University of Notre Dame also continues to physically improve the area of South Bend that borders the campus. Regardless, I still carry mace and avoid parts of the city entirely. If you are moving here then please follow the advice of someone who is familiar with South
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Not a First Choice - 12/21/2012
I was born and raised in South Bend. A good place for kids coming up or retirees who don't mind cold weather. In between, you have a city about 50 years past it's prime. Yes, home of Notre Dame--lucky for that, as this place is totally screwed without. Also has nice library system, and local attractions good for one visit. However; they won't hold most outsiders attention very long. Community has a "Friends and Family" approach to decent jobs and politics. Result is good chunk of South Bend's best and brightest young people repeating that "Get outta South Bend" mantra after high school or college.
The most obvious result is a place with low wages, personal expectations and standards. Scary thing is many locals think this place is center of the world. Half of the city has the same tired, rundown appearance with bumpy and patched streets. Some areas have rental housing accounting for at least 7 out of 10 dwellings. All the while, city leaders keep touting one scheme or
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