Homes For Sale in Orleans, Indiana

Welcome to Orleans, Indiana, a town with a population of just over 2100 residents. Orleans is located in Orange County and is the oldest town in the county. Your Orleans realtor can tell you more about the rich history of this small town.

Orleans Area Homes

Orleans has been dubbed the “Dogwood Capital of Indiana” because of all the dogwood trees that line the highways and that have been added to the local parks and homes in the area. As a result there is an annual Dogwood Festival that happens in April every year.

Living in Orleans you will definitely find it is more of a community than a city or town. That is because residents here are friendly and welcoming, and whether you’re a new resident or a visitor, you will always be made to feel at home in Orleans. It’s a small town, but as they say, it’s like one big happy family. Orleans affords its residents a simpler lifestyle, but residents still maintain a strong work ethic with a cheerful attitude.

There is even a town weekly newspaper called the Orleans Progress Examiner to keep residents abreast of everything happening in town, events, news, promotions, and much more.

The town is intersected by State Road 37 and State Road 337, which makes getting in and out of town really quick and effortless. Orleans is about 35 miles south of Bloomington, which provides its residents with the convenience of a nearby larger town.

Shopping and Dining

The town of Orleans is definitely small, but you’ll find a few staple restaurants where all the locals gather. You can also visit nearby Mitchell, Salem, and Bedford for many other restaurant choices like fast food staples, casual eateries, and of course, more selections are not too far in Bloomington.

There are also several shops in and around Orleans to get your weekly groceries and other supplies. And thanks to the convenience of State Road 37 and State Road 337, getting to nearby towns for larger grocery stores, clothing stores, and shopping centers is really easy.

Culture and Entertainment

Right here in Orleans, you’ll enjoy visiting the historic town square known as “Congress Square.” This is where the original Orleans Academy once stood between 1864 and 1963. Congress Square is a great place for visitors and residents to enjoy everything from playgrounds, a restored 1926-era brick bandstand, a memorial commemorating the local veterans, vintage gas lights, and there is even a sculpture and fountain in the center of the park.

The Carnegie Library is a lovely historic building erected in 1915 thanks to the Carnegie Foundation grant the town received.

If you enjoy the outdoors, Orleans is practically next door to the Hoosier National Forest where you can enjoy many outdoor activities like hiking, climbing, fishing, camping, beaches, boating, and swimming.

Career and Industry

Many residents are able to find sustainable careers right here in Orleans thanks to the industrial manufacturing plants located in town.

However, for those not working within the industrial, manufacturing, transportation and warehousing industries, there are larger towns nearby where you can conveniently go to work as well as Bloomington which is only 35 miles north of Orleans. There are a number of great employment opportunities in and around Orleans.

Schools

The Orleans Community Schools include both the Orleans Elementary and the Orleans Jr.-Sr. High School. The elementary school serves children between Grades K–6 while the junior-senior high school serves Grades 7–12.

The school district’s motto is “Pride, Tradition, Excellence.” And with good reason. The schools here offer a top-notch academic curriculum and full arts program including art, drama, and music as well as athletics. Over the years students attending these schools have brought home a multitude of state-level championships in many academic and athletic fields.

You can be confident your young students are receiving a top-tier education as both the elementary and junior-senior high school received an “A” by the Indiana Department of Education thanks to the highest scores on annual state testing.

Of course, Orleans is in close proximity to many great post-secondary institutions as well. Indiana University’s Bloomington campus is only 35 miles away and its Southeast campus is only 40 miles away in New Albany, Indiana. And across state border, Jefferson Community and Technical College, University of Louisville, and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary are in neighboring Louisville, Kentucky and are all within 50 miles of Orleans.