8 Reasons Why I Chose To Call Wayne County Home
By Roxie Deer, Photos Provided by CityLife.fyi
Like most of you, choosing where I wanted to call home has always been tough. When I think about where I want to start a career, raise a family, to build my legacy, the one thing that continues to stay consistent in my story is the where. Wayne County has been a constant in my life since I was born, but after college I truly did not believe I would ever come back. After agreeing to an internship (more on those later), I realized how many incredible opportunities I had in Wayne County. I gave myself a rule, “feel out Wayne County for 2 years, if it doesn’t work, move on” and here I am 7 years after college graduation, and moving away from this beautiful community is the last thing on my mind.
I have highlighted 8 of the many reasons why I chose Wayne County. There are hundreds that I could list but I think these 8 are the most important to those who are looking at Wayne County and wondering if it is a good fit for them.
8. Community Events:
The Meltdown Winter Festival happens every January. A weekend long festival with interactive ice sculptures, ice fights, and fun for all ages! Photo provided by CityLife.fyi.
Wayne County is never short on things to do. Each weekend you can find festivals, parades, concerts/live music, farmers markets, family friendly events and other unique activities. This community prides itself on its rich history and will find a way to celebrate every ounce of it. From the InConcert Events to Archway Days, the famous Winter Meltdown Festival, and even the Summer Concert Series, there is always an event.
And on the weekdays, there are even more daily events, including Food Truck Wednesdays, Pickleball Contests, golf leagues and numerous other places and things to explore. Wayne County has prided itself on giving its citizens a place to do all the things they want.
Members of the community watch an improv scene at DIVA. Photo provided by Dudas Inspiration Venue for the Arts.
One of the hidden gems of Wayne County (and maybe it should be its own category) is the local arts scene. I encourage every member of our community to check out the Richmond Art Museum, the Rose Garden, Symphony, Civic Theatre, to the Dudas Inspiration Venue for the Arts, Shakespeare Festival, and MANY more.
7. Upward Momentum:
Maybe one of the most important puzzle pieces for choosing Wayne County for me is the possibility of upward movement. Like many of my peers, I began my career at an entry level position. I quickly learned that the opportunity to move up in my career would happen quickly with hard work. Our community latches on to hard working individuals and will do whatever necessary to help those that have chosen this as home. Not only do those opportunities exist, but the training and learning opportunities are vast. During any given week you can find luncheons, trainings, webinars, conferences and more that will help you develop skills and talents. Outside of official trainings, the opportunity to have a strong mentor is also available. The “seasoned professionals” have made themselves available to mentor young adults for future success.
6. Location, Location, Location:
Wayne County is a tiny community, but our access to the big cities is always a positive for me. In less than 90 minutes you can be in any of the following major cities: Muncie, Indianapolis, Dayton, and Cincinnati. All these cities provide the big city wants, including professional sports teams, big name concerts, and every shopping store you could ever dream of. You can enjoy the big city life with the affordability of our small community (see below).
5. A College Community:
Members from the Earlham Drum Corps provide entertainment at a community festival. Photo provided by CityLife.fyi.
Inside Wayne County there are 5 higher education institutions: Bethany Seminary, Earlham College, Indiana University East, Ivy Tech, and Purdue Polytechnic Richmond. As you can imagine, our community is full of college aged students who enjoy their time inside the classroom and many career opportunities that exist. Throughout our county, there are numerous businesses and nonprofits that have made a large investment with our students. You can find students interning with many of our businesses, participating in community events, and as always, enjoying our community benefits. These internships, like I had in college, help young professionals develop the relationships and connections to build your young career.
4. Cost of Living:
Wayne County has been ranked one of the most affordable communities in the country to live. What does that mean? For the same amount of money in Indianapolis, you receive many more benefits in our community. Housing, food, daily expenses are significantly more affordable for our residents. A great resource is the Cost of Living Calculator, available here!
3. Greenspace:
A biker rides on the Cardinal Greenway. The Greenway is open 365 days a year to walkers, joggers, bikers and sightseers. Photo provided by CityLife.fyi.
One of the best parts about living in Wayne County and maybe one of our most overlooked highlights is our amazing amount of greenspace and outdoor opportunities. We have Cope Environmental Center and Hayes Arboretum, which include many trails, wildlife sightings and opportunities to unplug from your work life. The Richmond Parks Department provides many events, activities and space for all sorts of fun, including family friendly evenings, concert series, and the Hill’s Dog Park. If you are a bicyclist, our community has recently placed the first installment of bike paths in our business community, with another expansion coming soon. The Cardinal Greenway is maybe one of the best hidden gems, yet. A bike path that connects Richmond to Muncie and allows you to take in the beauty of the Midwest while you bike.
2. Family/Friends:
The annual Wine and Beer Festival, hosted by HYPE Wayne County is the largest Halloween party in Wayne County! Photo provided by CityLife.fyi.
My family is the reason I moved back to Richmond in the first place. What I found was that this community quickly becomes your second family. As I have mentioned before, Wayne County has a way of supporting those that work hard and mean well. I never knew that when faced with challenges, this community would serve as a backbone of support for myself and to every individual. I have watched as friends have celebrated career success; we have rallied around tragedies (take COVID 19 outreach for example); and continued to financially support local, homegrown projects.
Building a network as a young professional might be one of the toughest things to overcome. I felt like I was a first year in college all over, searching for my friend group, people that had similar goals and lifestyles. The best thing I did after settling into Wayne County was getting involved. I joined HYPE Wayne County, volunteered for numerous non-profits, and made it a point to go to community events. Once I found “my people” the possibilities became endless.
1. Employment:
Obviously, the best parts about life are not work. But if you are considering any career in healthcare, education, arts, manufacturing, environmental development or overall community engagement, our community is the one for you. Employers in Wayne County go above and beyond to support their employees, from extra benefits, to amazing salaries and even dedicated volunteer hours built in, employers are ready for you. Employers are thinking outside of the box to find the qualified workers that they need for their businesses and any of them would love the opportunity to chat with you. To learn more about employment opportunities, visit HoosierOpportunity.com to see available positions.
Young professionals bid on artwork at a local charity auction with a Kentucky Derby theme! Photo provided by CityLife.fyi.
While Wayne County may not have the feeling of a big city, it offers more personal experiences and opportunities. I can credit a lot of my success to my location. It is important to have the drive to achieve more and do more, however, the level of growth and support I have been able to access right here is unheard of in any other community. I encourage my peers to join organizations, meet others in the community and truly live here. If you are looking to make Wayne County your home, reach out to any organization and they will welcome you with open arms.