Hi, I am James Beard, the writer behind IndianaHub.org. I grew up in Madison, along the Ohio River, and I live in Indianapolis now. That shaped how I see Indiana.
I know what a river town feels like after the shops close, what a county fair sounds like on a humid evening, and how different one Indiana community can feel from the next.
IndianaHub.org is where I write about the state the way I have come to know it: through towns, roads, people, public decisions, old buildings, local businesses, festivals, crime reports, travel stops, lakes, schools, and the stories people talk about long before they become headlines.
Why I Started IndianaHub.org
I started IndianaHub.org because Indiana deserves coverage with more patience and more local context. Too many places here get reduced to quick travel blurbs, crime labels, or recycled history lines. Madison, Gary, Bloomington, French Lick, Fort Wayne, Jasper, South Bend, and Indianapolis all belong to the same state, yet each one has its own pace, problems, pride, and way of doing things.
My goal is to write about Indiana with a closer eye. A resort town is more than a hotel. A city crime story is more than a number. A lake is more than a summer photo. A town festival can tell you something about who still shows up, who keeps traditions going, and what people want their community to be.
What I Pay Attention To
I care about the details that make a place understandable. The diner where everyone seems to know the server. The courthouse square that still has life in it. The old theater someone fought to keep open. The school board issue that affects families week after week. The public safety trend that changes how people feel in their own neighborhood.
When I write, I look at local sources, public data, official records, community pages, maps, history, and what people are saying on the ground. Then I try to turn that into something clear, useful, and worth reading. I want readers to leave with a better feel for the place, not just a list of facts.
Where I Am Coming From
Growing up in Madison gave me a strong sense of place. The Ohio River, the old homes, the hills, the festivals, and the familiar faces all taught me that a town can stay with you long after you leave. Living in Indianapolis now gives me another view of Indiana: faster, larger, more complicated, and full of stories that change by neighborhood.
That is the lens I bring to IndianaHub.org. I like road trips, county histories, local restaurants, old signs, weathered downtown blocks, busy public meetings, and the kind of stories people mention casually because they assume everyone nearby already knows them. Those are usually the stories worth slowing down for.
How I Approach The Work
I try to be clear, fair, and specific. A travel guide should tell you what is actually worth your time. A public safety article should explain the numbers without scaring people for clicks. A culture piece should respect the people and places behind it. A history story should give readers more than a neat little summary.
IndianaHub.org is personal in voice, but I still care about accuracy. I check sources, update old articles when better information becomes available, and try to separate what I know from what I think. You can read more about that on my editorial policy page.
What You Will Find Here
You will find stories about Indiana travel, local history, public health and safety, business, culture, cities, towns, parks, lakes, people, and everyday life. Some articles answer practical questions. Others give context to places people pass through without thinking much about them. Many come from simple curiosity about why a place feels the way it does.
I want IndianaHub.org to feel like a site written by someone who has actually driven these roads, sat in these diners, walked these downtowns, and paid attention. The state is full of overlooked stories. I built this site to keep track of as many as I can.
Stay Connected
If you have a story idea, a local issue worth watching, a place I should visit, or something happening in your town, reach out. I am always looking for stories that help explain Indiana a little better.