More than a 175 years ago the first settlers came to Alexandria, building a town on the promise of the Indiana central Canal. The canal was to be built from Fort Wayne to Southern Indiana. Within four years however, the railroads that stretched west had made the canal proposition obsolete, and Alexandria was left to make its way on its own merits.
The discovery of natural gas in 1887 changed Alexandria’s face – and fortunes – forever. Local businessmen were quick to jump on the bandwagon of the natural gas boom, and firms such as The Alexandria Company were formed. They offered free fuel, lights and location to manufacturers willing to locate in Alexandria, and boasted “gas enough to manufacture goods of the world.” The response was immediate.
If the past is anyway a reflection of the future...2014 is going to be an exciting year. There is always something going on in "Small Town USA". The spring brings our annual CARE Day. This is a time to do some spring cleaning around the city. The summer kicks off with several festivals and major events. In June we have the Strawberry Social in Harrison Park. July brings the largest event to the community, the Madison County 4-H Fair. The fair has been a major event in Alexandria since 1942. In August, the streets of the downtown turn into a race course with the annual Alexandria Grand Prix. This event brings over 2000 spectators and drivers to one of the states biggest go-kart racing events. This is one of the largest events in the Southern Indiana Racing Associations circuit. The 27th Small Town USA Festival is moving to September in 2014. This local favorite event honors the heritage of the community with food, fun, and entertainment. In October, the ever popular Gaither Fall Festival is presented. People from around the globe come to visit the festival that is put on by Bill and Gloria Gaither. 
