A Dunlap happens when the skin overlaps the waistline of the pants as in, "He dunlapped over his pants," creating a phonetic "done lapped," a term that is quite fitting since Dunlap laps over Elkhart and Goshen.
Dunlap, Indiana is one of those areas you can miss if you blink
A Dunlap happens when the skin overlaps the waistline of the pants as in, "He dunlapped over his pants," creating a phonetic "done lapped," a term that is quite fitting since Dunlap laps over Elkhart and Goshen.
Dunlap, Indiana is one of those areas you can miss if you blink. It isn't just that Dunlap is small, it also exists directly between Elkhart and Goshen so many people don't even realize it is a separate community. Since the population in this 4.23 square mile area is only 6,235 as of the 2012 Census, it is small enough to go unnoticed and is actually considered a suburb of Goshen and Elkhart.
Moving to Dunlap means moving to Elkhart County. It's not hard to find places to live in Dunlap, but you aren't likely to find a condo for rent as easily as you can find houses or apartments for rent. NIPSCO provides the gas and electric, and may require a deposit to open a line of service. The winters here are exactly what you have come to expect of northern Indiana, which can range from a blizzard in March to a shorts in February. Sometimes you can switch from one extreme to the other all in the same day. If you are moving in the winter, be prepared for heavy snowfall and drifts and be sure the utilities are on before you move. Since Dunlap carries a Goshen zip code, you will turn to the city of Goshen for your water bill if it is not included in your rent.
Since Dunlap is considered a suburb of its own, there aren't any specific neighborhoods to choose from. However, there are apartments for rent, trailer parks, houses, and duplexes to choose from when looking for places to live. This area of Indiana is a mixture of urban and rural since the north end of Dunlap leads to the retail district and the south end of Dunlap leads to residential and farm areas.
Dunlap is perfect for just about anyone because it doesn't really have a downtown, allows for easy access to Goshen and Elkhart, and is more of a residential community. That means you can choose from the best of both worlds at your will. The Interurban Trolley passes directly through Dunlap and can be taken to Elkhart or Goshen for work, shopping, school, or just to get out of the house and ride the trolley.
The Dunlap area is a quaint mixture of time and placement. There are many Amish homes in the area, but there are also clubs and stores. Peddlers Village is just a short walk from anywhere in Dunlap and offers numerous types of stores and offices without being a large mall that creates a lot of traffic. However, there are also large shopping centers off of US 33 in Dunlap where you can go to a restaurant, have a drink, or do your shopping. Everything is conveniently located off the highway with the homes nestled behind the shopping areas. In most cases you can easily walk to a nearby shopping area to get what you need.
Yet you don't have to go shopping to enjoy taking a walk in Dunlap. This is a somewhat busy but relatively quiet area where you can enjoy a nice peaceful walk or go for a drive in the country. Nothing is so close to the residential areas as to make it uncomfortable. Yet the rural area is close enough to bring the scent of fresh country air right to your doorstep. This truly is the best of both worlds.
If you like the idea of small town living but want to stay close to where the action is, pack your bags for Dunlap because it is the perfect place for you. You have all of the benefits of living near large towns with none of the drawbacks that can come from urban settings. There is a variety of age ranges and household types here so everyone fits in. If you are looking for a place to call home, Dunlap may very well be the exact thing you are looking for. If you're tired of the hustle and bustle of large cities but don't want to be out in the country, this is the place for you.
