South Bend: general information
South Bend/Notre Dame: weather, timezone, etc.
The City: South Bend, with a metropolitan area of nearly 250,000, combines the lifestyle of a smaller community with the cultural and economic attractions found in much larger cities. Housing costs and the overall cost of living are very favorable. The Michiana Regional Transportation Center is served by major and commuter airlines and is also a hub for rail and bus lines. South Bend's economic base is a stable mix of large and small industries with a highly developed retail, healthcare, and service economy. There are two "Fortune 500" companies in the area, and among Indiana's 92 counties, St. Joseph County ranks third in the total number of manufacturing establishments.
Cultural Activities: Nationally and internationally recognized entertainers and lecturers perform and enlighten at the Morris Civic Auditorium, the University of Notre Dame, St. Mary's College, Indiana University at South Bend and Bethel College. The Century Center, a 25,000 sq.ft. convention hall, is also the home of two art galleries and two theaters, and has additional facilities for banquets and for entertaining on an island park. In 1995, South Bend became the new home of the College Football Hall of Fame, which is in the heart of downtown. The Studebaker National Museum is located in South Bend. Also among the area's cultural assets are the Snite Museum of Art, the Northern Indiana Historical Museum, and the Hannah Lindahl Children's Museum, along with several other art galleries and museums. The South Bend Symphony Orchestra offers classical, pops, and chamber concerts and the city's Broadway Theater League sponsors national touring company productions of favorite Broadway shows. Augmenting the rich lifestyle in South Bend are the offerings of Chicago, which is only 90 miles away by interstate highway.
Recreation: The South Bend area offers a variety of leisure activities for residents and visitors alike. There are approximately 150 nearby lakes, and the unique dunes and beaches of Lake Michigan are just a short drive away. City, county, and state parks provide numerous recreational options in all seasons, and South Bend's zoo and tropical gardens open new vistas to their visitors. Summer and fall are filled with festivals, bazaars and fairs. Nearby country and waterfront bed and breakfast inns provide fun and interesting getaways. South Bend is also the home of the East Race Waterway, a 2,000-foot, man-made white-water course open for public use from spring through fall. The East Race of the St. Joseph River is the site of national and international canoe and kayak competitions, including trials for selecting the United States World Cup and Olympic teams. Sporting activities include organized leagues in a variety of sports for all ages. Notre Dame football, basketball and other sports provide local and visiting fans the opportunity to witness some of the finest in intercollegiate competition. South Bend's minor league baseball franchise, the Silver Hawks affiliated with the Arizona Diamondbacks, plays in one of the finest new stadiums in the minor leagues, which is also the site of outdoor concerts and other community events.
For more information on the South Bend / Notre Dame area, see Yahoo's page on South Bend.
Weather: The weather in July is generally warm, with average high around 90 F (32 C) and average low 70 F (21 C). Current weather conditions and the forecast for this week are available from
Timezone: Note that South Bend, like most of Indiana, is on Eastern Standard Time all year round. This means that during the summer months, South Bend is the same time as the Central United States (e.g., Chicago, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Dallas, etc.).