Berne (English: [bɜːn]) is a city within Monroe and Wabash townships, Adams County, Indiana, United States, located south of Fort Wayne. The population was 4,173 at the 2020 Census. Berne is widely known for its Swiss heritage, architecture and culture, and for its status as the "Furniture Capital of Indiana." Bloomberg Businessweek rated Berne the 2nd "Best Place to Raise Your Kids" in Indiana in 2011. Berne and the surrounding area have also become known for their large Amish population (the 5th largest Amish community in the USA), who speak Bernese German (a Swiss German dialect), as opposed to Pennsylvania Dutch. History Berne was settled in 1852 by Mennonite immigrants who came directly from Switzerland (Münsterberg, in the Jura Mountains near Moutier) and named the community after their homeland's capital. They began the chore of preparing for farming by clearing the land. However, farm markets were severely limited because of treacherous mud roads and distant trade centers. The advent of the railroad was soon to be the answer to the immigrants' prayers. When the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad laid plans to construct a rail line through Adams County, two farmers, John Hilty and Abraham Lehman, offered a proposition; they would donate land to the railroad in exchange for the building of a rail depot in the small community. The deed indicates that Abraham Lehman and Christian Leichty were the parties who donated the land for the depot. The railroad companies agreed, and Hilty and Lehman (as recorded on the original plat map of Berne on file at the Adams County, Indiana, records office) quickly platted ten building lots in anticipation of what was to come - more settlers. The lots were located in Wabash Township along an east to west road later named Main Street. On Christmas Day, 1871, the first train arrived at the local depot. This historical event marked the beginning of Berne, which was officially recorded as a community soon after. A post office was established in Berne in 1872. A steady stream of Swiss and German people came into the area from that train, as did English-speaking migrants, some of whom became successful businessmen in the new community. They contributed immensely in the growth of Berne. After the population of the town exceeded 2,500, on a petition of two-thirds of the residents, the town decided to become a city in 1887. By 1895 the community