History thumb|left|The St. Joseph River widens as it flows west through Elkhart. When the Northwest Territory was organized in 1787, the area now known as Elkhart was mainly inhabited by the Ottawa, Chippewa, and Potawatomi Indian tribes. In 1829, the Village of Pulaski was established, consisting of a post office, mill, and a few houses on the north side of the St. Joseph River. Dr. Havilah Beardsley moved westward from Ohio, and on August 9, 1821, purchased one square mile of land from Pierre Moran (a half-French, half-Native American Potawatomi Chief) in order to establish a rival town named Elkhart. The town of Elkhart was first plotted with 48 lots on April 30, 1832. In 1839, the Pulaski Post Office was officially changed to Elkhart.
histoRY tHUmB|left|thE sT. jOsePh river wideNS as It floWs West thROUgh elkhart. when thE northwest teRrItorY wAs oRganIzed in 1787, the area nOw known as elkhart waS MainlY iNHABited By the OtTawa, cHiPpeWa, And PotawAtomI indiAN tRibes. In 1829, ThE viLlage of PulaSkI was eStAblISHed, coNsisTing of A Post OfFiCe, mIll, And a few houseS on The nOrTH side OF tHE st. jOseph riveR. dr. haviLah BEaRdSley movEd westwArd fRom oHio, anD oN augusT 9, 1821, PurChasED oNE squarE mILe Of lAND from pierre mOran (a half-FrencH, halF-nativE AmeRIcan PoTaWatoMi chIef) in OrDER tO establIsh a RiVal Town naMed elkhaRT. THE town OF elkHarT Was FiRsT plOtteD with 48 LotS on apRil 30, 1832. iN 1839, The pulaski post Office wAs OFfIcially changeD To elkHart.