Otterbein Map
Otterbein is a town in Bolivar Township, Benton County and Shelby Township, Tippecanoe County, Indiana, named for William Otterbein Brown who donated land for the town. As of the 2010 census, its population was 1,262. It is part of the Lafayette, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Originally a site known as Pond Grove, Otterbein's first 60 lots were laid out by John Levering and his wife on October 25, 1872, with an addition by Mary A. Clancey on April 24, 1883. The first home was built by Dr. John K. Thompson and the first business, a general store, by Henry H. Moore. William Otterbein Brown, the farmer and stock-dealer for whom the town was named, held the office of postmaster until his death on February 18, 1879. Otterbein High School ran from 1910-1966 when the rest of the high schools in the county were consolidated for Benton Central. The gym and most of the building burned in a fire in 1972.
Otterbein is located at 40°29?20?N 87°5?43?W / 40.48889°N 87.09528°W / 40.48889; -87.09528 (40.488919, -87.095355). It occupies mostly flat, open farm land on the eastern border of Benton County in Bolivar Township, with eastern sections of the community extending into Tippecanoe County. U.S. Route 52 passes along its north side and the Kankakee, Beaverville and Southern Railroad cuts through town to the south.
Nearby cities include Lafayette, Battle Ground, Brookston, Fowler, Boswell.