Indianapolis, Indiana · 46219
Get to know Irvington
A 500-acre historic district five miles east of downtown
Irvington is a 500-acre National Register historic district about five miles east of downtown Indianapolis along East Washington Street — the old National Road. Platted in 1870 and named for author Washington Irving, it was designed with winding, park-like streets that still set it apart from the city grid today.
Irvington served as the original home of Butler University from 1875 to 1928, and that collegiate legacy shaped a neighborhood of bookish charm: towering trees, meticulously preserved early-20th-century homes, and a main street of independent shops, cafés, and restaurants that ranks among the most walkable in Indianapolis.
Where every day feels like Halloween
Irvington's signature tradition is the Historic Irvington Halloween Festival, begun in 1927 and now drawing on the order of 30,000 visitors each October. A month of ghost tours, spooky decorations, and family events culminates in a street fair, costume parades, a zombie bike ride, and a soapbox derby.
The rest of the year keeps a similar community rhythm: a seasonal farmers market, concerts and films at the restored Irving Theater, and neighborhood institutions like the Benton House (1873) and the Bona Thompson Memorial Center, the last remaining building from the Butler campus era.
A walkable slice of heaven
Parks, shops, and eateries are a short stroll from nearly every block. Ellenberger Park offers 40+ acres with a pool and tennis courts; the Pennsy Trail, a paved rail-trail on the old Pennsylvania Railroad corridor, runs along the neighborhood's southern edge and connects toward downtown.
Washington Street's storefronts hold coffee houses, a wine bar, gourmet eateries, and local boutiques — the kind of main-street retail that makes a car optional for daily errands.
Landmarks
- Irvington Halloween Festival (since 1927)
- Irving Theater
- Benton House (1873)
- Bona Thompson Memorial Center
- Ellenberger Park
Outdoors
- Pennsy Trail rail-trail
- Ellenberger Park pool & tennis
- Irvington Farmers Market (seasonal)
Getting around
- Five miles east of downtown via East Washington Street (the historic National Road).
- IndyGo routes along Washington Street run directly to the downtown transit center.
- Pennsy Trail connects the neighborhood west toward downtown by bike.
- I-70 and I-465 access within minutes.
Live here
Our communities in Irvington
Fordham & Ralston operates 4 communities in Irvington, each restored with the neighborhood's character intact.
Irvington
The Reese
Updated one- and two-bedroom residences in the heart of the Irvington Historic District.
5750 E Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46219
Irvington
Suites of Irvington
Studio through two-bedroom homes blending Irvington Historic District charm with modern upgrades. Pet friendly.
5730 E Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46219
Irvington
Historic Audubon Court
A painstakingly restored 1914 community — one of the city's oldest — with clawfoot tubs, built-ins, and original wood floors.
5703 E Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46219
Irvington
Butler Place
Cozy studios and one-bedrooms in the Irvington Historic District with on-site laundry and city views.
5230 E Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46219
Living here
Irvington questions, answered
Is Irvington a good place to live in Indianapolis?
Irvington is one of Indianapolis' most beloved historic neighborhoods — a 500-acre National Register district known for its walkable main street, strong community traditions like the Halloween Festival, parks such as Ellenberger, and well-preserved early-20th-century architecture, all about five miles from downtown.
How far is Irvington from downtown Indianapolis?
About five miles. Driving takes roughly 15 minutes via East Washington Street or I-70, IndyGo buses run the Washington Street corridor, and the Pennsy Trail offers a bike route toward downtown.
What apartments are available in Irvington?
Fordham & Ralston operates four communities in the Irvington Historic District: The Reese (5750 E Washington St), Suites of Irvington (5730 E Washington St), Historic Audubon Court (5703 E Washington St, built 1914), and Butler Place (5230 E Washington St) — together offering studios through four-bedroom townhomes.
What is the Irvington Halloween Festival?
Begun in 1927, the Historic Irvington Halloween Festival is a month-long October celebration with ghost tours, family events, a zombie bike ride, a soapbox derby, and a closing street fair that draws crowds on the order of 30,000 people.
Why is Irvington historically significant?
Platted in 1870 and named for Washington Irving, Irvington was an early planned suburb with curving, park-like streets and served as the home of Butler University from 1875 to 1928. The neighborhood is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.