Today, the largest industries in South Bend are health care, education, small business, and tourism.
This was chiefly due to migration to suburban areas as well as the demise of Studebaker and other heavy industry. The population of South Bend declined after 1960, when it peaked at 132,445. River access assisted heavy industrial development such as that of the Studebaker Corporation, the Oliver Chilled Plow Company, and other large corporations. Joseph River shaped South Bend's economy through the mid-20th century. The area was settled in the early 19th century by fur traders and was established as a city in 1865. The city is located just south of Indiana's border with Michigan. The metropolitan area had a population of 324,501 in 2020, while its combined statistical area had 812,199. At the 2020 census, the city had a total of 103,453 residents and is the fourth-largest city in Indiana. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. South Bend is a city in and the county seat of St.
