Elkhart grew from the crossroads of several American Indian trails to a bustling junction of major railways in the mid-1800s. Small industries lured by the combined water power of the St. Joseph and Elkhart rivers began relocating to Elkhart in the late 1800s. | Elkhart grew from the crossroads of several American Indian trails to a bustling junction of major railways in the mid-1800s. Small industries lured by the combined water power of the St. Joseph and Elkhart rivers began relocating to Elkhart in the late 1800s. |