Whitewater rafting on the East Race Waterway

Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center's Family Medicine Residency Program is located in South Bend, Indiana. South Bend is so named because it rests at the southernmost bend of the St. Joseph River as it winds its way north to Lake Michigan. South Bend originally developed around a fur-trading post in 1823. In 1842 South Bend received a boost when the University of Notre Dame opened its doors. The city became incorporated in 1865. South Bend is currently the 3rd largest Indiana city with a population of 109,000. Including Mishawaka (South Bend's sister city) the population grows to around 154,000. St. Joseph County as a whole boasts a population of 265,000.

Tubing at St. Patrick's Park

Popular South Bend attractions include The University of Notre Dame campus, which is the 2nd most visited tourist attraction in Indiana second only to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The College Football Hall of Fame, the East Race Waterway (one of America's only man-made kayak courses), the Studebaker automobile museum, Potawatomi Zoo, and the newly renovated downtown Morris auditorium which hosts travelling theater productions as well as concerts are also enjoyable.

Educational opportunities abound in South Bend. In addition to Notre Dame, the city offers Saint Mary's College (one of America's premier all female liberal arts colleges,) Indiana University South Bend, Bethel College, and Ivy Tech. Both public and parochial school systems exist at the primary and secondary level.

Because South Bend is a college town, it offers a wide variety of entertainment. Residents can choose from any number of restaurants (from Thai to Italian and most things in between), movie theaters, sportsbars and danceclubs, and live entertainment as large as Elton John or as small as "P.S. Dump Your Boyfriend." Occasionally our residents will head off to Chicago for a weekend to catch a Cubs game or to Indianapolis for shopping, sports and entertainment.

Potato Creek State Park, North Liberty Indiana

For those who love the great outdoors, Potato Creek State Park, located 12 miles southwest of South Bend offers camping, boating, hiking and fishing set in a variety of natural habitats.

There are many parks within South Bend which have facilities ranging from swimming pools for summer sun to ice-skating rinks and sledding hills for winter fun. The St. Joseph River is a great place to fish or to simply watch the salmon come up the fish ladders each year. For bicyclists or runners, there is a path which connects St. Mary's and Notre Dame University through the East Race and ends at the Indiana University of South Bend Campus.

Sunset at the North Pier Lighthouse, St. Joseph, Michigan

Set on the shore of Lake Michigan, St. Joseph, MI is an hour's drive from South Bend and boasts several of Michigan's most beautiful beaches and parks, quaint shops and year-around family and cultural events

If you just want to stay home and relax, South Bend offers a variety of affordable housing options. Many of our residents, single and married, choose to buy homes in the South Bend area... whether they plan to stay beyond three years or not. Most elect to purchase homes around the $100,000 price range, but this certainly varies. Residents who decide not to buy homes have a large selection of apartments from which to choose. Many choose 'The Pointe" which is within walking distance to the hospital and is located on the banks of the St. Joe River. Rent is approximately $600.

South Bend is a great place to live and a great place to raise a family. To learn more about the community around St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, we invite you to explore the links below.

South Bend Mishawaka Convention and Visitors Bureau

South Bend, Indiana Chamber of Commerce

South Bend Parks and Recreation

St. Joseph County Parks

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