Brownsburg, IN
What Brownsburg is actually like
Brownsburg was first settled in 1824 by James B. Brown, a Kentucky native, in what became Brown Township. The settlement that grew up around present-day Main Street was actually platted and named by a different man: William Harris, who arrived around 1835 and named it "Harrisburg." When a post office was established in 1836, officials discovered another Indiana town already named Harrisburg and renamed it Brownsburg after James Brown, the area's original settler -- an administrative accident, not a founder's own choice. The town incorporated in 1848 and again permanently in 1870, and the Big Four Railroad reached town in 1869.
Brownsburg remained a small farm town through the mid-20th century, then saw a documented 183% population jump during the 1950s. The town's defining modern industry took root in 1958, when a group of Indianapolis-area businessmen built what is now Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park just west of downtown -- a 330-acre facility with both a quarter-mile drag strip and a nearly seven-tenths-mile oval. The NHRA struck a deal in 1961 to host its U.S. Nationals there every Labor Day weekend, a tradition unbroken since, and the NHRA purchased the track outright in 1979.
In April 2007, the sport's trade publication National DRAGSTER dubbed Brownsburg "the New Drag Racing Capital of the World," a title that has stuck as more than a dozen major NHRA and motorsports operations set up shop in the town's "Nitro Alley" corridor, including Don Schumacher Racing, John Force Racing, Tony Stewart Racing, and Vance & Hines Motorsports. Population grew from 14,520 in 2000 to 21,285 in 2010 to 28,973 at the 2020 Census, with a mid-2025 Census Bureau estimate of 34,089 -- a 17.4% increase in five years. Zillow's Home Value Index put the typical Brownsburg home value at $348,329 as of January 2026, up 0.7% year-over-year.
Home values in Brownsburg
Zillow's Home Value Index put the typical Brownsburg home value at $348,329 as of January 31, 2026, up 0.7% year-over-year.
See what makes Indianapolis stand out — verified, named medical, dietary, sports, and other specialty resources you won't find in most metros.
Explore Specialty Resources →Brownsburg FAQ
Who founded Brownsburg, Indiana, and when was it settled?
James B. Brown settled the area in 1824; the town itself was platted and named "Harrisburg" by William Harris around 1835, then renamed Brownsburg in 1836 after Brown when postal officials found the Harrisburg name already in use elsewhere in Indiana.
Why is Brownsburg called a racing capital?
In April 2007, National DRAGSTER magazine named Brownsburg "the New Drag Racing Capital of the World" after more than a dozen NHRA teams relocated their shops to the town's "Nitro Alley" corridor.
What is Brownsburg's population, and how fast is it growing?
The 2020 Census recorded 28,973 residents, up from 21,285 in 2010; the Census Bureau's mid-2025 estimate is 34,089, a 17.4% increase in five years.
What school district serves Brownsburg?
Most of the town is served by Brownsburg Community School Corporation, home to Brownsburg High School; a small portion falls under North West Hendricks Schools instead.
How far is Brownsburg from downtown Indianapolis?
About 20 miles via I-74, roughly a 20-25 minute drive, with the town's own average commute measured at 24.2 minutes.