Plotted in 1819 by Jesse Holman, Aurora was incorporated as a city in 1845 and is now the third most populous city in the county with a poulation of 4,043. Located on the Ohio River, the city has a history of boatbuilding, which encouraged city growth with the arrival of industrial businesses such as distilleries, foundries, and warehouses.

Present day Aurora has maintained its sense of history while attracting new businesses to the area. With the river as a focal point for local entertainment, Aurora remains a charming city with much to offer its residents.

Aurora Employers
Aurora is home to many of Dearborn County's major employers. The city is also home to a growing number of smaller establishments.

• Consolidated Grain and Barge
• South Dearborn Community School Corp.
• Aurora Casket Company
• Stedman Machine Company
• Wal-Mart Supercenter
• Aurora Do-It Best Hardware
• People's Community Bank
• Paul H. Rohe Company
• D & S Machine
• Specialty Adhesive Film Company Inc.

Recreation and Culture
Aurora has numerous sources of year-round entertainment. The Hillforest Mansion offers many seasonal activities while the city's numerous marinas and golf courses provide outdoor diversions in the summer.

• Hillforest National Historic Home
• Aurora City Park
• Blue Ribbon Marina
• Veraestau Historic Home
• Tony Lesko Park
• Aurora Landing
• Aurora Marina
• Dearborn Highland Arts Council
• Lighthouse Point Yacht Club
• St. Anne's Golf Course
• Elk Run Golf Course

Public Libraries

Public libraries in Dearborn County are provided by the Aurora Public Library District (www.eAPLD.net) and the Lawrenceburg Public Library District (www.lpld.lib.in.us).  Aurora PLD has libraries in Aurora and Dillsboro; Lawrenceburg PLD has libraries in Lawrenceburg and near Bright.  Both operations are part of the statewide network that includes INSPIRE, the Indiana virtual library.  The resources available at both local libraries include:

• Sophisticated online reference tools;

• Access to searchable databases of full-text articles from magazines, newspapers and professional and scientific journals;

• Industry profiles and market research reports not available on the open web;

• Interlibrary Loan resources;

• Links to professionally vetted sites;

• The Career Collection of e-books;

• High speed internet connections with production software and other resources for life long learning and degree pursuit.

 

Festivals and Events
Each year Aurora is host to a number of local festivals and events. The Aurora Riverboat Regatta in August is on the Powerboat Superleague points circuit and features tunnel boat racing and jet ski stunts. In fall, Aurora hosts its annual Farmers Fair the first week of October. Farmers Fair is Indiana's oldest street fair and offers free stage shows, exhibits, and food booths.

• Potpourri Spring Art Show-Southeast Indiana Art Guild (April)
• Aurora Annual Firecracker Craft Show and Festival (July)
• Knight Flight 5K & Cornhole Challenge (July)
• Hillforest Wine Tasting (August)
• "A Roar of Thunder" Aurora Riverboat Regatta (August)
• River City Classics' Cruise-In (August-September)
• River Explorer Tours (August-October)
• Aurora Farmers Fair (October)
• Hillforest Museum "A Victorian Christmas" (November)
• Hillforest Museum Victorian Christmas Open House (December)

Historic Buildings
Aurora's history has bestowed the city with many historic landmarks. Hillforest Mansion, constructed in 1855, is a National Historic Landmark. Veraestu is an old home on the National Register of Historic Places, and was built in 1810 by the founder of Aurora, Jesse Holman. There is also an old Underground Railroad station in the county at the Wymond House, constructed in the 1840s.