Bethlehem, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Bethlehem is an unincorporated community
in Bethlehem Township
, Clark County
, Indiana
, United States
, twenty-five miles up the Ohio River
from Louisville, Kentucky
. It was platted in 1812 and according to WPA
records was presumably named for Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
. Its first office was established on March 6, 1816. The community's post office is popular around Christmas
with those wanting to have a Bethlehem postmark on Christmas letters and cards.
. What is known is that prior to its formation, the land which would become Bethlehem was owned by Colonel John Armstrong, who had been the commander of Fort Finney (located in present-day Jeffersonville, Indiana
). The first settlers arrived at the site in 1805 Armstrong and others, most notably Jonathon Clark and William Plaskett, platted the community in 1812. It was laid out in 124 lots in a rectangular manner. Armstrong named it after Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
, where he was born.
Early in its history, Bethlehem was blessed with a steamboat
and ferry
landing, and with its road to New Washington
and Lexington, Indiana
Bethlehem became a major transportation center. The economy of Bethlehem in the antebellum era focused on farming, shopping, and trade. By 1833, 300 individuals lived in the community.
Many of Bethlehem's early buildings, including a canning factory, gristmill, and sawmill, have been destroyed; particularly by fire and tornado. The main house of the Abbott-Holloway Farm
is one of only three buildings before 1840 that still stands.
The largest crowd ever seen in Bethlehem was in 1861, when the locals waved their men goodbye to war. This hampered local efforts to continue farming. There was some concern in July 1863 that Morgan's Raid
would visit the area, but it never occurred.
Census records show a loss in population from 1880 to 1900. By then Bethlehem no longer offered ferry service. It was large enough to have a Grand Army of the Republic
post at the time. Just after 1900 Bethlehem also had a Red Men tribe and a Degree of Pocahontas council.
In 1993 Historic Bethlehem Inc. was founded. It turned the old elementary school into a community center (today's children attend school in New Washington), and started the annual Autumn on the River festival. In the next year the Abbott-Holloway Farm was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
Due to its name, Bethlehem is a very popular place to mail out Christmas cards. Since 1947 a special cancellation stamp of "a red cachet of the Three Wise Men following the star to Bethlehem" is available. In December 5,000-7,000 letters may be mailed out, when during the rest of the year 100 letters is considered a busier than usual day. Most of the individuals mailing from Bethlehem come from outside Clark County.
, close to the border with Jefferson County, Indiana
, and across the Ohio River from Oldham County, Kentucky
.
The farmland rises well above the floodplain, which historically increased the need to ship goods using the Ohio River.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Bethlehem Township
Bethlehem Township, Clark County, Indiana
Bethlehem Township is one of twelve townships in Clark County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 330.-Geography:Bethlehem Township covers an area of ; of this is water.-Unincorporated towns:* Bethlehem* Miles Point* Otto...
, Clark County
Clark County, Indiana
Clark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana, located directly across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. At the 2010 Census, the population was 110,232. The county seat is Jeffersonville. Clarksville is also a major city in the county...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, twenty-five miles up the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
from Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. It was platted in 1812 and according to WPA
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
records was presumably named for Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem is a city in Lehigh and Northampton Counties in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 74,982, making it the seventh largest city in Pennsylvania, after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie,...
. Its first office was established on March 6, 1816. The community's post office is popular around Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
with those wanting to have a Bethlehem postmark on Christmas letters and cards.
History
Much of Bethlehem's history was destroyed by the Ohio River flood of 1937Ohio River flood of 1937
The Ohio River flood of 1937 took place in late January and February 1937. With damage stretching from Pittsburgh to Cairo, Illinois, one million persons were left homeless, with 385 dead and property losses reaching $500 million...
. What is known is that prior to its formation, the land which would become Bethlehem was owned by Colonel John Armstrong, who had been the commander of Fort Finney (located in present-day Jeffersonville, Indiana
Jeffersonville, Indiana
Jeffersonville is a city in Clark County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. Locally, the city is often referred to by the abbreviated name Jeff. It is directly across the Ohio River to the north of Louisville, Kentucky along I-65. The population was 44,953 at the 2010 census...
). The first settlers arrived at the site in 1805 Armstrong and others, most notably Jonathon Clark and William Plaskett, platted the community in 1812. It was laid out in 124 lots in a rectangular manner. Armstrong named it after Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem is a city in Lehigh and Northampton Counties in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 74,982, making it the seventh largest city in Pennsylvania, after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie,...
, where he was born.
Early in its history, Bethlehem was blessed with a steamboat
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
and ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
landing, and with its road to New Washington
New Washington, Indiana
New Washington is a census-designated place in Clark County, Indiana, United States. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 547.-Geography:New Washington is located at ....
and Lexington, Indiana
Lexington, Indiana
Lexington is an unincorporated community in Lexington Township, Scott County, Indiana, United States, located about 10 miles west of the Ohio River and 28 miles north of Louisville, Kentucky. The town itself was founded before Indiana became the 19th state in 1816 and was located in Jefferson...
Bethlehem became a major transportation center. The economy of Bethlehem in the antebellum era focused on farming, shopping, and trade. By 1833, 300 individuals lived in the community.
Many of Bethlehem's early buildings, including a canning factory, gristmill, and sawmill, have been destroyed; particularly by fire and tornado. The main house of the Abbott-Holloway Farm
Abbott-Holloway Farm
The Abbott-Holloway Farm contains a couple of the few early structures still standing in Bethlehem, Indiana, located in the extreme northeast section of Clark County, Indiana. It overlooks the Ohio River....
is one of only three buildings before 1840 that still stands.
The largest crowd ever seen in Bethlehem was in 1861, when the locals waved their men goodbye to war. This hampered local efforts to continue farming. There was some concern in July 1863 that Morgan's Raid
Morgan's Raid
Morgan's Raid was a highly publicized incursion by Confederate cavalry into the Northern states of Indiana and Ohio during the American Civil War. The raid took place from June 11–July 26, 1863, and is named for the commander of the Confederates, Brig. Gen...
would visit the area, but it never occurred.
Census records show a loss in population from 1880 to 1900. By then Bethlehem no longer offered ferry service. It was large enough to have a Grand Army of the Republic
Grand Army of the Republic
The Grand Army of the Republic was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army, US Navy, US Marines and US Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. Founded in 1866 in Decatur, Illinois, it was dissolved in 1956 when its last member died...
post at the time. Just after 1900 Bethlehem also had a Red Men tribe and a Degree of Pocahontas council.
In 1993 Historic Bethlehem Inc. was founded. It turned the old elementary school into a community center (today's children attend school in New Washington), and started the annual Autumn on the River festival. In the next year the Abbott-Holloway Farm was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Due to its name, Bethlehem is a very popular place to mail out Christmas cards. Since 1947 a special cancellation stamp of "a red cachet of the Three Wise Men following the star to Bethlehem" is available. In December 5,000-7,000 letters may be mailed out, when during the rest of the year 100 letters is considered a busier than usual day. Most of the individuals mailing from Bethlehem come from outside Clark County.
Geography
Bethlehem is located at 38°32′21"N 85°25′14"W along the Ohio RiverOhio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
, close to the border with Jefferson County, Indiana
Jefferson County, Indiana
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 32,428. The county seat is Madison.-History:Jefferson County was formed in 1811...
, and across the Ohio River from Oldham County, Kentucky
Oldham County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 46,178 people, 14,856 households, and 12,196 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 15,541 housing units at an average density of...
.
The farmland rises well above the floodplain, which historically increased the need to ship goods using the Ohio River.