Springville, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Springville was a small town that existed from 1798-1811 in Charlestown Township
, Clark County
, Indiana
, United States
. It was named for the springs in the area that provided a good fresh water supply. A Frenchman had established a trading post at the site in 1799, Indians called it Tullytown due to the prominent trader Charles Tully . It laid where four Indian trails connected, two of which went to what is now present-day Detroit
and Cincinnati
. At its peak it had 100 residents. When Clark County was established, Springville was named the county seat
on April 7, 1801 creating the first court in the county. On June 9, 1802 the county seat was moved to Jeffersonville
, starting the demise of Springville.
A simple grid of streets, four north-south and three east-west, named for trees, divided Springville. Among the trades represented in the village were blacksmithing, distillery, a doctor, hattery, surveying, and a wheelwright.
In 1808 Charlestown
was established a mile northeast of Springville, and was seen as a preferable town to live in as Springville was considered decadent, due to how Indians would become drunk after trading at Springville. Also, there were several disputes about ownership in the town that went for eight years and spawned several court trials. Springville could not handle the competition for residents with Charlestown and by 1812 was no more. Nothing but a historical marker
marks where it was today.
Jonathan Jennings
made whiskey and had a mill
at Springville during his brief residence.
Even through the village hasn't existed since 1811, websites still offer to find places of business near Springville, as if it still exists where it was located two hundred years ago. Three separate farms contain the land which was once Springfield.
There are Springvilles still in existence in LaPorte County
and Lawrence County
in Indiana, although both have fewer residents than Clark County's at its peak.
Charlestown Township, Clark County, Indiana
Charlestown Township is one of twelve townships in Clark County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 11,457.-Geography:Charlestown Township covers an area of ; of this is water.-Unincorporated towns:* Otisco* Rolling Hills...
, 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...
. It was named for the springs in the area that provided a good fresh water supply. A Frenchman had established a trading post at the site in 1799, Indians called it Tullytown due to the prominent trader Charles Tully . It laid where four Indian trails connected, two of which went to what is now present-day Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
and Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. At its peak it had 100 residents. When Clark County was established, Springville was named the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
on April 7, 1801 creating the first court in the county. On June 9, 1802 the county seat was moved to Jeffersonville
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...
, starting the demise of Springville.
A simple grid of streets, four north-south and three east-west, named for trees, divided Springville. Among the trades represented in the village were blacksmithing, distillery, a doctor, hattery, surveying, and a wheelwright.
In 1808 Charlestown
Charlestown, Indiana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 5,993 people, 2,341 households, and 1,615 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,570.0 people per square mile . There were 2,489 housing units at an average density of 1,067.4 per square mile...
was established a mile northeast of Springville, and was seen as a preferable town to live in as Springville was considered decadent, due to how Indians would become drunk after trading at Springville. Also, there were several disputes about ownership in the town that went for eight years and spawned several court trials. Springville could not handle the competition for residents with Charlestown and by 1812 was no more. Nothing but a historical marker
Historical marker
A historical marker or historic marker is an indicator such as a plaque or sign to commemorate an event or person of historic interest and to associate that point of interest with a specific locale one can visit.-Description:...
marks where it was today.
Jonathan Jennings
Jonathan Jennings
Jonathan Jennings was the first Governor of Indiana and a nine-term congressman from Indiana. Born in Readington, New Jersey, he studied law with his brother before immigrating to Indiana in 1806 where he took part in land speculation...
made whiskey and had a mill
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
at Springville during his brief residence.
Even through the village hasn't existed since 1811, websites still offer to find places of business near Springville, as if it still exists where it was located two hundred years ago. Three separate farms contain the land which was once Springfield.
There are Springvilles still in existence in LaPorte County
LaPorte County, Indiana
LaPorte County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 111,467. The county seat is the city of La Porte. This county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area, Northwest Indiana and Michiana. The largest city is Michigan City...
and Lawrence County
Lawrence County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 45,922 people, 18,535 households, and 13,141 families residing in the county. The population density was 102 people per square mile . There were 20,560 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile...
in Indiana, although both have fewer residents than Clark County's at its peak.