Freelandville, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Freelandville is an unincorporated community
in Widner Township
, Knox County
, Indiana
, United States
. Freelandville is located around the intersection of State Roads 58
and 159
.
in 1798 and in 1804 settled on land two and a half miles northwest of Freelandville. William Polk, uncle of James Polk, settled on land about 2 miles from Widner in 1808. In 1812, Fort Widner was built as protection against the Native Americans
during the second war with Great Britain
.
Although the area was initially settled by the English, cheap available government land and the aspect of work on the Wabash & Erie Canal brought other immigrants to the area. Freelandville was settled mostly by immigrants from Germany
, many from the province of Prussia
, in the mid-1800s. The German settlers originally referred to the place as Bethlehem or Kreuzweg, meaning "crossroads". The town was not officially laid out until July 31, 1866, when done so by John Ritterskamp. Residents chose to name the town Freelandsville to honor John T. Freeland, who was a prominent citizen and a local physician.
In 1963, the area high schools were consolidated into the North Knox School Corporation. This consolidated all local schools into a central location in Edwardsport
. This included the high schools of Bicknell
, Freelandville, Bruceville
, Oaktown
, Edwardsport
, Sandborn
, Westphalia
, and Emison
. The grade schools remained at their locations, with the exception of Edwardsport, whose students were transferred to Freelandville.
The local grade schools remained until 1973, when a new high school building was opened. The old high school building and new structures in Bicknell
and Bruceville
became elementary schools.
The Freelandville School teams were known as the Fightin' Dutch and the school colors were blue & white.
Eventually the residents started referring to it as ‘Happy Street’ due to the friendly people and children living there. It is unknown as to when the nickname started, but its believed to have been called ‘Happy Street’ since at least the 1930s.
In the early 1980s, the Freelandville Improvement Club decided to put street signs up in town, as they had not had them before then. Oddly enough, there is no current street sign for Happy Street, as anytime one was put up, it was stolen.
The residents of Henry street decided to petition to have the name legally changed to ‘Happy Street’, which it was. Happy Street runs for only one block, until it crosses State Road 159
, then it becomes Henry Street.
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 Widner Township
Widner Township, Knox County, Indiana
Widner Township is one of ten townships in Knox County, Indiana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 1,132.-External links:* *...
, Knox County
Knox County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 39,256 people, 15,552 households, and 10,139 families residing in the county. The population density was 76 people per square mile . There were 17,305 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile...
, 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...
. Freelandville is located around the intersection of State Roads 58
Indiana State Road 58
State Road 58 is an east–west road in Central Indiana. State Road 58 runs from Merom in the west to Columbus in the east, a distance of approximately . Along its route it has concurrencies with one U.S. Route and six other Indiana state roads....
and 159
Indiana State Road 159
-Southern section:The southern section begins at State Road 67 at Bicknell and ends at State Road 58 in Freelandville, to the north.-Middle section:The middle section begins at Pleasantville and ends at State Road 54 at Dugger, to the north.-Northern section:...
.
History
The first settler of the area was John Widner who came to Knox CountyKnox County
There are nine counties named Knox County in the United States, All named for Brig. General Henry Knox who would later serve as the first Secretary of War:*Knox County, Illinois...
in 1798 and in 1804 settled on land two and a half miles northwest of Freelandville. William Polk, uncle of James Polk, settled on land about 2 miles from Widner in 1808. In 1812, Fort Widner was built as protection against the Native Americans
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
during the second war with Great Britain
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
.
Although the area was initially settled by the English, cheap available government land and the aspect of work on the Wabash & Erie Canal brought other immigrants to the area. Freelandville was settled mostly by immigrants from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, many from the province of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
, in the mid-1800s. The German settlers originally referred to the place as Bethlehem or Kreuzweg, meaning "crossroads". The town was not officially laid out until July 31, 1866, when done so by John Ritterskamp. Residents chose to name the town Freelandsville to honor John T. Freeland, who was a prominent citizen and a local physician.
Freelandville School
The first school taught in the area was in 1808, at the home of John Widner. The first school building in Freelandville was built around 1850, before the town was laid out. Due to the rapidly expanding population, a second two-story building was built in 1874.In 1963, the area high schools were consolidated into the North Knox School Corporation. This consolidated all local schools into a central location in Edwardsport
Edwardsport, Indiana
Edwardsport is a town in Vigo Township, Knox County, Indiana, United States. The population was 363 at the 2000 census. It was founded in 1839 and was named after Edward Wilkins, a founding father...
. This included the high schools of Bicknell
Bicknell, Indiana
Bicknell is a city in Knox County, Indiana, United States. The population was 3,378 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bicknell is located at...
, Freelandville, Bruceville
Bruceville, Indiana
Bruceville is a town in Washington Township, Knox County, Indiana, United States. The population was 478 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Bruceville is located at ....
, Oaktown
Oaktown, Indiana
Oaktown is a town in Busseron Township, Knox County, Indiana, United States. The population was 608 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Oaktown is located at ....
, Edwardsport
Edwardsport, Indiana
Edwardsport is a town in Vigo Township, Knox County, Indiana, United States. The population was 363 at the 2000 census. It was founded in 1839 and was named after Edward Wilkins, a founding father...
, Sandborn
Sandborn, Indiana
Sandborn is a town in Vigo Township, Knox County, Indiana, United States. The population was 415 at the 2010 census. It is the home of the annual Black Creek Festival...
, Westphalia
Westphalia, Indiana
Westphalia is an unincorporated town in Vigo Township, Knox County, Indiana....
, and Emison
Emison, Indiana
Emison is an unincorporated town in Busseron Township, Knox County, Indiana. Its population was 154 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Emison is located at ....
. The grade schools remained at their locations, with the exception of Edwardsport, whose students were transferred to Freelandville.
The local grade schools remained until 1973, when a new high school building was opened. The old high school building and new structures in Bicknell
Bicknell, Indiana
Bicknell is a city in Knox County, Indiana, United States. The population was 3,378 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bicknell is located at...
and Bruceville
Bruceville, Indiana
Bruceville is a town in Washington Township, Knox County, Indiana, United States. The population was 478 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Bruceville is located at ....
became elementary schools.
The Freelandville School teams were known as the Fightin' Dutch and the school colors were blue & white.
Happy Street
Freelandville has the inclusion of a well-known street called ‘Happy Street’. When Freelandville was originally surveyed by John Ritterskamp, he named the street Henry Street after a member of his family as he did many of the streets.Eventually the residents started referring to it as ‘Happy Street’ due to the friendly people and children living there. It is unknown as to when the nickname started, but its believed to have been called ‘Happy Street’ since at least the 1930s.
In the early 1980s, the Freelandville Improvement Club decided to put street signs up in town, as they had not had them before then. Oddly enough, there is no current street sign for Happy Street, as anytime one was put up, it was stolen.
The residents of Henry street decided to petition to have the name legally changed to ‘Happy Street’, which it was. Happy Street runs for only one block, until it crosses State Road 159
Indiana State Road 159
-Southern section:The southern section begins at State Road 67 at Bicknell and ends at State Road 58 in Freelandville, to the north.-Middle section:The middle section begins at Pleasantville and ends at State Road 54 at Dugger, to the north.-Northern section:...
, then it becomes Henry Street.
Further reading
- Green, George E. History of Old Vincennes and Knox County, Indiana (Volume 1). Chicago, S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1911, p. 50-67.
- Heim, Michael Exploring Indiana Highways: Trip Trivia. Travel Organization Network, 2007, p. 195.
- Brothers, Goodspeed (2010). History of knox and daviess counties, Indiana. from the earliest time to the present; with biographical sketches, reminiscences, notes, etc.; together .. and its progress down to the formation of th. Nabu Press.