Barce, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Barce, Indiana
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Benton County's location in Indiana
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 Barce, Indiana
Location in Benton County, Indiana
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Benton |
| Township | Center |
| Elevation | 810 ft (250 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
47944
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| Area code(s) | 765 |
| FIPS code | 18-03385 |
| GNIS feature ID | 430485 |
Barce is a small, unincorporated community located in Benton County, Indiana, in the United States. An "unincorporated community" means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a town or city with its own local government. It's known for its historical ties to railroads and farming in the early 1900s.
Contents
Where is Barce?
Barce is found in Center Township, Benton County, Indiana. It's located at specific coordinates: 40 degrees, 37 minutes, 15 seconds North and 87 degrees, 16 minutes, 36 seconds West. These coordinates help pinpoint its exact spot on a map.
History of Barce
Barce has an interesting past, especially because of its connection to railroads.
Early Days as East Fowler
The area where Barce is now was first known as East Fowler. It was a railroad station on the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Coal Railroad. By 1888, East Fowler was already seen as a small town in Benton County.
A company called T.A. Baldwin Company started a grain elevator here in March 1890. A grain elevator is a tall building used to store large amounts of grain, like corn or wheat, before it's shipped out.
The Name Change to Barce
In January 1898, the railroad station's name was changed from East Fowler to Barce. The community was named after a person named Lyman Barce.
A post office was opened in Barce in 1897. It helped people send and receive mail until it closed in 1907.
Railroads and Transportation
In 1904, representatives from the "Frisco" Railway (which was a big railroad company) met with local people in Benton County. They were talking about building a new rail line that would go through both Fowler and Barce.
Around 1914, daily bus service began between the Fowler Hotel in Fowler and the Barce railroad station. This made it easier for people to travel between the two places.
Local Businesses and Community Life
The Stewart Cash Store was a popular shop that had locations in both Fowler and Barce. Charles Stewart ran the store in Barce for 20 years, from 1899 to 1919. In 1919, the Barce shop moved to nearby Fowler, which meant Barce no longer had its own store.
Challenges for Farmers
In 1922, farmers and grain elevator operators in the Barce area faced a big problem. The Chicago and Eastern Illinois Coal Railroad stopped running between Barce and Brook for five months. This meant farmers couldn't ship their grain, which caused them to lose a lot of money.
It was a very difficult time, and many faced financial ruin. Luckily, the Pennsylvania Railroad eventually started services on the line. This allowed grain to be shipped again and helped the community avoid disaster.
The old railroad station, which was built by the Evansville & Indianapolis Railroad, was later used as a place for other businesses.
Population Changes Over Time
Barce's population has changed quite a bit over the years.
- In 1900, there were 25 people living in Barce.
- By 1908, the Indiana Department of Inspection estimated the population to be around 100.
- In the 1920 Census, the population was 21.
- By 1940, it had decreased to 10 people.
| Barce historical population |
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1900 | 25 | — |
| 1920 | 21 | −16.0% |
