Bonneyville Mills, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bonneyville Mills, Indiana
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![]() Historic Bonneyville Mills
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Country | United States |
State | Indiana |
County | Elkhart |
Township | York |
Elevation | 778 ft (237 m) |
ZIP code |
46507
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FIPS code | 18-06410 |
GNIS feature ID | 431324 |
Bonneyville Mills is a small, historic community in Elkhart County, Indiana. It is not a city or town, but an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and buildings without its own local government. The area is famous for its beautiful park and an old mill.
History
How Bonneyville Mills Began
A man named Edward Bonney helped start Bonneyville. He was known as a bounty hunter and an amateur detective. Edward Bonney came from New York. In 1837, he built a special mill in this area. This mill was called a gristmill.
What is a Gristmill?
A gristmill is a building where grain is ground into flour. Farmers would bring their crops, like wheat or corn, to the mill. Large, heavy stones inside the mill would grind the grain. This process made flour for baking bread and other foods. The mill was very important for the early settlers in the area. It helped them turn their crops into useful food.
The Famous Bonneyville Mill
Edward Bonney's gristmill became very well known. It was named "Bonneyville Mill." The whole community eventually took its name from this important mill. At first, the area was simply called Bonneyville. Later, it became known as Bonneyville Mills. In 1976, the Bonneyville Mill was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a very important historic site. It helps us remember the past and how people lived long ago.