Carthagena, Ohio facts for kids

St. Aloysius Church in Carthagena

Carthagena is a small, unincorporated community in Mercer County, Ohio, United States. It was first settled by African Americans. This community was once home to a special school for African American and Native American orphans. This school taught them about farming and industry. Carthagena is located at 40°26′12″N 84°33′36″W / 40.43667°N 84.56000°W / 40.43667; -84.56000 and is about 909 feet (277 meters) above sea level.

History of Carthagena

Carthagena was officially started in 1840. It got its name from Cartagena, a city in Spain. Charles Moore from Harrison County, Kentucky founded the village around the same time Mercer County was created. Charles Moore was a Black man. He owned 160 acres of land in Carthagena.

African American people lived in Carthagena for over 100 years. The last known member of the Black community there was Albert Bowles. He died in 1957 and is buried in the Black cemetery in Carthagena.

The Emlen Institution and St. Charles Seminary

A school for Black children, called the Emlen Institution, once stood on some land in Carthagena. On March 14, 1861, the Missionaries of the Precious Blood (C.P.P.S.) bought this land for $4,500. They built a seminary there. A seminary is a school where people study to become priests. They named this new school St. Charles Seminary. The Missionaries of the Precious Blood have operated the St. Charles Center ever since.