China, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
China, Indiana
|
|
|---|---|
 China, Indiana
Location in Indiana
China, Indiana
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Jefferson |
| Township | Shelby |
| Elevation | 571 ft (174 m) |
| ZIP code |
47250
|
| FIPS code | 18-12520 |
| GNIS feature ID | 432479 |
China is a small, quiet community located in Indiana, United States. It's known as an "unincorporated community." This means it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Instead, it's part of a larger area called Shelby Township in Jefferson County.
For many years, China was largely defined by a general store in Madison Township. It also had the former St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Shelby Township. A small stream called Razor's Fork runs between these two parts of the community. Indiana State Road 62 runs alongside Razor's Fork in Madison Township. Then, it crosses the stream and heads north towards Canaan.
Discovering China, Indiana
Where is China, Indiana?
China is found in Jefferson County, Indiana. It sits on the western side of a small stream called Razor's Fork. This stream flows into the West Fork of the Indian-Kentuck Creek. The community's location is 38°49′33″N 85°20′18″W / 38.82583°N 85.33833°W. It is about 571 feet (174 meters) above sea level.
How Did China Get Its Name?
The community of China had a post office that opened in 1833. It stayed open for many years, finally closing in 1902. The story of how China got its name is a bit of a mystery!
There are two main ideas about the name's origin:
- Some people believe the community was named after a person, Father Chine.
- Others think the name came from "chinaberries." These are small, yellow berries that grow on a type of tree. Perhaps these trees were common in the area.
No one knows for sure which story is true, making the name of China, Indiana, a fun local puzzle!
