Elizabethtown, Delaware County, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elizabethtown, Delaware County
|
|
|---|---|
Location of Washington Township in Delaware County
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Delaware |
Elizabethtown was once a small town in Washington Township, Delaware County, Indiana, United States. It doesn't exist anymore, meaning it's an "extinct town." The town was planned out, or platted, in the early 1800s. It was located along the north bank of the Mississinewa River in Delaware County, Indiana.
History of Elizabethtown
Elizabethtown was officially planned in the early 1800s by a man named Joseph Wilson. He named the town after his daughter, Elizabeth Wilson. The town's main businesses were a flour mill and a saw mill. These mills helped the town grow by processing grain and cutting wood.
The people living in Elizabethtown hoped their village would become an important place. They wanted it to be the county seat for either Blackford or Delaware County. A county seat is the main town where the government offices for a county are located. However, Blackford County chose Hartford City, and Delaware County chose Muncie instead.
After not being chosen as a county seat, Elizabethtown slowly became smaller. It began to decline in the mid-1800s and had completely disappeared by the early 1900s. Today, the only thing left of the old town is the Elizabethtown Cemetery, which is still there next to where the town used to be.
Geography and Location
Elizabethtown was located at about 40 degrees North latitude and 85 degrees West longitude. This spot is now a farm field. The town was situated just north of a bend in the Mississinewa River. This river played an important role in the town's early life, likely powering its mills.
