Finly, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Finly, Indiana
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 Finly, Indiana
Location in Indiana
Finly, Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Hancock |
| Township | Brandywine |
| Elevation | 833 ft (254 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP code |
46130 (Fountaintown PO)
(previously 46129) |
| FIPS code | 18-63640 |
| GNIS feature ID | 441861 |
Finly is a small place in Hancock County, Indiana. It is known as an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and businesses that isn't officially a town or city.
Finly has been called by many different names over the years. Some of these names include Reedville Station, Carrollton, Kinder, and even Tailholt.
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History of Finly
Finly has a long and interesting past, especially when it comes to its name. It's quite unique because it has had more names than almost any other place in the county!
A Town with Many Names
The area we now call Finly was first known as Kinder. This name was used when the first post office opened here in 1847. Later, in 1869, the post office name changed to Carrollton. The community then started to be called Carrollton too.
The railroad and express companies had their own name for their stations here. They called it Reedville. So, for a while, the same place had different names depending on who you asked!
The Post Office Story
The first post office in Finly opened on April 28, 1847, and was named Kinder. It stayed that way for many years. Then, on January 26, 1869, its name was changed to Carrollton.
The post office closed in 1905. Mail was then brought by a rural carrier from a nearby town called Fountaintown. But the community got its post office back on October 13, 1912. This time, it was named Finly. This new name honored a person named Finly Gray, who was a Congressman.
Before railroads were common, mail was delivered by a "star carrier." This person would travel by horse or wagon. They made two trips a week between Indianapolis and Rushville to deliver mail.
How the Town Was Planned
The very first plan for the town of Carrollton was made on February 28, 1854. A person named Hiram Comstock surveyed the land. He divided it into 32 different plots or "lots" for buildings. Later, in 1870, Reverend M.S. Ragsdale added more plots to the town's plan.
Finly and a Famous Poet
Even with all its official names, many local people often called the town "Tailholt." This unique nickname caught the attention of a famous Indiana poet, James Whitcomb Riley. He lived from 1849 to 1916. James Whitcomb Riley was so inspired by the name "Tailholt" that he wrote about it in his poems. This helped make the small community even more famous!
