Jefferson, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jefferson
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 Jefferson, Indiana
Location in Clinton County, Indiana
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Clinton |
| Township | Washington |
| Named for | Thomas Jefferson |
| Elevation | 860 ft (260 m) |
| ZIP code |
46041
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| FIPS code | 18-37908 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2830344 |
Jefferson is a small community in Clinton County, Indiana. It's called an unincorporated community, which means it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. This community is located in Washington Township. Jefferson was named after Thomas Jefferson, who was a famous U.S. President.
History of Jefferson
Early Settlement Days
Jefferson was one of the first places settled in Clinton County. People started building homes and businesses there before 1829. At that time, it was the most populated part of the county.
In its early days, Jefferson had a post office. This office handled mail delivery twice a week. There was also a store run by Abner Baker and Aaron Southard. They sold important supplies to the first settlers and to local Native American tribes.
Choosing the County Seat
When Clinton County officially became a county in 1830, leaders needed to pick a "county seat." A county seat is the main town where the county government offices are located. Abner Baker and other landowners wanted Jefferson to be chosen.
However, Jefferson was not in the center of the county. This made it less ideal for a county seat. Instead, a man named John Pence offered 60 acres of land and $100. He wanted the county seat to be established at Frankfort. The officials decided to accept his offer, and Frankfort became the county seat.
Post Office Operations
Even though Jefferson wasn't chosen as the county seat, it still had a busy post office. The post office first opened in 1830. It continued to serve the community for many years. However, it eventually closed down in 1905.
