Laconia, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Town of Laconia, Indiana
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The Laconia General Store, located at the heart of the community
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Location of Laconia in Harrison County, Indiana.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Harrison |
| Township | Boone |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.05 sq mi (0.13 km2) |
| • Land | 0.05 sq mi (0.13 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 663 ft (202 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 73 |
| • Density | 1,431.37/sq mi (557.84/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
47135
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| Area code(s) | 812 |
| FIPS code | 18-40644 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2396701 |
Laconia is a small town in Harrison County, Indiana, United States. It is located within Boone Township. In 2020, the town had a population of 73 people.
Contents
Where is Laconia Located?
Laconia is found in the state of Indiana. Its exact location is at 38 degrees, 1 minute, 56 seconds North and 86 degrees, 5 minutes, 7 seconds West.
The town covers a total area of about 0.13 square kilometers (0.05 square miles). All of this area is land, with no water bodies inside the town limits.
The History of Laconia
Laconia began as a small farming community. It was officially planned out in 1816 by a person named John Boone. The Boone family owned a lot of land in this area. In fact, the township where Laconia is located is named after them.
The original town had 64 lots. These lots were owned by four different people: William Smith, William Winigar, William Williams, and William Madden Sr.
Laconia's Role as a Commercial Center
Since Laconia was the only town of its size in Boone Township, it became an important business hub. It was a place where mail was sent and received. The town was also served by the L&N Railroad, which ran on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River. This helped with trade and travel.
Early Businesses and Industries
In 1868, the Elbert Brothers started a furniture factory near Laconia. This was possible because there was a lot of lumber nearby. However, the factory burned down in 1880 and was never rebuilt.
Just south of town, John Ashton had a lumber mill. This mill provided materials for many of the buildings in Laconia.
Shops and Services in the Past
Long ago, Laconia had many businesses. There were three general stores, one on each corner of the town square. It also had three hotels, several hat shops, two doctors, a funeral parlor, and even a saloon.
Today, the Laconia General Store is the only original commercial building still open on the square. It was built in 1927.
Community Organizations and Churches
Laconia is home to an Odd Fellows Club. This group was first started on May 20, 1875.
Two churches were also built in Laconia. The Laconia Presbyterian Church was formed in 1874. They met in the town hall and private homes until 1880. That's when their current church building was constructed on Cross Street.
The Laconia Methodist Church was organized even earlier, in 1842. A minister would travel from Mauckport, about seven miles away, to lead services. Their current church building was finished in 1874 on Main Street.
The Clay Hill College School
In March 1932, a fire destroyed the old two-story school, which was known as Clay Hill College. A new brick school was built in its place between 1932 and 1933. This new school was built by the Works Progress Administration (WPA).
The school building was no longer used for classes in 1985. Later, Bill Cook restored the building. Now, it serves as a community center and has apartments.
The Historic Hurst House
Another important building in Laconia is the Hurst House. It is located on Main Street. Dr. Hurst built this house in 1869 in the Greek Revival style.
Population Changes in Laconia
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 112 | — | |
| 1890 | 133 | 18.8% | |
| 1900 | 135 | 1.5% | |
| 1910 | 82 | −39.3% | |
| 1920 | 83 | 1.2% | |
| 1930 | 103 | 24.1% | |
| 1940 | 83 | −19.4% | |
| 1950 | 82 | −1.2% | |
| 1960 | 75 | −8.5% | |
| 1970 | 64 | −14.7% | |
| 1980 | 58 | −9.4% | |
| 1990 | 75 | 29.3% | |
| 2000 | 29 | −61.3% | |
| 2010 | 50 | 72.4% | |
| 2020 | 73 | 46.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
What the 2010 Census Showed
The census in 2010 counted 50 people living in Laconia. There were 21 households, which means 21 different homes where people lived. Out of these, 15 were families.
The town had about 1,000 people per square mile. Most of the people living in Laconia (98.0%) were White. A small number (2.0%) were Asian.
About 23.8% of the households had children under 18 living there. Most households (61.9%) were married couples living together. About 19.0% of all households were single individuals.
The average age of people in Laconia was 41 years old. About 16% of residents were under 18. Another 16% were between 18 and 24 years old. The largest group, 40%, were between 45 and 64 years old.
Famous People from Laconia
- Pinky May – A third baseman who played for the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team.
- Gary Timberlake – A pitcher who played for the Seattle Pilots baseball team.
