Lancaster, Jefferson County, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lancaster, Jefferson County,
Indiana |
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 Lancaster, Jefferson County, Indiana
Location in Indiana
Lancaster, Jefferson County, Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Jefferson |
| Township | Lancaster |
| Elevation | 715 ft (218 m) |
| ZIP code |
47250
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| FIPS code | 18-41922 |
| GNIS feature ID | 437590 |
Lancaster is a small, unincorporated community in Jefferson County, Indiana. This means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. It is part of Lancaster Township.
History of Lancaster
Lancaster was officially planned and laid out on October 5, 1815. Two important people, David Hillis and William McFarland, created the town's first map. They set aside 128 plots of land for homes and businesses. Some land was also saved for a courthouse, a market, and a church.
William McFarland was a judge in the county. David Hillis was a well-known local politician. He later became the Lieutenant Governor of Indiana. This is like being the second-in-command of the state.
Lancaster had its own post office for many years. It first opened on March 16, 1830. The post office closed in 1907.
Before the Civil War, the Lancaster area was a center for people who were against slavery. A church called the Neal's Creek Anti-Slavery Baptist Church was founded in 1846. It moved to Lancaster in 1847.
Eleutherian College: A Pioneer School
A very special school, the Eleutherian College, was started in 1848. It was one of the first colleges in the United States to accept both male and female students. It was also one of the first to be integrated. This means it welcomed both Black and white students.
During the Civil War, the college stopped accepting Black students. It closed down for a while. In 1874, it reopened as a private high school. It also became a "normal school," which trained teachers. The college operated until 1888. Then, Lancaster Township bought the stone college building. It was used as an elementary school until 1937.
In 1880, about 119 people lived in Lancaster. The town was described in 1889 as having a post office, several stores, a church, a good mill, and a school-house. It was located where Big Creek and Middle Fork meet.
By 1890, Lancaster had about 200 people. It had flour mills, three general stores, and a company that made hay-rakes.
Churches in Lancaster
Over the years, Lancaster has been home to several churches. A Christian church was founded in 1862. Its building was later taken over by a Methodist group.
A Methodist church bought land southwest of town in 1850. Another Methodist church was active in the early 1900s.
The Lancaster Presbyterian Church was founded around 1855. A minister named Charles Lee served this church for four years starting in 1855.
The Lancaster Baptist Church was started on July 30, 1859. A new building for this church was built in 1900. Today, a different group, the Bible Baptist Temple Church, uses this building.
