New Columbus, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
New Columbus, Indiana
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 New Columbus, Indiana
Location in Indiana
New Columbus, Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Indiana |
| County | Madison |
| Township | Adams |
| Settled | 1823 |
| Platted | 1834 |
| Founded by | Abraham Adams |
| Elevation | 906 ft (276 m) |
| Time zone | Eastern |
| ZIP code |
46013
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| Area code(s) | 317, 463, 765 |
| FIPS code | 18-52794 |
| GNIS feature ID | 440036 |
New Columbus is an unincorporated community in Adams Township, Madison County, Indiana, United States. It is also known as Ovid. You can see both names on highway signs as you enter the community.
Contents
History of New Columbus
Abraham Adams was one of the first people to settle in this area. He arrived in 1823, the same year Madison County was being formed. He built his log cabin near Fall Creek. In 1834, he planned out a town on this spot and named it New Columbus.
Why the Name Changed
The name New Columbus was used until 1837. That's when a US Post Office was opened in the community. Officials at the Post Office worried that the name "New Columbus" would be confused with Columbus, another town in Indiana. So, they decided to call the Post Office Ovid.
Local people didn't like this change. In 1840, they tried to take legal action to get the original name back. However, they were not successful. The Ovid Post Office stayed open for 100 years.
Both Names Still Used
After the Ovid Post Office closed, residents tried again to get the original name restored. They asked various state agencies to change it back to New Columbus. But by then, "Ovid" was commonly used by many people.
Because of this, both names are still used today. The official highway map for Indiana calls it Ovid. However, the official county map from Madison County calls it New Columbus. Road signs on New Columbus Road even say "New Columbus or Ovid."
Water-Powered Mill
Many early settlements in Indiana used water power. This power helped to grind wheat into flour and run sawmills to cut wood. The first water-powered mill in New Columbus was built on Fall Creek, just east of the community. You can still see parts of the old mill race, which was a channel that directed water to the mill.
In the 1910s, Fall Creek was straightened and made deeper. This change allowed the flat land nearby to be used for farming.
Historic Buildings
Several historic buildings still stand in New Columbus.
Mt. Zion Lutheran Church
The Mt. Zion Lutheran Church was built between 1860 and 1861. It is located at the west end of the community. The building is no longer used as a church, but it is being kept up as a historical site.
Ovid School
The Ovid School, also known as Adams Township District #4 School, opened in 1873. This school served the children of the community for many years.
German Baptist Church
North of the settlement, the German Baptist church building was constructed in 1860.
