Orland, Indiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Orland, Indiana
Town
Location of Orland in Steuben County, Indiana.
Country	United States
State	Indiana
County	Steuben
Township	Millgrove
Area
• Total	0.69 sq mi (1.78 km2)
• Land	0.69 sq mi (1.78 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	958 ft (292 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	389
• Density	567.06/sq mi (219.01/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	46776
Area code(s)	260
FIPS code	18-57006
GNIS feature ID	2396836

The Ernsberger House, also known as the Parker House. It was once a safe place on the Underground Railroad.

Orland is a small town in the northwest part of Steuben County, Indiana. It's located in Millgrove Township, where two main roads, State Road 120 and State Road 327, meet. In 2020, about 389 people lived there.

History of Orland

Orland was the very first settlement in Steuben County, Indiana. People from Vermont first settled here, and they called it Vermont Settlement. Every year in late July, Orland celebrates this history with the Vermont Settlement Festival.

Early Settlers

The town was settled in 1834. A man named John Stocker from Vermont explored the area for his family and neighbors. He chose this spot because of the rich burr-oak trees he found. Soon after, pioneers from Windham County, Vermont, arrived and built a Baptist church. A post office was set up in Orland in 1837.

The Underground Railroad

Before the Civil War, Orland was an important stop on the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped people escape slavery. Runaway slaves found shelter and protection here. They would then continue their journey to Windsor, in what was then Upper Canada (now part of Canada).

Many homes in Orland had secret hiding places. For example, Russell Brown's house had a hidden apartment on the second floor with its own stairway. It could hide 15 to 20 people. S. U. Clark's hotel also had a secret spot behind a basement cupboard. The Butler family, who lived south of Orland, also helped many people. They would feed and shelter them before guiding them to the next safe location.

Some people who helped on the Underground Railroad were arrested. Russell Brown, S. U. Clark, Benjamin Waterhouse, and Captain Samuel Barry faced charges for helping people escape. Waterhouse and Barry were found guilty. Captain Barry spent one hour in jail and paid a fine.

Historic Places and Recent Events

The Fawn River State Fish Hatchery is a special place in Orland. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. This means it's an important historical site.

During the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, a local meat processing plant, Miller Poultry, had some cases of the virus. The plant was cleaned, and new safety rules were put in place. These rules included checking temperatures, keeping people apart (social distancing), and providing protective gear for workers.

Geography

Orland covers a total area of about 1.78 square kilometers (0.69 square miles). All of this area is land.

Population and People

Orland is a small community. Here's how its population has changed over the years:

2010 Census Details

In 2010, there were 434 people living in Orland. They lived in 168 households, and 117 of these were families.

• Most residents (96.3%) were White.
• About 9.0% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
• The average household had about 2.58 people.
• The average family had about 3.16 people.
• The median age in town was 40.2 years old.
• About 24% of the residents were under 18 years old.
• The population was split evenly, with 50.0% male and 50.0% female.

Education

Orland has a public library called the Joyce Public Library. It's a great place for residents to borrow books and learn new things.

Notable People

Some interesting people have lived in or are from Orland:

• Azariah Southworth (born 1986): He is a television producer and personality.
• Rollie Zeider (1883–1967): He was a professional baseball player. He moved to Orland in 1959.