West Newton, Indiana facts for kids

West Newton, Indiana, is a neighborhood found in the southwestern part of Indianapolis. It's about ten miles (16.1 km) southwest of the city center. This area started as a small town where many Quakers lived. Today, it's part of the bigger city of Indianapolis. Its ZIP code is 46183.

A Look Back: West Newton's History

West Newton was first planned out in April 1851 by a person named Christopher Furnas. This happened in the southern part of the township.

Later, a train station called West Newton Station was built. This was after the Indianapolis and Vincennes Railroad line was finished in 1865. A group called West Newton Lodge 452 also started up on May 27, 1873.

By the early 1880s, West Newton was a busy small town. It had two churches, one for Friends (Quakers) and one for Methodists. There was also a two-story school building and a graded school. The town had two doctors, a post office, and two general stores where people could buy almost anything.

Other important businesses included two blacksmith shops, a place to make wagons, an undertaker's shop, and a sawmill. These places helped the town grow and serve its people.