Buddha, Indiana

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Buddha, Indiana is a small town in Guthrie Township in Lawrence County, Indiana, United States. The local pronunciation of the name is "boo-dee", rhyming with "Judy".

[edit] History

Though it was once known as Flinn's Crossroads, the origin of the town's current name is a subject of debate. The most prevalent story is that the name was suggested by a traveling salesman who stopped at the hamlet's store when it was only known by the street crossing that marked the downtown. Another story states that the name derives from some of the first settlers in the area, an English family named Bodey that operated a supply port on the East Fork of the White River one mile south of the crossroads, in what is now called Rivervale. That is supposedly how "Boo-dee" came about and eventually evolved into its present name. Buddha is the home of the White River Baptist Church. Nearby Carlton Cemetery is the resting place of the remains of many pioneers of the area.

[edit] Geography

Buddha is located at 38°47'32" North, 86°24'25" West (38.792100, -86.406850), at the intersection of Lawrence County's Tunnelton and Old Buddha Roads. The East Fork of the White River is a little over a mile south and west of town, while Guthrie Creek is a mile to the north and east. The local terrain is hilly with patches of forest.