Leopold, Indiana

Leopold, Indiana
Unincorporated community
Leopold
Leopold
Coordinates: 38°06′14″N 86°34′59″W / 38.10389°N 86.58306°W / 38.10389; -86.58306Coordinates: 38°06′14″N 86°34′59″W / 38.10389°N 86.58306°W / 38.10389; -86.58306
Country United States
State Indiana
County Perry
Township Leopold
Area
 • Total 32.4 sq mi (83.8 km2)
 • Land 32.1 sq mi (83.1 km2)
 • Water 0.3 sq mi (0.7 km2)
Elevation[1] 725 ft (221 m)
Population (2000)
 • Total 720
 • Density 22.4/sq mi (8.7/km2)
Time zone Central (CST) (UTC-6)
 • Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code 47551
Area code(s) 812
FIPS code 18-42894[2]
GNIS feature ID 451139

Leopold is a small unincorporated community in Leopold Township, Perry County, in the U.S. state of Indiana.[3]

With a population of less than 100, Leopold is the site of a Roman Catholic church, St. Augustine, a general store, Guillaume's Store, a restaurant, Marcy's, and a quiet atmosphere reminiscent of another time. On the last Sunday in July, Leopold holds its annual St. Augustine's picnic, which serves both as a fund raiser for the local parish and as a homecoming for former residents.

History

Leopold was founded in 1842 by the Reverend Augustine Bessonies and named for the then reigning king of Belgium, Léopold I.[4]

A post office has been in operation at Leopold since 1846.[5]

Most of the original settlers of Leopold were Belgian emigres. These 'Walloon' settlers were Catholics from the French-speaking southern region of Belgium which had formerly been part of Luxembourg. They were motivated to move to America from cities along the Meuse River bordering France, such as Florenville and Chiny, after Belgium was placed under Protestant rule in the 1830s. The land and climate of Perry County was similar to their homeland and made for an easier transition. Because this was an open frontier, immigrants were required to sign an oath renouncing any allegiance to King Leopold.

Geography

Leopold is located fifteen miles north of the Ohio River, at 38°06′14″N 86°34′59″W / 38.10389°N 86.58306°W / 38.10389; -86.58306.

References

  1. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ↑ "Leopold, Indiana". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2017-04-14.
  4. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 185.
  5. ↑ "Perry County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved April 14, 2017.


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