Leopold, Indiana

Leopold, Indiana
unincorporated community
Leopold, Indiana

Location within the state of Indiana

Coordinates: 38°6′13″N 86°36′23″W / 38.10361°N 86.60639°W / 38.10361; -86.60639Coordinates: 38°6′13″N 86°36′23″W / 38.10361°N 86.60639°W / 38.10361; -86.60639
Country United States
State Indiana
County Perry
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 659 ft (201 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[1]
GNIS feature ID 0453547[2]

Leopold is a small unincorporated community in Perry County in the U.S. state of Indiana. Located fifteen miles north of the Ohio River, this village was founded in 1842 by the Reverend Augustine Bessonies and named for the then reigning king of Belgium, Léopold I.[3]

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.

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.

References

  1. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 185.


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