Springville, LaPorte County, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Springville is an unincorporated town in Springfield Township
in northern LaPorte County, Indiana
, at the intersection of U.S. Route 20
and Indiana Route 39
, less than one mile north of the LaPorte exit on the Indiana Toll Road
. It took its name from a large spring that formerly flowed near the town.
Springville is the site of the Springville Free Methodist Church, built in 1891. Businesses in the town include two large gas stations serving highway travelers, and a large mobile home park. Springville is part of the Michigan City Area Schools
school district.
The Springville area was originally almost entirely forest, but is now a mixture of forest and farmland. The town stands on a low hill that divides the watershed of Trail Creek
from the Galena River
, which rises a short distance to the east. The nearby Springfield Fen provides habitat for the rare Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake, which is known to be extant at only two other sites in Northwest Indiana.
, an important early road which ran from the Ohio River
to Michigan City, Indiana
. In the mid-19th century, it was the site of businesses including a mill, sawmill, schoolhouse, tannery,shoemaker and general store, as well as both Baptist and Methodist congregations. Springville also had a post office from 1835 to 1863.
During the 1840s, many locals hoped that Springville would become the county seat. The town's ambitions of becoming a location of importance ended, however, when the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway
passed through LaPorte instead of Springville. In the 1850s, a company was organized in Springville to build a plank road
from Michigan City to South Bend, but this too was unsuccessful.
Later, however, the LaCrosse Division of the Pere Marquette Railroad, running from New Buffalo
to LaCrosse
was built through the town and stopped at Springville. The Pere Marquette right-of-way was ultimately acquired by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, and was abandoned in the late 20th century.
Springfield Township, LaPorte County, Indiana
Springfield Township is one of twenty-one townships in LaPorte County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 4,742. Communities in the township include the incorporated town of Michiana Shores and the unincorporated community of Springville...
in northern LaPorte County, Indiana
LaPorte County, Indiana
LaPorte County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 111,467. The county seat is the city of La Porte. This county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area, Northwest Indiana and Michiana. The largest city is Michigan City...
, at the intersection of U.S. Route 20
U.S. Route 20 in Indiana
U.S. Route 20 in Indiana is a main east–west highway that is parallel to the Indiana Toll Road. The western terminus of US 20 is at the Illinois state line and the eastern terminus is at the Ohio state line. US 20 through Whiting, East Chicago, and Gary is concurrent with...
and Indiana Route 39
Indiana State Road 39
State Road 39 in the U.S. State of Indiana is the name of two distinct north–south highways in the state of Indiana.-Southern section:Located in south-central Indiana, the shorter southern section of State Road 39 begins at State Road 56 west of Scottsburg. It runs north and passes through...
, less than one mile north of the LaPorte exit on the Indiana Toll Road
Indiana Toll Road
The Indiana Toll Road, officially the Indiana East–West Toll Road, is a toll road that runs for east–west across northern Indiana from the Illinois state line to the Ohio state line...
. It took its name from a large spring that formerly flowed near the town.
Springville is the site of the Springville Free Methodist Church, built in 1891. Businesses in the town include two large gas stations serving highway travelers, and a large mobile home park. Springville is part of the Michigan City Area Schools
Michigan City Area Schools
Michigan City Area Schools is a school district based in Michigan City, Indiana in LaPorte County. It serves students in Michigan City and several adjacent towns and villages. It operates one high school, three middle schools, and nine elementary schools....
school district.
The Springville area was originally almost entirely forest, but is now a mixture of forest and farmland. The town stands on a low hill that divides the watershed of Trail Creek
Trail Creek (Lake Michigan)
Trail Creek is a north- by northwest-flowing stream whose main stem begins at the confluence of the West Branch Trail Creek and the East Branch Trail Creek in LaPorte County, Indiana, United States...
from the Galena River
Galena River (Indiana)
The Galena River is an stream in northern Indiana in the United States. It rises in the northeast corner of Springfield Township, about north of LaPorte in LaPorte County and flows northeast. Just after it cross the state boundary into Three Oaks Township in Berrien County, Michigan, it is...
, which rises a short distance to the east. The nearby Springfield Fen provides habitat for the rare Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake, which is known to be extant at only two other sites in Northwest Indiana.
History
Springville was first settled in 1833, and platted on August 19, 1835. It lay on the Michigan RoadMichigan Road
The Michigan Road was one of the earliest roads in Indiana. Roads in early Indiana were often roads in name only. In actuality they were sometimes little more than crude paths following old animal and Native American trails and filled with sinkholes, stumps, and deep, entrapping ruts...
, an important early road which ran from the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
to Michigan City, Indiana
Michigan City, Indiana
Michigan City's origins date to 1830, when the land for the city was first purchased by Isaac C. Elston. Elston Middle School, formerly Elston High School, located at 317 Detroit St., is named after the founder....
. In the mid-19th century, it was the site of businesses including a mill, sawmill, schoolhouse, tannery,shoemaker and general store, as well as both Baptist and Methodist congregations. Springville also had a post office from 1835 to 1863.
During the 1840s, many locals hoped that Springville would become the county seat. The town's ambitions of becoming a location of importance ended, however, when the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway
Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway
The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, sometimes referred to as the Lake Shore, was a major part of the New York Central Railroad's Water Level Route from Buffalo, NY to Chicago, primarily along the south shore of Lake Erie and across northern Indiana...
passed through LaPorte instead of Springville. In the 1850s, a company was organized in Springville to build a plank road
Plank road
A plank road or puncheon is a dirt path or road covered with a series of planks, similar to the wooden sidewalks one would see in a Western movie. Plank roads were very popular in Ontario, the U.S. Northeast and U.S. Midwest in the first half of the 19th century...
from Michigan City to South Bend, but this too was unsuccessful.
Later, however, the LaCrosse Division of the Pere Marquette Railroad, running from New Buffalo
New Buffalo, Michigan
New Buffalo is a city in Berrien County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,200 at the 2000 census. This city is within New Buffalo Township, but is politically autonomous.-Geography:...
to LaCrosse
LaCrosse, Indiana
LaCrosse is a town in LaPorte County, Indiana, United States. The population was 627 in 1990, 561 in 2000, and 551 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Michigan City, Indiana-La Porte, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
was built through the town and stopped at Springville. The Pere Marquette right-of-way was ultimately acquired by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, and was abandoned in the late 20th century.