Arda, Indiana

Arda, Indiana
Unincorporated community
Arda Show map of Indiana Arda Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 38°31′02″N87°15′02″W / 38.51722°N 87.25056°W / 38.51722; -87.25056
Country	United States
State	Indiana
County	Pike
Township	Washington
Elevation [1]	158 m (518 ft)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	47567
Area codes	812, 930
GNIS feature ID	430241 [1]

Arda is an unincorporated community in Washington Township, Pike County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. ^[1]

History

Arda was established June 19, 1900. Dr. John Wesley Posey (died August 12, 1884) deeded land in the area to his grandchildren including Arda Posey to whom he left 100 acres. Dr. Posey owned a coal mine and was active in the Anti-slave League of Indiana. He helped enslaved people reach freedom and on one occasion reportedly rescued freedmen who were captured by "slave hunters". The Pike County Museum has a stained glass window honoring his efforts. ^[2]

The land was surveyed by D. W. Hestor. ^[2]

According to historian Ronald L. Baker, the community may be named after the Arda River in Europe. ^[3]

Arda Posey was treasurer of the Pike County Orphans Home in Petersburg, Indiana. ^[4] She married Winfield S. Lemmon. ^[5]

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Arda, Indiana
2. Arda by Sandy McBeth (Pike County Historical Society) April 1, 1999 Pike County Press-Dispatch
3. Baker, Ronald L. (October 1995). From Needmore to Prosperity: Hoosier Place Names in Folklore and History . Indiana University Press. p.  53. ISBN   978-0-253-32866-3. ...may come from the Arda River in Bulgaria or Italy.
4. Indiana (October 10, 1908). "Annual Reports of the Officers of State of the State of Indiana" – via Google Books.
5. Revolution, Daughters of the American (October 10, 1922). "Lineage Book of the Charter Members of the Daughters of the American Revolution". Daughters of the American Revolution – via Google Books.