Richland Township | |
---|---|
![]() Location in Steuben County | |
Coordinates: 41°34′15″N84°49′55″W / 41.57083°N 84.83194°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Indiana |
County | Steuben |
Government | |
• Type | Indiana township |
Area | |
• Total | 15.58 sq mi (40.4 km2) |
• Land | 15.58 sq mi (40.4 km2) |
• Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) 0% |
Elevation | 948 ft (289 m) |
Population | |
• Total | 415 |
• Density | 36.6/sq mi (14.1/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
Area code | 260 |
GNIS feature ID | 453800 |
Richland Township is one of twelve townships in Steuben County, Indiana, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 415, down from 570 at the 2010 census, [3] and it contained 163 housing units, making it the smallest township in the county.
According to the 2010 census, the township has a total area of 15.58 square miles (40.4 km2), all land, [3] second smallest after Clear Lake township.
(This list is based on USGS data and may include former settlements.)
The township contains five cemeteries: Alvarado, Amish, Metz, Mount Pleasant, and Bethel. [4]
The first land registration was made by John Douglas on October 11, 1835, but Robert Jackman and family were the first to settle in the township, in 1836. [5] The 1840 census shows only 16 families, including those of Douglas and Jackman. [6]
Much of this early community was centered on what came to be the village of Richland Center, where a log cabin schoolhouse as well as a Methodist church were built in 1850. [7] When this village, which was never incorporated, organized a U. S. post office, there was already an Indiana post office named "Richland Center", so this post office was named "Alvardo", which eventually became the name for the village. [8] Like the rest of Richland township, Alvarado slowly lost population during the 20th century and, in the 21st century, is a small collection of dwellings, farm buildings, and the Alvarado United Methodist Church.