Posted in Indiana January 12, 2021 by

The Untold Story Of The Indiana City That Vanished Overnight

It’s certainly no secret that Indiana is a beautiful state full of rich history; in July 1800, it officially became a territory of the United States, and ever since it’s had more than its fair share of towns that came and went. Hindostan Falls, Indiana, was one such town.

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In 1816, Hindostan Falls was founded at the falls of the east fork of the White River - hence the name. It was named by a British transplant by the name of Captain Caleb Fellows following a tour of duty in India.
David Kurvach/Wikimedia
The town seemed to explode very rapidly and did very well. It was established on one of the original stagecoach routes between Vincennes and New Albany, resulting in loads of foot and carriage traffic in and out.
For a few years, the route provided the town with a steady stream of visitors and excellent business.
John Vonderlin/Flickr
Soon, it had become the largest town in what was, at that time, Daviess County. The explosion of commerce was undeniable, and it certainly attracted new folks who hoped to strike it rich.
The road leading into Hindostan Falls was once one of the few roads to go through the Indiana territory.
Pork Checkoff/Flickr
This, together with the stagecoach route, ensured that there were always new faces around. Unfortunately, this would eventually prove to be disastrous.
1820 proved to be an incredibly eventful year, and not necessarily in a good way.
Jim Choate/Flickr
At that point, the population finally reached an all-time high. Many residents lived on house-boats all along the river. It seemed that life was good.
Unfortunately, during that year, an epidemic of disease ravaged Hindostan Falls.
Rachel/Flickr
It is unclear whether it was cholera or yellow fever, but whatever it was, it obliterated over half of the town's populace; as a result, a deep economic depression soon followed. People who weren't dying began leaving in droves.
The Post Office of Hindostan Falls, which had opened in 1819, officially shut its doors in 1830. This was the death rattle of an already-tapering town.
Aryeh Alex/Flickr
By 1853, the town had been wholly abandoned. The very few residents who remained following the economic crash and disease eventually made their way to a neighboring township, which still stands today as the town of Loogootee.

Today, the site of what used to be this bustling little town is now an Indiana State Fishing & Recreation area. There are no traces of the place that once existed here, though a memorial marker exists nearby to commemorate the rise (and fall) of a legendary Indiana town.

Have you ever heard of Hindostan Falls? Have you ever visited one of Indiana’s many ghost towns? Tell us your stories in the comments!

Address: Indiana, USA