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Parke County, Indiana

67 topographic sheets cover 61 settlements here, and 47 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

47 National Register listings published here, 1 of them a National Historic Landmark.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Indiana within the United States
Parke County within Indiana

What the record shows

  • 846 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 47 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 33 structures, 10 buildings, 3 districts and 1 site.
  • 32 of the 47 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 61 populated places in this county; 61 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

47

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Arch in the Town of Marshallstructure198585003127
Beeson Bridgestructure197878003447
Big Rocky Fork Bridgestructure197878000383
Billie Creek Bridgestructure197878000384
Bowsher Ford Bridgestructure197878000385
Bridgeton Bridgestructure197878000386
Bridgeton Historic Districtdistrict199292001167
Catlin Bridgestructure197878000387
Conley's Ford Bridgestructure197878000388
Cox Ford Bridgestructure197878000390
Crooks Bridgestructure197878000391
William E. and Carolyn Davis Housebuilding2022100007446
Lancelot C. Ewbank Housebuilding198888001578
Joseph Finney Housebuilding200202001564
William B. & Laura Guthrie Housebuilding2020100005041
Harry Evans Bridgestructure197878000392
William Hill Polygonal Barnbuilding199393000186
Jackson Bridgestructure197878000393
Jeffries Ford Bridgestructure197878000394
Leatherwood Station Bridgestructure197878000397
Richard Lieber Log Cabinbuilding200101000403
Lusk Home and Mill Sitesite197474000017
Mansfield Bridgestructure197878000399
Mansfield Roller Millbuilding199090001788
Marshall Bridgestructure197878000400
McAllister Bridgestructure197878000398
Mecca Bridgestructure197878000401
Melcher Bridgestructure197878000402
Mill Creek Bridgestructure197878000403
Narrows Bridgestructure197878000404
Neet Bridgestructure197878000405
Nevins Bridgestructure197878000406
Phillips Bridgestructure197878000407
Portland Mills Bridgestructure197878000408
Rockville Chautauqua Pavilionbuilding199999000301
Rockville Historic Districtdistrict199393000471
Roseville Bridgestructure197878000409
Rush Creek Bridgestructure197878000410
Sim Smith Bridgestructure197878000411
State Sanitorium Bridgestructure197878000412
Thorpe Ford Bridgestructure197878000413
Turkey Run State Parkdistrict2019100003505
Wabash Township Graded Schoolbuilding198787000950
West Union Bridgestructure78000414
Wilkins Mill Bridgestructure197878000415
W. H. York Round Barnbuilding199393000949
Zacke Cox Bridgestructure197878000416

Storms, 1953 to 2026

60 of 266 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 266 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 4 injuries and about $3,028,530 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind133
Hail50
Flood46
Flash Flood22
Tornado14
Lightning1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
August 2005LightningAnnapolis2 hurtTwo men fishing in a canoe on Sugar Creek were struck by lightning. Both were injured, one of them seriously. The seriously injured man required cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
May 2005Thunderstorm WindRosedale1 hurt, $10,000Trees were snapped off on County Road 900 South between Lyford and Rosedale. The limbs fell on a vehicle, causing damage and an injury. Damage numbers are estimated.
May 1989Thunderstorm Windnot stated1 hurtno account filed
July 2003Thunderstorm WindRosedale$1,000,000Newspaper reported damage to more than 400 structures. 30-40% of the homes had moderate to severe damage.
March 2025Tornado (EF1)Mecca$350,000The tornado began just west of Mecca with sporadic tree damage that continued north of West Pence Street. The tornado crossed Coxville Road before tracking mostly through rural woods and farmland west of McAdams Road. The worst damage occurred where the circulation tracked roughly parallel to McAdams Road towards County Road West 100 South where a small garage was completely destroyed and a 150 year old barn was mostly destroyed. The tornado centerline was just to the west of residences along McAdams Road. Several other residences nearby had tree and pole barn damage. The tornado then moved into farmland before dissipating just north of County Road West 100 South. Maximum winds were estimated at 110 mph.
April 1963Tornado (F3)not stated$250,000no account filed
April 2025Tornado (EF1)Numa$200,000This second tornado to impact central Indiana began in a rural field just east of the Numa community. High end EF1 damage was caused to a home and two other buildings along West County Road 900 South where tree damage also occurred. Damage was scattered to the northeast, east, and southeast. The tornado continued northeast passing south of Coxville and then south of Catlin. Only tree damage occurred across these rural areas. The funnel was likely skipping for last few miles before lifting, which confined much of the damage to tree tops. Peak wind gusts were 105 mph.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindRockville$150,000Numerous trees downed by thunderstorm wind gusts on roads including including US 36 and IN 59. Over 4500 power outages caused by the storm.
April 2026Thunderstorm WindBridgeton$125,000Thunderstorm straight line winds damaged a garage in the Bridgeton community and a small barn and large shed on Mansfield Road, with a couple trees onto houses, and Indiana Route 59 closed from downed trees and power poles.
April 2026Tornado (EF0)Ferndale$100,000A very brief EF-0 tornado dropped from locally lower ceilings within a bookend vortex embedded in the QLCS near Cecil Harden Lake, 1.3 miles southeast of the Hollandsburg community. The bookend vortex crossed the lake, spawning the weak spin-up one-quarter mile south of the lake's southeastern shoreline; along its 900-foot track, the tornado then crossed residential roads East Mallard Drive and South Ebert Drive, before ending 400 feet south of the lake's shore.||Drone imagery showed clear convergence of downed trees in a grove between Meadows Lane and Mallard Drive; 30 to 40 additional trees were either uprooted or snapped along the path. Incident structural damage was limited to minor siding loss. The tornado's damage was mainly vegetation, with peak ind gusts of 85 mph for the event.
March 2006FloodMontezuma$100,000no account filed
October 2001Thunderstorm WindLodi$100,000no account filed
April 2026Thunderstorm WindFerndale$50,000Thunderstorm locally-enhanced straight line winds occurred several miles upstream and downstream of the tornado, downing a tree and damaging a barn among other damage.
April 2025Flash FloodMecca$50,000Several roads closed due to water flowing over them within the town of Rockville. Total rainfall was around 2.1 inches.
April 2011Tornado (EF1)Waterman$25,000An EF-1 tornado touched down at 9:10PM EDT in central Vermillion County and traveled northeast through northwest Parke, southeast Fountain, and west-central Montgomery Counties. This tornado formed 2.72 miles southwest of Cayuga and tracked northeast for approximately 4 miles before exiting Vermillion County about 2.36 miles east, southeast of Cayuga at 9:16PM EDT. The tornado continued northeast into Parke County, around 1.51 miles west of Waterman, for another 8.6 miles before leaving the county 3.53 miles northeast of Sylvania at 9:22PM EDT. The tornado continued northeast into Fountain County, around 1.69 miles east, southeast of Kingman, for another 9.3 miles before pushing into Montgomery County at 9:32PM EDT, 2.75 miles northwest of Alamo, for another 9.23 miles and dissipating about 1.89 miles northwest of Crawfordsville at 9:40PM EDT. Multiple trees and power lines were reported down along the path, as well as siding and shingles ripped off homes. A shed was destroyed in Vermillion County and another structure sustained damage in Parke County. The tornado was rated an EF-1 along most of its path, except in Montgomery County where EF-0 damage was found. The maximum width along the path was 100 yards.
July 2004Thunderstorm WindMontezuma$25,000no account filed
May 2002Flash FloodBloomingdale$25,000no account filed
March 1971Tornado (F0)not stated$25,000no account filed
March 2022Thunderstorm WindAnnapolis$20,000Thunderstorm winds downed trees and power lines across the northern part of Parke County.
April 2018Flash FloodRockville$20,000Numerous roads were closed due to flooding across the county from heavy thunderstorm rainfall. Flash flooding washed out several rural roads with debris left behind.
January 2008FloodMontezuma$20,000Flooding occurred along the Wabash River in Parke County, including near Montezuma, due to heavy rain and snow melt.
January 2008FloodLyford$20,000Flooding occurred along the Wabash River in Parke County, including west of Hudunt, due to heavy rain and snow melt.
June 2008Flash FloodMecca$20,000Flash flooding caused damaged to roadways. The local tavern in Mecca was flooded.
August 2000Thunderstorm WindRockville$20,000no account filed
February 2008FloodMontezuma$15,000Flooding occurred along the Wabash River in Parke County, including near Montezuma, due to heavy rain and snow melt.
February 2008FloodHudnut$15,000Flooding occurred along the Wabash River in southwestern Parke County due to heavy rain and snow melt.
March 2008FloodMontezuma$15,000Flooding occurred along the Wabash River in Parke County, including near Montezuma, due to heavy rain and snow melt. Flooding continued into April until the morning of April 9th at 00:30.
February 2008Flash FloodHudnut$12,000Heavy rain in Parke County caused several road closings throughout the county, but especially near Mecca. Near Mecca a vehicle along with the occupants had to be pulled from the water on Wabash street by the fire department after attempting to cross the flooded area.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindMilligan$10,000Thunderstorm winds downed several trees across northeastern Parke County.
August 2023FloodMecca$10,000Thunderstorms produced 4.00 to 5.00 inches of heavy rain in less than 3 hours over a small portion of Parke County in Mecca and south-southeast towards Rosedale. Water came into the basement of a home, which had not happened before.
April 2015Flash FloodMecca$10,000Flood damage to a couple of trailers in the town of Mecca due to thunderstorm heavy rainfall. Parke county emergency management estimated the damage at $10,000.
February 2011Thunderstorm WindMontezuma$10,000A farmer's large sprinkler system was blown over due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindAnnapolis$10,000Scattered trees were reported down near the intersection of US Highway 41 and State Route 47.
May 2009Flash FloodRosedale$10,000Slow moving thunderstorm produced nearly 3 inches of rain over parts of Parke County. The county highway department reported that a culvert was washed out along Rosendale-Catlin Road south of Jessup. A trained spotter reported 3 inches of rain in one hour with these storms.
February 2007FloodMontezuma$10,000The Wabash River flooded in Parke County. The river remained in flood into March. Crests were over 7 feet above flood stage.
March 2007FloodMontezuma$10,000The Wabash River in Parke County remained above flood stage from February through all of March. Crests were 10 feet above flood stage.
January 2007FloodMontezuma$10,000The Wabash River in Parke County remained high through most of January. Crests were as high as 12 feet above flood stage.
May 2000Thunderstorm WindMecca$10,000no account filed
June 2018Thunderstorm WindMarshall$8,000Trees were down across roads around a neighborhood in this location due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. The power was out as well.
June 2011Thunderstorm WindHudnut$7,500Damaging thunderstorm winds gusted to near 70 mph several times during a 10 minute period. Trees and limbs were downed as well.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindMecca$7,000Trees and power lines were blown down due to thunderstorm wind gusts.
May 2019Thunderstorm WindMarshall$6,000Several trees were downed on roads near Marshall due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
December 2021Thunderstorm WindRockville$5,000Numerous trees down by thunderstorm wind gusts across Parke County.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindRosedale$5,000Trees downed due to thunderstorm wind gusts across the southern portions of Parke County with the majority near Rosedale.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindVivalia$5,000One or more trees were down and blocking a road due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
July 2013Thunderstorm WindMecca$5,000Trees were reported down across the southern part of the county due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
July 2013Thunderstorm WindMecca$5,000Numerous trees were reported down along Highway 41 and in the southern end of the county from Rockville southward due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
August 2009Thunderstorm WindCatlin$5,000Trees were reported down in this location due to thunderstorm wind gusts.
April 2008FloodMontezuma$5,000Flooding occurred along the Wabash River, including near Montezuma, due to heavy rain.
May 2008FloodMontezuma$5,000Flooding occurred along the Wabash River in Parke County, including near Montezuma, due to heavy rain. Flooding continued until June 16th at 0720.
May 2008FloodMontezuma$5,000Flooding occurred along the Wabash River in Parke County, including near Montezuma, due to heavy rain.
April 2007FloodMontezuma$5,000Flooding returned to the Wabash River in Parke County during late April. The crest reached two and a half feet above flood stage.
April 2006Thunderstorm WindMansfield$5,000The 139-year-old Mansfield Covered Bridge was damaged when straight line winds blew off 160 feet of the 247-foot span's metal roof.
December 2006FloodMontezuma$5,000The Wabash River flooded in Parke County. Water remained high into January.
December 2006FloodMontezuma$5,000The Wabash River flooded in Parke County. The river crested at over six feet above flood stage.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindCountywide$5,000no account filed
May 1996Thunderstorm WindTerre Haute$5,000no account filed
August 1993Thunderstorm Windnot stated$5,000no account filed
July 2013Thunderstorm WindAnnapolis$4,000Trees were reported down near the intersection of Highways 41 and 47 in northeast Parke County due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindMontezuma$3,000Thunderstorm wind gusts downed a 10 to 15-inch diameter tree limb onto house.

Mines and quarries

8 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 8 workings inside this county. 5 still produce and 3 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction5
Clay2
Stone, Clay1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Dee Clay PitStone, ClayProducer
Dee Clay Products Company, Inc.ClayProducer
S.L. Turner Clay PitClayPast Producer
H & H Pit and DredgeSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Montezuma GravelSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Parke Co. Hwy. Dept.Sand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Parke County PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
W.C. Hargis PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer

Every populated place in the county

61

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

The vanished settlements of Parke County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.