Fontanet, Indiana
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Fontanet, Indiana
|settlement_type = Census-designated place
|image_map = File:Vigo County Indiana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Fontanet Highlighted 1823854.svg
|mapsize = 280px
|map_caption = Location of Fontanet in Vigo County, Indiana.
|pushpin_map =
|pushpin_map_caption =
|pushpin_label =
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_name1 = Indiana
|subdivision_type2 = County
|subdivision_name2 = Vigo
|subdivision_type3 = Township
|subdivision_name3 = Nevins
|timezone = Eastern (EST)
|utc_offset = −5
|timezone_DST = EDT
|utc_offset_DST = −4
|coordinates = {{coord|39|34|34|N|87|14|37|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes = {{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2016-07-13|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=United States Geological Survey|date=October 25, 2007}}
|elevation_m = 182
|elevation_ft = 597
|postal_code_type = ZIP Code
|postal_code = 47851
|blank_name = GNIS feature ID
|blank_info = [http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:434631 434631]
|pop_est_as_of =
|pop_est_footnotes =
|population_est =
|population_as_of = 2020
|population_footnotes =
|population_total = 347
|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_total_km2 = 10.56
|area_total_sq_mi = 4.08
|area_land_km2 = 10.49
|area_water_km2 = 0.07
|area_land_sq_mi = 4.05
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.03
|population_density_sq_mi = 85.68
|population_density_km2 = 33.08
}}
Fontanet (also Fountain, Fountain Station, or Hunter) is an unincorporated census-designated place in central Nevins Township, Vigo County, in the U.S. state of Indiana.{{cite gnis|434631|Fontanet, Indiana|2009-10-17}} It lies along Baldwin St., northeast of the city of Terre Haute, the county seat of Vigo County.DeLorme. Indiana Atlas & Gazetteer. 3rd ed. Yarmouth: DeLorme, 2004, pp. 42–43. {{ISBN|0-89933-319-2}}. Its elevation is 614 feet (187 m), and it is located at {{coord|39|34|34|N|87|14|37|W|type:city}} (39.5761500, −87.2436276).[http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=gnispq:3:::NO::P3_FID:434631 Geographic Names Information System Feature Detail Report], Geographic Names Information System, 1979-02-14. Accessed 2008-06-01. Although Fontanet is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP Code of 47851.[http://www.zipinfo.com/cgi-local/zipsrch.exe?cnty=cnty&zip=47851 ZIP Code Lookup]
Fontanet is part of the Terre Haute Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Each year on the last weekend in August, Fontanet enjoys the Annual Fontanet Bean Dinner Festival, a tradition stemming from a Civil War veterans' picnic first held in 1890. The festival was originally held on land near the DuPont Powder Mill. After the mill exploded in 1907,{{Cite web |url=http://www.gendisasters.com/data1/in/explosions/fontanet-explosion-oct1907.htm |title="Fontanet, Indiana Du Pont Powder Company Explosion October 15, 1907": Basalt Journal Colorado |access-date=December 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113212908/http://www.gendisasters.com/data1/in/explosions/fontanet-explosion-oct1907.htm |archive-date=January 13, 2012 |url-status=dead }} the picnic moved to the site known as Holloway Grove, donated by local landowner Bill Holloway.[http://www.tribstar.com/news/local_story_241222947.html "Hundreds gather for 113th Annual Fontanet Bean Dinner Festival": Terre Haute News]
Demographics
{{US Census population
|2020= 347
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2016}}
}}
History
Fontanet, two miles west of Coal Bluff, was also an important mining town worked and operated by the Coal Bluff Mining Company. The town also was an important railroad station on the Indianapolis and St. Louis Railroad. The mining company had a large general store, and in 1890 over 300 miners lived in Fontanet.{{Cite book
| last = Bradsby
| first = H.C.
| author-link = Henry C. Bradsby
| title = History of Vigo County, Indiana, with Biographical Selections
| publisher = S. B. Nelson & Co
| year = 1891
| location = Chicago
| pages = [https://archive.org/details/historyofvigocou00brad/page/481 481]
| url = https://archive.org/details/historyofvigocou00brad
}}
The town's post office was established under the name Fountain Station in 1870. It was renamed to Hunter in 1877, and again to Fontanet in 1881. The post office is still in operation as of April 2017.{{cite web |url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=IN&county=Vigo |title=Vigo County |publisher=Jim Forte Postal History |access-date=July 13, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050922124312/http://postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=IN&county=Vigo |archive-date=September 22, 2005 }}{{cite web|url=https://tools.usps.com/go/POLocatorDetailsAction!input.action?radius=1&locationType=po&locationTypeQ=po&locationID=1363628&locationName=FONTANET&address2=&address1=8878+N+MAIN+ST&city=FONTANET&state=IN&zip5=47851&zip4=9998 |title=USPS.com location details |website=USPS.com |access-date=12 April 2017}}
On 15 October 1907, approximately 40,000 kegs of powder exploded at the DuPont Powder Mill of Fontanet, Indiana, killing between 50 and 80 people, and destroying the town. The sound of the explosion was heard over 200 miles (320 km) away, with damage occurring to buildings 25 miles (40 km) away.{{cite news
|title = Town Razed and Death Reveled
|url = https://newspaperarchive.com/the-athens-messenger/1907-10-17/
|newspaper = The Athens Messenger
|date = 17 October 1907
|location = Athens, Ohio
|page = 1
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130513182941/http://newspaperarchive.com/the-athens-messenger/1907-10-17/
|archive-date = 13 May 2013
}}
Education
All areas in Vigo County are in the Vigo County School Corporation.{{cite map|author=Geography Division|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st18_in/schooldistrict_maps/c18167_vigo/DC20SD_C18167.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Vigo County, IN|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|date=December 18, 2020|access-date=2025-06-06}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st18_in/schooldistrict_maps/c18167_vigo/DC20SD_C18167_SD2MS.txt Text list] Fontanet is zoned to Rio Grande Elementary School,{{cite map|url=https://web.vigoschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Rio-Grande-Boundary-1.pdf|title=Rio Grande Elementary School Boundary|publisher=Vigo County School Corporation|access-date=2025-06-06}} - Compare to the position on the Census school district map. Otter Creek Middle School,{{cite map|url=https://web.vigoschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Otter-Creek-Boundary.pdf|title=Otter Creek Middle School Boundary|publisher=Vigo County School Corporation|access-date=2025-06-06}} - Compare to the position on the Census school district map. and Terre Haute North Vigo High School.{{cite map|url=https://web.vigoschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Terre-Haute-North-Boundary.pdf|title=Terre Haute North Vigo High School Boundary|publisher=Vigo County School Corporation|access-date=2025-06-06}} - Compare to the position on the Census school district map.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Vigo County, Indiana}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Census-designated places in Indiana