Helmsburg, Indiana
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Helmsburg, Indiana
|official_name =
|settlement_type = Unincorporated community and Census-designated place
|nickname =
|motto =
|image_skyline = Helmsburg, Indiana.jpg
|imagesize = 290px
|image_caption =
|image_alt =
|image_flag =
|image_seal =
|image_map = Map of Indiana highlighting Brown County.svg
|map_caption = Brown County's location in Indiana
|mapsize = 120px
|pushpin_map = USA Indiana Brown County
|pushpin_label = Helmsburg
|pushpin_label_position =
|pushpin_map_caption = Location in Brown County
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_name1 = Indiana
|subdivision_type2 = County
|subdivision_name2 = Brown
|subdivision_type3 = Township
|subdivision_name3 = Jackson
|government_footnotes =
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|established_title =
|established_date =
|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_footnotes =
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|population_as_of = 2000
|population_footnotes =
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|population_density_km2 = auto
|timezone = Eastern (EST)
|utc_offset = -5
|timezone_DST = EDT
|utc_offset_DST = -4
|elevation_ft = 699
|coordinates = {{coord|39|16|04|N|86|17|47|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type = ZIP codes
|postal_code = 47435
|area_code = 812 & 930
|blank_name = FIPS code
|blank_info =
|blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
|blank1_info = 2830323{{GNIS|2830323}}
|website =
|footnotes =
}}
Helmsburg (also Helms) is an unincorporated community in southern Jackson Township, Brown County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. It lies along State Road 45 north of the town of Nashville, the county seat of Brown County.DeLorme. Indiana Atlas & Gazetteer. 3rd ed. Yarmouth: DeLorme, 2004, p. 50. {{ISBN|0-89933-319-2}}. Its elevation is 666 feet (203 m). Although Helmsburg is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 47435.{{cite web|url=http://www.zipinfo.com/cgi-local/zipsrch.exe?cnty=cnty&zip=47435 |title=Zip Code Lookup |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615064728/http://www.zipinfo.com/cgi-local/zipsrch.exe?cnty=cnty&zip=47435 |archivedate=2011-06-15 }}
History
The first post office at Helmsburg was established as Helms, in 1904.{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=IN&county=Brown | title=Brown County | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | accessdate=28 August 2014}} The community was named in honor of John Helms, a local resident.{{cite book|last=Baker|first=Ronald L.|title=From Needmore to Prosperity: Hoosier Place Names in Folklore and History|url=https://archive.org/details/fromneedmoretopr00bake|url-access=registration|date=October 1995|publisher=Indiana University Press|isbn=978-0-253-32866-3|page=[https://archive.org/details/fromneedmoretopr00bake/page/n179 162]|quote=This village was named for John Helms, an early settler.}}
The children of Helmsburg are served by Helmsburg Elementary School.{{cite web|url=http://www.eagleseye.net/bcs/Helmsburg/mainframe.htm |title=Helmsburg School Website |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101031045832/http://eagleseye.net/BCS/Helmsburg/mainframe.htm |archivedate=2010-10-31 }} Industry in Helmsburg includes Helmsburg Sawmill, Inc. (Bill Pool and Sons Sawmill),{{cite web|url= http://www.ourbrowncounty.com/0306s1.htm|title= "Bill Pool and the Helmsburg Sawmill", Our Brown County.}} Electric Metal Fab, which produces stainless steel equipment for the food and pharmaceutical industries (now closed),{{cite web|url= http://electricmetalfab.com/|title= Electric Metal Fab Website}} and For Bare Feet Sock Factory (now moved to Martinsville, IN), which makes many of the socks, headbands, and wristbands NBA players wear during games.{{cite web|url= http://www.browncounty.com//static/index.cfm?contentID=928|title= "For Bare Feet Originals", Brown County Indiana CVB.}} Sights in Helmsburg include the Helmsburg General Store, Helmsburg Antiques, and Figtree Gallery & Coffee Shop (now closed) which includes an art gallery, Star Wars memorabilia display, and uniquely painted zebra stripe fire engine. Travelers to Helmsburg may find accommodation at McGinley Vacation Cabins or in nearby Beanblossom or Nashville, Indiana. Areas surrounding Helmsburg are heavily forested, much of this being Yellowwood State Forest. Local wildlife includes whitetail deer, ruffed grouse, squirrel, turkey, fox, woodcock, raccoon and opossums.{{cite web|url= http://www.browncountystatepark.com/yellowwood/forest.html|title= Brown County State Park Website}} Residents participate in numerous outdoor recreations including hunting in Yellowwood State Forest, fishing in Yellowwood Lake and Beanblossom Creek, and hiking on Ten O'Clock Line and Tecumseh Trails nearby.
Demographics
The United States Census Bureau delineated Helmsburg as a census designated place in the 2022 American Community Survey.{{Cite web|title=2022 Geography Changes|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/technical-documentation/table-and-geography-changes/2022/geography-changes.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=}}
Notable people
- Bobby Helms, the country music singer known for his songs "Jingle Bell Rock", "Fraulein", and "My Special Angel", was born in Helmsburg.
References
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{{Brown County, Indiana}}
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Category:Unincorporated communities in Brown County, Indiana
Category:Unincorporated communities in Indiana