Welcome to Oaklandon, Anonymous Sunday, July 06 2025 @ 12:16 am EDT
I found the following article concerning the history of Lawrence Township in Marion County Indiana.
It is very dated but that's history for you ;)
There are several references to "Oakland" which I assume to be referring to "Oaklandon."
The following is reprinted from Marion County, INGenWeb
Source: Sulgrove, B. R., History of Indianapolis and Marion County, Indiana, Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & Co., 1884, 785 pgs., pgs. 534-575
LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP.
This township is situated in the extreme northeastern portion of the county, and is seven miles square, containing forty-nine square miles, or thirty thousand eight hundred and nineteen acres of land. It is bounded on the north by Hamilton County, on the east by Hancock County, on the south by Warren township, and on the west by Washington township. The surface of the country is generally level, except along the streams, where it is somewhat broken, and in some localities hilly. The soil is well adapted to the culture of wheat, corn, rye, barley, and most vegetables, but the culture of fruit has proved to be unprofitable during the past few years, though in a few localities this branch of agriculture has yielded a good revenue. About thirty-five years ago immense crops of peaches were raised, but the peach crop has been almost an entire failure during the last twenty years. The soil is principally clay, but consists of four grades, viz.: white clay, or beech flats; black loam of the flats; limestone or clay hills; and bottomland, or dark chocolate loam intermixed with sand. Originally the township was covered with a heavy growth of timber, consisting principally of walnut, sugar, poplar, ash, beech, hickory, sycamore, lime, buckeye, oak, and hackberry. In the lowlands, the primitive forest abounded with grape-vines, frequently growing to an enormous height. Beneath the forest and the net-work of vines grew pawpaws, leatherwood, prickly-ash, black haw, and other underbrush. At the Lawrence district fair, September, 1883, John Johnson exhibited fifty-four natural varieties of timber of the township. Nearly all the valuable timber was recklessly destroyed in the clearing of the land, or has since been sold in the market. In an early day the level lands were covered with immense sheets of water, quagmires, and ponds.
Oaklandon is located in Lawrence Township on the very edge of Marion County. A few steps further and you would be in Hancock County - McCordsville, Indiana.
After a six year court battle, Oaklandon was annexed into Lawrence Township, Indianapolis.
In researching the Internet for the history of this community, I was able to find a PDF file at The Lawrence Chamber of Commerce website that gave some background about the Oaklandon Community.
John Emery platted the village that was originally called Oakland. When Germantown relocated it's post office in 1870, the name of Oaklandon was taken. I understand this was to keep from having any confusion about another part of Indiana that had a town named Oakland as well.ÂÂ
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(to the right Bell Tower - Original Building for Oaklandon Christian Church est. 1866).
Westminster Village North a retirement community on 57 acres, at one time was known as the Sunnyside Sanatorium. This sanatorium was the first state sanatorium in Indiana. It was thought that the abundant sunshine and fresh air helped to promote faster recoveries from tuberculosis infection.
While Oaklandon has a long history, I have had a difficult time tracking down some of the homes that are still here in the area. I will share the building and what I know at this time.                                                                      ÂÂ
If you are considering a move, please visit my website http://cyndisloop 4indyhomes.com.
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1849 |
Lanesville platted near Bee Line Railroad and Pendleton Pike. |
1866 |
Lanesville's name is changed to Lawrence after the name of the post office. |
1886 |
Population of Lawrence: 150. It has become a trading center. |
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