Tell City, Indiana

Tell City is a city in Troy Township, Perry County, Indiana, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 7,272 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Perry County.

History

Tell City traces its 150+ year old roots to a meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio, in November 1856. A group of Swiss-German immigrants met there to organize a society known as the "Swiss Colonization Society." Its purpose was to obtain affordable homesteads for mechanics, shopkeepers, factory workers and small farmers in a location where all could live in harmony.

The Society decided to purchase a tract of land three miles (5 km) square to be surveyed into a city plot. The group sent out to purchase the land was told to keep in mind a healthful climate, fertile soil, good water, ample timber, and a location near a navigable river and a railroad, if possible. Purchase of such a site was made in July 1857. The tract, containing 4,152 acres (16.80 km²), was laid out in 392 town blocks with 7,328 building lots and 294 garden lots.