Milan, Indiana
Milan, Indiana
Population – 1,816
County – Ripley
Township – Franklin
Area – Total 1.9 sq mi
Elevation – 991
ZIP code – 47031
Area code(s) – 812
Milan, Indiana is at coordinates 39°7’22?N 85°7’50?W
Median Household Income – $36,066
Rich in history, Milan was founded in 1854 in Ripley County which is located in Southeastern Indiana near Cincinnati, Ohio. Along a main railroad line from Cincinnati to St. Louis, Milan has maintained its small town presence. Perhaps most famous for its legendary high school basketball championship in 1954, Milan is much more.
North of Milan is Old Milan. There are a number of places here associated with the Underground Railroad. About a mile north of Indiana State Road 350 you will come to the intersection of Old Milan Road. The Old Milan Road was known in the mid 1800′s as the Aurora Road. This road travels from Milan to Lookout on Indiana State Road 48 and was an active route for escaped slaves as they fled north towards Napoleon. If you turn left on Old Milan Road then left on Chapel Street you will find Underground Railroad Stops 4 and 5. Tour Stop 5 marks the Old Milan Road. Tour Stop 4 marks the location of the Milan Freewill Baptist Church, an active anti-slavery church at the time. The state of Kentucky had a reward out for the minister, Reverend Charles Ide for his anti-slave activities.
If you turn left on Berlin Street you will intersect Indiana State Road 101. Tour Stop 3 is located across Indiana State Road 101. It indicates the old road, now the Old Milan Road, which was the route runaway slaves were brought from Manchester Station. These in turn had been brought in from Rising Sun and Aurora.
Tour Stop 2 is the Stephen Harding Home, Red Gate. It was Station 7 on the Underground Railroad. Slaves were brought in at night in wagons with hay or straw piled loosely over them. The house is across the road. Slaves were kept in the attic where there were beds which allowed them to sleep in some comfort after they were fed in the cellar. A narrow passageway led to the attic. This station operated from the late 1830′s until 1863. This home is a private residence.
Milan Indiana is located just south of the intersection of Indiana State Road 350, which connects Osgood Indiana with Aurora, and State Road 101 which begins on US 50 and connects with Interstate 74 north of Sunman Indiana. The CSX Railroadline runs through the town on its way from Cincinnati to St. Louis, Missouri.
The Milan Indiana school system includes primary, elementary and high school levels. This link connects you to the Milan, Indiana web site.
Milan Public Library and Public Wireless Access
Milan Community School Corporation
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