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GEOGRAPHY New Harmony is located at 38°7'43" North, 87°56'3" West (38.128583, -87.934122). According to the United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 1.7 Km&2 (0.6 Mi&2 ). 1.7 km&2 (0.6 mi&2) of it is land and 1.56% is water. HISTORY New Harmony, formerly named "Harmony," was built by the Harmony Society , headed by George Rapp (also known as Johann Georg Rapp). This was the second of three towns built by the German religious group, known as Rappites. When the society decided to move back to Pennsylvania, they sold the 30,000 acres (121 km&2) of land and buildings to Robert Owen , the Welsh Utopia n thinker and social reformer, and to William Maclure for $150,000, who then changed the name from "Harmony" to "New Harmony." Owen recruited residents to his model community, but a number of factors led to an early breakup of the Communitarian experiment. The experiment was established in 1825 and dissolved in 1829 due to constant quarrels. The town banned money and other commodities. American Individualist Anarchist , Josiah Warren , who was one of the original participants in the New Harmony Society, asserted that the community was doomed to failure due to a lack of individual sovereignty and private property. He says of the community: "It seemed that the difference of opinion, tastes and purposes increased just in proportion to the demand for conformity. Two years were worn out in this way; at the end of which, I believe that not more than three persons had the least hope of success. Most of the experimenters left in despair of all reforms, and conservatism felt itself confirmed. We had tried every conceivable form of organization and government. We had a world in miniature. --we had enacted the French revolution over again with despairing hearts instead of corpses as a result. ...It appeared that it was nature's own inherent law of diversity that had conquered us ...our 'united interests' were directly at war with the individualities of persons and circumstances and the instinct of self-preservation... and it was evident that just in proportion to the contact of persons or interests, so are concessions and compromises indispensable." (''Periodical Letter II'' 1856) DEMOGRAPHICS As of the Census of 2000, there were 916 people, 382 households, and 228 families residing in the town. The Population Density was 552.6/km&2 (1,441.5/mi&2). There were 432 housing units at an average density of 260.6/km&2 (679.8/mi&2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.91% White , 0.00% African American , 0.55% Native American , 0.22% Asian , 0.00% Pacific Islander , 0.00% from Other Races , and 0.33% from two or more races. 0.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 382 households out of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.9% were Married Couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.1% were non-families. 38.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.80. In the town the population was spread out with 20.3% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 21.2% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 29.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 82.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.4 males. The median income for a household in the town was $28,182, and the median income for a family was $40,865. Males had a median income of $39,250 versus $21,607 for females. The Per Capita Income for the town was $17,349. 12.4% of the population and 12.2% of families were below the Poverty Line . 14.8% of those under the age of 18 and 17.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. THE PAUL TILLICH PARK Paul Tillich Park commemorates the renowned 20th century theologian, Paul Johannes Tillich . The park was dedicated on 2 June 1963 , and Tillich's ashes were interred there in 1965. Located just across North Main Street from the Roofless Church in New Harmony, Indiana, the park consists of a stand of evergreens on elevated ground surrounding a walkway. Along the walkway there are several large stones on which are inscribed quotations from Tillich's writings. James Rosati's sculpture of Tillich's head rises at the north end of the walkway, backed by a clearing and a large pond. Those who walk the park today may ponder quotations from Tillich's writings inscribed on large rocks along the pathway. The words ''Man and nature belong together in their created glory - in their tragedy and in their salvation'' are especially appropriate: ''Man'' representing the communitarians of New Harmony - that is, the Harmonists and the Owenites - ''nature'' representing the naturalists at New Harmony who uncovered life-secrets and earth-secrets of creation. The word ''tragedy'' tells much of New Harmony history, as of all human history, and ''salvation'' crowns the human experience as a promise consistent with Harmonist faith and Tillich's mission. SEE ALSO LITERATURE: THE STORY OF NEW HARMONY
LITERATURE: PAUL TILLICH AND NEW HARMONY, THE PAUL-TILLICH-PARK IN NEW HARMONY
LITERATURE: THE ATHENEUM AND RICHARD MEIER, ARCHITECT.
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