Formerly a village, Augusta is a neighborhood in Pike township located just north of 71st Street on Michigan Road. It was founded as a stopover for travelers on Michigan Road, about 11 miles northwest of Monument Circle. George Coble Sr. and Jonathan Ingo first settled in the area in 1829, though the town was platted in 1832 by David G. Boardman. Augusta may have taken its name from the firm that built the road, the Augusta Gravel Road Company. The village of Augusta was never incorporated.

The front view of a small, clapboard house. A set of wooding stairs lead to the front door.
The New Augusta Gravel Road Company built a “Toll House” just south of Augusta on Michigan Road to house a toll keeper and his family. The company operated the house between 1866 and 1892. Credit: Indiana Historical Society View Source

During the 19th century, Augusta grew slowly. Most of its small businesses, such as grocers, blacksmiths, and dry goods purveyors, provided services for local farmers or travelers. Then, in 1852, the railroad bypassed the town. A depot was built a little over a mile away and New Augusta sprang up 1.5 miles west, around the railroad and eclipsed the older settlement.

In the 1950s, suburban sprawl reached Pike Township. Shopping centers were built in 1957 and 1960 just south of Augusta at the intersection of 71st Street and Michigan Road. Entrepreneurs brought a few small factories to the area. Augusta is a mix of residences, retail stores, and light industry. Modernization has left only a few reminders of the 19th -century community.

Revised February 2021
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