New Harmony, Indiana, a town in Posey County that became noted as a socialistic cultural and educational center in the 1820's. In 1814 a religious communistic settlement was made here by some 600 Germans under leadership of George Rapp. These settlers, called Rappists, came from Pennsylvania, to which they had fled from religious persecution in Europe. They bought 30,000 acres (12,140 hectares) of land in the lower Wabash Valley and named their community Harmonic Continued friction with their neighbors caused the Rappists to return to Pennsylvania in 1824. They sold Harmonie to Robert Owen.
Owen planned to establish here a cultural utopia. With the aid of his son Robert Dale Owen, he set up a socialistic community and named it New Harmony. Shortly after he explained his plans in an address before the U.S. Congress in 1825, the settlement was crowded with a thousand persons from all over the world. No examination was made as to the fitness of the newcomers. Among them were scholars and scientists, idealists and fanatics, loafers and incompetents, knaves and swindlers. The scientists included William Maclure and Gerard Troost, geologists; Charles A. Lesueur, artist-naturalist; and Thomas Say, entomologist—all pioneers in American science.
The scholars and scientists established a library with branches in nearby towns. However, substantial industries acquired from the Rappists were poorly conducted, because of inefficient labor. Some persons worked, some loafed, and some were incapable. Discords and quarrels became common. Dissenters established their own colonies in outlying districts. Owen finally gave up, delivering a farewell address in 1827. The property gradually passed into private ownership, and by 1830 Owen's socialism was gone.
New Harmony is now a market town for the surrounding agricultural area. Historic New Harmony, Inc., has restored a number of the original buildings.
Population: 916.
