Rolling Prairie, Indiana

{{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement    |official_name = Rolling Prairie, Indiana |settlement_type = [[Census-designated place]] |motto =  |image_skyline = |imagesize = |image_caption = |image_map = File:LaPorte County Indiana Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Rolling Prairie Highlighted 1865736.svg |mapsize = |map_caption = Location in LaPorte County, Indiana |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 = |pushpin_map = Indiana#USA |pushpin_label = Rolling Prairie |pushpin_label_position = |pushpin_map_caption = |pushpin_mapsize =  |subdivision_type = [[Countries of the world|Country]] |subdivision_name = [[United States]] |subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]] |subdivision_name1 = [[Indiana]] |subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Indiana|County]] |subdivision_name2 = [[LaPorte County, Indiana|LaPorte]] |subdivision_type3 = [[List of townships in Indiana|Township]] |subdivision_name3 = [[Kankakee Township, LaPorte County, Indiana|Kankakee]]  |established_title = |established_date =  |area_total_km2 = 2.77 |area_land_km2 = 2.74 |area_water_km2 = 0.04  |population_as_of = [[2020 United States Census|2020]] |population_footnotes = |population_note = |population_total = 562  |timezone = |utc_offset = |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |coordinates = {{coord|41|40|23|N|86|37|26|W|region:US-IN|display=inline,title}} |elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> |elevation_ft = 820 |founder = |named_for =  |postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]] |postal_code = 46371 |area_code = |blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]] |blank_info = 18-65736<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> |blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID |blank1_info = 2629775<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2629775}}</ref> |website = |unit_pref = Imperial |area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_18.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 16, 2022}}</ref> |area_total_sq_mi = 1.07 |area_land_sq_mi = 1.06 |area_water_sq_mi = 0.01 |population_density_sq_mi = 532.20 |population_density_km2 = 205.48 }} '''Rolling Prairie''' is an [[Unincorporated area#United States|unincorporated community]] and [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Kankakee Township, LaPorte County, Indiana|Kankakee Township]], [[LaPorte County, Indiana|LaPorte County]], [[Indiana]], United States. As of the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]], it had a population of 562.

==History== The first cabin was built here in 1831 by Ezekiel Provolt. More settlers arrived, built cabins and named the settlement "Nauvoo". On November 26, 1853, the village was platted by J. W. Walker and named "Portland".<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/historyoflaporte00chas | title=History of La Porte County, Indiana: Together with Sketches of Its Cities, Villages, and Townships | publisher=C. C. Chapman & Co. | year=1880 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/historyoflaporte00chas/page/728 728]}}</ref> The name of "Rolling Prairie", descriptive of the undulating terrain, was later adopted by one of the railroad companies operating through the town.<ref>''From Needmore to Prosperity'' - Baker, Ronald L. (1995) {{ISBN|0-253-32866-7}}</ref>

Rolling Prairie had [[Rolling Prairie station|a stop]] on the [[South Shore Line]] until 1994,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dodson|first1=Paul|title=South Shore Railroad Will Close 7 Flagstops|publisher=South Bend Tribune|date=June 17, 1994|location=South Bend, IN|page=B2}}</ref> when it was closed along with several other flag stops with low ridership.

==Geography== Rolling Prairie is located in northeastern LaPorte County in the northeast part of [[Kankakee Township, LaPorte County, Indiana|Kankakee Township]]. [[U.S. Route 20]] passes through the southern side of the community, leading east {{Convert|19|mi}} to [[South Bend, Indiana|South Bend]] and west {{convert|15|mi}} to [[Michigan City, Indiana|Michigan City]]. [[Indiana State Road 2]] passes just south of Rolling Prairie, leading southwest {{convert|7|mi|0}} to [[La Porte, Indiana|La Porte]], the [[county seat]].

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Rolling Prairie CDP has an area of {{convert|2.8|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|0.04|sqkm|order=flip|2}}, or 1.39%, are water.<ref name=Gazetteer>{{cite web| url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_18.txt| title=U.S. Gazetteer Files: 2019: Places: Indiana| website=U.S. Census Bureau Geography Division| access-date=January 23, 2020}}</ref>

==Education== The school district is [[New Prairie United School Corporation]].<ref name=LaPorteCountySDMap2020>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st18_in/schooldistrict_maps/c18091_laporte/DC20SD_C18091.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: LaPorte County, IN|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2024-12-05}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st18_in/schooldistrict_maps/c18091_laporte/DC20SD_C18091_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> Rolling Prairie Elementary School occupies the building that was previously Rolling Prairie High School before the high school was merged with New Carlisle High School to form New Prairie High School. The elementary is one of three elementary schools in the New Prairie United School Corporation.

Rolling Prairie has a [[public library]], a branch of the La Porte County Public Library.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.lagrange.lib.in.us | title=Homepage | publisher=La Grange County Public Library | access-date=8 March 2018}}</ref>

==Demographics== {{US Census population |2020= 562 |align=left |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2016}}</ref> }}{{clear left}}

==References== <references />

[[Category:Census-designated places in LaPorte County, Indiana]] [[Category:Census-designated places in Indiana]]