Location
Gentryville is located in the northwestern part of Spencer County, near the Warrick County line. Spencer County, in turn, is situated in the southwestern part of Indiana, bordering the north bank of the Ohio River, which constitutes the Indiana-Kentucky state line. U.S. Routes 460-231 and Indiana Route 162 intersect in Gentryville. The Southern Railroad provides freight service and connects the community with Rockport, Evansville, Indianapolis, and Louisville (Kentucky). The town is situated 477 feet above mean sea level and is surrounded by rolling hills. Gentryville is about 15 miles north of Rockport, the county seat, and about 25 miles east of the Evansville standard metropolitan statistical area.
History
Gentryville was named for James Gentry, one of the first merchants, for whom Abraham Lincoln worked as a clerk. As early as 1827, Gideon W. Romine, Benjamin Romine, and James Gentry began selling goods there. The early merchants in Gentryville packed large quantities of pork, and bought tobacco and produce on a wholesale basis. As early as 1825, Peter Whittinghill operated a small corn cracker just west of Gentryville. James Gentry started a cotton gin about 1824, which he operated for several years, serving an area within a radius of 30 miles. William David was an early blacksmith, and Drs. Maxwell and Sampson were the early physicians. The first post office was established March 12, 1831, located in the Gentry Store. William Jones served as the first postmaster.
As early as 1821, Azel W. Dorsey taught in a log cabin about a mile south of Gentryville. Another early schoolhouse stood about two miles south of Gentryville, James Bryant being the first teacher. A man named Sweeney taught near Gentryville in a schoolhouse that stood near the intersection of two main roads. It was a rude pole cabin with a huge fireplace, a floor made of puncheons, and a window made by leaving out a log on the side to admit light, often covered with greased paper to keep out the wind.
Gentryville was an insignificant rural town until the decade of the 1850's. It was during this time that Methodist and Christian churches were organized at Gentryville. With the advent of the railroad, the town grew larger. The Southern Railroad passed through the area in 1880, approximately one mile south of the original townsite. As a consequence, the town extended south to the railroad right-of-way.
The town, although laid out into lots quite early, was not recorded until December, 1854. Gentryville was incorporated September 26, 1898; the population at this time was approximately 360 people.
Small industrial enterprises, such as a grist mill, a sow mill, a tannery, and several general stores made up the economic base of Gentryville since its origin. The arrival of the railroad gave the town a new impulse which, unfortunately, did not last very long. After the turn of the century, economic decline began, caused primarily by technological changes and greater industrialization of the surrounding areas. Disasters struck the little town also. In 190%, a fire destroyed the livery stable, the Oddfellows Lodge Hall, and a large store; in 1955, a tornado struck, destroying several homes and damaging others.
At present there are two churches in Gentryville, the Methodist and Pentecostal Church. A Masonic Lodge is also active in Gentryville. As a result of heightened civic interest, the community is now participating in a county-wide planning program in a concerted effort to capitalize on local and regional opportunities.