Leopold

History

Leopold was founded in 1842 by the Reverend Augustine Bessonies and named for the then-reigning king of Belgium, Leopold I. A post office was in operation at Leopold from 1846 until August 12, 2017. Most of the original settlers of Leopold were Belgian emigres. These "lorrain" settlers were Catholics from the French-speaking southern region of Belgium which had formerly been part of Luxembourg. They were motivated to move to America from cities along the Meuse River bordering France, such as Florenville and Chiny, after Belgium was placed under Protestant rule in the 1830s. The land and climate of Perry County was similar to their homeland and made for an easier transition. Because this was an open frontier, immigrants were required to sign an oath renouncing any allegiance to King Leopold.

Geography

Leopold is located fifteen miles north of the Ohio River.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  533
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  504
• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  490
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  488
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  472
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  470
• Carolina Chickadee

  Poecile carolinensis (Audubon, 1834) · Aves
  391
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  391

Largest nearby schools

• Perry Central Elementary School
  Elementary · Leopold · 703 students · 20.7:1 ratio
• Perry Central Jr-Sr High School
  High · Leopold · 582 students · 12.9:1 ratio