French Philosopher Charles Fourier inspired the utopian community of Utopia

            What remains is this sign.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, groups of Americans experimented with religious and secular economic communes, typically off the grid in the middle of nowhere. I am fascinated with these groups and their experimenting. Although remote, this community was built right on a major American water highway, the Ohio River. With a west and center street and a main road in between, the town of Utopia has been neatly designed. 

An Ohio historical landmark sign, which is across the street from the store in the background of this photo, explains the history of this place.

"Utopia was founded in 1844 by followers of French philosopher Charles Fourier (1772-1837). Fourierism, based on utopian socialism and the idea of equal sharing of investments in money and labor, reached peak popularity in the United States about 1824 until 1846. The experimental community of Utopia dissolved in 1846 due to lack of financial success and disenchantment with Fourierism. John O. Wattles, leader of a society of spiritualists, purchased the land and brought his followers to Utopia in 1847. The spiritualists, who sought secluded areas to practice their religion, built a two-story brick house on the shore of the Ohio River. A flash flood on December 13, 1847, killed most of Wattles' people. The majority of the few survivors left the area. Thus, the idea of the perfect society, or utopia, died."

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Taken in: United States / Ohio / Franklin Township / Utopia (show map)

Taken on: August 8, 2020

Tags:

American History

Ohio

US Route 52

US-52

Utopian communities

road sign

signage

Utopia

community experiments « less

Sets appears in: • The mystery of history

Groups appears in: • Sign City • Historic Ohio more » • Flickr: History « less

Camera: Nikon D850, f/3.5, 1/500 sec, 85mm, ISO 72 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D850
Lens:	85.0 mm f/1.4
Aperture:	f/3.5
Exposure Time:	0.002 sec (1/500)
Focal Length:	85mm
ISO:	72
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Saturation:	High
Sharpness:	Hard
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 9.3 (Macintosh)
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