Editing New Amsterdam, Indiana (section)

==History==
[[Image:NewAmsterdamGeneralStore.jpg|thumb|left|Shaffer's General Store, 2011]]
The first settlers in what became New Amsterdam were James Riley and Jacob Youstler. Starting in 1815, they lived in New Amsterdam for several years before relocating further north.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://historic.shcsc.k12.in.us/township/washingt/washingt.htm |title=Washington Township<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=February 11, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821035451/http://historic.shcsc.k12.in.us/TOWNSHIP/washingt/washingt.htm |archive-date=August 21, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  The town was formally platted on September 19, 1815, by Jacob Funk and Samuel McAdams.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BJpuAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA69 | title=Indiana's Birthplace: A History of Harrison County, Indiana | publisher=Tribune Company, Printers | author=Roose, William H. | year=1911 | pages=69}}</ref>

The town relied on the Ohio River for its growth, as it was the main transportation route for migrating settlers as well as traders up and down river. Steamboats were active on the river during the 19th century and contributed to the growth of waterfront towns. In the 1860 census, New Amsterdam was the largest town in Harrison County.{{Citation needed|date=August 2012}}

Floods played a large part in the decline of the town. The Great [[Ohio River flood of 1937]] destroyed 75% of the structures in the town. The only original building remaining in the town is the old country store. A marker on the second story of the building shows the height of the water in the 1937 Flood.{{Citation needed|date=August 2012}}

Today, the town has a general store, a [[Baptists|Baptist]] church, a [[Methodism|Methodist]] church, a town hall and a cemetery.{{Citation needed|date=August 2012}}