Editing America, Netherlands

{{use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{distinguish|Amerika, Netherlands}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = America
| settlement_type    = Village
| image_skyline      = File:Station America (28250788020).jpg
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = Pub Station America in America
| image_flag         = 
| image_shield       = 
| image_map          = 
| image_map1         = 
| pushpin_map        = Netherlands#Netherlands Limburg
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_mapsize    = 250
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the Netherlands##Location in the province of Limburg in the Netherlands
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = [[Netherlands]]
| subdivision_type1  = Province
| subdivision_name1  = [[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg]]
| subdivision_type2  = Municipality
| subdivision_name2  = [[Horst aan de Maas]]
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name="AHN">{{cite web |url = http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool |title = Postcodetool for 5966LA |language = nl |work = Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland |publisher = Het Waterschapshuis |access-date = 24 April 2022 }}</ref>
| elevation_m        = 29
| elevation_min_m    = 
| elevation_max_m    = 
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="stat"/>
| area_total_km2     = 24.87
| established_title  = 
| established_date   = 
| population_footnotes = <ref name="stat">{{cite web |url=https://www.cbs.nl/-/media/_excel/2021/48/kwb-2021.xls |title=Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2021 |website=Central Bureau of Statistics |access-date=24 April 2022}}</ref>
| population_total   = 2,055
| population_as_of   = 2021
| population_demonym = 
| population_note    = 
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone           = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset         = +1
| timezone_DST       = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST     = +2
| postal_code_type   = [[List of postal codes in the Netherlands|Postal code]]
| postal_code        = 5966<ref name="stat"/>
| area_code_type     = [[Telephone numbers in the Netherlands|Dialing code]]
| area_code          = 077
| coordinates        = {{coord|51|26|16|N|5|58|44|E|region:NL|display=title; inline}}
| native_name        = Amerika
| native_name_lang   = li
}}
'''America''' ([[Limburgish]]: ''Amerika,'' {{IPA|nl|ɑˈmeːrikaː}}) is a [[parish]] village in the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] province of [[Limburg (Netherlands)|Limburg]], known historically for its [[peat]] extraction.

==Geography==
America is part of the municipality of [[Horst aan de Maas]] in Limburg, and lies approximately {{cvt|15|km|mi}} northwest of [[Venlo]], {{cvt|23|km|mi}} east of [[Helmond]], and {{cvt|16|km|mi}} west of the [[Germany|German]] border.  The town is located within the agricultural [[Peel, Netherlands|Peel region]] of the Netherlands where [[peat]] extraction has been practiced since the Middle Ages.  The town is situated approximately {{cvt|30|m|ft}} above sea level on the Kabroeksebeek, a stream that flows northeasterly to the [[Groote Molenbeek]] stream and eventually to the [[Meuse]].

The area of the town is {{cvt|24.87|km2|mi2}} and the population as of 2019 is 2,030.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tabel: Bevolking; maandcijfers per gemeente en overige regionale indelingen |url=https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/maatwerk/2019/31/kerncijfers-wijken-en-buurten-2019 |website=Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek |accessdate=23 February 2020}}</ref>

==History==
America was founded in the late 19th century on the [[Venlo–Eindhoven railway]] to serve peat extraction in the area by providing transportation for workers and resources.  The town's etymology is uncertain, but it is likely the town was named after the [[Americas]].  Other villages with similar foreign names in the Peel region, including California and Siberia, were founded in the same era.

The town's railway station, America Station, opened in 1866 and was rebuilt in 1894.  The parish church for America, Saint Joseph's Church, was completed in 1892.  The railway station closed in 1938 and the town was captured by the Germans during [[World War II]] before being liberated by the British on 22 November 1944.<ref>{{cite web |title=INFO LGOG KRING HORST |url=http://lgogterhorst.nl/info_lgog/INFO%20LGOG%20no%2010.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://lgogterhorst.nl/info_lgog/INFO%20LGOG%20no%2010.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |accessdate=23 February 2020 |page=43 |date=12 September 1994}}</ref>  America Station was eventually demolished in 1970, although it has been immortalized by the 1993 album ''Station America'' by the local band [[Rowwen Hèze]].

In recent years, as peat extraction has declined surrounding America, reclaimed peatlands have been converted as [[holiday village]]s and bungalow resorts including Limburgse Peel and Het Meerdal, both operated by [[Center Parcs Europe]].

==Notable people==
*[[Hub van Doorne]], founder of manufacturing firm [[DAF Trucks|DAF]]
*[[Jack Poels]], lead singer of [[Rowwen Hèze]]
*[[Joey Litjens]], motorcyclist

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Sint-Josephkerk (America).JPG|Saint Joseph's Church
Station America-c.jpg|Station America in 1945
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Amerika, Netherlands|Amerika, Drenthe]] (Netherlands)
* [[Amerika, Saxony]] (Germany)

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|position=left}}

{{Dutch municipality Horst aan de Maas}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places in Limburg (Netherlands)]]
[[Category:Horst aan de Maas]]