Utopia, Ohio

Utopia was founded in 1844 by the followers of Charles Fourier, after the failure of an earlier Fourierist phalanstère called the Clermont Phalanx.

It was soon reorganized by Josiah Warren, who founded the town as a means of a small cooperative community that could still carry out functions like the outside world.

On the night of December 13, the Ohio River had flooded its banks dramatically and was getting dangerously close to the town hall.

During a party that was being held at the hall that evening, the river, many feet above flood stage, washed out the south wall of the building, sweeping out a large number of Spiritualists.

The impact of the Civil War, the rising prices of surrounding land that made expansion difficult, and the requirement of being invited by the original settlers are said to have led to the eventual dissolution of the project.

[citation needed]Utopia is located on the northern bank of the Ohio River in the southeast corner of Clermont County, in southwest Ohio.38°46′34″N 84°03′26″W / 38.77611°N 84.05722°W / 38.77611; -84.05722 It lies along U.S. Route 52.