America () is a

parish A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest, often termed a parish priest, who might be assisted by one o ...

village in the

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

province of

Limburg Limburg or Limbourg may refer to: Regions * Limburg (Belgium), a province since 1839 in the Flanders region of Belgium * Limburg (Netherlands), a province since 1839 in the south of the Netherlands * Diocese of Limburg, Roman Catholic Diocese in ...

, known historically for its

peat Peat (), also known as turf (), is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter. It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, moors, or muskegs. The peatland ecosystem covers and is the most efficient ...

extraction.

Geography

America is part of the municipality of

Horst aan de Maas Horst aan de Maas (; li, Haors aan de Maos ) is a municipality in the southeastern Netherlands, in the province of Limburg. In 2010 the municipalities Sevenum and part of Meerlo-Wanssum joined the municipality. Population centres America, Br ...

in Limburg, and lies approximately northwest of

Venlo Venlo () is a city and municipality in the southeastern Netherlands, close to the border with Germany. It is situated in the province of Limburg, about 50 km east of the city of Eindhoven, 65 km north east of the provincial capital Maastricht, a ...

, east of Helmond, and west of the

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

border. The town is located within the agricultural Peel region of the Netherlands where

extraction has been practiced since the Middle Ages. The town is situated approximately above sea level on the Kabroeksebeek, a stream that flows northeasterly to the Groote Molenbeek stream and eventually to the

Meuse The Meuse ( , , , ; wa, Moûze ) or Maas ( , ; li, Maos or ) is a major European river, rising in France and flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea from the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta. It has a t ...

. The area of the town is and the population as of 2019 is 2,030.

History

America was founded in the late 19th century on the

Venlo–Eindhoven railway The Venlo–Eindhoven railway is an important railway line in the Netherlands running from Venlo to Eindhoven, passing through Helmond and Deurne. The line was opened in 1866. It is part of the '' Staatslijn'' "E". Stations The main interchan ...

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 The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World. Along with th ...

. 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 World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

before being liberated by the British on 22 November 1944. 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 villages and bungalow resorts including Limburgse Peel and Het Meerdal, both operated by Center Parcs Europe.

Notable people

Hub van Doorne Hubert Jozef ("Hub") van Doorne (1 January 1900 – 23 May 1979) was the founder of Van Doorne's Aanhangwagenfabriek (Trailer factory) and of Van Doorne's Automobielfabriek (vehicle factory) known as DAF, together with his brother Willem (Wim) van ...

, founder of manufacturing firm DAF *

Jack Poels Jack Poels (born 27 June 1957, in America, Limburg) is the singer, guitarist and harmonica player of the Dutch band Rowwen Hèze

, lead singer of Rowwen Hèze * Joey Litjens, motorcyclist

Gallery

Sint-Josephkerk (America).JPG, Saint Joseph's Church Station America-c.jpg, Station America in 1945

References

{{Authority control Populated places in Limburg (Netherlands) Horst aan de Maas

Geography

History

Notable people

Gallery

See also

References