Fairland is a town in Brandywine Township, Shelby County, Indiana. The population was 315 at the 2010 census. History Construction of the Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Lafayette Railroad began in 1849, and Fairland was platted in 1852. Isaac Odell and Henry Jenkins hired the J. M. Elliott Company of Shelby County to draw the plans, and this was recorded on Oct. 21, 1852. The town was named for the "beautiful land" near the original town site. A post office has been in operation at Fairland since 1854 with Isaac Odell as the first postmaster. Several additions were made to the town: Daniel Bradley Addition (1857), Odell's First Addition (1865), Granville S. Harrel Addition (1866), Odell's Second Addition (1868), Richardson & McQuiston Addition (1872), J. B. Plymate First Addition (1891), Joseph & Luvina Plymate Addition (1902), Walker's Addition (1903), Drake's Addition (1907), and Henderson's Addition (1914). In 1866, the railroad between Martinsville and Franklin was extended from Franklin to Fairland with General Ambrose E. Burnside leading the project. The Fairland Cemetery Association was formed in 1887. The town boasted the 22-room Park Hotel, bank, blacksmith, physicians, restaurants, general store, hardware store, butcher, Masonic hall, lumber company, sawmill, and livery stable. And, the "Fairland Bulletin" newspaper was published until it was moved to Shelbyville and became the "Volunteer". On September 9, 1969, Allegheny Airlines Flight 853 collided in mid-air with a smaller private aircraft northwest of Fairland, killing all 83 passengers and crew of both aircraft. Geography Fairland is located at (39.588962, -85.861885). According to the 2010 census, Fairland has a total area of , all land. Government The community, located about five miles (8 km) northwest of Shelbyville, was incorporated as a town on June 9, 1866. Later on, for an undetermined reason, the town board stopped meeting. The town government came to a halt sometime after July 1883. On August 16, 2008, for the first time in 125 years, a three-member Fairland Town Board and a town clerk-treasurer conducted official business. Shelby County Councilwoman Tami Grubbs administered the oath of office to board members Rick Daily, John Hanson and Jeremy Creech, along with Clerk-Treasurer Chris Brinson, who immediately set about the task of organization, which included electing board officials. The board elected Daily as board president, Hanson as vice president and Creech as secretary. Indiana law mandates that all municipalities with populations under 2,000 people are towns. Demographics 2010 census As