History Downs was originally a small community known as "Delta", established by McLean County settlers in 1829. Previously, the area served as a trading post for the Kickapoo people. When the Indiana, Bloomington and Western Railway was built in 1869, several buildings were dismantled and reconstructed further south to put the town closer to the railroad. The town was then renamed "Priceville" in honor of John Price, a resident who owned the land near the tracks. In 1902, the town's name was changed to "Downs", after postal clerks commonly confused Priceville with the similarly-named Illinois town of Princeville. Downs is named for Lawson Downs, one of the area's pioneer settlers.
History Downs was originally a small community known as "Delta" established by McLean County settlers in 1829 Previously the area served as a trading post for the Kickapoo people When the Indiana Bloomington and Western Railway was built in 1869 several buildings were dismantled and reconstructed further south to put the town closer to the railroad The town was then renamed "Priceville" in honor of John Price a resident who owned the land near the tracks In 1902 the town's name was changed to "Downs" after postal clerks commonly confused Priceville with the similarly-named Illinois town of Princeville Downs is named for Lawson Downs one of the area's pioneer settlers