Originally part of Noble County, Etna Township joined Whitley County in 1860. The town of Etna, surveyed by John H. Alexander in 1849, was named by Lafayette Lanson for his former home in Ohio. Because of the layout of the township roads, five school districts were established and maintained until 1904, when they were consolidated and a four-room brick building was erected at this site. That building was abandoned in 1955 after Etna and Troy townships were united in 1951, and the school moved to Troy center.