USA > Indiana > Indiana : in relation to its geography, statistics, institutions, county topography, etc. : with a "reference index" to Colton's maps of Indiana > Part 5
USA > Indiana > Indiana: in relation to its geography, statistics, institutions, county topography, etc., with a "reference index" to Colton's maps of Indiana > Part 5
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DE KALB county, organized 1836, contains 365 square miles, and is bounded north by Steuben, east by the Ohio state line, south by Allen, and west by Noble. The prin- cipal stream is St. Joseph's of the Maumee, and its creeks are Cedar, Little Cedar, Fish, Buck, and Bear. The sur- face is generally undulating, and, with the exception of some wet prairies, heavily timbered. The soils are excel- lent for general farming, but hitherto there has been little
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surplus for export. Wheat, corn, oats, etc., are the staples, and cattle raising engages much attention, In 1850 the county contained 1,421 dwellings, 1,424 families, 8,251 in- habitants, 831 farms, and 16 manufacturing establishments. AUBURN, near the center of the county, is the county seat.
DELAWARE county, organized 1827, contains 394 square miles, and is bounded north by Grant and Blackford, east by Jay and Randolph, south by Henry, and west by Madi- son. White river in the center, and the Mississinewa, which joins the Wabash in the north, near Peru, and their nu- merous tributaries, supply the county abundantly with water-power. The surface is mostly level or gently un- dulating-on the rivers and creeks even the hills are in- considerable. Prairie covers about one twentieth part of the county, and affords excellent meadow and pasture lands. The principal growths are oak, hickory, poplar, beech, walnut, sugar, linden, etc., with an undergrowth of hazel, dog-wood, spice, and prickly ash, but the oak land is more extensive than the beech. The Indianapolis and Bellefontaine railroad crosses the county in a direction east and west, and will afford great facilities to its develop- ment. In 1850 Delaware contained 1,874 dwellings and families, 10,843 inhabitants, 1,084 farms, and 34 produc- tive establishments. MUNCIETOWN, on the south side of White river, and opposite the site of Outainink, the old residence of the Muncie tribe of Delaware Indians, is the county seat.
DUBOIS county, organized 1817, contains 432 square miles, and is bounded north by Davies and Martin, east by Orange and Crawford, south by Perry, Spencer, and Warrick, and west by Pike. The east fork of White river forms more than half of its northern boundary; the Patoka is also a fine stream, and has several tributary
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creeks, which are suitable for mill purposes. The bottoms of these streams are very rich, and occupy about one fifth part of the county. In the northeast, the country has a rolling surface; the residue is generally level. One eighth part of the county is occasionally inundated; there is no prairie land, but the soils are generally good-not the best. The most common timber is white and black oak, poplar, walnut, sugar, beech, hickory, etc., with much undergrowth of dog-wood and spice bush. Corn and wheat are the staple products, which, with hogs and cattle, are exported largely. Coal is abundant. In 1850 the county contained 1,146 dwellings and families, 6,321 inhabitants, 794 farms, and 9 productive establishments. JASPER, on the Patoka, is the county seat.
ELKHART county, organized 1830, contains 460 square miles, and is bounded north by the Michigan state line, east by Lagrange and Noble, south by Kosciusko, and west by Marshall and St. Joseph. St. Joseph river, and its tributary, the Elkhart, are unsurpassed as mill streams; and the numberless creeks that enter into them supply abundant water-power to every part of the county ; and there are several small lakes in various parts, one of which in the southwest is the source of Yellow river, a branch of Kankakee. The country has generally an un- dulating surface, about one half of which is covered with timber ; the residue is either prairie or oak barrens. The principal growths are beech, maple, walnut, hickory, pop- lar, oak, and cherry. The prairies in the vicinity of St. Joseph and Elkhart rivers are remarkably fertile, and are highly cultivated. Wheat and corn are the staple products, and some 40,000 barrels of flour are annually exported. Other grains and grasses are also produced in abundance. Large beds of iron are found in the county, and at Mishawaka considerable amounts have been man-
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ufactured. The Northern Indiana railroad traverses this county east and west. In 1850 it contained 2,254 dwell- ings, 2,316 families, 12,690 inhabitants, 1,226 farms, and 70 productive establishments. GOSHEN, on the east bank of the Elkhart river, is the county seat.
FAYETTE county, organized 1818, contains 210 square miles, and is bounded north by Henry and Wayne, east by Union, south by Franklin, and west by Rush. The west fork of White Water river passes north and south through the county, dividing it almost centrally, and this, with its tributaries, affords abundant water-power at all seasons. In the east and south the surface is generally rolling, and in the north and west level, with a large por- tion of bottoms. Dense forests, principally of walnut, poplar, sugar, beech, hickory, oak, etc., originally cover- ed most of the county. The soil is everywhere remark- ably fertile, and the crops more than usually abundant. No other county, in proportion to its size, exports a greater amount of products. Pork, beef, and flour, are its staples, which are sent to market chiefly by the White Water canal, which passes along the valley of the river of the same name. In 1850 Fayette contained 1,818 dwell- ings, 1,835 families, 10,217 inhabitants, 986 farms, and 116 productive establishments. CONNERSVILLE, situated on the canal and west of the river, is the county seat.
FLOYD county, organized 1819, contains 144 square miles, and is bounded north by Washington and Clarke, east by Clarke and the Ohio river, south and west by Har- rison. Silver creek divides Floyd from Clark county, and there are several other small creeks within the county. A range of hills called the "Knobs" traverses the county north and south, terminating on the Ohio near New Albany. These hills, which are from two to three miles wide, are covered with fine timber, oaks generally, but in
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some places pine. In the western parts poplar, chestnut, beech, and sugar are the prevalent growths, and in the bottoms of the Ohio and Silver creek, the timber common to such situations. The soil is very various ; little of it, however, can be classed as first-rate. Corn and grasses are the chief products, and the rearing of live stock is generally attended to. Manufactures and ship-building are carried on near the Ohio. In 1850 Floyd contained 2,448 dwellings, 2,316 families, 14,875 inhabitants, 1,428 farms, and 106 productive establishments. The New Al- bany and Salem railroad passes through the county. NEW ALBANY, situated on the Ohio, two miles below the Falls, is the county seat.
FOUNTAIN (Fontaine) county, organized 1825, contains 390 square miles, and is bounded north by Warren, east by Tippecanoe and Montgomery, south by Parke, and west by Vermilion and Warren. The principal streams are the Wabash, which washes its western and northern borders, and its tributaries, Coal creek and Shawanee creek, which, with numerous arms, spread over a great portion of the county and afford abundant water-power. The surface is mostly level, though the central and south- ern parts are occasionally undulating, and it is beauti- fully variegated with heavy forests and rich prairies. Prairie covers about one fourth part of the whole area. The soil is generally a black loam, mixed with sand, and is very productive. Clay prevails in the south, and the forests there consist of poplar, sugar, and beech. In the north oak, walnut, and hickory predominate. The ex- ports are carried off by the Wabash river and the Wabash and Erie canal; they consist of grain, flour, pork, and live stock. Coal and iron ore are abundant, and manu- factures engage considerable attention. In 1850 there were in the county 2,251 dwellings, 2,301 families, 13,253
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inhabitants, 1,357 farms, and 103 productive establish- ments. COVINGTON, on the east side of the Wabash, and on the Wabash and Erie canal, where the road from In- diana to Springfield, Illinois, crosses it, is the county seat.
FRANKLIN county, organized 1810, contains 400 square miles, and is bounded north by Fayette and Union, east by the Ohio state line, south by Dearborn and Ripley, and west by Decatur and Rush. The principal water-courses are the east and west branches of the White Water, which unite at Brookville, near the center of the county, affording immense motive-power; and besides these are Salt creek, Pipe creek, Red Cedar Grove creek, etc., which drain con- siderable sections. The northeast part of the county is generally level, the central and western parts are rolling and in many places quite hilly. The soil is good on the average; the bottoms of the White Water and its tribu- taries occupy one half the surface, and are well adapted for corn growing ; wheat succeeds best on the uplands. The timber consists chiefly of oak, sugar, beech, hickory, and black walnut. The products of the county are car- ried off by the White Water canal. In several kinds of manufactures the county has made some progress, and in milling few counties can compete with this. Many relics of a past civilization, as mounds and other con- structions of earth and stone, are found in several parts. In 1850 the county contained 3,286 dwellings and families, 17,968 inhabitants, 1,739 farms, and 121 productive es- tablishments. BROOKVILLE, situated on the forks of White Water river, is the county seat.
FULTON county, organized 1836, contains 357 square miles, and is bounded north by Marshall, east by Kosci- usko and Miami, south by Cass, and west by Pulaski. The Tippecanoe river crosses the north part of the county in a direction east and west, and this, with the creeks
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named, Mill, Mud, Owl, and Chipwannuc, afford immense water-power. A ridge of small, rugged hills extends along the north bank of the Tippecanoe through the county. With this exception, the surface is level or gently undu- lating. The northeast and east parts are covered with dense forests ; the residue is barrens and prairie, alter- nately wet and dry, with occasional groves of timber. In the barrens the soil is sandy, but generally in the timber lands black earth, rich and deep, prevails. Iron ore is abundant, and the manufacture of the article is becoming important. In 1850 the county contained 1,085 dwellings and families, 5,982 inhabitants, 777 farms, and 13 produc- tive establishments. ROCHESTER, on the south bank of Mill creek, on the Michigan road, is the county seat.
GIBSON county, organized 1813, contains 450 square miles, and is bounded north by Knox and Pike, east by Pike and Warrick, south by Warrick, Vanderburg, and Posey, and west by the state of Illinois. The Wabash river winds along its western, and White river along its northern border, while the Patoka and numerous other streams drain the interior. The surface is agreeably un- dulating; about one sixth is bottom land, and a small portion barrens; the residue is heavily timbered with walnut, sugar, beech, hickory, ash, oak, etc. The soil is generally loam and sand, and is everywhere productive. The agricultural exports are ample. The immense water- power of this county and its navigable streams have greatly developed its resources ; and the canal, when com- pleted, will be a further means of promoting its already great prosperity. In 1850 Gibson contained 1,833 dwel- lings and families, 10,771 inhabitants, 1,220 farms, and 23 productive establishments. PRINCETON, situated in the center of a fine farming country, is the county seat.
GRANT county, organized 1831, contains 416 square
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miles, and is bounded north by Wabash and Huntington, east by Wells and Blackford, south by Delaware and Madison, and west by Howard and Miami. The water- courses are the Mississinewa and its tributaries. Except along the borders of the Mississinewa, which are beauti- fully rolling, the country is quite level, and nearly all was originally covered with heavy timber. The soil is rich and well adapted for agriculture generally. It has few facilities of transportation, however ; and, in this respect, suffers in comparison with most other parts of Indiana. In 1850 Grant contained 1,884 dwellings, 1,901 families, 11,092 inhabitants, 900 farms, and 52 productive estab- lishments. MARION, on the west side of the Mississinewa, is the county seat.
GREENE county, organized 1821, contains 540 square miles, and is bounded north by Clay and Owen, east by Munroe and Lawrence, south by Martin and Daviess, and west by Sullivan. The west fork of White river divides it almost equally, and it has other streams which afford mill-power, and the former is navigable the whole extent. Eastward the surface is rather hilly, westward it is level, and on the rivers the soil is particularly rich. The bar- rens, which occupy one sixth part of the county, are sandy ; the other parts have a clay soil, which varies greatly in quality. Oak, sugar, walnut, beech, cherry, and per- simmon are the prevailing forest growths. The products are wheat, corn, pork, and tobacco, and large quantities are annually exported. Coal and iron are found in great abundance. The Wabash and Erie canal passes through the county, and, when open to Evansville, must be the means of adding much to the wealth of the county. In 1850 the county contained 2,089 dwellings, 2,094 families, 12,313 inhabitants, 1,227 farms, and 39 productive estab-
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lishments. BLOOMFIELD, situated on high ground, one mile east of White river, is the county seat.
HAMILTON county, organized 1823, contains 400 square miles, and is bounded north by Tipton, east by Madison, south by Hancock and Marion, and west by Boone and Clinton. The principal streams are the west fork of White river, and its tributaries, Cicero, Coal, Stoney, Fall creeks, etc. The surface is either level or gently undulating, the soil good, and everywhere adapted to farming operations. Along White river there are a few dry prairies, and at the heads of Cicero and Stoney creeks a number of wet ones, but they are mostly of small extent. The residue of the county is timbered land, with a good proportion of oak, poplar, walnut, sugar, hickory, and beech. The products of agriculture are ample, and the exports, consisting of wheat, flour, corn, pork, and live stock are constantly increasing. The Indianapolis and Peru railroad, recently opened, will cause a rapid de- velopment of its resources, and stimulate every kind of industry. In 1850 the county contained 2,159 dwellings, 2,161 families, 12,684 inhabitants, 1,261 farms, and 16 productive establishments. NOBLESVILLE, on the east side of the river, and an important railroad station, is the county seat.
HANCOCK county, organized 1828, contains 308 square miles, and is bounded north by Hamilton and Madison, east by Henry and Rush, south by Shelby, and west by Marion. The principal streams are Blue river, Sugar creek, and Brandywine creek, all affording excellent mill sites. The surface is generally level, but near the streams frequently becomes undulating. The soils are rich, and much of the county was originally well timbered. The staple pro- ducts are wheat, corn, and grass ; and these, with hogs cattle, and horses, form the exports. Manufactures have
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made considerable progress. The railroad from India- napolis to Richmond intersects this county, and affords convenient means of transport. In 1850 Hancock con- tained 1,685 dwellings and families, 9,698 inhabitants, 1,176 farms, and 36 productive establishments. GREEN- FIELD, in the center of the county, near Brandy wine creek, is the county seat.
HARRISON county, organized 1808, contains 478 square miles, and is bounded north by Washington, east by Floyd and the Ohio river, south by the Ohio river, and west by Ohio river and Crawford. The principal streams, besides the Ohio, which washes the coast southeast, south, and southwest, are Blue river, forming the dividing line be- tween Harrison and Crawford, and the creeks Big Indian, Little Indian, and Buck. These are all fine mill streams. The face of the country, as well as the soils, is much di- versified. The "Knobs," in the east, and the river hills present fine scenery. The bottoms, valleys, and parts of the upland are fertile, and were originally timbered, but some of the barrens have many sink holes, and in places the soil is thin. Corn, wheat, potatoes, pork, beef, etc., form the staples, and these are largely exported. Six miles west of Corydon is Wilson's Spring, 60 feet in diame- ter, and, though it has been sounded 400 feet, no bottom has been found. It rises from a solid rock, and affords sufficient water to turn a valuable flouring mill. Put- nam's cave, in the same neighborhood, has been explored for a distance of two and a half miles, and is frequently visited. The descent to the cave is some twenty feet, and it then extends off horizontally. In 1850 Harrison con- tained 2,645 dwellings and families, 15,286 inhabitants, 1,650 farms, and 19 productive establishments. CORYDON, situated on a level bottom, near the junction of Big and Little Indian creeks, is the county seat.
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HENDRICK's county, organized 1823, contains 380 square miles, and is bounded north by Boone, east by Marion, south by Morgan, and west by Putnam and Montgomery. The south side and northwest corner are undulating, otherwise the surface is level. More than half the soil is a rich loam, slightly mixed with sand, and the balance is clay, interspersed with wet prairie lands. The forests are very extensive, and consist of the most valuable timber trees. The staple products are corn and wheat ; and hogs, cattle and horses form a large moiety of the exports. The principal water-courses are White Lick, some of the upper branches of Eel river, and Mud creek, which abound in mill sites. Several woollen and other factories are in op- eration. The national road and the Indianapolis and Terre Haute railroad cross this county in a direction east and west, and are the general lines of transportation for mer- chandize from and to the county In 1850 the county contained 2,390 dwellings, 2,412 families, 14,083 inhabit- ants, 1,444 farms, and 10 productive establishments. DANVILLE is the county seat.
HENRY county, organized 1821, contains 385 square miles, and is bounded north by Delaware, east by Ran- dolph and Wayne, south by Fayette and Rush, and west by Hancock and Madison. Water-power is abundant. Blue river runs from northeast to southwest through the county, Fall creek through the north, and there are sev- eral other valuable mill streams. The face of the coun- try is undulating, but there are large tracts of level in the east. With the exception of a small extent of prairie in the north, the land was originally well timbered, but most of the farms are now well cleared and cultivated. Wheat and flour are the staple exports, and a large amount of stock is annually driven to the markets. Manufactures have made some progress, and trade generally is flourishing.
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The railroads from Indianapolis to Ohio pass directly across the county. In 1850 it contained 3,064 dwellings, 3,066 families, 17,605 inhabitants, 1,666 farms, and 124 productive establishments. NEW CASTLE is the county seat.
HOWARD county, organized 1844, contains 279 square miles, and is bounded north by Cass and Miami, east by Grant, south by Tipton and Clinton, and west by Clinton and Carroll. It contains numerous fine mill streams. The surface is level or slightly undulating, and the soil is uni- formly rich. There are a few prairies inclining to be wet, but generally the land is heavily timbered. Corn, wheat, and grass grow finely. This county lies wholly in the Miami Reserve, and is, as yet, sparsely settled. It is tra- versed by the Indianapolis and Peru railroad, which ac- commodates all its transportation. In 1850 the county con- tained 1,190 dwellings and families, 6,957 inhabitants, 746 farms, and 26 productive establishments. KOKOMO, lo- cated on the site of an Indian village of the same name, is the county seat.
HUNTINGTON county, organized 1832, contains 384 square miles, and is bounded north by Whitley, east by Allen and Wells, south by Grant, and west by Wabash The Wabash is the principal river, and there are the Sal- amonie, Little river, and numberless tributary creeks, all which are fine mill streams. The surface is generally level or slightly undulating, and the soil, clay and sand mixed, deep and very fertile. Small prairies exist, but forest land preponderates, with the usual varieties of tim- ber. Wheat, corn, beef, and pork are the great staples, and are exported to a considerable extent. The Wabash and Erie canal passes through the county. In 1850 it contained 1,356 dwellings and families, 7,850 inhabitants, 782 farms, and 32 productive establishments. HUNTING-
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DON, at the mouth of Flint creek on Little river, two miles above its entrance into the Wabash, is the county seat.
JACKSON county, organized 1815, contains 500 square miles, and is bounded north by Brown and Bartholomew, east by Jennings, south by Scott and Washington, and west by Lawrence and Monroe. The principal water- courses are the Driftwood or east fork of White river, White fork, White creek, Salt creek, and Muscackituck creek, all fine mill streams. The face of the country is for the most part either level or gently undulating, but in the north there are several ranges of "knobs." The bottoms are large and rich, composing about one fourth part of the whole surface, and the soil is generally sandy clay, but in every variety. The greater portion of the county is well timbered. The produce is large, and a con- siderable surplus is annually exported. In the northeast corner of the county, in the bed of White river, is a soli- tary boulder of granite weighing several tons. No other rock of the kind is found in the county. In the same neighborhood is a large mound, about two hundred yards in circumference at its base. In 1850 the county contain- ed 1,956 dwellings, 1,965 families, 11,047 inhabitants, 1,173 farms, and 18 productive establishments. The Ohio and Indianapolis railroad passes through it north and south, and the Cincinnati and St. Louis railroad will cut it from east to west. BROWNSTOWN, one mile southeast of east fork of White river, is the county seat.
JASPER county, organized 1837, the largest county in the state, contains 975 square miles, and is bounded north by Lake and Porter, east by Stark, Pulaski, and White, south by White and Benton, and west by the Illinois state line. The Kankakee, which traverses the whole north boundary, and which is navigable in high water, is the principal stream. In the south the country is drained by
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the Iroquois or Pickamink, Pine creek, Sugar creek, etc. Beaver lake, in the northwest part of the county, the largest sheet of water in the state, covers 16,000 acres, and abounds in excellent fish. The surface is generally level, and consists mostly of wet and dry prairie, inter- spersed with small groves of timber, usually called bar- rens or oak openings. Much of the land is very fertile, but better adapted to grazing than crops. Wheat, corn, and oats are the cereal staples. Stock is raised to a large amount. Most of the country, however, is as yet sparsely settled. In 1850 Jasper contained 592 dwellings and fam- ilies, 3,540 inhabitants, 343 farms, and 4 productive es- tablishments. RENSSELLAER, at the rapids of the Iro- quois river, at the southwest side, is the county seat.
JAY county, organized 1836, contains 378 square miles, and is bounded north by Wells and Adams, east by the Ohio state line, south by Randolph, and west by Delaware and Blackford. The county is drained by a number of fine creeks, tributaries of the Wabash. The surface is generally level, but occasionally undulating, and every- where the soil is rich and productive. The principal forest trees are oak, ash, walnut, hickory, and beech, the two latter preponderating. It is a fine grazing county, and exports largely both of animal and agricultural products. In 1850 it contained 1,179 dwellings, 1,185 families, 7,047 inhabitants, 876 farms, and 9 productive establishments. PORTLAND, on the north side of the Sal- amonie, is the county seat.
JEFFERSON county, organized 1809, contains 370 square miles, and is bounded north by Jennings and Ripley, east by Switzerland, south by the Ohio river, and southwest and west by Clark, Scott, and Jennings. It is drained by Muscackituck creek, which falls into the east fork of White river, Indian Kentucky creek, Big creek, Lewis creek,
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etc., all fine mill streams. Hart's Falls, near Hanover, and the Falls of Clifty have much grand scenery about them. Except near the Ohio, the surface is usually level. The bottoms are extensive and rich, and the soil of the hills skirting the Ohio is also excellent. On the table- land, back from the hills, there is more clay, and the in- terior is well wooded, mostly with beech. It is a fine grass county, and most part of it is not suitable for grain growing. In 1850 Jefferson contained 4,092 dwellings, 4,204 families, 23,916 inhabitants, 1,396 farms, and 138 productive establishments. MADISON, on the Ohio river, the south terminus of the railroad to Indianapolis, is the county seat. Hanover is the location of a celebrated college.
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