Blackford County, Indiana

777:, flowing out of Jay County (Indiana) from the east, crosses the northeast corner of Blackford County. Big and Little Lick Creek flow westward in Licking and Jackson townships in the southern half of the county. Early settlers were attracted to Lick Creek, and then the Salamonie River, because the nearby land had suitable drainage for farming. The county's lakes include Lake Blue Water in Harrison Township; Cain's Lake, Shamrock Lakes and Lake Mohee in Licking Township; and Lake Placid in Jackson Township. Lake Blue Water is a spring-fed former stone quarry located one mile (1.6 km) east of Montpelier. The Shamrock Lakes (a group of six lakes) were created between 1960 and 1965, and the first lake was originally intended to be a water supply for a farmer's cattle. 471: 823: 2562:. The county council is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all spending and revenue collection. Representatives are elected from county districts. The council members serve four-year terms and are responsible for setting salaries, the annual budget and special spending. The council also has limited authority to impose local taxes, in the form of an income and property tax that is subject to state level approval, excise taxes and service taxes. In 2010, the county budgeted approximately $ 3.95 million for the district's schools and $ 3.18 million for other county operations and services, for a total annual budget of approximately $ 7.1 million. 3759:. The school is located a few miles north of Hartford City, near the center of the county. The school was designed for 1,200 students, and initial enrollment totaled to 1,150 students, serving grades 9 through 12. Current high school enrollment is less than 650. All students in grades 7 and 8 attend Blackford Junior High School. Although the county was served by eight elementary schools during the 1980s, consolidations have decreased the number of elementary schools to three. Montpelier Elementary School serves kindergarten through grade 6. In Hartford City, Southside Elementary School serves kindergarten through grade 3; students in grades 4–6 attend Northside Elementary School. 674:, which coincided with the end of the gas boom, also contributed to the decline of the county's smaller communities. The automobile changed "business and shopping patterns at the expense of the small-town merchant". Small–town residents began to drive to larger communities to purchase goods, because of the wider selection. The improved quality of automobiles and roads competed with passenger service on the railroads (and interurban lines), causing a decline in passenger traffic on the rails. Small towns associated with railroad stations suffered from the loss in traffic. In Blackford County, passenger service on the Lake Erie and Western Railroad line (owned by the 605:

County, crude oil was found mostly in the county's Harrison Township (between Montpelier and Mollie). Blackford County's first successful oil well, located south of Montpelier, began producing in 1890. Montpelier was thought to be "the very heart of the greatest natural gas and oil field in the world". Oil was also found in parts of Washington Township, including a well that was thought to be "the most phenomenal well ever drilled in America". By 1896, Blackford County had 18 natural gas companies, headquartered in all four of the county's townships, including the communities of Hartford City, Montpelier, Roll, Dunkirk, Trenton (Priam Post Office), and Millgrove.

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but that resolution was not adopted. Two Blackford County communities, Matamoras and Montpelier, originally existed as part of Jay County. They lie along the Salamonie River in what became the northeast portion of Blackford County. John Blount founded Matamoras, arriving in 1833. This village is Blackford County's oldest community, and is the site of the county's largest water mill. The mill, constructed around 1843, was considered one of the finest in the state. Blackford County's other former Jay County community is Montpelier, west of Matamoras on the Salamonie River. Led by Abel Baldwin, the community was started in 1836 by groups of migrant settlers from

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January 1838. An "act for the formation of the county of Blackford" was approved on February 15, 1838. This act intended that the county would be "open for business" on the first Monday in April 1838, which was April 2. However, the county was not organized. Finally, on January 29, 1839, the original February 15 act was amended, stating that Blackford County shall "enjoy the rights and privileges" of an independent county. The act also appointed commissioners, and corrected a misprint that defined the southeast corner of the new county.

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varying size are located in the county. The Blackford County School System has the most employees, with locations in both Hartford City and Montpelier. 3M Company is currently the largest manufacturer in the county, and has been located in Hartford City since its purchase of the Hartford City Paper Mill in 1955. Another business employing more than 100 people is Blackford County Community Hospital, located in Hartford City. Emhart Gripco is Montpelier's leading employer, with over 100 employees.

423:. Manufacturers relocated to the area to take advantage of the low-cost energy and railroad facilities. The boom period lasted about 15 years, and is reflected in Blackford County's population, which peaked in 1900 at 17,213. The construction associated with the additional prosperity of the boom period caused a significant upgrade in the county's appearance, as wooden buildings were replaced with masonry structures. Much of the infrastructure built during that time remains today—including 130: 3646: 3594:, while summers can be warm and humid. In recent years, average temperatures in county seat Hartford City have ranged from a low of 18 °F (−8 °C) in January to a high of 84 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −26 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 103 °F (39 °C) was recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.94 inches (49 mm) in February to 4.33 inches (110 mm) in June. 690:(1955) to replace the former companies. Overhead Door was a major employer in Hartford City for over 60 years. In the 1960s, Overhead Door moved its headquarters from Hartford City to Dallas, Texas, although its Hartford City manufacturing plant continued until the 1980s as a major manufacturer, when it began reducing its local presence. It ceased the Indiana operation in 2000. The county lost another 200 jobs in 2011 when Hartford City's Key Plastics plant closed. 3896: 498:, Delaware Indians were also allowed to stay there. The Miami tribe was the most powerful group of Natives in the region, and Francois Godfroy (who was half French) was one of their chiefs. By 1839, Godfroy had sold the reserve, and the Natives had migrated west. Benjamin Reasoner was the first European–American to enter future Blackford County, and its first land owner. He entered the area on July 9, 1831. Reasoner and his sons built the county's first 585: 9976: 147: 8535: 8552: 8527: 8510: 659:

originally used for producing window glass obsolete, causing many of the county's skilled glass workers at the large American Window Glass plant to lose their jobs. By 1932, the window glass plant of the county's former largest employer was closed. According to the United States Census, Blackford County's population peaked at 17,123 in 1900, and it still has not returned to that zenith over 100 years later.

534:—running north–south through the Blackford County communities of Montpelier and Hartford City. Although construction began in the 1850s, it was not completed (by connecting Fort Wayne to Muncie) until 1870, and this delay caused it to be the second railroad to operate in Blackford County. By the time the railroad began operations, it was named Fort Wayne, Cincinnati & Louisville Railroad. The 3882:

County. There are no AM radio stations based in Blackford County, although several adjacent AM signals are available, including from Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Muncie, and Marion. Several adjacent FM radio signals are also available; there are also FM stations in Hartford City and Montpelier. Hartford City, Montpelier, and portions of the county's rural areas have internet access available.

621:. Hartford City's resources (low–cost energy, two railroads, and skilled workforce) were especially favored by glass factories, and a 1904 directory lists 10 of them. In addition to an economic transformation, another byproduct of the gas boom was an upgrade of Blackford County's appearance. Many of the county's landmark buildings were constructed during the gas boom, including the 522:

the most populous township in the county, Montpelier was the county's oldest platted community. After a third and fourth act of the Indiana General Assembly, Hartford was finalized as the location of the county seat—and construction of a courthouse began. When it was noted that another Indiana community was also named Hartford, Blackford County's Hartford was renamed Hartford City.

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also owns Blackford County's east–west line in southern Blackford county. An 8-mile (13 km) section of this line, between Converse and Hartford City, was abandoned during the last decade, and track has been removed. The line is still in service north of State Road 26, between Hartford City and Upland in Grant County. In October 2009,

400:. The first European-American pioneers were typically farmers who settled on arable land near rivers. Originally, the county was mostly swampland, but more land became available for farming as the marshes were cleared and drained. Over the next 30 years, small communities developed throughout the county. When the county's 3669:. The largest category is manufacturing, with about 19 percent of the county's workforce. In addition to local Blackford County businesses, larger local economies in the more populous counties to the south and west offer employment and commerce, particularly in the city of Muncie in Delaware County, and the city of 7278: 1363:, the median income for a household in the county was $ 34,760, and the median income for a family was $ 41,758. Males had a median income of $ 30,172 versus $ 21,386 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 16,543. About 6.0 percent of families and 8.7 percent of the population were below the 714:

According to the 2010 census, Blackford County has a total area of 165.58 square miles (428.9 km), of which 165.08 square miles (427.6 km) (or 99.70%) is land and 0.50 square miles (1.3 km) (or 0.30%) is water, making it the fourth smallest county in the state. The county is located in

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The end of the gas boom was especially difficult for the smaller communities in the county, since the loss of a single business has more of an impact on small communities. In the case of Millgrove, the community's major manufacturer (a glass factory) closed. For other communities, such as Mollie, the

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In June 1880, only 171 people held manufacturing jobs in Blackford County. The Indiana Gas Boom transformed the region, as manufacturers moved to the area to utilize the natural gas and railroad system. During 1901, Indiana state inspectors visited 21 manufacturing facilities in Blackford County, and

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The first railroad to operate in Blackford County crossed somewhat east–west through the county's southern half. The railroad was named Union and Logansport Railroad Company by the time it entered Blackford County. This line was proposed in 1862, and completed to Hartford City in 1867—running through

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Several sources list the creation year for Blackford County as 1837. However, the law was not finalized until 1838. Indiana bill of the House No. 152 was originally for the creation of a county named Windsor. The name "Windsor" was replaced with the name "Blackford" by the House of Representatives in

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The two major television markets that reach Blackford County are Indianapolis and Fort Wayne. Although a few lower-powered stations are located closer to Blackford County in cities such as Muncie, Marion, and Kokomo, these stations typically do not have a broadcast range that covers all of Blackford

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Blackford County's economy is supported by a labor force of approximately 5,900 workers with an unemployment rate for June 2013 of 9.8 percent. There are industrial parks in Montpelier and Hartford City, and both cities are served by railroad line owned by Norfolk Southern. Over 30 employers of

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The executive body of the county is a board of commissioners. They are elected county-wide, in staggered four–year terms. One commissioner serves as president. The commissioners are charged with executing the acts legislated by the council, collecting revenue and managing day-to-day functions of the

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The average household size was 2.41, and the average family size was 2.88. Families accounted for 68.1 percent of the county's 5,236 households, and 75.5 percent of these families included a husband and wife living together. Children under the age of 18 were living in 38.9 percent of the family

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These communities are sometimes listed as ghost towns, most businesses in these communities have closed. However, residences are still maintained in these communities, and they are listed as populated places by the U.S. Geological Survey. Millgrove, Roll, and Trenton all had post offices during the

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Multiple dates are designated as the time Blackford County was “created” or “founded”. February 15, 1838, is the date Blackford County was created by legislation, and this date is used by at least one source as the county’s creation date. The original legislation expected the county to be organized

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A Norfolk Southern Railway railroad line enters the county from the south after leaving Eaton; it runs about a mile to the east of State Road 3 until it reaches Hartford City where it veers to the northeast and passes through Montpelier. It continues into Wells County to the north. Norfolk Southern

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has a significant impact on the county, although farm workers account for only about 5 percent of the county's workers. In 2007, the county had 250 farms occupying 84,626 acres (34,247 ha), so four-fifths of Blackford County is farmland. Nearly 72,000 acres (29,000 ha) are devoted to

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on that day. F4 tornadoes have maximum speeds of 207 to 260 miles per hour (333 to 418 km/h), and this one crossed Blackford County farmland east of Roll. Although there were no fatalities in Blackford County from this tornado, two people were killed in neighboring Wells County. The county has

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Silas— (Washington Township) - the land was purchased in 1848, and the owner established a church and school. By 1880, a general store was established at that location, and its owner was community namesake Silas Rayl. During the first decade of the 20th century, the Silas general store closed,

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Although many workers left the area after the gas and oil bust, Montpelier's population eventually stabilized—and Hartford City's grew. Some manufacturers remained because of a lack of better alternatives. Hartford City's Sneath Glass Company, a major employer, continued operations until the 1950s.

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Biographical and historical record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana: Containing ... portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state : engravings of prominent citizens in Jay and Blackford Counties, with personal histories of many of the leading families and a concise

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in 2007. Hartford City's Public library, built in 1903, was also funded by a grant from Carnegie. The Carnegie Fund required local towns to do fundraising to match the grants, and to commit to operating the libraries after their construction. In many localities, women's groups were instrumental in

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Over the next two years, a political struggle continued to determine the location of the county seat. The tiny community of Hartford was repeatedly selected by the commissioners, but those decisions were challenged by individuals favoring Montpelier. While Licking Township (where Hartford lay) was

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The land that would become Blackford County was originally the western part of Jay County. A January 30, 1836, act of the Indiana General Assembly created Jay County, effective March 1, 1836. In December 1836, a motion was made in the Indiana House of Representatives to review dividing Jay County,

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was born August 11, 1884, in Blackford County's Licking Township. After graduating from college in Marion, Indiana, Townsend served as superintendent of Blackford County schools, superintendent of Grant County schools, and as a representative of the Blackford-Grant District in the Indiana General

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in Jay County (east of Hartford City and Millgrove). The Hartford City Gas & Oil Company was formed in early 1887, and successfully drilled a natural gas well later in the year. The Montpelier Gas & Oil Mining company was organized in 1887. While natural gas was found throughout Blackford

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The county's five public schools are administered by the Blackford County School Corporation. During the 2010–11 school year, a total of 1,943 students attended these schools. The county school system was reorganized in 1963, after a county-wide vote favored a single school system for the entire

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was 77.3 inhabitants per square mile (29.8/km), well below the average for Indiana, which was 180.8 inhabitants per square mile (69.8/km). Blackford County had 12,766 people, 5,236 households, and 3,567 families residing within its borders. The racial makeup of the county was 97.7

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county. As a result, Hartford City and Montpelier High Schools graduated their last classes in 1969, and a new high school serving the entire county was constructed in time for the 1969–1970 school year. Like the county, the new high school was named after Isaac Newton Blackford, and is called

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In terms of age distribution, 22.8 percent of the population were under the age of 18, and 21.6 percent were 62 years of age or older. The median age was 42.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.7 males.

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The Indiana Gas Boom ended during the first decade of the 20th century, reducing the county's economy. Gas and oil workers left, some manufacturers moved, and service industries were forced to cut back operations. Adding to the county's problems, machines made the labor–intensive method

3964:, and holds numerous patents. One of Johnson's more notable inventions is the first "electric operator for sectional upward-acting doors". Johnson's Overhead Door Corporation was a major employer in Blackford County for over 60 years, employing as many as 515 people during its peak years. 947:

Blackford County has over 10 communities that do not exist anymore. In some cases, a church, farm or single residence remains at the extinct community's location. Among these former communities, Bowser Station, Dorsey Station, Mollie, Silas, and Slocum all had post offices during the

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that can handle some civil cases. The judge on the court is elected to a term of four years and must be a member of the Indiana Bar Association. The judge is assisted by a constable who is elected to a four-year term. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level

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households. Non-family households accounted for 31.9 percent of total households, and 86.8 percent of them were occupied by someone living alone. People 65 years and older, living alone, accounted for 40.1 percent of non-family households—or 12.8 percent of all types of households.

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In 2010, 34 thousand acres of corn, and 42.4 thousand acres of soybeans, were planted in Blackford County. Total acreage for those two crops is 76,400. Blackford County's total area is 165.4 square miles or 105,856 acres, so over 72 percent of the county is devoted to those two

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cross the county, and an additional state road is located along the county's southeast border. The county has two railroad lines. A north–south route crosses the county, and intersects with a second railroad line that connects Hartford City with communities to the west.

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Montpelier and Hartford City both have public libraries. The Public Library of Montpelier and Harrison Township was built in 1907 and 1908. The building is known as the Montpelier Carnegie Library because it was made possible by a grant from philanthropist (and former

979:(Licking Township) - a railroad stop at the Renner Stock Farm. Housing for the farm's employees was also located there. It thrived from the 1890s until the 1920s. Renner is still listed as a populated place by the U.S. Geological Survey, but its "population" is a farm. 701:

fields. Additional crops and livestock are also raised. Good returns in agriculture are not always reflected in the economy of nearby towns, as industrial agriculture has reduced the number of workers it needs, and family farms have declined. Many small towns in the

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who administers rural fire protection and ambulance service, provides poor relief and manages cemetery care, among other duties. The trustee is assisted in these duties by a three-member township board. The trustees and board members are elected to four-year terms.

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During the next 25 years, the county grew slowly. Plans were made for roads and railroads, and swampland was drained. The first railroad line was authorized in 1849. The plan was for the Fort Wayne & Southern Railroad Company to connect the Indiana cities of

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closed during the 1950s after plastics replaced many of the company's products. The Overhead Door Company moved its headquarters to a larger city (Dallas, Texas) in 1964, and the Hartford City plant was closed in 2000 after cutbacks during the

4059:"Blount" may have also been spelled "Blunt". In Bureau of Land Management records for the area that would become Blackford County, "John Blunt" is listed as a land purchaser in 1835. (Benjamin Reasoner is listed as the first land purchaser.) 3809:

organizing and doing fundraising for the libraries, both at the time of construction and since. Another library located in Hartford City belongs to the Blackford County Historical Society, and a museum is housed in the same building.

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equipment, facilities, and personnel throughout the state. Low temperatures, high winds, and deep snow caused Hartford City to appear vacant, as schools and businesses closed. Wind gusts to 45 miles per hour (72 km/h) caused

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While OIBW already offered wireless service in Hartford City and Montpelier, the addition of antenna sites at the Blackford County Security Center and the Highway Department brings in even larger areas of Harrison and Jackson

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these companies employed 1,346 people (compare to 171 two decades earlier). Since these inspections were in Hartford City and Montpelier only, additional manufacturing employees from the county's small communities (such as

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Agriculture continues to be important to the county, and became even more important after the loss of several large manufacturers during the 20th century. As of 2010, 72 percent of Blackford County is covered by either

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and surrounding buildings in Hartford City's Courthouse Square Historic District. The city's water supply system was also built during that period. Additional buildings include the Carnegie Library, and the historic

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pursued a leasing agreement to operate the east–west line with Norfolk Southern Railway in Blackford County. However, the line currently does not appear on the Central Railroad Company of Indianapolis system map.

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Biographical memoirs of Blackford County, Ind: to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography ... embellished with portraits of many well known residents of Blackford County, Indiana

546:, and Hartford City. The small community of Crumley's Crossing was renamed Converse, and two other communities (Millgrove and Renner) became established on this line. The railroad was eventually named 3637:

5 feet (1.5 m) high, making travel almost impossible. Snowmobiles were the only viable means of transportation, and volunteers from Hartford City's Snowmobile Club provided emergency assistance.

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The Blackford County Health Department is located in Hartford City. The county's hospital is Indiana University Health Blackford Hospital, a 15-bed facility in Hartford City. It opened January 2005.

428: 3617:. Hailstones 4.5 inches (110 mm) in diameter fell in Hartford City on April 9, 2001. In a tie with the city of Cayuga, those hailstones are the largest ever recorded in the state of Indiana. 5274:

By June 1 three fourths of the window glass plants now operating by the obsolete way with human blowers will be out of blast and by July all will be idle, many never to resume by the old plan.

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The tornado steamed across farmland near Roll, and then struck Keystone with F4 strength, killing two people. It continued to the northeast and hit Linn Grove, causing two more fatalities.

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Frog Alley—This Washington Township community had a church and school. "Frog Alley" arose because of the swampy condition of the area. The school, which began in 1863, lasted until 1923.

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All five of Blackford County’s unincorporated communities are shown in UniversalMAP’s Northern Indiana road map (2009), and Indiana's digital state transportation map for 2009–2010.

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percent white, 0.4 percent black or African American, 0.2 percent Native American, 0.1 percent Asian, 0.3 percent from other races, and 1.3 percent from two or more races. Those of

6656: 3980:, in agriculture–related assignments. One memorable achievement: he directed school buses be painted yellow for safety and identification purposes, an idea that spread nationwide. 761:

in the distant past. These glaciers were responsible for the rich farmland that became available after the county was cleared and drained. During the early 20th century, the

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Clarence G. Johnson, who lived in Hartford City from 1923 until he died in 1935, was the first president of Overhead Door Corporation. He was a pioneer in the development of

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Last night even four–wheel–drive vehicles found the going rough as intense winds, sometimes gusting up to 45 mph, caused drifting snow to block highways and impede travel.

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State Road 26 also runs from west to east, entering from Upland in Grant County and crossing Hartford City at State Road 3. It continues through Trenton to Jay County.

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as fewer factories were needed because of a new window making process using machines that was much more productive than the more labor-intensive process used earlier.

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Downtown Hartford City looked like a virtual Ghost Town as blizzard conditions made it almost impossible for vehicles other than snow–mobiles to travel the highways.

4873: 970:—This community thrived in the 1890s as a railroad stop with a grain elevator, post office, and general store. The Harrison Township oil fields were located nearby. 8979: 8030: 4855: 3949:, on August 29, 1942. He graduated from Hartford City High School in 1960. From 1981 until his death in 2014 he was one of the most popular radio personalities in 8191:

Annual report of the Department of Inspection of manufacturing and mercantile establishments, laundries, bakeries, quarries, printing offices and public buildings

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recorded at least five other tornadoes. The most recent tornadoes occurred in Hartford City in 2002. However, those Hartford City tornadoes were rated F1 on the

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lived in Montpelier, Indiana, for several years and graduated from Blackford High School in 1978. He was born in Portland, Indiana, in 1960. Holding four

2609:. Each serves a four–year term and oversees a different part of county government. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare 841: 8600: 8076: 4993: 2525: 2496: 2467: 2438: 2409: 2380: 2351: 2322: 2293: 2264: 2235: 2206: 2177: 2148: 2119: 2090: 2061: 2032: 2003: 1974: 1945: 1916: 1887: 1858: 1829: 1800: 1771: 1742: 1713: 1684: 1655: 1626: 1597: 1568: 7865: 3737:

runs along the eastern border of the county for about 5 miles (8.0 km) as it goes north from Dunkirk; it terminates when it reaches State Road 26.

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March and April are considered tornado season in Indiana. Blackford County endured an F4 storm on Palm Sunday (April 11) in 1965. This storm was one of

849: 7426: 3976:, and served the single four-year term allowed by law. After his service in his home state, Townsend worked in the federal administration of President 2640: 627: 392:

Before the arrival of European-American settlers during the 1830s, the northeastern portion of the future Blackford County was briefly the site of an

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A History of Blackford County, Indiana : with historical accounts of the county, 1838–1986 histories of families who have lived in the county

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Examples of Johnson's patents are United States Patent No. 1,784,292, United States Patent No. 1,824,212, and United States Patent No. 2,026,091.

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of Blackford County and communities that either existed (yellow dot) or still exist (red dot). Community names with white backgrounds have links.

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Mileages from Blackford County to Fort Wayne and Indianapolis are based on highway miles using county seat Hartford City for Blackford County.

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Blackford County in 1887 with western portion of Jay County (east of Blackford) and northeast corner of Delaware County (south of Blackford).

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on April 2, 1838. An additional act clarified the county’s status on January 29, 1839, and the county was finally organized later that year.

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runs west–east through the north end of the county, on its way from Marion to the Ohio border; it passes through Montpelier and Matamoras.

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Map of Blackford County (with) Montpelier, Hartford City. Andreas, A. T. (Alfred Theodore), 1839–1900; Baskin, Forster and Company, 1876

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Agriculture continues to be an important factor in the county's economy. Over 70 percent of Blackford County's land is occupied by

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Blackford and Grant Counties, Indiana: A Chronicle of Their People Past and Present with Family Lineage and Personal Memoirs: Vol. I

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Hartford City's workforce became an attraction for glass companies. The city had a community of skilled glass workers from Belgium.

4096: 675: 380:, the county's population was 12,112. Based on population, the county is the 8th smallest county of the 92 in Indiana. Although no 5964:"P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Blackford County, Indiana" 847: 10042: 9036: 8593: 7958: 4266: 843: 294: 290: 7753: 5256: 1367:, including 12.3 percent of those under age 18 and 8.6 percent of those age 65 or over. In terms of ancestry, 16.7 percent were 376:. Occupying only 165.58 square miles (428.9 km), Blackford County is the fourth smallest county in Indiana. As of the 2020 7891: 7829: 6682: 839: 836: 7344: 6208: 3624:, which occurred on January 26–27, 1978. A federal state of emergency was declared for Indiana at that time. Indiana governor 8578: 8340: 8228: 8126: 8004: 7994: 7968: 7901: 7839: 7763: 7567: 7322: 6468: 6446: 6326: 4444: 3772: 827: 456: 7016: 4293: 3724:

enters the county from Delaware County on the south. It runs north through Hartford City and enters Wells County near Roll.

9069: 9026: 7046: 5268:"Human Blowers Thing of the Past – Machines Replacing Skilled Trades and Obsolete Methods of Manufacture of Window Glass". 3805: 837: 830: 8090:"Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of Indiana during the Twenty-Second Session of the General Assembly" 7119: 6908: 5062: 835: 74: 8768: 8077:"Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of Indiana during the Twenty-First Session of the General Assembly" 3629: 909: 555: 543: 4237: 614: 10037: 8996: 8944: 8586: 8468: 7808:. West Lafayette, Indiana: Joint Highway Research Project, Indiana Department of Transportation and Purdue University. 3994:

Player of the Year awards. She was the Big Ten women's golf champion in 1994, 1995 and 1996. She later competed in the

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Bowser Station—This community was a railroad stop in southern Licking Township, and had a post office during the 1870s.

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glass factory) could be added to the count of 1,346. The county's two largest employers were glass factories:

510:. They named the settlement after the capital of their previous home state. Blackford County's Montpelier was 9021: 8461: 8289:

History of Jay County, Indiana : including its World War record and incorporating the Montgomery history

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Dorsey Station—This Harrison Township community was a railroad stop, and had a post office during the 1870s.

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was discovered in two counties adjacent to Blackford County. The discoveries were in the small community of

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Population of states and counties of the United States: 1790 to 1990 from the twenty-one decennial censuses

5036: 4322: 833: 683: 6730: 719:, about 55 miles (89 km) south of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and about 78 miles (126 km) northeast of 9835: 9815: 9440: 9422: 8964: 4100: 3935: 3778: 1540: 1478: 834: 622: 49: 6657:"Central Railroad Company of Indianapolis — Lease and Operation Exemption — Norfolk Southern Railway Co" 9865: 9840: 9820: 9780: 9695: 9600: 7755:

Directory of Hartford City, Indiana, Together with a Complete Gazetteer of Blackford County Land Owners

6259: 8113:

The American counties : origins of county names, dates of creation and population data, 1950–2000

7396: 6153: 634:

and Montpelier's Carnegie Library were constructed in the early 1900s – near the end of the gas boom.

482:(a.k.a. Lenape) are the first-recorded permanent settlers in the Blackford County area, living on the 372:

are located within the county. The county is also the site of numerous unincorporated communities and

10032: 9930: 9640: 9620: 9585: 9196: 8937: 8330: 3583: 1360: 1336: 1297: 1282: 1267: 1252: 1237: 1222: 1207: 1192: 1177: 1162: 1147: 1132: 1117: 1102: 1087: 1072: 1057: 1042: 1027: 404:

lines were constructed in the 1860s and 1870s, additional communities evolved around railroad stops.

381: 6608: 6582: 6556: 6530: 9810: 9765: 9675: 9660: 9645: 9625: 9580: 9570: 9545: 9540: 9515: 9500: 9490: 9359: 9141: 9098: 8563: 7017:"Announcements and actions on properties for the National Register of Historic Places, 6 July 2007" 4104: 3715: 3580: 2617: 744: 563: 349: 6982: 5806: 826: 9885: 9860: 9805: 9795: 9755: 9665: 9655: 9630: 9605: 9575: 9530: 9525: 9505: 9495: 9485: 9465: 9349: 9274: 9176: 9151: 9064: 8991: 8735: 8692: 5449: 3927: 3923: 3919: 2555: 896: 631: 487: 8118: 7609: 7300: 6081: 5828: 3972:

Assembly. He was elected as Indiana's lieutenant governor in 1932. He won the 1936 election for

986:

Slocum (southeastern Harrison Township, exact location not known) - had a post office 1886–1902.

470: 9855: 9850: 9825: 9800: 9790: 9770: 9760: 9745: 9720: 9705: 9700: 9690: 9680: 9670: 9610: 9595: 9565: 9555: 9550: 9520: 9510: 9445: 9294: 9181: 8829: 8657: 8632: 8453: 6886: 6860: 6834: 6808: 3946: 3734: 3621: 2632: 1492: 868: 765:

Stock Farm, in Licking Township, was known statewide for its quality cattle, hogs, and horses.

678:

by that time) was discontinued in 1931, and the last interurban train ran on January 18, 1941.

610: 478:

Following thousands of years of varying cultures of indigenous peoples, the historic Miami and

462: 365: 337: 184: 35: 8608: 8260: 8166: 5087: 4728: 9880: 9875: 9870: 9830: 9785: 9750: 9735: 9730: 9710: 9685: 9590: 9560: 9535: 9475: 9460: 9455: 9435: 9430: 9407: 9387: 9115: 9051: 8864: 8519: 8497: 7774: 6011: 5115:"GREAT INDIANA OIL STRIKE.; Well in Blackford County Field Surpasses the Famous Texas Gusher" 4533: 3977: 3766: 3725: 1516: 750: 732: 720: 567: 551: 357: 6048: 4160:

A portion of Shinn's description of the Renner Stock Farm has been reproduced on a web page

663:

loss of the gas and oil workers meant that the local post office was a "waste of time", and

9959: 9908: 9845: 9775: 9740: 9725: 9715: 9650: 9635: 9480: 9470: 9377: 9334: 9314: 9224: 9209: 9161: 9081: 8949: 8836: 8773: 7938: 7928:"National Register of Historic Places Nomination: Hartford City Courthouse Square District" 7097: 5872: 4416: 4036: 3968: 3721: 3673:

in Grant County. Both counties employ more workers than their local workforce can provide.

1496: 716: 706:", such as the communities in Blackford County, continue to decline in size and affluence. 618: 377: 268: 6179: 5396: 8: 9615: 9412: 9397: 9372: 9339: 9329: 9309: 9244: 9234: 9186: 9171: 9166: 9136: 9120: 9086: 9001: 8758: 8662: 8541: 5807:"Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023" 5536: 4161: 3986:

Erika Wicoff, a native of Hartford City, is one of the most decorated female athletes in

1450: 1408: 883: 874: 738: 527: 491: 424: 8383: 7499:, "Multiple Door Construction", issued 1935–12–31, assigned to Overhead Door Corporation 6378: 6352: 4353: 3838:, which was started later in 1852, as the county's first newspaper—possibly because the 9344: 9299: 9284: 9259: 9156: 8959: 8932: 8917: 8904: 8778: 8743: 8111: 3991: 3855: 2570: 1340: 920: 915: 393: 345: 4270: 9925: 9402: 9324: 9289: 9219: 9204: 9006: 8954: 8684: 8390: 8370: 8336: 8317: 8293: 8264: 8254: 8234: 8224: 8198: 8132: 8122: 8097: 8063: 8038: 8010: 8000: 7974: 7964: 7907: 7897: 7871: 7845: 7835: 7809: 7790: 7780: 7759: 7733: 7701: 7676: 7650: 7633: 7374: 3784: 2598: 964:

Little Chicago—Located in northwest corner of Harrison Township, and in Wells County.

810: 664: 601: 550:. Other names for the railroad since that time include the Panhandle division of the 279: 258: 6686: 6631:"Norfolk Southern Railway Company — Abandonment Exemption — in Blackford County, IN" 5712:"Geographic Names Information System: Populated places in Blackford County, Indiana" 4125:

A second source says the American Window Glass plant closed in 1929 instead of 1932.

3830:, started by Dr. John Moler in 1852. Moler ran a drug store and print shop, and the 642: 600:(south of Hartford City along railroad line) in Delaware County, and in the city of 9944: 9920: 9392: 9319: 9264: 9239: 9229: 9146: 8969: 8857: 8788: 8651: 7779:. United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Population Division. 7348: 6212: 6072: 5756: 4183: 4091:

The railroad changed ownership and names more than once, and was also known as the

4032: 3973: 3797: 3706: 931: 879: 579: 479: 420: 7571: 4451: 9949: 9903: 9304: 9279: 9254: 9214: 9031: 8806: 8783: 8438: 8031:"Laws of the state of Indiana, passed at the ... session of the General Assembly" 7996:

Blackford County: Interim Report, Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory

7024: 3915: 3801: 3788: 3670: 2610: 976: 967: 774: 762: 531: 495: 483: 341: 172: 9041: 8381: 7156: 7050: 5146: 4977: 4956: 4839: 4666: 9980: 9108: 8702: 7123: 6912: 6471:. Indiana Business Research Center, Indiana University Kelly School of Business 6449:. Indiana Business Research Center, Indiana University Kelly School of Business 6329:. Indiana Business Research Center, Indiana University Kelly School of Business 5033:"Norfolk Southern Railway Company—Abandonment Exemption—in Blackford County IN" 4296:. Indiana Business Research Center, Indiana University Kelly School of Business 3590:

is Dfa. There are four distinct seasons, with winters being cold with moderate

1380: 795: 650: 597: 401: 8156:"National Register of Historic Places Nomination: Montpelier Carnegie Library" 7599:"National Register of Historic Places Nomination: Blackford County Courthouse" 7496: 7484: 7472: 7427:"Russian spacecraft with US-Russian crew blasts off to orbiting space station" 2554:

The county government is a constitutional body granted specific powers by the

992:

Winterhurst (Licking Township, at 200 South and 0.5 miles (0.80 km) East)

10026: 10008: 9995: 9913: 9367: 9249: 8748: 8238: 8136: 8101: 7911: 7637: 4241: 3950: 3911: 3658: 3625: 2575: 1372: 925: 416: 106: 93: 80: 8394: 8202: 8014: 7978: 7849: 7813: 7794: 7680: 360:. Created in 1838, Blackford County is divided into four townships, and its 9269: 9059: 8894: 8374: 8321: 8297: 8268: 8067: 8042: 7875: 7737: 7705: 7654: 4679: 3607: 2559: 1376: 1364: 397: 7670: 7520: 7508: 7144: 6769: 6754: 6432: 5793: 5781: 5740: 5669: 5657: 5621: 5584: 5508: 5496: 5367: 5352: 5285: 5189: 5101: 5019: 5004: 4944: 4827: 4815: 4712: 4514: 4475: 4008:

National Register of Historic Places listings in Blackford County, Indiana

1522:

United States presidential election results for Blackford County, Indiana

514:

in 1837 (before Matamoras), and is the county's oldest platted community.

9954: 8820:‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties 8625: 6128: 6106: 5602:"Geographic Names Information System: Lakes in Blackford County, Indiana" 3961: 3931: 3674: 3666: 2606: 593: 408: 361: 179: 7992: 7375:"Biographical Data, Kevin A. Ford (Colonel, USAF, Ret.), NASA Astronaut" 5475: 5240: 5228: 4575:

Davis, Scott (December 1, 2002). "East Central Indiana's Glass legacy".

4499: 4068:

At least three sources incorrectly say Blackford County began in 1837:

654:

Montpelier's historic Baptist Church, built during Montpelier's Oil Boom

8880: 8798: 7184: 3998:. Wicoff was inducted into the Indiana Athletics Hall of Fame in 2006. 490:. The site is located in Blackford County's Harrison Township, east of 373: 329: 8087: 8074: 7661: 6934: 6495:"2007 Census of Agriculture, County Profile, Blackford County Indiana" 5694: 4851: 4797: 4383:"DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010" 3846:

was first published in 1879, and that newspaper is the predecessor of

8431: 7533: 7452: 7206:"Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, Title 47: Telecommunication" 5978: 4215: 3691: 3662: 3634: 2602: 2594: 973:

Pleasantdale—Located in Harrison Township, at 300 North and 600 East.

854: 703: 499: 415:

in the county (and surrounding region) caused the area to undergo an

412: 275: 254: 249: 8672: 8426: 8052:"Twenty-Sixth Annual Report of the State Board of Health of Indiana" 5850: 5474:. Census Finder – A Directory of Free Census Records. Archived from 5395:. McGraw-Hill Broadcasting Company. January 28, 2011. Archived from 4070:

Biographical and historical record of Jay and Blackford Counties...,

584: 9937: 8849: 8386:

history of Jay and Blackford Counties and their cities and villages

7448: 6492: 6410:. Blackford County Economic Development Corporation. Archived from 6377:. Blackford County Economic Development Corporation. Archived from 6351:. Blackford County Economic Development Corporation. Archived from 773:

The county has some small streams, and several man-made lakes. The

167: 8416: 6176:"Köppen Climate Classification for the Conterminous United States" 494:. Although the Godfroy Reserve was allotted to Miami Native Chief 8884: 7726:

Indiana Department of Geology and Natural Resources Annual Report

7694:

Indiana Department of Geology and Natural Resources Annual Report

5895:"Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" 4031:

The American Window Glass plant closed near the beginning of the

3954: 3645: 3602: 2590: 2586: 2582: 1368: 961:

Greenland—Located in Harrison Township at 400 North and 600 East.

758: 694: 671: 507: 447:

fields; additional crops, such as wheat and hay, are also grown.

444: 333: 305: 152: 65: 8483: 8253:

Monks, Leander John; Esarey, Logan; Shockley, Ernest V. (1916).

3930:

during its August 2009 flight, and has logged over 332 hours in

3895: 8369:(1). Bloomington IN: Indiana University Department of History. 8220:

North America: the Historical Geography of a Changing Continent

7675:. Hartford City, Indiana: Blackford County Historical Society. 6956: 3714:

There are no interstate highways in Blackford County, although

3657:

Four categories account for over half the county's employment:

7867:

Characteristics of the Lake Erie & Western Railroad System

7487:, "Movable Sealing Strip for Doors", issued September 22, 1931 8049: 5213: 3679: 698: 440: 8443: 8187:"Fifth Annual Report of the Department of Inspection - 1901" 6708: 6235:"The Palm Sunday Story 11 April 1965 — Indiana and Michigan" 4639:"National Agricultural Statistics Service County Level Data" 4450:. Indiana Department of Transportation. 2011. Archived from 4415:. Indiana Department of Transportation. 2009. Archived from 3878:

and calls itself "Blackford County’s only daily newspaper".

8643: 5709: 5596: 3995: 3983: 3614: 3591: 948:

19th century. Mollie's post office lasted until 1907.

511: 369: 8432:

Hartford City/Blackford County Chamber of Commerce website

7208:. United States Government Printing Office. Archived from 7072: 5873:"Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990" 3649:

Autumn Soybean fields awaiting harvest in Blackford County

8421: 8382:

Unlisted (Biographical and historical record...) (1887).

7926:

Hamilton, Kristi; Abraham, Kent; Lankford, Susan (2005).

7568:"Hall of Fame Induction 2006 – Spotlight on Erika Wicoff" 6805:"Indiana Education Data for Blackford Junior High School" 6500:. United States Department of Agriculture. Archived from 6073:

State of Indiana Department of Local Government Finance.

5941: 5919: 4619:. CBS Interactive Business Network Resource Library. 2011 4382: 3695: 3687: 3683: 8028: 7534:"Indiana Governor Maurice Clifford Townsend (1884–1954)" 6883:"Indiana Education Data for Northside Elementary School" 6857:"Indiana Education Data for Southside Elementary School" 4869: 3834:

was mostly an advertiser. At least one source considers

2581:

The county has several other elected offices, including

1348:

or Latino origin made up 0.9 percent of the population.

7925: 7732:. Indiana Department of Geology and Natural Resources. 7700:. Indiana Department of Geology and Natural Resources. 7397:"Space shuttle Discovery launched after days of delays" 6302:"Death, power shortages, inconvenience hamper County". 4547: 757:

The terrain of Blackford County shows the influence of

687: 4439: 4437: 8056:

Annual Report of the State Board of Health of Indiana

7893:

International directory of company histories, Vol. 70

7157: