Hendricks County celebrated its 150th birthday in 1974.
The county celebrated with a Sesquicentennial festival at Danville Community High School that featured a queen contest, a program about the county’s settlers, live music, and of course, cake and punch.
Current senator and former Indianapolis Mayor Richard Lugar was the keynote speaker at the celebration. Lugar’s great-great-great-great-grandfather, Hugh Wilson, was an early Hendricks County pioneer. A Hendricks County Flyer article from 1974 said Wilson couldn’t read or write but he wove his signature into numerous coverlets, many of which were on display at the Sesquicentennial.
A program presented sketches of Hendricks County settlers from 1812 to ‘50. Some of their descendants were special guests at the ceremony.
Indiana became a state in 1816. In 1818, Jonathan Jennings, the first governor, negotiated a treaty with Indian tribes to relinquish land south of the Wabash River, including hunting grounds that would become Hendricks County.
By 1820 settlers had made their way through the thick woods here to establish communities along White Lick Creek and Eel River. They used the oak, sycamore, beech, walnut, and poplar trees that grew in abundance to build houses and the foundations for roads. Hendricks was the first county surveyed in 1819. It became official April 1, 1824. The county was named after William Hendricks, the governor at the time.
Plainfield was the first town settled. Quakers from North Carolina began arriving in 1820. By 1824 Guilford Township had more people than the other nine townships combined.
Avon was first settled in 1830 and went through a series of names (Hampton, White Lick, Smootsdell, New Philadelphia) before someone from the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad posted a sign that read “Avon” and the name stuck.
Danville came along in 1824 when four men each donated 20 acres to establish the town. A traveling judge, William Wick, came up with the name, suggesting they call the town after his brother Dan. By 1878, Danville had not only schools, churches, and county government, but a college.
Smaller communities that still dot Hendricks County followed. Belleville thrived alongside the National Road, as did Cartersburg along the Vandalia Railroad. Towns like Stilesville, Coatesville, and Lizton remain despite suffering calamities that nearly wiped them off the map.
Brownsburg was platted in 1834 and originally known as Harrisburgh. Because of its proximity to Indianapolis, it became a popular stop for travelers heading west. Many Irishmen who came to the area to help construct a railroad eventually settled here. St. Malachy, established in 1867, was the first Catholic church.
Once Indianapolis was chosen as the permanent state capital in 1824, it was a forgone conclusion that Hendricks County’s population would explode, being so close by. And so it did, surpassing 100,000 in the 1990s.
Local News
County celebrates 150th anniversary
- Local News
-
-
Facebook page nets BPD a catch
Early returns on the Brownsburg Crime Tips Facebook page are positive as one of the suspects featured has already been identified.
-
Police investigate night time murder
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to a report of a person shot at the 3100 block of N. Guilford Ave. just before 10 p.m. Wednesday.
-
Women of Influence conference to target cancer
One of life’s most ruthless opponents will be the focus of the third annual Women of Influence conference set for 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 1 at Five Star Catering at Primo West in Plainfield.
-
SWAT team ends potential hostage situation
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department SWAT team took Zachary Pipes, 18, Indianapolis, into custody Wednesday morning, putting a non-violent cap on a contentious situation.
-
Pence makes first official campaign stop in Plainfield
Mike Pence filed paperwork on Monday to officially run for governor of Indiana. Then the Republican made his first campaign stop here, at The Coachman restaurant.
-
Steuerwald leads effort to bolster human trafficking laws
Rep. Greg Steuerwald (R-Avon) co-sponsored a bill strengthening Indiana's anti-human trafficking laws that Gov. Mitch Daniels signed just in time for the Super Bowl.
-
First Lady kicks off state employee food drive
First Lady Cheri Daniels recently announced the start of the annual Hoosiers Helping Hoosiers state employee food drive. During the month of February, 60 agencies and 261 divisions throughout Indiana state government will coordinate efforts to collect non-perishable items for local food banks and pantries.
-
Shoe recycling event going on this week
The Hendricks County Solid Waste Management District says old shoes that are discarded can spend more than 200 years in a landfill before decomposing, and shoes are in great demand in third world countries.
-
Hanging with Madonna
With hundreds of millions of people throughout the world watching Super Bowl XLVI, Avon made a nice splash.
-
Pizzeria opens in North Salem
As a Tri-West High School graduate, Bob Miller knows western Hendricks County well. It's this community he's most fond of.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
