National Register Listings in
Wayne County, Indiana

Beechwood (Isaac Kinsey House) Bethel A.M.E. Church Birdsall, Mary, House Cambridge City Historic District Centerville Historic District Coffin, Levi, House Conklin-Montgomery House Dennis, David Worth, House Doddridge Chapel and Cemetery Dublin Friends Meeting House Earlham College Observatory East Main Street-Glen Miller Park Historic District Eliason Farm Forest Hills Country Club Fountain City Historic District Gaar, Abram, House and Farm Gaar, Oliver P. and Mary Alice, House Gennett, Henry and Alice, House Hagerstown I.O.O.F. Hall Hicksite Friends Meetinghouse (Wayne County Museum) Huddleston House Tavern, The Jones, Lewis, House King-Dennis Farm Lackey-Overbeck House Leland Hotel Morton, Oliver P., House Murray Theater Old Richmond Historic District Old Richmond Historic District (Boundary Increase and Decrease) Reeveston Place Historic District Richmond Downtown Historic District Richmond High School Richmond Railroad Station Historic District Scott, Andrew F., House Smith, Samuel G., Farm Starr Historic District Stonebraker, John & Caroline, House Wayne County Courthouse Westcott Stock Farm Witt-Champe-Myers House
The notorious bank robber John Dillinger was born in Indiana in 1903. He gained national notoriety during the Great Depression for a string of daring bank robberies and was eventually shot and killed by law enforcement in 1934.
Indiana random facts
Wayne County, Indiana, located in the eastern part of the state, has a rich history dating back to its establishment in 1811. The county was named after General Anthony Wayne, a renowned American Revolutionary War hero. The area was originally occupied by Native American tribes, including the Miami and Lenape, who were gradually displaced as European settlers arrived.

The first European settlers arrived in the early 1800s, attracted by the fertile lands and abundant natural resources. Richmond, now the county seat and largest city, was laid out in 1806 and quickly became a bustling center of commerce and industry. The construction of the Whitewater Canal in the 1840s further stimulated economic growth, facilitating transportation and trade.

During the turbulent years leading up to the American Civil War, Wayne County was a hotbed of abolitionist sentiment, with many residents actively involved in the Underground Railroad. The Levi and Catherine Coffin Home, now a National Historic Landmark, served as a safe haven for escaped slaves. Notable figures like Levi Coffin and his wife, "The President of the Underground Railroad," played significant roles in helping slaves on their journey to freedom.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Wayne County experienced industrial expansion, particularly in the manufacturing sector. The automobile industry had a significant presence, with companies like Wayne Works and Westcott Motor Car Company operating in the area. Today, Wayne County continues to thrive as a center for manufacturing, healthcare, education, and tourism, while preserving its proud history through numerous historic sites and landmarks.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Wayne County, Indiana.

  • 1796 - Wayne County established as a county in the Northwest Territory
  • 1803 - First courthouse built in Centerville, becoming county seat
  • 1811 - Native American presence in the area diminished after the Battle of Tippecanoe
  • 1814 - Pioneers began settling in the county
  • 1818 - Richmond, now the largest city in the county, founded
  • 1840s - Rapid growth and industrialization in Richmond
  • 1863 - Largely affected by the American Civil War
  • 1873 - "The Great Fire" destroys a significant portion of downtown Richmond
  • 1890s - Boom in manufacturing, specifically in the automobile and furniture industries
  • 20th Century - Continued growth and expansion of Richmond and other communities in Wayne County