Timeline of Important Events in Knox County's History

11,000BC Native Americans first appear in Knox County

1,000BC The Adena Indians introduce agriculture to the area

350BC The Hopewell culture brings significant breakthroughs in Maize production

950AD Fort Ancient culture improves farming technology in the region

1771 Lord Dunmore's War -a Virginia foray against the villages at Wappotomica destroys fields of corn

1779 Federal government begins expeditions against squatters in attempts to eject them

1781 Many Ohio Indian communities destroyed by white settlers

1785 Land Ordinance passed by Congress to help settle land disputes between Native Americans and White settlers

1787 Northwest Ordinance passed by Congress to make provisions for territorial governments

1791-95 Indian Wars

1795 Indian Wars end accelerating immigration

1795 The Pickney Treaty gives Americans free navigation of the Mississippi River

1795 The Treaty of 1785 is reestablished

1796 A Federal act is passed authorizing local agents to survey land in central Ohio

1801 514 flatboats travel from Ohio to New Orleans to trade products

1808 Knox County is founded

1826 Kenyon College is founded in College Township

1835 The Welland Canal is opened up, allowing the County to become part of the "wheat belt"

1836-7 General Morrison imports Irish shorthorns to Knox County

1842 Last group of Indians departs from Ohio

1849 Midge birds destroy many wheat crops in the county

1867 Wool prices sink 60%, greatly effecting the county

1867 Grange is founded

1873 Panic of 1873

1876 Cooper engine works in Mount Vernon produces the first self-propelled engine for grain threshing

1902 4-H is founded

1919 Peak of speculative land boom

1920 Agricultural courses introduced in local high schools

1920 Gas powered machinery begins to be used

1920 Knox County Farm Bureau is founded

1920-1928 Economic recession causes many local farmers to suffer financially

1925 Increase in farm productivity, decrease in governmental support for farming

1967 Plans to build Springfield/Mount Vernon/Pittsburgh railroad

1970 Start of agribusiness

1970 Start of agricultural boom

1979 Agricultural bust

1979 Knox County names itself "no-till capital of the world"

1973 Number of farms in Knox County begins to decline drastically

1988 Drought of 1988

1995 Bypass system proposed

1995 Farm Bill is passed