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
E-Mail The Family Farm Project