Editing Clark County, Indiana (section)

==History==
Clark County lies on the north bank of the [[Ohio River]]. A significant gateway to the state of [[Indiana]], Clark County's settlement began in 1783. The state of [[Virginia]] rewarded General [[George Rogers Clark]] and his regiment for their [[Illinois campaign|victorious capture]] of Forts Kaskaskia, Cahokia, and Vincennes from the British, by granting them {{convert|150000|acre|km2}} of land. A small portion of this land, {{convert|1000|acre|km2}}, became known as [[Clarksville, Indiana|Clarksville]], the first authorized American settlement in the [[Northwest Territory]], founded the next year in 1784.<ref name="CC">[http://www.genealogyinc.com/indiana/clark-county/ Clark County Genealogical Records ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080121144205/http://www.genealogyinc.com/indiana/clark-county/ |date=January 21, 2008 }} Retrieved January 21, 2008</ref>

Clark County was formed on February 3, 1801, with territory annexed from [[Knox County, Indiana|Knox]], the first county formed in the Territory in 1790. This original area in Clark County was subsequently altered and reduced with the formation of other counties: Harrison (1808), Franklin, Jefferson, and Wayne (1811), Switzerland and Washington (1814), Jackson and Ripley (1816), Jennings (1817), Crawford and Randolph (1818), Fayette and Floyd (1819), Scott (1820), Union (1821), Decatur and Rush (1822).<ref>AniMap County Boundary Historical Atlas. (Gold Bug Software, Alamo, CA)</ref>

The first county seat was established in [[Springville, Clark County, Indiana|Springville]], on April 7, 1801.<ref name=CC/> Jeffersonville was platted in 1802, and on June 9 the Territorial Governor ([[William Henry Harrison]]) ordered that it be regarded as the county seat. However, on December 14, 1810, the seat designation was given to Charlestown, which retained the designation until 1873, when on September 23 the Jefforsonville mayor ([[Luther Warder]]) successfully campaigned for the county seat's return.

Clark County was a hotbed for antislavery sentiment during the territorial period. In 1807, citizens petitioned Congress to uphold the legal prohibition of slavery established in the Northwest Ordinance in response to efforts by Harrison and his supporters to have the prohibition repealed. Many settlers were Quakers who had migrated from North Carolina to escape the oppressive conditions of the slave states and did not want to see slavery be established in Indiana.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Salafia |first=Matthew |title=Slavery's Borderland: Freedom and Bondage Along the Ohio River |publisher=University of Pennsylvania |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-8122-4521-9 |location=Philadelphia |pages=97–98}}</ref>

From its beginning Clark County's history, culture and growth have been linked to the development of the river. Early nineteenth-century steamboats transported goods to the upper Ohio, providing opportunities for commercial and industrial growth in the county. In 1832, [[James Howard (shipbuilder)|James Howard]] founded the [[Howard Steamboat Museum|Howard shipyards]] making Clark County a leader in shipbuilding.<ref name="CCH">[http://www.co.clark.in.us/history.html Clark County Government – History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090608184847/http://www.co.clark.in.us/history.html |date=June 8, 2009 }} March 19, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2013</ref>

The railroad brought further economic growth. The [[Monon Railroad|Monon line]] spanned from New Albany to Chicago, and the [[Jeffersonville, Madison and Indianapolis Railroad|Jeffersonville, Madison, and Indianapolis Railroad]] provided Clark County and southern Indiana with access to the northern trading centers of Indianapolis and Chicago.

Industries locating to Clark County during the nineteenth century included the [[Louisville Cement Company]] in [[Speed, Indiana]] and the Ford Plate Glass Company established in Jeffersonville in 1876.

During the 1920s, Clark County attracted the [[Colgate-Palmolive Company]] to the Clarksville Riverfront. Colgate purchased the former [[Indiana Reformatory building]] in 1923. The company rehabilitated and adapted the building for its dedication in 1924. It stayed in business until early 2008.<ref name=CCH/>

During [[World War II]] the county prospered. The federal government began the Indiana Arsenal near [[Charlestown, Indiana|Charlestown]] in 1940.<ref name=CCH/> Producing smokeless powder for the war effort, the arsenal employed up to 20,000. Howard shipyards was commissioned by the Navy to produce landing craft. Later Howard shipyards reorganized as Jeffersonville Boat and Machine Company ([[Jeffboat]]) — a current major employer (1991).<ref name=CCH/>

When the war ended, the county experienced significant residential and commercial growth, aided by the [[Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956|1956 Interstate Act]]. The improved access provided by [[Interstate 65]] encouraged additional subdivisions and shopping centers.

[[File:View of Louisville from Clarksville.jpg|thumb|left|View of Louisville from Clarksville]]
Clark County history has been closely associated with the development of the [[Ohio River]]. From its beginnings, Clark County relied on the river for economic opportunities. Clark County has diversified its economic base, lessened its dependency on the river, and continues to develop in new directions. However, the county still looks to the river as one link to its significant pioneer heritage.