Editing Blackford County, Indiana (section)

===Gas boom===
{{See also|Indiana Gas Boom}}
[[Image:Blackford and Jay.jpg|thumb|alt=Old map from the 1880s with drawings|right|350px|Blackford County in 1887 with western portion of Jay County (east of Blackford) and northeast corner of Delaware County (south of Blackford).]]In 1886, [[natural gas]] was discovered in two counties adjacent to Blackford County. The discoveries were in the small community of [[Eaton, Indiana|Eaton]] (south of Hartford City along railroad line) in Delaware County, and in the city of [[Portland, Indiana|Portland]] in Jay County (east of Hartford City and Millgrove).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indiana's Natural Gas Boom |url=http://sites.google.com/site/petroleumhistoryresources/Home/indiana-s-natural-gas-boom |access-date=July 1, 2011 |publisher=The American Oil & Gas Historical Society}}</ref> The Hartford City Gas & Oil Company was formed in early 1887, and successfully drilled a natural gas well later in the year. The Montpelier Gas & Oil Mining company was organized in 1887.<ref name="AHistOilGas" /> While natural gas was found throughout Blackford County, crude oil was found mostly in the county's Harrison Township (between Montpelier and Mollie). Blackford County's first successful oil well, located south of Montpelier, began producing in 1890.<ref>{{harvnb|Blatchley|1897|pp=[https://archive.org/details/annualreport87unkngoog/page/n89 <!-- quote=Blackford This county comprises but 165 square miles. --> 71–72]}}</ref> Montpelier was thought to be "the very heart of the greatest natural gas and oil field in the world".<ref name="AHist90" /> Oil was also found in parts of Washington Township, including a well that was thought to be "the most phenomenal well ever drilled in America".<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 12, 1901 |title=GREAT INDIANA OIL STRIKE.; Well in Blackford County Field Surpasses the Famous Texas Gusher |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1901/02/12/archives/great-indiana-oil-strike-well-in-the-blackford-county-field.html |work=The New York Times |page=1 Special ed}}</ref> By 1896, Blackford County had 18 natural gas companies, headquartered in all four of the county's townships, including the communities of Hartford City, Montpelier, Roll, Dunkirk, Trenton (Priam Post Office), and Millgrove.<ref>{{harvnb|Blatchley|1896|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=R6O5af24rYUC&dq=Natural+Gas+Blackford+Trenton+Millgrove&pg=PA405 405]}}</ref>

In June 1880, only 171 people held manufacturing jobs in Blackford County.<ref>{{harvnb|Unlisted (Biographical and historical record...)|1887|p=761}}</ref> The Indiana Gas Boom transformed the region, as manufacturers moved to the area to utilize the natural gas and railroad system. During 1901, Indiana state inspectors visited 21 manufacturing facilities in Blackford County, and these companies employed 1,346 people (compare to 171 two decades earlier).<ref name="DofI">{{harvnb|McAbee|1902|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=p6kXAAAAYAAJ&dq=American+Window+Sneath+Willman&pg=RA2-PA18 57] & 91}}</ref> Since these inspections were in Hartford City and Montpelier only, additional manufacturing employees from the county's small communities (such as [[Millgrove, Indiana#History|Millgrove's]] glass factory) could be added to the count of 1,346. The county's two largest employers were glass factories: [[Hartford City Glass Company#Plant number 3|American Window Glass plant number 3]] and [[Sneath Glass Company]].<ref name="DofI" /> Hartford City's resources (low–cost energy, two railroads, and skilled workforce) were especially favored by glass factories, and a 1904 directory lists 10 of them.<ref>{{harvnb|Dale|1902|pp=120–121}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Hartford City's workforce became an attraction for glass companies. The city had a community of skilled glass workers from Belgium.<ref>{{harvnb|Blackford County Historical Society (Ind.)|1986|p=48}}</ref>|group=Note}}
In addition to an economic transformation, another byproduct of the gas boom was an upgrade of Blackford County's appearance. Many of the county's landmark buildings were constructed during the gas boom, including the [[Blackford County Courthouse|current courthouse]] and surrounding buildings in Hartford City's Courthouse Square Historic District.<ref name="NRHP-HD" /><ref>{{harvnb|Beetem|1980|p=1 section 7}}</ref> The city's water supply system was also built during that period.<ref>{{harvnb|Indiana State Board of Health|1907|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=-1JNAAAAMAAJ&dq=Indiana+State+Board+Health+1907+Blackford&pg=PA96 250]}}</ref> Additional buildings include the Carnegie Library, and the historic [[First Presbyterian Church (Hartford City, Indiana)|Presbyterian Church]].<ref>{{harvnb|Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana|2005|pp=59–63}}</ref> Many of Montpelier's Downtown Historic District structures were built during the gas boom. Montpelier's historic [[Montpelier, Indiana#Culture|Baptist Church]] and Montpelier's Carnegie Library were constructed in the early 1900s – near the end of the gas boom.<ref>{{harvnb|Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana|2005|pp=42–45}}</ref>