
WELCOME TO
CLARK COUNTY
INDIANA
History and Genealogy
This site is available for adoption. Interested?
Read our Volunteer
Information
then email Kim
Clark
County is located
directly across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky.
The county seat is Jeffersonville. Clarksville is also a major city in
the county.
Finding Information In Clark County Indiana
Jeffersonville
Township Public
Library
211 East Court Avenue
Jeffersonville, IN 47131-1548
Phone: (812) 282-7765 |
(For Birth and Death
Records
from 1882)
Clark County Health Department
1320 Duncan Avenue
Jeffersonville, IN 47130 Phone: (812) 284-6609. |
Indiana State
Library.
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana
46204-2296 |
(For Marriage and
Divorce
Records)
Clark County Circuit Court - City, County Building
501 East Court Avenue,Jeffersonville, IN 47130
Phone: (812) 285-6244,
Marriage Records: (812) 280-5637 |
| |
|
|
Townships
Bethlehem -- Carr -- Charlestown -- Jeffersonville -- Monroe -- Oregon
-- Owen
Silver Creek -- Union -- Utica -- Washington -- Wood
|
Clark
County Indiana
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 victorious capture of Forts
Kaskaskia, Cahokia, and Vincennes from the British by granting them
150,000 acres of land. A small portion of this land, 1000 acres, became
known as Clarksville. Clarksville, the first authorized American
settlement in Northwest Territory, was founded the following year in
1784.
Organized in 1801,
Clark County
originally included all or part of Floyd, Clark, Harrison, Washington,
Scott, Jennings, Jackson, Ripley, Decatur, Bartholemew, Franklin,
Shelby, Rush, Fayette, Union, Randolph, Henry, Wayne, Jay, and
Switzerland Counties. The platting of Jeffersonville occurred a year
later.
From its beginning
Clark County s
history, culture and growth has been linked to the development of the
river. The use of the steamboat in the early 1800 s to transport goods
and services provided Clark County opportunities for commercial and
industrial growth. In 1832, James Howard founded the Howard shipyards
making Clark County a leader in ship building and bringing with it
economic growth.
The railroad brought further economic
growth. Two
railroad lines, the Monon, which spanned from New Albany to Chicago and
the 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 1800 s included the Louisville Cement Company in
Speed, Indiana and the Ford Plate Glass Company established in
Jeffersonville in 1876.
On September 23, 1878 the county seat
returned to
Jeffersonville from Charlestown, after an absence of 66 years.
Adjacent counties
Scott County
Jefferson County
Floyd County
Washington County
Oldam
County,KY
Jefferson
County,KY
Trimble
County,KY
Return To Indiana
Trails Main
Index
©2006 Genealogy Trails
|
|