Trenton, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Trenton is an unincorporated American town in Jackson Township
, Blackford County
, Indiana
. Nearly all of the community's businesses have been closed for many years. Although the Blackford County Historical Society lists this community as a ghost town
, home
s are still maintained in the area, and it is still listed as a populated place by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Trenton is located east of Hartford City, Indiana
, on Indiana State Road 26
. Platted in 1845, it is one of the older communities in Blackford County. The community had its own Post Office from 1856 until 1907. Because there was another Trenton in Randolph County, Indiana
, during the 19th century, Blackford County’s Trenton Post Office used the name Priam. Therefore, many older maps show the community as "Priam" instead of Trenton.
Trenton participated in the Indiana Gas Boom
, and had two of Blackford County's many gas companies (Marion Creek Natural Gas Company and Trenton Natural Gas Company) that existed during the 1890s. The Gas Boom gradually ended during the beginning of the 20th century, and many small communities never recovered. During the next few decades, the quality of automobiles and roads improved — indirectly contributing to the decline of many small communities as consumers drove to larger cities.
ed on January 20, 1845, by Robert H. Laning, Ezekiel Laning, Basel Anderson and William Cortright. Cortright was the landowner.
When Blackford County's railroads were constructed in the late 1860s, Trenton was unfortunately bypassed — as the nearest rail line was four miles south of the small town. During the 1880s, the community was boosted by the Indiana Gas Boom, and the community had two gas companies of its own. Eventually, the community had as many as 25 residences. In addition to its post office, the village also had a tannery, blacksmith shops, saw and tile mills, and its own physicians. It also had two churches, two general stores, and a drug store. The Trenton school was constructed in the 1870s, and its last version closed in 1964.
The Gas Boom gradually ended during the beginning of the 20th century, and many small communities never recovered. Improvements to the automobile and highway
s, which coincided with the end of the Gas Boom, may have also contributed to the decline of the county's smaller communities as consumers became willing to travel to larger cities.
portion of Blackford County, Indiana
, Trenton is situated on Indiana State Road 26. The community is located 60 miles (96.6 km) south of Fort Wayne, Indiana
, and 80 miles (128.7 km) northeast of Indianapolis
. Trenton is part of East Central Indiana
and Northern Indiana
. Future Northern Indiana
, including what became Jackson Township and Trenton, was flattened by two glacier
s millions of years ago. These glaciers are also responsible for the rich Blackford County farmland, which includes the land surrounding Trenton.
humid continental
seasonal climate. There are four distinct seasons, with winters being cold with moderate snow
fall, while summers can be warm and humid. In recent years, average temperatures in nearby county seat Hartford City have ranged from a low of 18 °F (-7.8 °C) in January to a high of 84 °F (28.9 °C) in July, although a record low of -26 °F was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 103 °F (39.4 °C) was recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.94 inches (4.9 cm) in February to 4.33 inches (11 cm) in June. The biggest snow storm in recent memory was the Great Blizzard of 1978
, which occurred on January 26–27, 1978. A federal state of emergency was declared for Indiana at that time.
Jackson Township, Blackford County, Indiana
Jackson Township is one of four townships in Blackford County, Indiana. At the 2000 census, its population was 1,424. The township was named after Andrew Jackson, hero of the Battle of New Orleans and the seventh President of the United States.-Geography:...
, Blackford County
Blackford County, Indiana
Blackford County is located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of Indiana. The county is named for Judge Isaac Blackford, who was the first speaker of the Indiana General Assembly and a long-time chief justice of the Indiana Supreme Court. Created in 1838, Blackford County is divided...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. Nearly all of the community's businesses have been closed for many years. Although the Blackford County Historical Society lists this community as a ghost town
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
, home
Home
A home is a place of residence or refuge. When it refers to a building, it is usually a place in which an individual or a family can rest and store personal property. Most modern-day households contain sanitary facilities and a means of preparing food. Animals have their own homes as well, either...
s are still maintained in the area, and it is still listed as a populated place by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Trenton is located east of Hartford City, Indiana
Hartford City, Indiana
Hartford City is a city in the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Blackford County. Located in the northeast central portion of the state, the small farming community experienced a 15-year “boom” beginning in the late 1880s...
, on Indiana State Road 26
Indiana State Road 26
State Road 26 is an east–west road in central Indiana in the United States that crosses the entire state from east to west, covering a distance of about .-Route description:...
. Platted in 1845, it is one of the older communities in Blackford County. The community had its own Post Office from 1856 until 1907. Because there was another Trenton in Randolph County, Indiana
Randolph County, Indiana
Randolph County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 26,171. The county seat is Winchester.-History:...
, during the 19th century, Blackford County’s Trenton Post Office used the name Priam. Therefore, many older maps show the community as "Priam" instead of Trenton.
Trenton participated in the Indiana Gas Boom
Indiana Gas Boom
The Indiana Gas Boom was a period of active drilling and production of natural gas in the Trenton Gas Field, in the US state of Indiana and the adjacent northwest part of Ohio The boom began in the early 1880s and lasted into the early twentieth century....
, and had two of Blackford County's many gas companies (Marion Creek Natural Gas Company and Trenton Natural Gas Company) that existed during the 1890s. The Gas Boom gradually ended during the beginning of the 20th century, and many small communities never recovered. During the next few decades, the quality of automobiles and roads improved — indirectly contributing to the decline of many small communities as consumers drove to larger cities.
History
Trenton is located in Jackson Township in Blackford County. Jackson Township's population was only 154 in 1840, as there was no rail connection and the land suffered from poor drainage. Trenton was plattPlatt
Platt may refer to:Places* Platt, Florida, an unincorporated community in DeSoto County, Florida, United States* Platt, Austria* Platt, Kent, EnglandPeople* Platt * Platt Baronets, two baronetcies of the United KingdomOther uses...
ed on January 20, 1845, by Robert H. Laning, Ezekiel Laning, Basel Anderson and William Cortright. Cortright was the landowner.
When Blackford County's railroads were constructed in the late 1860s, Trenton was unfortunately bypassed — as the nearest rail line was four miles south of the small town. During the 1880s, the community was boosted by the Indiana Gas Boom, and the community had two gas companies of its own. Eventually, the community had as many as 25 residences. In addition to its post office, the village also had a tannery, blacksmith shops, saw and tile mills, and its own physicians. It also had two churches, two general stores, and a drug store. The Trenton school was constructed in the 1870s, and its last version closed in 1964.
The Gas Boom gradually ended during the beginning of the 20th century, and many small communities never recovered. Improvements to the automobile and highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
s, which coincided with the end of the Gas Boom, may have also contributed to the decline of the county's smaller communities as consumers became willing to travel to larger cities.
Geography
Located in the Jackson TownshipJackson Township, Blackford County, Indiana
Jackson Township is one of four townships in Blackford County, Indiana. At the 2000 census, its population was 1,424. The township was named after Andrew Jackson, hero of the Battle of New Orleans and the seventh President of the United States.-Geography:...
portion of Blackford County, Indiana
Blackford County, Indiana
Blackford County is located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of Indiana. The county is named for Judge Isaac Blackford, who was the first speaker of the Indiana General Assembly and a long-time chief justice of the Indiana Supreme Court. Created in 1838, Blackford County is divided...
, Trenton is situated on Indiana State Road 26. The community is located 60 miles (96.6 km) south of Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
, and 80 miles (128.7 km) northeast of Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. Trenton is part of East Central Indiana
East Central Indiana
East Central Indiana is a region in Indiana east of Indianapolis, Indiana, and borders the Ohio state line.- Counties :*Blackford*Delaware*Hancock*Henry*Jay*Madison*Randolph*Wayne- County seats :*Anderson, Indiana-Madison...
and Northern Indiana
Northern Indiana
Northern Indiana is the region of Indiana including 26 counties bordering parts of Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio. The area is generally sub-classified into other regions. The northwest is economically and culturally intertwined with Chicago, and is considered part of the Chicago metropolitan area...
. Future Northern Indiana
Northern Indiana
Northern Indiana is the region of Indiana including 26 counties bordering parts of Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio. The area is generally sub-classified into other regions. The northwest is economically and culturally intertwined with Chicago, and is considered part of the Chicago metropolitan area...
, including what became Jackson Township and Trenton, was flattened by two glacier
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
s millions of years ago. These glaciers are also responsible for the rich Blackford County farmland, which includes the land surrounding Trenton.
Climate and weather
Trenton has a typical MidwesternMidwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
humid continental
Humid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters....
seasonal climate. There are four distinct seasons, with winters being cold with moderate snow
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
fall, while summers can be warm and humid. In recent years, average temperatures in nearby county seat Hartford City have ranged from a low of 18 °F (-7.8 °C) in January to a high of 84 °F (28.9 °C) in July, although a record low of -26 °F was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 103 °F (39.4 °C) was recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.94 inches (4.9 cm) in February to 4.33 inches (11 cm) in June. The biggest snow storm in recent memory was the Great Blizzard of 1978
Great Blizzard of 1978
The Great Blizzard of 1978 was a historic blizzard which struck the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes from January 25–27, 1978. The 28.28 inches barometric pressure measurement recorded in Cleveland, Ohio was the lowest non-tropical atmospheric pressure ever recorded in the mainland United States...
, which occurred on January 26–27, 1978. A federal state of emergency was declared for Indiana at that time.
Nearby cities
- DunkirkDunkirk, Indiana-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,646 people, 1,093 households, and 746 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,351.4 people per square mile . There were 1,214 housing units at an average density of 1,078.8 per square mile...
(about 7 highway miles southeast) - Hartford CityHartford City, IndianaHartford City is a city in the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Blackford County. Located in the northeast central portion of the state, the small farming community experienced a 15-year “boom” beginning in the late 1880s...
(about 7 highway miles west) - EatonEaton, IndianaEaton is a town in Union Township, Delaware County, Indiana, along the Mississinewa River. The population was 1,805 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Muncie, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
(about 16 highway miles southwest) - PortlandPortland, Indiana-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 6,437 people, 2,739 households, and 1,750 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,566.8 people per square mile . There were 2,928 housing units at an average density of 712.7 per square mile...
(about 15 highway miles west) - UplandUpland, IndianaUpland is a town in Jefferson Township, Grant County, Indiana, United States. The population was 3,845 at the 2010 census. It is most notable for being the home of Taylor University, a Christian college with 1,920 students, as of 2011.-History:...
(about 15 highway miles west)