Princeton in Gibson County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Prince Town
February 14, 1814
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 23, 2021
1. Prince Town Marker
Inscription.
Prince Town. February 14, 1814. Gibson County was formed in 1813 from the southwestern portion of the Indiana Territory. Once the wheels of county government began turning, the push to locate a county seat was imminent. The settlement of Patoka had been selected for the seat, but a malaria-like epidemic killed many residents that summer, necessitating a move to higher ground. On Valentine's Day, 1814, a court session was held at the home of Henry Hopkins to name and select a new location for the county seat. Commissioners Robert Elliott, William Prince, Abe Westfall and William Polk drew lots amongst themselves to determine in whose honor the county seat would be named. William Prince won the luck of the draw, hence the early name of Prince Town. William Prince was born in Ireland in 1772 and emigrated to America in 1794. He served in many positions in Indiana military and government, including Captain in the Battle of Tippecanoe and Gibson County's first Prosecuting Attorney in 1813. He was later elected to the Indiana Senate, as well as to the 18th Congress of the United States. After the founding of Prince Town, the Commissioners saw the need for a jail and courthouse and began to lay out the town square. A March 12th, 1814 advertisement in the Vincennes Sun announcing the sale of lots stated, "Princeton being situated about central between the mouth of the Big Pigeon [creek] and Vincennes, at a place where nearly all the public roads leading through the county will naturally concentrate, cannot fail to become a flourishing and populous town." The first county courthouse opened in 1815 and was constructed of bricks made nearby on the public square. A second courthouse was built to replace the first one in 1843 for the cost of $9,000.00. The Gibson County Courthouse we see today was built in 1884 at a cost of $188,661.00. Built in the Romanesque Revival style, it is widely recognized today for its iconic architecture and as a symbol of local government.
Gibson County was formed in 1813 from the southwestern portion of the Indiana Territory. Once the wheels of county government began turning, the push to locate a county seat was imminent. The settlement of Patoka had been selected for the seat, but a malaria-like epidemic killed many residents that summer, necessitating a move to higher ground. On Valentine's Day, 1814, a court session was held at the home of Henry Hopkins to name & select a new location for the county seat. Commissioners Robert Elliott, William Prince, Abe Westfall & William Polk drew lots amongst themselves to determine in whose honor the county seat would be named. William Prince won the luck of the draw, hence the early name of Prince Town. William Prince was born in Ireland in 1772 & emigrated to America in 1794. He served in many positions in Indiana military & government, including Captain in the Battle of Tippecanoe & Gibson County's first Prosecuting Attorney in 1813. He was later elected to the Indiana Senate, as well as to the 18th Congress of the United States. After the founding of Prince Town, the Commissioners saw the need for a jail & courthouse
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& began to lay out the town square. A March 12th, 1814 advertisement in the Vincennes Sun announcing the sale of lots stated, "Princeton being situated about central between the mouth of the Big Pigeon [creek] & Vincennes, at a place where nearly all the public roads leading through the county will naturally concentrate, cannot fail to become a flourishing & populous town." The first county courthouse opened in 1815 & was constructed of bricks made nearby on the public square. A second courthouse was built to replace the first one in 1843 for the cost of $9,000.00. The Gibson County Courthouse we see today was built in 1884 at a cost of $188,661.00. Built in the Romanesque Revival style, it is widely recognized today for its iconic architecture & as a symbol of local government.
Location. 38° 21.33′ N, 87° 34.221′ W. Marker is in Princeton, Indiana, in Gibson County. It is at the intersection of West Broadway Street (Indiana Route
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 23, 2021
2. Prince Town Marker
65) and North West Street, on the left when traveling east on West Broadway Street. Marker is located in the heritage plaza at the southeast corner of Downtown Princeton Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 West Broadway Street, Princeton IN 47670, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Indiana’s Tri-State Region, in Southern Indiana, and in the Wabash Valley. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Railroads (here, next to this marker); Agriculture (here, next to this marker); Coal Mining (here, next to this marker); Early Settlers (here, next to this marker); Industry (here, next to this marker); Lyles Station (a few steps from this marker); Native Americans (a few steps from this marker); Tri-State Tornado (a few steps
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Princeton, Indiana
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 23, 2021
4. Gibson County Courthouse
(located 1 block east of marker on West Broadway Street)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 20, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 17, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 354 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 18, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
