indicate the level to which a name has been verified.Type Political Subdivision & Settlement
Usage American (Midwest)
Meaning & History
Adams County, Indiana was officially established on March 1, 1836, named in honor of John Quincy Adams, the sixth President of the United States. The county was formed from land previously unorganized between Allen and Randolph counties.
The county seat, Decatur, was chosen after Samuel Rugg offered incentives, including $3,100, land for churches, a public square, a seminary, and a cemetery. The first settlers arrived in 1835, primarily New England Yankees, followed by Swiss Amish immigrants in 1840, who maintained their Bernese German dialect rather than adopting Pennsylvania Dutch.
Adams County has a rich history tied to early pioneer settlements, agriculture, and Amish heritage. It remains a significant part of northeastern Indiana, sharing its eastern border with Ohio.
The county seat, Decatur, was chosen after Samuel Rugg offered incentives, including $3,100, land for churches, a public square, a seminary, and a cemetery. The first settlers arrived in 1835, primarily New England Yankees, followed by Swiss Amish immigrants in 1840, who maintained their Bernese German dialect rather than adopting Pennsylvania Dutch.
Adams County has a rich history tied to early pioneer settlements, agriculture, and Amish heritage. It remains a significant part of northeastern Indiana, sharing its eastern border with Ohio.