indicate the level to which a name has been verified.Type Political Subdivision & Settlement
Usage American (Midwest)
Meaning & History
"Fort Wayne", Indiana, gets its name from General Anthony Wayne, a Revolutionary War hero who built a fort at the site in 1794 after defeating Native forces at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. The location was strategically chosen at the confluence of the St. Marys, St. Joseph, and Maumee Rivers, a spot long inhabited by the Miami people, who called it Kekionga—their principal village.
Before Wayne’s arrival, the French had established Fort Miami there in the early 1700s, and the British later took control. But it was Wayne’s fort that marked the beginning of sustained American settlement, and the name “Fort Wayne” stuck.
The city grew rapidly in the 19th century, especially with the construction of the Wabash and Erie Canal, which earned it the nickname “Summit City” because it was the highest point along the canal route. This made Fort Wayne a key hub for trade and immigration, particularly among German and Irish settlers.
Before Wayne’s arrival, the French had established Fort Miami there in the early 1700s, and the British later took control. But it was Wayne’s fort that marked the beginning of sustained American settlement, and the name “Fort Wayne” stuck.
The city grew rapidly in the 19th century, especially with the construction of the Wabash and Erie Canal, which earned it the nickname “Summit City” because it was the highest point along the canal route. This made Fort Wayne a key hub for trade and immigration, particularly among German and Irish settlers.