Prior to 1795 the area to become Randolph County was wilderness and swamp lands.  Native Peoples lived here and traveled through this area.

Mound Builders, Delaware, Miami were among those who were here.  A very few white men lived in the area as squatters, living off the land and amongst the tribal villages.

In 1789 the area that covers Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota was named the Northwest Territory.

In 1795, the treaty of Greenville opened the land east of this red line to settlers (this map is from 1880).

Squatters did live beyond the Boundary Line, some lived with the local Native People and raised families.

This map is derived from a map published in the book “1882 History of Randolph County, Indiana by E. Tucker with our compliments.