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Kentland... OUR
HISTORY |
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| Kentland
is located on the east edge of the Central Illinois prairie, just inside
the Indiana state line. Its history actually begins just before the Civil
War during a time of tremendous growth for the entire country. The railroads
had pushed westward and all along their tracks towns sprang up.
In 1860, an enterprising landowner
named Alexander J. Kent (shown below) established Kentland, and
in that same year the counties of Jasper and Newton were officially separated.
It was during that first year of existence that Kentland was designated
the Newton County Seat. |
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The original plat consisted of only 18 blocks:
Dunlap Street on the north, then Graham, Seymour, Goss and Owen Streets.
At right angles to these were cross streets designated 1 through 5.
Although the original settlers, including Alexander J. Kent, acquired
their large land holdings for the ridiculously low price of $1 .00 per
acre, only the bravest of men with great patience and working capital
could settle the swampy prairie land. Their major problem was draining
the sloughs and marshes in order to make the land productive. This required
incredible amounts of time and labor. So much, in fact, that during this
period, Mr. Kent had over half the local population on his payroll as
herdsmen and field hands.
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Early prosperity in Kentland was fostered
by the east-west running Pennsylvania Railroad and the south bound New York
Central Railroad. However, its location on some of the richest black soil
in the world made agriculture the primary industry. Corn, soybeans and small
grains were principal crops with a few wise farmers investing in cattle.
Warren McCray was one of these men. Most noted for his Hereford cattle,
he was once known as the "Hereford King." At his model farm seven
miles northeast of Kentland, his world famous Hereford cattle were bred.
In 1921 Mr. McCray went on to be elected Governor of the State of Indiana. |
Over the years Kentland
has suffered several disasterous fires. The first and probably the most
devastating for the community was in 1870. This fire originated on the upper
floor of the Kent building and spread so rapidly that within three hours
fifteen businesses were burned. Property damage was estimated at over $200,000.00
and could have been disasterous for Kentland. The result, however, was a
courageous rebuilding effort which changed the town's appearance from typically
frontier to one of updated substantial structures.. |
The current business district
is an attractive and contemporary shopping area reflecting the continued
progress and growth the town has made over the years.
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| Kentland is still known for its execeptional
farmland and has agriculture as its prime industry. However, new businesses
and industries are growing in the area. Presently there are three privately
owned industrial parks: Ross Industrial Park in the north; Ross Industrial
Park in the east, and Batton Industrial Park in the west. |
Kentland has been fortunate however, never to have lost its many small town
attributes. You'll still find country quiet and tree-lined streets providing
a pleasant place to live and an environment which can be enjoyed by all.
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