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Indiana Bicentennial Celebration 2016

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Explore County Bicentennial Activities > Ohio County Ohio County

Ohio County

Q&A with Ohio County Bicentennial Coordinators Deedee Brown and Cliff Thies

What do you consider the key accomplishment(s) of your county's Bicentennial celebration?

  • One of our greatest accomplishments was the rekindling of community pride.  Everyone that was nominated was chosen as torchbearers.  Given that Ohio County is the smallest county in the state we were able to make the event and even more memorable for the torch bearers.  Being a small and close knit community, we knew what was important to each of the torchbearers.  We designed the route around their individual community achievements and family history.  For example, the HUSTON family (one of the first families in Ohio County circa 1790s) was represented by the descendants with their leg of the relay passing past the area on the Ohio River where their ancestors landed in a flatboat. We made the event personal and meaningful to not only the torchbearer but for the community as a whole.

What Legacy Project do you most like to tell people about, and why?

  • Engraved boulders (2) were installed at the oldest cemeteries in Rising Sun (Union & Cedar Hedge).  The boulders were engraved with the name of each cemetery and date of founding.  The city installed an outstanding Bicentennial walk on the riverfront of Rising Sun, which contains not only pavers with family names but also large granite slabs that tell the history of Indiana and Rising Sun's 200th birthday in May of 2014.  The Ohio County Historical Society created an Indiana history project that documented the formation od the state of Indiana.

Describe a highlight or most memorable moment related to your county's Bicentennial celebration.

  • After the relay we held a massive celebration at the Ohio County Historical Society to celebrate the state's 200th birthday.  Everyone enjoyed a brief presentation and a hot dog cookout.  We had approximately 350 in attendance.

How/where are you preserving information and artifacts related to your county's celebration?

  • All the artifacts are being archived at the Ohio County Historical Society & Museum located at 212 S. Walnut Street, Rising Sun, IN.  The Museum is putting together a permanent display to honor the bicentennial of the state.

Do you have a website and/or social media presence?

  • www.facebook.com/OhioCountyHistoricalMuseum

Total number of volunteers who participated.

  • 8

Estimated total attendance.

  • Approximately 800 cheered on the torchbearers.

Estimated dollar amount raised.

  • 0! Everything was donated.

Ohio County Legacy Projects

Photos from Ohio County Bicentennial Events / Activities

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Ohio County Facts

Ohio County was officially established in 1844 and was one of the last Indiana counties to be created. It borders the state of Kentucky across the Ohio River for which it was named. It is part of the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky metropolitan area. It is the smallest county in the state in terms of both area and population.

About the courthouse: It was completed in 1845.

The Ohio County courthouse is still in use and is the oldest continuously used courthouse in the state.

The courthouse was built in the county seat of Rising Sun in 1845. It is a two-story Greek Revival brick building measuring about 60 feet (18 m) by 40 feet (12 m), including the portico supported by Doric pillars.

County Seat: Rising Sun
Year Organized: 1844
Square Miles: 86.14

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