Trenton, Indiana - History

History

Trenton is located in Jackson Township in Blackford County. Jackson Township's population was only 154 in 1840, as there was no rail connection and the land suffered from poor drainage. Trenton was platted on January 20, 1845, by Robert H. Laning, Ezekiel Laning, Basel Anderson and William Cortright. Cortright was the landowner.

When Blackford County's railroads were constructed in the late 1860s, Trenton was unfortunately bypassed — as the nearest rail line was four miles south of the small town. During the 1880s, the community was boosted by the Indiana Gas Boom, and the community had two gas companies of its own. Eventually, the community had as many as 25 residences. In addition to its post office, the village also had a tannery, blacksmith shops, saw and tile mills, and its own physicians. It also had two churches, two general stores, and a drug store. The Trenton school was constructed in the 1870s, and its last version closed in 1964.

The Gas Boom gradually ended during the beginning of the 20th century, and many small communities never recovered. Improvements to the automobile and highways, which coincided with the end of the Gas Boom, may have also contributed to the decline of the county's smaller communities as consumers became willing to travel to larger cities.