Greene County was formed in 1821, from unincorporated territory and from a portion of the previous Sullivan County. It was named for General Nathanael Greene, who commanded the southern theater in the American Revolutionary War, which eventually forced the British army under Charles Cornwallis to retreat to Yorktown. Nathanael Greene (August 7 [O.S. July 27] 1742 – June 19, 1786 emerged from the war with a reputation as General George Washington‘s most gifted and dependable officer.
Canals of Greene County
Wabash & Erie Canal
The Wabash & Erie Canal through Greene County is composed of the Central and Cross-Cut Canals that were originally planned to pass through the county and meet at Point Commerce.
Central Canal
The Central Canal was a planned canal from Evansville Indiana to Peru Indiana via Indianapolis. Portions of this canal were started and completed before the economic crisis of the late 1830s.
The Wabash & Erie Canal was constructed on the planned route of the Central Canal from Point Commerce (Worthington) south to the Daviess County Line to Evansville.
Cross-Cut Canal
The Cross-Cut Canal was a planned canal from Terre Haute Indiana to Point Commerce (Worthington) Indiana and it was to connect the Wabash & Erie Canal to the Central Canal. The canal would traverse a high ridge between the two towns requiring a series of locks and reservoirs to be constructed to support such a waterway. The canal was started in the mid 1830s, and work was abandoned at the time of the economic crisis in the late 1830s.
The Wabash & Erie Canal was constructed on the planned route of the Cross-Cut Canal from Point Commerce (Worthington) north to the Owen County Line.
Other Historical Maps
The following tabs correspond to articles written from past Canal Society of Indiana publications and the county you are viewing. Click on the link to read the associated article.
(2017 – Present)
The Tumble is the Canal Society of Indiana’s (CSI) current publication. The Tumble was the first publication of CSI to be completely internet based starting in 2017.
(2002-2016)
The Hoosier Packet was the official Canal Society of Indiana’s publication from 2002 through 2016.
(1986-2002)
The Newsletter began being published in 1986 and was a companion publication of the Canal Society of Indiana’s (CSI) that ran concurrent with Indiana Canals publication. The Newsletter was initially printed with information about CSI. In the mid 990s Newsletter took on a new format and absorbed Indiana Canals into this one publication which became the primary publication of the Canal Society of Indiana until 2002.
(1989 – 2002)
Indiana Canals began being published in 1986 and was a companion publication of the Canal Society of Indiana’s (CSI) that ran concurrent with Newsletter publication. Indiana Canals was initially printed with information about the how the canals function, mechanical features of old and what was still remaining. In the mid 990s Indiana Canals publication was absorbed into the Newsletter which became the prime publication of the Canal Society of Indiana.
Volume IV (1992/93)
(1981 – 1986)
Indiana Waterways was the first publication of the Canal Society of Indiana. The first edition was published in 1981 several months before the establishment of the Canal Society of Indiana and became the source of information about the development of CSI and information to the members until the creation of Indiana Canals and the Newsletter in 1986.