Total Population:

220,486

Total Households:

89,457

Government Structure:

Mayor
City Council

Major Employers:

 

Fort Wayne Community Schools
Lincoln Financial

Brief Early History:
Early written history of the Fort Wayne area goes back to the 17th Century when the Miami Indians and the French Traders resided in the area.  In the late 1700's George Washington declared war on the Indian tribes in the area.  Those tribes were eventually defeated through the leadership of General "Mad" Anthony Wayne.  The first American fort was built as a stockade in 1794 under the leadership of Captain John Hamtramck.  The fort, located south of the point where the St. Mary's, St. Joseph, and Maumee Rivers converge, was named Fort Wayne in honor of General Anthony Wayne.  From 1794 until 1819, the area functioned primarily as an American military post and as a trading outpost for the Miami Indians and the French, British and American traders.  Indian Agents also resided in the area as government representatives and administrators of various treaties.  In April 1819, Fort Wayne was abandoned by the military and the area was later surveyed for future land sales.  In 1820, the first post office was opened.  On May 8, 1822, President Monroe authorized the sale of lands around the old Fort.  The first tract of property was sold on September 12, 1824 to John T. Barr and John McCorkle who laid out the first plat, referred to as "The Original Plat".  Fort Wayne was incorporated as a town in 1829 and as a city in 1840.  In 1843, after the opening of the Wabash and Erie Canal, Fort Wayne flourished due to its location at the highest point on the canal.  This is also how Fort Wayne attained the nicknamed of the "Summit City".  As with many towns and cities in the area, the building of the Pennsylvania and Wabash railroads in the in 1854 and 1855 further enhanced Fort Wayne's growth and development. 

Source for Demographics:  U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000

Sources for History:
B.J. Griswold and Mrs. Samuel R. Taylor, History of Fort Wayne and Allen County. Vol. 1. Robert O. Law Company, Chicago: 1917

Glass, Wendell C., The towns of Allen County 1967     Allen County Comprehensive Plan Vol. 6

 

 



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