Indiana’s “Gore” is a triangle of land in Southeastern Indiana. It is bordered to the east by the Ohio-Indiana State Line, to the west by the Greenville Treaty Line, and to the south by the Ohio River. The current counties of Switzerland, Ohio, Dearborn, Franklin, Union and Wayne in Indiana were part of Indiana’s “Gore”.
Map of Indiana’s Gore
The “Gore” is the only portion of present day Indiana that remained a part of the Northwest Territory when Indiana Territory was formed. Cincinnati attempted to keep the “Gore” and become the capital of a state comprised of the “Gore” and the Western half of present day Ohio. Congress denied Cincinnati’s request and gave the “Gore” to Indiana Territory after the Northwest Territory became the state of Ohio.
Boundary Changes
- 12 Dec 1778 – Illinois County, Virginia
- 1 Mar 1784 – Virginia deed land to the United States
- 13 July 1787 – Ordinance of 1787 established the Northwest Territory
- 20 Jun 1790 – Knox County, Northwest Territory formed
- 22 June 1798 – Hamilton County, Northwest Territory extended westward to the Greenville Treaty line
- 1803 – Indiana’s “Gore” temporarily attached to Clark County, Indiana Territory
- Mar 1803 – Dearborn County, Indiana Territory formed. Dearborn County formed by boundaries of Indiana’s “Gore”
Learn More: