History of Licking County
There is a lot of history around the creation of Licking County
Prehistory of Licking County
The Moundbuilders Indians were some of the first people to settle the area... Some of the Prehistory of Licking County
Development
Famous people involved in the creation of Licking County are William Schenck and John Sparks
Before it was settled, Licking County was home to a paradise of wild fruits, berries, trees, and big game. The county was named for the Licking River which is attributed to the salt licks near the banks of the river that brought deer and buffalo to the area, and subsequently people, following the herds. [1] Two of its earliest settlers, Elias Hughes and John Ratliff brought their families to settle in the Bowling Green region, four miles to the east of present day Newark in 1798. [2] Throughout the county, the eastern half was rough and slightly mountainous, while the western half was laid with gently rolling hills. There was a diversified wildlife which included walnut, sycamore, hickory, ash, elm and cherry trees littered throughout the county. Buffaloes were known to roam the area until it became too populated, and the last one was seen in 1803. Isaac Stadden was another early settler who came from Pennsylvania in 1800. The first trading post was also built in 1800 by Captain Samuel Elliott so he could trade with the Native Americans in the area. By 1800 there were eight families that resided in Licking County.
The city of Newark was laid out by John Burnet, John Cumming and George Burnet in 1802. They surveying and the documentation was done by William Schenck which was filed on March 18th, 1803.
Licking County Bicentennial
The bicentennial for Licking County was celebrated in 2008. Many events and activities were arranged so citizens could celebrate 200 years of history in Licking County.
