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| Since John Severns first arrived with his family in 1789 and settled along the Patoka River, the rich tapestry we know today as Gibson County has been intricately woven with generations of adventurous, spirited, and determined individuals. Once a wilderness situated in the Northwest Territory, the county officially came into its own in 1813. The county derives its name from General John Gibson, a gallant soldier of the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War, who was later served as acting territorial governor of Indiana. |
| The mid-1800's saw the completion of the Wabash and Erie Canal which wound its way through the country on its way to the Ohio River. Before being made obsolete by the construction of railroads, the canal provided an important route for commerce throughtout the state. The county also helped pave the way to freedom for escaped slaves through its participation in the Underground Railroad. In 1859, two freed slaves from Tennessee settled in western Gibson County to begin the legacy of Lyles Station, the last remaining African-American settlement in Indiana. |
| In 1814, Captain William Prince won a drawing of lots among commissioners, thus earning the right as namesake for the county seat of Princeton. The city of Princeton was incorporated in 1884, the same year the Gibson County Courthouse was erected in the city square. The centerpiece of Gibson County Courthouse, built in 1877, stands today as a prime example of 19th century architecture in the Romanesque Revival style. Several noteworthy Americans have called Gibson County their home, including popcorn mogul Orville Redenbacher, Wendy's Old-Fashioned Hamburgers founder Dave Thomas, baseball legend Gil Hodges, and Mike Pegram, owner of Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, Real Quiet. |
| Other communities located in Gibson County Include: |
| Patoka, the oldest settlement in the county is named for the Indian word for "log on the bottom", referring to the many logs that had settled in the mud of the bottom of the Patoka River |
| Hazleton, the second oldest town in Gibson County is located on the south bank of the White River in northern Gibson County. |
| Haubstadt, first called Haub's Station after Henry Haub, an early settler, was legally platted in 1885 and incorporated in 1913. |
| Fort Branch, began as one of a series of forts established along the edge of the western frontier in 1811 to protect the pioneers against raids by roving Indian tribes. |
| Owensville, was named for Thomas Owens of Kentucky by Philip Brisco, who first platted the town in 1817 |
| Oakland City, is located in eastern Gibson County on land purchased in about 1827 by Col. James Cockrum, considered to be the father of Oakland City. The town was platted in 1856 and incorporated in 1885 |
| Sommerville, originally settled in 1814 and platted in 1853, this community was first known as Summittville since it was located on elevated ground. |
Francisco, settled in 1817 and platted in 1851, became a thriving trading center during the "heyday" of the Wabash |