41 topographic sheets cover 25 settlements here, and 16 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.
16 National Register listings published here · the county-history sources tell 2 stories and name 3 people · people the book names include By H. 0. Fellow (Harrison Township, 1883) · By H. C. Fellow (Howard Township, 1883) (machine-read).
Sources: the county history on the Internet Archive · the National Register database, National Park Service
Among them: Murder Trials; Soil And Drainage. These passages come from the identified county-history source books. Each inset names its own source and opens the exact section it comes from.
The first murder trial on record in the county was the killing of Mr. Hornbeck by Henry Moon, in about 1852. The men were cousins, and became involved in a dispute regarding a few cattle. It seems that Hornbeck went into a field to thrash Moon, but the latter stabbed the former with a pocket-knife, inflicting a mortal wound.
SOIL AND DRAINAGE. For a number of years after the first settlement of the township, great difficulty was experienceil in farming the soil, on account of its wet nature ; but as time passed, large ditches were dug through the country, by means of which the surface water was carried off, and much valuable land reclaimed.
Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.
| Photograph | Property | Type | Listed | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douglass School | building | 2022 | 100007443 | |
| Greentown Commercial Historic District | district | 2018 | 100002862 | |
 | Elwood Haynes House | building | 1984 | 84001054 |
 | Howard Masonic Temple | building | 2018 | 100003182 |
 | Hy-Red Gasoline Station | building | 1983 | 83000035 |
 | Kokomo City Building | building | 1981 | 81000014 |
 | Kokomo County Club Golf Course | site | 2006 | 06000854 |
 | Kokomo Courthouse Square Historic District | district | 2008 | 08001209 |
 | Kokomo High School and Memorial Gymnasium | building | 2005 | 05000607 |
 | Lake Erie and Western Depot Historic District | district | 2008 | 08000917 |
 | Learner Building | building | 1984 | 84001055 |
 | Old Silk Stocking Historic District | district | 2008 | 08001210 |
| Russiaville Interurban Depot | building | 2022 | 100007734 | |
 | Seiberling Mansion | building | 1971 | 71000006 |
 | Henry W. Smith House | building | 1979 | 79000019 |
 | George and Helen Tate House | building | 2018 | 100002182 |
The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 310 reports for this county, causing 18 deaths, 615 injuries and about $297,674,450 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.
| Kind of event | Reports |
|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 179 |
| Hail | 77 |
| Tornado | 27 |
| Flash Flood | 16 |
| Flood | 7 |
| Lightning | 3 |
| Heavy Rain | 1 |
The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 1965 | Tornado (F4) | not stated | 17 killed, 560 hurt, $250,000,000 | no account filed |
| March 1961 | Tornado (F3) | not stated | 1 killed, 3 hurt, $250,000 | no account filed |
| August 2016 | Tornado (EF3) | Kokomo Ruzicka Arpt | 20 hurt, $10,000,000 | This EF-3 tornado, with maximum wind speeds of 152 mph, caused significant structural damage to homes and businesses across the south side of Kokomo. A Starbucks building was destroyed near Markland Mall. According to WTHR13, at least 80 homes were destroyed. Out of the 1,000 total homes damaged, about 170 of them sustained major damage. Much of the Park Place Apartments were damaged or destroyed. Numerous trees were downed as well. |
| June 1998 | Tornado (F3) | Greentown | 8 hurt, $5,000,000 | no account filed |
| July 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kokomo | 6 hurt, $60,000 | no account filed |
| June 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | not stated | 6 hurt | no account filed |
| November 2013 | Tornado (EF2) | Kokomo | 5 hurt, $75,000 | At 1529EST, this small EF-2 tornado damaged several well built homes in the vicinity of East Ricketts Street in Kokomo. The tornado then crossed East Hoffer Street, damaging a UAW building before lifting at 1530EST. |
| May 1955 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | 3 hurt, $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| April 2004 | Tornado (F1) | Kokomo | 1 hurt, $3,000,000 | A third in a string of tornadoes associated with an isolated low-topped supercell touched down in Kokomo. The tornado was rated an F1 and severely damaged a skating rink and trucking company. There was also damage to 3 other homes and 1 minor injury reported. |
| March 2023 | Tornado (EF1) | Hemlock | 1 hurt, $900,000 | This was the third tornado (and only EF1) to impact Howard County. The tornado began in a rural field south of a homestead with two barns, home, and mobile home. One small barn was completely destroyed along with the mobile home which caused a serious injury. The home and larger barn had lesser damage. This tornado continued to the northeast, damaging the trees, homes and barns of several homesteads, with maximum winds of 110 mph. The tornado continued into a larger neighborhood near US Highway 35 where it caused mainly roof and tree damage to tree rows. |
| June 1976 | Tornado (F0) | not stated | 1 hurt, $250,000 | no account filed |
| July 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Greentown | 1 hurt, $15,000 | Numerous tents were blown over at the Howard County Fairgrounds, including on well staked tent, due to an estimated 50 mph thunderstorm wind gust. Injuries are bruises and cuts on a worker who was inside a tent as it fell. |
| July 2003 | Flash Flood | Countywide | $18,000,000 | no account filed |
| April 1974 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| June 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kokomo | $2,000,000 | no account filed |
| April 2004 | Tornado (F0) | Kokomo | $500,000 | The second in a series of tornadoes associated with an isolated low-topped supercell touched down in rural Howard county 8 miles southwest of Kokomo. The tornado was rated an F0 and destroyed a barn and overturned a grain bin in its brief lifetime. |
| November 2013 | Tornado (EF2) | Russiaville | $300,000 | At 1513EST, the EF-2 tornado touched down in Michigantown. This EF-2 tornado caused damage to a hog farm and several properties northeast of Michigantown, with additional damage found to the east of Rossville. At 1519EST, the tornado crossed into southwest Howard County. The tornado was at its strongest as it crossed through the southeast side of Kokomo, causing extensive property damage. A BMO Bank was destroyed with significant damage to several fast food restaurants along South Washington Street. The tornado lifted 2 miles north of Greentown at 1536EST. |
| July 1977 | Tornado | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| July 1951 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| July 2017 | Flash Flood | Kokomo | $200,000 | Areas of Street flooding occurred throughout much of the county. FOX59 reported that there were Lots of drain backups, lots of sub pumps being overwhelmed, just groundwater thats got into buildings. There have been multiple actual ground water intrusions on main levels of homes, not even in basements. ||On the Ivy Tech Community College campus in Kokomo, one of the campus five main buildings had between six and eight inches of water throughout the hallways and classrooms and the college had to cancel classes Tuesday and Wednesday.||The flooding also closed at least 20 roads throughout Howard County. Several of the roads were main arteries.|||Some additional flooding was noted. There was the at least partial, if not full washout over Indiana 218, just south of East County Road 575 North, over Tolen Ditch. Water was rapidly flowing out of fields along County Road 700 North in Carroll County. |
| June 2025 | Flash Flood | Alto | $150,000 | Flash flooding occurring at multiple points near Wildcat Creek on the southwest side of Kokomo. Several pictures showed standing water up to 3 feet deep near residences along the south side of Kokomo. Total rainfall was as high as 6 inches. |
| March 2023 | Tornado (EF0) | West Middleton Arpt | $150,000 | This second of three tornadoes in Howard County (and the county's second EF0), tracked briefly between Russiaville and Indian Heights. Damage occurred to an out building before a playground set was thrown to the northeast, with trees near the area pointing to the east-southeast. Further damage occurred east of County Road 350 West to an attached garage and small barns: wood splinters were driven into siding, a car was moved and turned 45 degrees, and a large piece of plywood was stuck between remaining branches of tree, all from winds as great as 80 mph. |
| March 2023 | Tornado (EF0) | Russiaville | $150,000 | This first of the three squall line tornadoes to impact Howard County touched down in a field with a few trees. The tornado impacted a home causing tree and barn damage, with maximum winds of 80 mph. One tree top was pulled back towards the home to the southwest. The tornado then quickly lifted in a farm field nearby. |
| May 2017 | Flash Flood | Indian Hgts | $100,000 | Due to thunderstorm heavy rainfall, a report of multiple accidents and cars stuck in flood waters came in via Kokomo 911 scanner. Multiple road were deemed impassible. ||Indiana Heights in Southern Kokomo was reportedly completely flooded in some areas, especially in the area between Chippewa Lane and Tomahawk Boulevard. The flooding was reported to be to the point that it was over the sidewalks, into some of the yards water was just below the mailboxes at a lot of places.||Indiana 26 was closed down for about two hours between Park Road and Indiana 931 because of flooding.||Tow trucks were sent to an area on East Boulevard Street and the plaza near the Indiana 931 and Boulevard Street intersection, where cars needed to be pulled from high waters. There was also standing water in the Chrysler parking lot. |
| October 2010 | Tornado (EF0) | Vermont | $80,000 | A brief tornado touchdown was confirmed about two and a half miles east of downtown Kokomo near County Roads 300 East and 50 North. One home had significant damage and six other structures had minor roof or fence damage. Numerous trees were also reported down. This tornado has been rated an EF0 (wind speeds between 65 and 85 mph). |
| July 1996 | Tornado (F1) | Kokomo | $65,000 | no account filed |
| July 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Russiaville | $60,000 | Thunderstorm winds uprooted or snapped numerous trees in Howard County, including several trees snapped in Russiaville, while powerlines were downed towards southwest portions of the county. Winds also broke smaller tree limbs and blew off shingles in Kokomo. |
| August 2016 | Tornado (EF1) | Kappa Corner | $50,000 | This EF-1 tornado, with maximum wind speeds of 110 mph, caused several barns to sustain partial wall and roof damage. One garage slid off its foundation. Tree damage throughout the path. The path moved into northwest Howard County from eastern Carroll County. |
| June 2008 | Lightning | Oakford | $50,000 | Officials believe a lightning strike is to blame for a fire which did an estimated $50,000 damage to a south-side Kokomo residence on Springmill Drive. The resident stated lightning hit his attic and when he checked it it was full of smoke. Crews stayed on scene for almost three hours. The house was left in uninhabitable condition. |
| November 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Countywide | $50,000 | Widespread wind damage occurred in Howard County, including damage to some buildings and billboards. Power was out in the western half of the county. |
| June 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kokomo | $50,000 | Trees blown down onto garage with vehicles inside. |
| October 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | not stated | $50,000 | The sun room addition of a house had its roof blown off. Damage was estimated at $8,000. |
| March 2024 | Hail | Jerome | $50,000 | no account filed |
| May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kokomo | $35,000 | An estimated 60 mph thunderstorm wind gust was observed in this location. There were multiple reports of trees and power lines down across Kokomo and Howard County due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. Some trees were down on vehicles. |
| June 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Russiaville | $30,000 | Fifteen utility poles were downed across the road due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. |
| March 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kokomo | $25,000 | A tree fell on a residence along Ohio Street and a tree fell onto a car on Park Street. This damage was caused by thunderstorm winds. |
| March 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Russiaville | $25,000 | Continuation from extreme northeastern Clinton County, thunderstorm straight line winds blew off the short end of a large metal barn, and downed large pine tree branches at County Road 600 South at 800 West. |
| June 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kappa Corner | $25,000 | A hog barn had half of it's roof blown off by thunderstorm wind gusts. |
| May 2019 | Flash Flood | Kokomo | $25,000 | Water was reported to be flowing over the road at Courtland and Kokomo due to heavy thunderstorm rainfall. A car was stuck in a viaduct on Sycamore Street downtown. |
| April 1987 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| March 1961 | Tornado (F3) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| August 2016 | Tornado (EF1) | Russiaville | $20,000 | This EF-1 tornado, with maximum wind speeds of 97 mph, largely tracked over open country. One garage was damaged. Trees and crops sustained damage throughout the path. |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kokomo | $20,000 | no account filed |
| August 2016 | Tornado (EF0) | Alto | $15,500 | This EF-0 tornado, with maximum wind speeds of 80 mph, bent a road sign, damaged a billboard, and damaged trees. |
| September 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Indian Hgts | $15,000 | Thunderstorm winds peeled back segment of older rubber cover on southern end of Taylor Elementary School's roof. |
| June 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cassville | $15,000 | A tree of unknown size was downed on a house due to thunderstorm wind gusts. |
| July 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kokomo | $13,000 | A tree fell on a vehicle due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. No injuries were reported. A few other trees were downed in the area, with one tree down on a power line. |
| February 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Vermont | $10,000 | A billboard was uprooted and then blown over 1500 feet by thunderstorm wind gusts. |
| May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kappa Corner | $10,000 | An 18 inch diameter and 40 foot fall healthy tree was snapped by thunderstorm wind gusts. Several other reports of damage across the county. |
| April 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kokomo Ruzicka Arpt | $10,000 | Thunderstorm winds caused roof and wall damage to a large metal shed and nearby building. |
| May 2019 | Flash Flood | Kokomo | $10,000 | County dispatch reported that they had closed numerous streets due to standing water from heavy thunderstorm wind gusts. At 10:00pm, there were at least 6 roads with water flowing over them. |
| May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kokomo | $10,000 | Several trees were downed in Kokomo due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. |
| April 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Greentown | $10,000 | Numerous trees were downed across Greentown due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. |
| April 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sycamore | $10,000 | An old barn was blown into a road due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. |
| August 2016 | Tornado (EF0) | Indian Hgts | $10,000 | This EF-0 tornado, with maximum wind speeds of 80 mph, touched down on the north side of Indian Heights, damaging homes and trees. |
| June 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kokomo | $10,000 | Trees and power lines were reported down in Kokomo due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. |
| July 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kokomo | $10,000 | no account filed |
| August 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Greentown | $9,500 | Two trees, one blocking the road, were reported down due to damaging thunderstorm wind gusts. Roofing was also blown off a barn. |
| March 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | West Middleton | $9,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed large tree branches at County Road 580 West at 460 South. Winds also ripped off a barn's metal roofing while the remaining structure was left in tact, on County Road 400 West at 315 South. |
| August 2016 | Tornado (EF0) | Sycamore | $8,000 | An EF-0 tornado, with maximum winds estimated at 80 mph, snapped several tree branches, partially peeled tin roof off of a shed, and blew out a window in a barn and a house. |
The Survey's mineral resources record lists 7 workings inside this county. 5 still produce and 2 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.
| Commodity | Workings |
|---|---|
| Sand and Gravel, Construction | 3 |
| Zinc | 1 |
| Sulfur | 1 |
| Stone | 1 |
| Fire Clay (Refractory) | 1 |
| Stone, Crushed/Broken | 1 |
The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Standard Plant | Fire Clay (Refractory) | Producer | ||
| Howard Co. Hwy. Dept. | Stone | Producer | ||
| Sphalerite Occurrence Z77 | Zinc, Sulfur | Occurrence | Sphalerite | |
| Yeoman Stone Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Fred Goodier Gravel Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Kokomo Sand & Gravel | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Kyle Gravel Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer |
History of Howard County, Indiana devotes a chapter to each township: its boundaries and streams, who settled it and when, the mills, the schools and the churches. All 9 are reproduced here in full. Each row shows the township's own shape and where it lies in the county, drawn from the Census Bureau's boundary. Which settlements belong to which township is computed from that same boundary, not taken from the book.
| Shape and position in the county | Township | Settlements in it | Length | Sections |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ervin Township | Judson, Kappa Corner, Poplar Grove, Ridgeway | 21,199 words | 28 | |
| Harrison Township | Alto, West Middleton | 7,363 words | 7 | |
| Honey Creek Township | Russiaville | 15,037 words | 17 | |
| Howard Township | Cassville, Vermont | 11,525 words | 12 | |
| Jackson Township | Sycamore | 11,162 words | 9 | |
| Liberty Township | Greentown, Guy, Plevna | 72,258 words | 9 | |
| Monroe Township | New London, Shanghai | 4,756 words | 7 | |
| Taylor Township | Center, Hemlock, Indian Heights, Oakford | 10,014 words | 15 | |
| Union Township | Jerome, Phlox, West Liberty | 18,486 words | 7 |
2 books written about this county, cut here where the book itself is cut, at its printed chapters: 2 chapters in all. Every chapter is public domain, machine-read from the scan and reproduced complete. A chapter already given under one of the county's towns is not repeated in this list.
| Chapter | Length |
|---|---|
| The whole text | 136,791 words in 9 parts |
| Chapter | Length |
|---|---|
| The whole text | 164,965 words in 11 parts |
Everyone History of Howard County, Indiana stops to write about, with the section that describes them. Among them are the men who founded the place and governed the Territory. Each name opens the passage itself, in the words of 1909.
Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.
Harrison township · 46902 · On East Fork Little Wildcat Creek · Kokomo West quadrangle
11 sheets, 1953 to 1992
Monroe township · 46979 · On West Honey Creek · Russiaville quadrangle
10 sheets, 1953 to 1984
Honey Creek township · 46979 · On Squirrel Creek · Russiaville quadrangle
10 sheets, 1953 to 1984
Center township · 46901 · On Shambaugh Run · Kokomo West quadrangle
11 sheets, 1953 to 1992
Harrison township · 46979 · On Lynn Run · Kokomo West quadrangle
11 sheets, 1953 to 1992
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