The Evolution of Kokomo, IN

This article is presented by the child abuse lawyers in Kokomo. Following along with us in our journey of learning about the city of Kokomo, among many others.

History of Kokomo

Kokomo is a city in and the county seat of Howard County, Indiana. As the principal city of the Kokomo, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area, it is the 15th largest city in the state. It is said the area was named after one of the four sons of Chief Richardville of the Miami people, who was called Ma-Ko-Ko-Mo, or Chief Kokomo. David Foster, the "Father of Kokomo," stated that he named the town after the "orneriest Indian on Earth."

In 1840, the village of Kokomo was located on the south side of Wildcat Creek. It was the home of Foster's trading post, where he engaged in legal trade and illegal sale of alcohol to the Miami people. In 1844, the commissioners of Richardville County asked for a land donation from Foster to establish a county seat. Instead of giving them fertile land south of Wildcat Creek, he donated 40 acres of forested and swampy land north of the creek. In 1845, a log courthouse was constructed. On October 1, 1855, the town of Kokomo was incorporated. Ten years later, it became the city of Kokomo.

The city flourished as new businesses and railways moved into the area. In 1888, as a result of the Indiana Gas Boom, the Kokomo Opalescent Glass Works began making stain glass in the city. It has been in operation since. The gas boom also brought many industrial and technical achievements to the city. Known as the "City of Firsts," it was where:

• Elwood Haynes made the first successful trial run of his horseless carriage, discovered the first Stellite cobalt-base alloy and invented stainless steel tableware
• D.C. Spraker created the first pneumatic rubber tire
• William "Billy" Johnson developed the first aluminum casting
• George Kingston developed Kingston carburetor
• The Superior Machin Rool Company created the Howitzer shell
• The Liberty Pressed Metal Company created the first aerial bomb with fins
• John Powell created the mechanical corn picker
• William Swern Sr. created the first tire-building machine for the mass production of auto tires
• Walter Kemp created the first canned tomato juice
• The Delco Radio Division of General Motors Corp. created the first push-button car radio, signal-seeking car radio, transistorized signal-seeking car (hybrid) radio, and all-transistor car radio
• Globe American Stove Company manufactured Kokomo Kids, the first all-metal boats and rafts in the U.S. Navy

As of 2019, Kokomo has a population of 58,145 people and a total area of 18.559 square miles. Between 1950 and 2015, it has been struck by 18 tornados. 

Continue reading a Synopsis of Anderson, Indiana.

Elwood Haynes Museum

Elwood Haynes was an inventor in Kokomo. He was credited with being the first person to produce cars commercially in 1894. When he became a millionaire in 1916, he proceeded to build a mansion on South Webster Street. Designed by R.L. Young, the mansion sits on 2.1-acre of property and is of the Prairie School architectural style. After being owned by General Motors for a period of time, the property was bought back by Bernice Haynes Hill, Elwood Haynes' daughter, in 1965. She donated it to the city to serve as a museum.

Today, the Elwood Haynes Museum displays many of Hayne's original inventions, features exhibits of his life, and houses over 15,000 documents and photographs from his personal and business correspondence. On September 21, 1984, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).

Seiberling Mansion

The Seiberling Mansion was built in 1889 of the Tudor Revival, Romanesque Revival, and New-Jacobean (Queen Anne) architectural styles. Designed by architects Arthur Labelle and Ike V. Smith, it was the home of the founder of the Diamond Plate Glass Company, Monroe Seiberling. On December 16, 1971, the historic home was added to the NRHP. Today, it is the main museum of the Howard County Historical Museum.

Our Local Office

If you or someone you love have been suffering from the trauma of abuse as a child, you may still be eligible to take legal action against your offender. Contact our Kokomo child molestation attorneys to discuss the detail of your potential claim. Our legal case reviews are free of charge and completely confidential.