Huntington County to celebrate America’s 250th

The signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 marked the formal founding of the United States. The 250th anniversary or Semiquincentennial of this historic event is being celebrated throughout the United States and Huntington in 2026.

National planning for the 250th anniversary began in 2016 when Congress created the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission. In December 2019, the Commission along with its nonprofit partner the America 250 Foundation published their vision for the commemoration. It began on Flag Day, June 14 of 2025 and will continue through 2026. The peak of the commemoration will occur July 4, 2026.

Huntington, in accordance with the national plan, has a 2026 committee, organized by Huntington County Historian Barbara Rupley and the City of Huntington. This committee includes the DAR, Chamber of Commerce, Visitor’s Bureau, Huntington Main Street, volunteers and representatives from other Huntington County communities. It is planning special events for Huntington County, and a commemorative logo has been designed, as shown at right, for Huntington.

The county, township and city are named for Samuel Huntington, a patriot and congressman from Connecticut living in the era leading to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. He was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and also presided over the Continental Congress for eight years. He is believed to be the first defacto president of the United States in Congress Assembled when the original Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union were ratified. George Washington became the first President of the United States in 1789.

Elias Murray, a nephew of Huntington, served in the War of 1812 in Tennessee. After the war he moved his family north to Dallas Township (Andrews, Indiana) and became a neighbor of Artemus Woodworth. Woodworth had set up a station to trade furs at Silver Creek along the Wabash River, and is considered to be the area’s first permanent white settler. The area was originally called “Flint Springs” for the rich deposits of flint found near the Forks of the Wabash that Native Americans used for their tools and weapons.

Murray and brothers Champion and Joel Helvey, land agents of General John Tipton, purchased the original government-owned 171.19 acres October 12, 1830 for the future site of Huntington. Murray took an active part in local political affairs and laid out the city, naming it Huntington, after his uncle when the county was formed in 1834. It is thought that Huntington is the only place in the United States where city, township and county all bear the same name.

The U.S. Constitution was signed July 4, 1776, and the 250th committee meeting in Huntington plans to continue commemorating this special year with Constitution Day on September 17. The Huntington County Historical Society and DAR will provide information about the 250th commemoration at their booths at the Pioneer Festival, September 27 and 28. A New Year’s Eve Eve family friendly party is being planned in the Courthouse Rotunda. More information will follow about this event. Essay contests, trivia contests and more will be forthcoming.

Follow the Facebook page: Celebrating America’s 250th here for continuing information about the events and celebrations in Huntington County. Celebratory buntings are available for $10 at the Huntington County History and Education Center, 315 Court Street. Hours are Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays by appointment.

For information about the 250th anniversary in Indiana see the website: in.gov/usa250/ and for the nation, america250.org.