Fishers Community History
Fishers, Indiana, formerly known as
Fishers Station and originally as Fishers Switch, came into being in June of 1872 when Salathiel Fisher divided his land into Town lots. In those days it was common for new communities to spring up along railroads and Fishers was no exception, hence the early reference to a train station or 'switch'. The railroad quite naturally drew residents and businesses to the area, the first of which was a gristmill and sawmill located approximately where the Nickel Plate restaurant is today.
Fishers is located in Delaware and Fall Creek Townships in southeastern Hamilton County. Most of the early history of Hamilton County centers on Delaware Township, which was acquired from the Indians when Indiana became a state in 1816. Hamilton County was initially divided into only two Townships, White River in the north and Delaware in the south. Federal guidelines were set up for the orderly sale of acquired Indian Territory and the first land rush began. At the time of the purchase, William Conner was the only white man living in Delaware Township. Operating a trading post, which is now the modern day Conner Prairie Pioneer Museum, Conner's house was connected via Indian trail to Anderson and Connersville and by state road to Fort Wayne. Portions of this road later became present day Allisonville Road. The first official wave of settlers came to the 'southeastern' area in the 1820's.
In 1823, Delaware Township was divided into three townships by adding Clay to the west and Fall Creek to the east. The railroad was constructed in 1851 and eventually extended to Chicago in the early 1870's when Fishers Switch was platted.
