History of Pawnee
Founded in 1817, de-incorporated in 1818, re-incorporated in 1819, and improving steadily ever since.
Two centuries, briefly
1817
Founding
Reverend Luther Howell founds the settlement, intending to name it 'Paradise.' The paperwork is misfiled and the name 'Pawnee' is recorded instead. The Reverend's journal notes he 'lacked the strength to refile.'
1818–1819
The De-incorporation
Pawnee is briefly de-incorporated over a boundary dispute, a tax dispute, and what records describe only as 'the hog matter.' Re-incorporated fourteen months later with most of the same residents.
1850s
The Wamapoke Nation
Pawnee sits on the ancestral lands of the Wamapoke people, whose history in this region long predates the city and continues today. The city formally acknowledges the injustices of this era; the Wamapoke Nation operates a cultural center east of the city, and tribal leaders — including longtime spokesman Ken Hotate — have partnered with the city on education, remembrance, and the annual Harvest Festival pavilion.
1945–1964
The Factory Fire Era
A period of rapid industrial growth and, relatedly, factory fires — enough of them that the city adopted its most statistically honest slogan (see below). Modern fire codes date from this period, as does the Fire Department's unofficial motto: 'We Believe You This Time.'
1986–2011
Li'l Sebastian
A miniature horse of unprecedented charisma wins Grand Champion at 25 consecutive Harvest Festivals and receives an honorary degree from Notre Dame. His 2011 memorial service at the festival grounds drew the largest crowd in city history. A memorial paddock and eternal(ish) flame stand in Lafayette Park.
2014
The Eagleton Merger
Facing insolvency, the neighboring town of Eagleton merges into Pawnee under Ordinance 19-2014. Integration proceeds smoothly by the standards of municipal mergers, which is to say it is still discussed weekly at public comment.
Today
A city on the rise
Pawnee Commons anchors a revitalized downtown, festival attendance breaks records annually, and the raccoon situation is formally described as 'stable.' When you're here, then you're home.
Official slogans through the years
Pawnee’s slogans are a civic record of who we were and, more importantly, who we believed ourselves to be.
- 1820–1824“The Paris of America”
- 1824–1939“The Akron of Southwest Indiana”
- 1939 (briefly)“Welcome German Soldiers”
Adopted in a moment of profound geopolitical misreading; rescinded within the year. The History page is required by Council resolution to note that this one did not age well.
- 1945–1964“The Factory Fire Capital of America”
- 2009–2013“First in Friendship, Fourth in Obesity”
- Current“When you're here, then you're home”
Adopted by unanimous vote, a first in slogan history.
The city’s relationship with the Wamapoke Nation is the oldest and most important in its history, and for much of that history the city conducted it shamefully. Pawnee formally acknowledges this record. Today the city and the Nation cooperate on cultural education, the contextualization of the City Hall murals, and the Harvest Festival’s Wamapoke Cultural Pavilion. Visitors are encouraged to make the Wamapoke Cultural Center part of any trip to Pawnee.