[2] The United States acquired the land from the Native Americans, part of which forms the southwest section of what is now Brown County, in the 1809 treaty of Fort Wayne.

By the treaty of St. Mary's in 1818 considerably more territory became property of the government and this included the future Brown County area.

The first white man known to arrive was a German, Johann Schoonover, who lived for a short time on the creek later named for him to trade with the Native Americans, about 1820.

In that same year William Elkins, the first pioneer, built a log cabin and cleared land in the area.

[3] In the 1850s Elkins was recorded as having settled in the future Van Buren Township, and the settlement that grew up around him was known as Elkinsville.

They crossed the Ohio River and traveled north on narrow Indian trails through dense hardwood forest with wagons drawn by oxen.

Others deliberately chose the hills having lived in mountains before they made the trip to Indiana in search of new land.

On February 4, 1836, both the House and Senate passed a bill providing for the formation from western Bartholomew, eastern Monroe, and northern Jackson counties of a county to be named for Gen. Jacob Brown, who defeated the British at the Battle of Sackett's Harbor in the War of 1812.

In August 1836, the land was divided into five townships of Jackson, Hamblen, Washington, Johnson, and Van Buren.

Banner C. Brummett was appointed County Agent to lay out Nashville in lots to be sold at auction.

Their cabins and small settlements were mere niches in the great forest that covered hills and valleys.

By the time Nashville was incorporated in 1872, water-powered grist mills and sawmills were scattered over the county.

Each village served its own locality with at least one general store, a blacksmith shop, a church and a post office.

In 1881 there were 20 doctors in the county, and 37 churches - Methodist, United Brethren, Baptist, Presbyterian, and New Light.

Lumber was taken to Indianapolis, also tan bark, cross ties, hoop poles, and barrel staves.

Travel by horseback, wagon, or carriage was exceedingly limited due to deeply rutted, rocky roads.

Horse drawn hacks took people and wagons transported mail and freight from the station to Nashville.

Their use was strictly limited because of the poor roads and because of the widespread belief, peculiar to Brown County, that cars were both autonomous and maleficent.

Brown County State Park opened in 1931 offering many advantages: a lodge, cabins for rent, picnic areas, a swimming pool, and miles of trails.

Unlike much of Indiana with its low rolling hills, the terrain of Brown County is rugged and hilly, with the drainage areas filled with brush, undergrowth, or trees.

[7] The county's highest point (1,058 feet/322 meters ASL) is Weed Patch Hill, the third-highest prominence in the state.

The commissioners execute acts legislated by the council, collect revenue, and manage the county government.