The village was laid out on October 5, 1832 by Zachariah Cicott, a French-Indian trader and scout for General William Henry Harrison, on Cicott's Reserve, ground that was given to him by the government for his services.

A post office was established on March 24, 1834 and closed on January 31, 1950.

It was called the Wabash Register and was run by Enos Canutt.

[4] Independence is located in the eastern part of the county on the western banks of the Wabash River, about 7 miles (11 km) northeast and upstream of the county seat of Williamsport.

The small town of Riverside occupies the opposite bank, which is in Fountain County.