First US settlement in the Northwest Territory

First US settlement in the Northwest Territory
04/07/1788 AD founded

Putnam led a group of Revolutionary veterans to settle the land in what became Ohio. These pioneers arrived at the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum rivers on April 7, 1788, where they established Marietta, Ohio as the first European-American permanent United States settlement in the Northwest Territory. Putnam was appointed to serve as one of three judges of the Northwest Territory after Samuel Holden Parsons died.

The territory had been historically occupied by Native American tribes, and more were driven west by colonial encroachment before the Revolution. As they had not ceded any land, they came into conflict with the arriving pioneers. They organized a coalition of tribes to try to expel the Americans from their territory.

Marietta, OH

Lattitude: 39.4166° N
Longitude: 81.45° W
Region: North America

Modern Day United States

Events in 1788 MORE