History of the Headwaters

The geology of the Headwaters of Racoon Creek is a result of four glaciation periods. The major glacial event of the Ordovician period allowed for the formation of salt, gas, and oil reserves found around the central Ohio region. In addition, the Mississippian period caused the deposition of clay, silt, shale, and sand. Limy sediments were also produced, creating what is known as Black Hand Sandstone, which is found along the region.

The events during the Pennsylvanian and Permian Periods formed extensive beds of coal, an important geologic feature for the economy and modern topography in the areas around this watershed. The final glaciation period occurred around 250 million years ago, the result of which formed sediment and drainage patterns seen today.

The late 1800s saw the introduction of mines to acquire coal and wells, drilled for the oil, gas, and water reserves created by this glacial history. This mining process has left coal mines spoil and strip pits with high acidity levels in the watershed. By the 1950s, the aquifers formed by glaciers allowed for about 80% of the land area to be utilized as farmland.

The Adena Indians were the first known people to inhabit the region, from approximately 1,000 B.C. to 100 A.D. They demonstrated a wide range of artistic skills through the creation of earthworks and burial mounds across Ohio.

Following the Adenas, the Hopewell Indians inhabited the region from about 150 B.C. to 500 A.D., living in well-organized communities. The mounds that they created often contained materials that came from great distances, such as shark teeth, obsidian, pearls, and shells. This indicates that they were either able to travel very far or had advanced trading mechanisms.

The Shawnee and Delaware Indians inhabited the area from about 1720 onward. They united with other tribes to prevent white settlement in the mid 1700s but were forced to give up their land in Ohio in 1795 in accordance with the Treaty of Greenville.

Shortly after the Treaty of Greenville was signed, the first settlers moved into Licking County in the year 1798. The population was slow to grow, remaining at around 200 people in the early 1800s. The construction of the Ohio Canal in 1825 played an important role in the area's rapid population growth. The use of the canal allowed for economic expansion and settlement in an era before a railroad system became the prime mode of transportation.

Though the canal played a significant role in industrializing the area, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad connected their rail systems in Newark in 1871, allowing Licking County became one of the largest stops West of the Alleghany Mountains. Due to these modes of industrialization, the first pioneers were appearing in newly established towns across Licking County.

Johnstown and New Albany were founded in 1813 and Croton was founded in 1824. Agriculture has always been a dominant part of Licking County's landscape due to the rich soil created from the early glacial periods. Because of this, the Licking County Agricultural Society was established in 1832. In addition to farming, the land has also been used for woodlands, residential, recreational, and industrial purposes.

Much development occurred after World War II including the construction of Edwards Road in Johnstown, which spurred growth, moved the town's economic dependence away from agriculture, and allowed for commuting to jobs in other locales. However, the road also had impacted the environment by increasing surface run-off and increasing industrialization.