Armstead C. Hill (1804-1889) was the first settler in the vicinity of Milan, first visiting the area in January, 1840, and erecting a log cabin about 200 yards northeast of this site. The original town was laid out on Hill's farm in 1845, but the plot was never recorded. Milan was officially incorporated by the state legislature on February 9, 1859. The first courthouse on this site was erected in 1858, destroyed by fire in 1908, and replaced by the present courthouse in 1939. Ancient burial mounds were discovered during the original excavation.