Construction of the National Road began through Muskingum County in 1827, and the Scotch-Irish settlement that became New Concord was laid out on March 24, 1828, by Judge David Findley. Born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1762, Judge Findley and his six sons carved out farms from the area that is now Interstate 70 to John Glenn High School. They built log cabins, a carding mill where wool was prepared for spinning, a tobacco warehouse, and a distillery. Before the National Road was built, the greatest problem for these pioneers was getting crops to market. The road drove the growth of the pike town, whose population reached 32 within two years, 75 by 1833, and 200 in 1837. The village was officially incorporated in 1838.