Kentland is a town in Jefferson Township, Newton County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,822 at the 2000 census. The town was founded in 1860 as "Kent", though this name was soon lengthened to Kentland. The name honors Alexander Kent, who acquired the then marshy plat and prepared it for development. The city is the county seat of Newton County. Once primarily a cattle town, Kentland is now an agricultural community with a diversifying economy with the town motto "Where Agriculture and Industry Meet. " The town is served by an original Carnegie library and is an important crossroads on US highways 41 and 24. Geologists believe that the area was the site of an ancient meteorite impact. Kentland is the birthplace of famous turn-of-the-century humorist, George Ade, author of such plays as The College Widow, Artie and The Sultan of Sulu among others. Purdue University's Ross-Ade Stadium, home of the Boilermakers football team, is named for him and fellow Purdue benefactor David Ross. Disgraced Indiana governor Warren McCray, convicted of mail fraud and forced to resign in 1924, also hailed from Kentland.