Jefferson Proving Ground

The Jefferson Proving Ground (or JPG), located in Madison, Indiana, was principally a munitions testing facility of Test and Evaluation Command of the United States Army Materiel Development and Readiness Command. JPG also serves other Department of Defense organizations as well as private contractors assigned.

History

On October 8, 1940, the Chief of Ordnance acknowledged a need for the construction of an additional proving ground to carry out simultaneously and without interruption the many activities relative to proof work of the ordnance manufacturing program. In December 1940, the site acquisition committee decided on a 56,000 acre (230 km²) tract of land in southern Indiana because of its proximity to surrounding industrial and land availability. Construction began immediately, and the first round was fired at U.S. Army JPG on May 10, 1941. In April 1953, JPG reached a pinnacle of employment and activity, with 1,774 employees and a production of 175,000 rounds fired monthly.

Base closure

In 1989, JPG was identified for base closure under the base realignment and closure (BRAC). Over the past decade, the U.S. Soldier and Biological Command (SBCCOM) is responsible for managing JPG’s closure, cleanup, and property transfer.

Approximately 50,000 acres (200 km²) of the grounds north of the historic firing line became Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge after closure, except a 1,000 acre (4 km²) parcel operated by the Indiana Air National Guard.