More than 2,300 Jeeps parked on Main Street and around downtown Butler for last year’s Jeep Invasion. Butler Eagle file photo

You don’t have to drive a Jeep in Butler County to know what the vehicle’s heritage means to our community.

Butler’s own American Bantam Car Company invented and ultimately produced the first ever Jeep on short notice from the U.S. Army. When the army asked for a “four-wheel drive, 40 horsepower, 1,300 pound reconnaissance car,” Butler’s American Bantam Car Company was one of only two companies to respond.

The companies were asked to have a prototype available within 49 days, the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau’s website details.

Later, the Jeep developed in Butler would evolve into the World War II U.S. Army Jeeps.

Today, across the U.S., statista.com reports 5% of people between age 50 and 64 years old report primarily using a Jeep. Three percent of those in age brackets of 18 to 29 years and 30 to 49 years report the same.

That’s the very concise version of the history, but its such an important piece to Butler’s history, that we’d encourage you to learn more.

This weekend, Jeeps galore will flood into Butler County for the annual Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival.

It’s a history lesson come to life — complete with a slew of fun events for the public to join in on. Tucked inside today’s edition of the Butler Eagle is a guide on all that is happening.

Events like this also boost up Butler’s economy.

We’re happy to welcome so many Jeeps to Butler County this weekend, and to celebrate our area’s heritage along the way.

— TL