Morton Salt

Alonzo Richmond arrives in Chicago from Syracuse, New York to proclaim his new business: Richmond & Company, Agents for Onondaga Salt.

Gold is discovered in California, creating an endless demand for salt, a necessity for adventure-seekers moving west.

The Great Chicago Fire follows months of dry, hot weather. Fueled by the Michigan Pine that built the city, the fire destroys a 600-block area. During the rebuilding, salt demand continues.

Joy Morton acquires a major interest in the company and renames it Joy Morton & Company. He is the son of J. Sterling Morton, a Nebraskan who served as secretary of agriculture under President Grover Cleveland.

With several acquisitions under its belt, the firm is renamed the Morton Salt Company.

Morton starts adding magnesium carbonate (an anti-caking agent) to salt, creating a table salt that flows freely, even in humid weather. This additive has since been changed to calcium silicate.

The famous Morton Salt Umbrella Girl and slogan, "When It Rains It Pours^®" first appear on the blue package of table salt and in a series of Good Housekeeping magazine advertisements. The slogan is adapted from an old proverb, “It never rains but it pours.”

Joy Morton dedicates his farm in Lisle, Illinois, as the Morton Arboretum in memory of his father, J. Sterling Morton, founder of Arbor Day. The renowned Morton Arboretum has grown to over 1,700 acres of trees, flowers, shrubs and vines from all over the world.

Morton develops iodized salt to help prevent goiters, which were common at the time. The Food and Drug Administration later requests that the product be labeled with the message, “This salt provides iodide, a necessary nutrient.”

Morton Pellets, a high-quality salt product for the recharging of home water softeners, is introduced.

Morton acquires the Canadian Salt Co. Ltd. in Canada, and West India Chemicals, a solar salt operation in the Bahamas.

Morton's 2000-foot Fairport, Ohio, salt mine is drilled. It is acclaimed as the country's deepest and most modern salt mine at that time. Morton and an industry neighbor donate an adjacent 410 acres of unspoiled marsh land for plant and wildlife preservation.

Following in the Morton cultural and environmental tradition, Joy Morton’s only son, Sterling Morton, sets aside funds to build the Morton Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago before his death.

Morton keeps up with consumer health and diet trends by introducing Morton® Salt Substitute.

Morton continues its commitment to health and diet trends by introducing Morton® Lite Salt™ Mixture.

Morton introduces Nature’s Seasons® Seasoning Blend, a unique blend of salt, pepper and other natural spices.

Morton adds a new System Saver® salt formula to Morton Pellets, creating a water softener salt product that helps improve tank cleanliness by preventing water-deposit buildup.

Morton deeds 1,200 acres of Salt Lake wetlands in Utah to the Nature Conservancy.

Morton pledges $1 million toward construction of the Henry Crown Space Center and the Omnimax Theater at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. This contribution follows an earlier, substantial financial commitment by Morton to the U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.

Morton acquires the Mines Seleine rock salt mine in Quebec, Canada. The mine provides ice control salt for Quebec, the Atlantic provinces of Canada, and the eastern seaboard of the United States.

Morton's Mines Seleine salt mine in Quebec, Canada floods. The company works with government officials to assess the damage, and begins repairing the shaft.

Morton celebrates its 150th Anniversary of producing quality salt products.

Morton® System Saver® Water Softeners are introduced. The first softeners to wear the Morton name offer the latest in water softener technology.

Morton introduces Sea Salt, a high-quality salt harvested from the Mediterranean Sea on Spain's Costa Blanca.

Morton introduces System Saver® II Pellets, a water softening product specially formulated to consistently outperform other water softening salts in all water softeners.

Morton introduces Pool Salt as an alternative to hazardous chemical chlorine.

Morton Introduces Salt Balance™ Salt Blend, a reduced sodium product that delivers 100% salt taste with 25% less sodium.

Morton completes its acquisition of the Season-All® brand seasoned salt line from McCormick & Company.

Morton introduces a complete line of premium ice melt blends including Morton® Safe-T-Power®, a low temperature ice melt; Morton® Action Melt®, a fast-acting ice melt; and Morton® Safe-T-Plus®, an eco safe ice melt.

In October 2009, Morton Salt became a part of a group of companies led by K+S Aktiengesellschaft (the “K+S group”), the world’s leading producer of salt and one of the world's leading suppliers of standard and specialty fertilizers. Mark Roberts is also named Chief Executive Officer of Morton Salt, Inc.

Morton extends its premium line of ice melts with the introduction of Morton® Safe-T-Pet®, a pet friendly ice melt.

Morton continues to expand its Sea Salt offerings with the introduction of Natural & Iodized All-Purpose Sea Salts and Extra Coarse & Roasted Garlic Sea Salt Grinders.

Morton begins offering its top selling Coarse Kosher Salt in a convenient, consumer friendly, 1lb. canister.

FORTUNE magazine recognizes Morton Salt by naming the company to its list of “100 Great Things About America”