Washington County, Indiana

Washington County, Indiana
Washington County courthouse in Salem, Indiana

Seal
Map of Indiana highlighting Washington County
Location in the U.S. state of Indiana
Map of the United States highlighting Indiana
Indiana's location in the U.S.
Founded 1814
Named for George Washington
Seat Salem
Largest city Salem
Area
 • Total 516.60 sq mi (1,338 km2)
 • Land 513.72 sq mi (1,331 km2)
 • Water 2.87 sq mi (7 km2), 0.56%
Population
 • (2010) 28,262
 • Density 54.9/sq mi (21.2/km2)
Congressional district 9th
Time zone Eastern: UTC−5/−4
Website www.washingtoncounty.in.gov
Footnotes: Indiana county number 88

Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 28,262.[1] The county seat is Salem.[2]

Washington County is part of the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY–IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Early settlers

As early as 1802, a man named Frederick Royce lived among the Ox Indians at a place known as the Lick, two miles east of Salem and is probably the first white man to inhabit this county. He was a hunter-trader and salt manufacturer. In 1803, Thomas Hopper was the first to settle in this county near Hardinsburg.

Washington County was formed in 1814. It was named for U.S. President George Washington.[3]

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 516.60 square miles (1,338.0 km2), of which 513.72 square miles (1,330.5 km2) (or 99.44%) is land and 2.87 square miles (7.4 km2) (or 0.56%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

Cities and towns

Census-designated place

Unincorporated towns

Townships

Major highways

Climate and weather

Salem, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
3.3
 
 
39
21
 
 
3.2
 
 
46
25
 
 
4.3
 
 
56
33
 
 
4.6
 
 
67
42
 
 
4.9
 
 
76
51
 
 
3.9
 
 
84
60
 
 
4.4
 
 
87
64
 
 
4
 
 
86
62
 
 
3.1
 
 
79
55
 
 
2.9
 
 
68
44
 
 
3.9
 
 
55
36
 
 
3.7
 
 
44
26
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[5]

In recent years, average temperatures in Salem have ranged from a low of 21 °F (−6 °C) in January to a high of 87 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −32 °F (−36 °C) was recorded in February 1951 and a record high of 105 °F (41 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.87 inches (73 mm) in October to 4.86 inches (123 mm) in May.[5]

Five people were reported killed in Washington County during the tornado outbreak of March 2–3, 2012[6]. Four were found dead in a home on Old Pekin Road according to Washington County officials. The fifth, a 15-month-old from the same family, had been found in a field, and died later in hospital.[7]

Government

Washington County
Sheriff's Department
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction Washington, Indiana, United States
Legal jurisdiction As per operations jurisdiction
General nature • Local civilian agency

Agency executive
  • Claude Combs, Sheriff
Presidential Elections Results[8]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 72.1% 8,209 23.2% 2,636 4.7% 537
2012 60.9% 6,533 36.4% 3,909 2.8% 295
2008 57.4% 6,519 40.2% 4,562 2.4% 271
2004 63.6% 6,915 35.7% 3,879 0.8% 86
2000 59.9% 5,868 37.5% 3,675 2.6% 258
1996 44.1% 4,066 41.5% 3,819 14.4% 1,326
1992 40.2% 4,043 40.7% 4,092 19.1% 1,922
1988 59.4% 4,998 40.0% 3,370 0.6% 48
1984 62.6% 5,874 35.5% 3,334 1.8% 172
1980 56.3% 5,234 39.4% 3,663 4.3% 400
1976 45.6% 3,794 53.0% 4,409 1.4% 115
1972 60.1% 4,758 39.0% 3,086 1.0% 78
1968 48.6% 3,891 36.7% 2,936 14.7% 1,177
1964 42.0% 3,598 57.7% 4,943 0.4% 32
1960 56.7% 5,057 42.9% 3,821 0.4% 35
1956 55.7% 4,864 44.0% 3,849 0.3% 26
1952 55.5% 4,849 44.0% 3,844 0.6% 52
1948 47.2% 3,660 52.0% 4,033 0.8% 64
1944 50.3% 4,033 49.2% 3,940 0.5% 42
1940 48.4% 4,216 51.3% 4,471 0.3% 29
1936 43.5% 3,690 56.2% 4,766 0.3% 26
1932 40.5% 3,316 58.8% 4,809 0.7% 56
1928 52.0% 3,835 47.7% 3,518 0.4% 28
1924 46.4% 3,479 52.6% 3,942 1.1% 81
1920 46.9% 3,708 52.5% 4,157 0.6% 48
1916 42.8% 1,871 55.2% 2,414 2.0% 86
1912 17.0% 712 53.3% 2,233 29.7% 1,244
1908 42.6% 1,976 55.4% 2,573 2.0% 92
1904 45.4% 2,094 51.2% 2,364 3.4% 159
1900 43.7% 2,152 55.3% 2,723 1.0% 48
1896 45.5% 2,214 53.7% 2,613 0.8% 37
1892 41.3% 1,833 52.3% 2,322 6.4% 283
1888 43.4% 1,847 56.1% 2,389 0.5% 22

The county government is a constitutional body, and is granted specific powers by the Constitution of Indiana, and by the Indiana Code.

County Council: The county council is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all the spending and revenue collection in the county. Representatives are elected from county districts. The council members serve four-year terms. They are responsible for setting salaries, the annual budget, and special spending. The council also has limited authority to impose local taxes, in the form of an income and property tax that is subject to state level approval, excise taxes, and service taxes.[9][10]

Board of Commissioners: The executive body of the county is made of a board of commissioners. The commissioners are elected county-wide, in staggered terms, and each serves a four-year term. One of the commissioners, typically the most senior, serves as president. The commissioners are charged with executing the acts legislated by the council, collecting revenue, and managing the day-to-day functions of the county government.[9][10]

Court: There are two judges in Washington County. The Judge of the Circuit Court is the Hon. Robert L. Bennett (D). The Judge of the Superior Court is the Hon. Frank E. Newkirk, Jr. (R). Case distribution is determined by local court rules. Each judge serves a six-year term.

County Officials: The county has several other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor, and circuit court clerk. Each of these elected officers serves a term of four years and oversees a different part of county government. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare party affiliations and to be residents of the county.[10]

Washington County is part of Indiana's 9th congressional district and is represented in Congress by Republican Trey Hollingsworth.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18209,039—
183013,06444.5%
184015,26916.9%
185017,04011.6%
186017,9095.1%
187018,4953.3%
188018,9552.5%
189018,619−1.8%
190019,4094.2%
191017,445−10.1%
192016,645−4.6%
193016,285−2.2%
194017,0084.4%
195016,520−2.9%
196017,8197.9%
197019,2788.2%
198021,93213.8%
199023,7178.1%
200027,22314.8%
201028,2623.8%
Est. 201627,670[11]−2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 28,262 people, 10,850 households, and 7,799 families residing in the county.[16] The population density was 55.0 inhabitants per square mile (21.2/km2). There were 12,220 housing units at an average density of 23.8 per square mile (9.2/km2).[4] The racial makeup of the county was 98.1% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.3% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.1% of the population.[16] In terms of ancestry, 25.2% were German, 14.3% were American, 13.7% were Irish, and 9.6% were English.[17]

Of the 10,850 households, 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.1% were non-families, and 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.02. The median age was 39.2 years.[16]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $45,500. Males had a median income of $38,100 versus $28,092 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,278. About 12.2% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.7% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.[18]

Education

The county is served by 3 school districts:[19]

  • Salem Community Schools
  • East Washington School Corporation
  • South Central Area Special Ed
  • West Washington School Corporation.

East Washington School Corporation (Superintendent:Steve Darnell[20]) includes:[21]

  • East Washington Elementary School
  • East Washington Middle School
  • Eastern High School

Salem Community Schools (Superintendent:Dr. D. Lynn Reed[22]) includes:[22]

  • Salem High School
  • Salem Middle School
  • Bradie Shrum Elementary School

West Washington School Corporation (Superintendent:Gerald Jackson[23]) includes:[23]

  • West Washington Elementary School
  • West Washington Junior/Senior High School

See also

References

Specific
  1. 1 2 "Washington County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ De Witt Clinton Goodrich & Charles Richard Tuttle (1875). An Illustrated History of the State of Indiana. Indiana: R. S. Peale & co. p. 575.
  4. 1 2 "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  5. 1 2 "Monthly Averages for Salem, Indiana". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
  6. ↑ "Tornado Climatology of Washington County, Indiana". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  7. ↑ "US Tornadoes: Toddler Found in Field Dies After Coming off Life Support". London: The Guardian. 5 March 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  8. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
  9. 1 2 Indiana Code. "Title 36, Article 2, Section 3". IN.gov. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  10. 1 2 3 Indiana Code. "Title 2, Article 10, Section 2" (PDF). IN.gov. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  11. ↑ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  12. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  16. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  17. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  18. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  19. ↑ Education, Indiana Department of (2009). "Indiana Public Superintendent Directory 2009" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-05-31. Retrieved 2009-05-28.
  20. ↑ Corporation, East Washington School (2009). "Central Office". Retrieved 2009-05-28.
  21. ↑ Corporation, East Washington School (2009). "Welcome to the EWSC". Retrieved 2009-05-28.
  22. 1 2 Schools, Salem Community (2009). ":: Salem Community Schools ::". Retrieved 2009-05-28.
  23. 1 2 Corporation, West Washington School. "West Washington School". Retrieved 2009-05-28.
General
  • American Legion Pekin Post 203, The. History of Pekin, Indiana (1959). The American Legion Pekin Post 203
  • Everton Publishers, Inc, The. Handy book for Genealogists (1971). Everton Publishers, Inc, The
  • History of Washington County 1884 (1884).
  • Indiana Historical Commission. Indiana History Bulletin (August 1924). Wm. B. Burford

Coordinates: 38°36′N 86°07′W / 38.60°N 86.11°W / 38.60; -86.11

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