White County, Indiana

Infobox U.S. County
county = White County
state = Indiana


map size = 150
founded = 1834
seat = Monticello
area_total_sq_mi =509
area_land_sq_mi =505
area_water_sq_mi =4
area percentage = 0.70%
census yr = 2000
pop = 25267
density_km2 = 19 | density_sq_mi = 50
web =
|

White County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2000, the population was 25,267. The county seat is MonticelloGR|6.

History

White County was formed in 1834. It was named for Isaac White of Equality, Illinois who was killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. White was a Colonel in the Illinois militia, who volunteered to serve as a Private in the Indiana militia in the march against Prophetstown. He was placed under the command of Kentucky Maj. Joseph Hamilton Daviess. The two exchanged swords in a demonstration of mutual respect at Fort Vincennes. In the Battle of Tippecanoe they died together and were buried in a common grave at Battle Ground.

Government

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.cite web|author=Indiana Code|url=http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title36/ar2/ch3.html |title=Title 36, Article 2, Section 3|accessdate=2008-09-16|publisher=IN.gov] cite web|author= Indiana Code |url= http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title3/ar10/ch2.pdf |title= Title 2, Article 10, Section 2 |accessdate=2008-09-16|publisher=IN.gov]

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, the collection of revenue, and managing the day-to-day functions of the county government.

Court: The county maintains a small claims court that can handle some civil cases. The judge on the court is elected to a term of four years and must be a member of the Indiana Bar Association. The judge is assisted by a constable who is also elected to terms of four years. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level circuit court.

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 serve terms of four years and oversee different parts of the county government. Members elected to any county government position are required to declare a party affiliation and be a resident of the county.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 509 square miles (1,318 km²), of which 505 square miles (1,309 km²) is land and 4 square miles (9 km²) (0.70%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*Pulaski County (north)
*Cass County (east)
*Carroll County (southeast)
*Tippecanoe County (south)
*Benton County (west)
*Jasper County (northwest)

Cities and towns

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 25,267 people, 9,727 households, and 7,090 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile (19/km²). There were 12,083 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.20% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.19% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 5.34% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 27.7% were of German, 21.1% American, 9.2% English and 8.6% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 9,727 households out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.10% were non-families. 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.80% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,707, and the median income for a family was $46,436. Males had a median income of $33,232 versus $21,431 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,323. About 4.30% of families and 7.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.80% of those under age 18 and 8.30% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public schools in White County are administered by the Frontier School Corporation, North White School Corporation, Tri-County School Corporation and Twin Lakes School Corporation.

High Schools and Middle Schools
*Tri-County Middle-Senior High School [http://www.trico.k12.in.us/education/school/school.php?sectionid=4]
*Frontier Junior-Senior High School [http://fhs.frontier.k12.in.us/]
*North White High School [http://www.nwhite.k12.in.us/High%20School%20Web%20Site/]
*North White Middle School [http://www.nwhite.k12.in.us/Web%20Site/]
*Roosevelt Middle School [http://rms.twinlakes.k12.in.us/]
*Twin Lakes High School [http://tlhs.twinlakes.k12.in.us/]

Elementary Schools
*Buffalo Elementary School [http://www.nwhite.k12.in.us/Buffalo/]
*Eastlawn Elementary School [http://el.twinlakes.k12.in.us/]
*Frontier Elementary School [http://fes.frontier.k12.in.us/]
*Meadowlawn Elementary School [http://ml.twinlakes.k12.in.us/]
*Monon Elementary School [http://www.nwhite.k12.in.us/Monon/]
*Oaklawn Elementary School [http://ol.twinlakes.k12.in.us/]
*Reynolds Elementary School [http://www.nwhite.k12.in.us/Reynolds/]
*Woodlawn Elementary School [http://wl.twinlakes.k12.in.us/]
*Tri-County Intermediate School [http://www.trico.k12.in.us/education/school/school.php?sectionid=3]

External links

* [http://www.in-map.net/counties/WHITE/government/ White County official website]
*cite book
last = Hamelle
first = W.H. (ed.)
authorlink =
coauthors =
editor =
others =
title = A Standard History of White County Indiana: An Authentic Narrative of the Past, with an Extended Survey of Modern Developments in the Progress of Town and Country
origyear =
url = http://www.brookston.lib.in.us/WhiteCo/title.htm
format = html
accessdate = 2007-02-04
year = 1915
month =
publisher = Lewis Publishing Company
location = Chicago and New York
isbn =
oclc =
doi =
id =
pages =
chapter =
chapterurl =
quote =

References

*cite book
first = Richard L. (editor)
last = Forstall
year = 1996
title = Population of states and counties of the United States: 1790 to 1990 : from the twenty-one decennial censuses
publisher = United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Population Division
id = ISBN 0-934213-48-8----