Washington County, Indiana

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




map size = 150
founded = 1814
seat = Salem | area_total_sq_mi =517
area_water_sq_mi =2
area percentage = 0.41%
census yr = 2000
pop = 27223
density_km2 =20
web = www.washingtoncountyindiana.com
|

Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2000, the population was 27,223. The county seat is SalemGR|6.

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. [cite book|author=De Witt Clinton Goodrich & Charles Richard Tuttle|publisher=R. S. Peale & co.|year=1875|location=Indiana|title=An Illustrated History of the State of Indiana|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=YDIUAAAAYAAJ| pages=575]

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.

Washington County is part of Indiana's 9th congressional district and is represented in Congress by Democrat Baron Hill. [cite web|url=http://baronhill.house.gov/district.shtml|title=Conressman Baron Hill|publisher=House.Gov|accessdate=2008-09-12]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 517 square miles (1,338 km²), of which 514 square miles (1,332 km²) is land and 2 square miles (5 km²) (0.41%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Washington is one of only a few counties in the U.S. that borders eight others.
*Jackson County (north)
*Scott County (northeast)
*Clark County (southeast)
*Floyd County (south [1] )
*Harrison County (south [2] )
*Crawford County (southwest)
*Orange County (west)
*Lawrence County (northwest)

Cities and towns

Major highways

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 27,223 people, 10,264 households, and 7,585 families residing in the county. The population density was 53 people per square mile (20/km²). There were 11,191 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.75% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 0.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 28.9% were of American, 23.7% German, 12.8% English and 10.8% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 10,264 households out of which 35.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.20% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.10% were non-families. 22.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.50% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 29.70% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 12.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,630, and the median income for a family was $42,618. Males had a median income of $29,929 versus $21,944 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,748. About 7.30% of families and 10.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.30% of those under age 18 and 9.40% of those age 65 or over.

References

* 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
*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
* "History of Washington County 1884" (1884).
* Indiana Historical Commission. "Indiana History Bulletin" (August 1924). Wm. B. Burford

ee also

*Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area
*Louisville-Elizabethtown-Scottsburg, KY-IN Combined Statistical Area