Vanderburgh County, Indiana

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




map size = 175
founded = 1818
seat = Evansville | area_total_sq_mi =236
area_land_sq_mi =235
area_water_sq_mi =1
area percentage = 0.49%
census yr =2000
pop = 171922
density_km2 =283
web = www.vanderburghgov.org
|

Vanderburgh County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2000, the population was 171,922. The county seat is in Evansville.

History

Vanderburgh County was formed in 1818 from Gibson, Posey, and Warrick Counties. It was named for Capt. Henry Vanderburgh, Revolutionary War veteran and judge for the Indiana Territory.

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 236 square miles (611 km²), of which 235 square miles (608 km²) is land and 1 square mile (3 km²) (0.49%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*Gibson County (north)
*Warrick County (east)
*Henderson County, Kentucky (south)
*Posey County (west)

Cities and towns

*Darmstadt
*Evansville

Unincorporated towns

*Highland
*Hillsdale
*Inglefield
*Melody Hill
*Saint Joseph

Townships

Major highways

Interstate 164 is the route of choice of Interstate 69 in Vanderburgh County. Not all of I-164 will become I-69. Plans for the remainder of I-164 are currently unknown.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1820= 1798
1830= 2611
1840= 6250
1850= 11414
1860= 20552
1870= 33145
1880= 42193
1890= 59809
1900= 71769
1910= 77438
1920= 92293
1930= 113320
1940= 130783
1950= 160422
1960= 165794
1970= 168772
1980= 167515
1990= 165058
2000= 171922
estyear = 2007
estimate = 174425

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 171,922 people, 70,623 households, and 44,421 families residing in the county. The population density was 733 people per square mile (283/km²). There were 76,300 housing units at an average density of 325 per square mile (126/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 89.30% White, 8.19% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. 0.98% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 35.0% were of German, 16.1% American, 9.4% Irish and 9.3% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 70,623 households out of which 28.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.50% were married couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.10% were non-families. 31.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.10% under the age of 18, 11.50% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 22.00% from 45 to 64, and 15.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,823, and the median income for a family was $47,416. Males had a median income of $34,162 versus $22,869 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,655. About 7.80% of families and 11.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.40% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.

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