Tippecanoe County, Indiana

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


founded year = 1826
founded date = March 1
seat wl = Lafayette
largest city wl = Lafayette
city type =
area_total_sq_mi = 503
area_total_km2 = 1303
area_land_sq_mi = 500
area_land_km2 = 1294
area_water_sq_mi = 8
area_water_km2 = 3
area percentage = 0.65%
lat deg =
lat min =
long deg =
long min =
census yr = 2000
pop = 148955
density_sq_mi = 298
density_km2 = 115
time zone = Eastern
footnotes =
web = www.county.tippecanoe.in.us
named for = Kethtippecanoogi ("Place of the Succor Fish People" in Miami)

Tippecanoe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2000, the population was 148,955. The county seat is LafayetteGR|6.

History

Tippecanoe County was formed March 1, 1826, and named for the anglicization of "Kethtippecanoogi", a Miami term meaning "place of the succor fish people." (Kriebel, Robert C. - Tippecanoe at 2000: A Hoosier County Recalls Its Past). The county is best known for the Battle of Tippecanoe and Purdue University. The Tippecanoe County Courthouse, built in 1881, is on the National Register of Historic Places.

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 503 square miles (1,303 km²). 500 square miles (1,294 km²) of it is land and 8 km² (3sq mi) of it (0.65%) is water.

Major highways

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Railroads

*CSX Transportation
*Kankakee, Beaverville and Southern Railroad
*Norfolk Southern Railway

Adjacent counties

*White County (north)
*Carroll County (northeast)
*Clinton County (east)
*Montgomery County (south)
*Fountain County (southwest)
*Warren County (west)
*Benton County (northwest)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 148,955 people, 55,226 households, and 32,417 families residing in the county. The population density was 298 people per square mile (115/km²). There were 58,343 housing units at an average density of 117 per square mile (45/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.86% White, 2.52% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 4.46% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.48% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. 5.26% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25.1% were of German, 13.7% American, 9.4% Irish and 9.1% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 55,226 households out of which 28.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.90% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.30% were non-families. 28.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county the population was spread out with 20.90% under the age of 18, 25.40% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 17.40% from 45 to 64, and 9.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 105.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,652, and the median income for a family was $51,791. Males had a median income of $37,606 versus $25,142 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,375. About 7.30% of families and 15.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.10% of those under age 18 and 4.30% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Incorporated

*Battle Ground
*Clarks Hill
*Dayton
*Lafayette
*Shadeland
*Otterbein
*West Lafayette

Unincorporated

*Americus
*Buck Creek
*Colburn
*Monroe
*Montmorenci
*Odell
*Romney
*Stockwell
*West Point

Extinct

*Beeville
*Chauncey (consolidated into West Lafayette)
*Corwin
*Conroe
*Glen Hall
*Granville / Weaton
*Heath
*Prairieville
*Harrisonville (consolidated into Battle Ground)
*Kingston (consolidated into West Lafayette)
*Monitor
*North Crane
*South Raub
*Taylor
*Wyandot
*Yorktown

Townships

Education

Public schools in rural Tippecanoe County are administered by the Tippecanoe School Corporation, while those in the cities are under either the Lafayette School Corporation or West Lafayette Community School Corporation. Purdue and Ivy Tech each have campuses at other sites in Indiana.

Universities and colleges
* Purdue University [http://www.purdue.edu/]
* Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana [http://www.ivytech.edu/]

High Schools
* Elston Community Education Center [http://tsc.k12.in.us/Elston/Elston.htm]
* Jefferson High School [http://www.lsc.k12.in.us/jeff/]
* McCutcheon High School [http://www.wvec.k12.in.us/mccutcheon/]
* West Lafayette Junior-Senior High School [http://wl.k12.in.us/hs/]
* William Henry Harrison High School [http://www.wvec.k12.in.us/harrison/]

Middle Schools
* Battle Ground Middle School [http://www.wvec.k12.in.us/bgm/]
* East Tipp Middle School [http://www.wvec.k12.in.us/EastTipp/]
* Klondike Middle School [http://www.wvec.k12.in.us/kms/]
* Lafayette Sunnyside Middle School [http://www.lsc.k12.in.us/sunnyside/]
* Lafayette Tecumseh Junior High School [http://www.lsc.k12.in.us/TecumsehMS/TecumsehMS.htm]
* Southwestern Middle School [http://www.wvec.k12.in.us/swms/index.html]
* Wainwright Middle School [http://www.wvec.k12.in.us/wms/]
* Wea Ridge Middle School [http://www.wvec.k12.in.us/wrm/]

Elementary Schools
* Battle Ground Elementary School [http://www.wvec.k12.in.us/bge/]
* Burnett Creek Elementary School [http://www.wvec.k12.in.us/burnett/]
* Cumberland Elementary School [http://www.wl.k12.in.us/cumberland/]
* Dayton Elementary School [http://www.wvec.k12.in.us/dayton/]
* Earhart Elementary School [http://www.lsc.k12.in.us/earhart/]
* Edgelea Elementary School [http://www.lsc.k12.in.us/edgelea/]
* Glen Acres Elementary School [http://www.lsc.k12.in.us/schools/glenacres/]
* Happy Hollow Elementary School [http://www.wl.k12.in.us/hh/]
* Hershey Elementary School [http://www.wvec.k12.in.us/hershey/]
* James Cole Elementary School [http://www.wvec.k12.in.us/cole/index.html]
* Linnwood Elementary School [http://www.lsc.k12.in.us/linnwood/]
* Klondike Elementary School [http://www.wvec.k12.in.us/kes/]
* Mayflower Mill Elementary School [http://www.wvec.k12.in.us/mayflower]
* Miami Elementary School [http://www.lsc.k12.in.us/miami/]
* Miller Elementary School [http://www.lsc.k12.in.us/miller/]
* Mintonye Elementary School [http://www.wvec.k12.in.us/mintonye/]
* Murdock Elementary School [http://www.lsc.k12.in.us/murdock/]
* Oakland Elementary School [http://www.lsc.k12.in.us/oakland/]
* Vinton Elementary School [http://www.lsc.k12.in.us/vinton/]
* Wea Ridge Elementary School [http://www.wvec.k12.in.us/WeaRidge/]

External links

* [http://www.county.tippecanoe.in.us/ Tippecanoe County official website]
* [http://www.tcpl.lib.in.us/ Tippecanoe County Public Library]
* [http://www.tcha.mus.in.us/ Tippecanoe County Historical Association]
* [http://www.lafayette-online.com/ Lafayette Online]
* [http://www.lafayette-in.com/ Lafayette - West Lafayette Convention and Visitors Bureau]
* [http://gis.tippecanoe.in.gov/public/ GIS (Geographic Information System) for Tippecanoe County]

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----