Spencer County, Indiana

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


founded year = 1818
founded date =
seat wl = Rockport
largest city wl =
city type = town
area_total_sq_mi = 401
area_total_km2 = 1039
area_land_sq_mi = 399
area_land_km2 = 1033
area_water_sq_mi = 3
area_water_km2 = 7
area percentage = 0.64%
lat deg =
lat min =
long deg =
long min =
census yr = 2000
pop = 20391
density_sq_mi = 51
density_km2 = 20
time zone = Central
footnotes =
web =
named for = Spier Spencer

Spencer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2000 census, the population was 20,391. The county seat is RockportGR|6.

History

Spencer County was formed in 1818. It was named for Capt. Spier Spencer, killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. [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=572]

Abraham Lincoln lived in Spencer county from 1816 to 1830, between the ages seven and twenty-one. His family moved to Illinois in 1830. The Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial is located at the site of the Lincoln family farm.

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.

Spencer 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 401 square miles (1,039 km²), of which 399 square miles (1,033 km²) is land and 3 square miles (7 km²) (0.64%) is water.

Cities and towns

*Chrisney (47611)
*Dale (47523)
*Gentryville (47537)
*Grandview (47615)
*Rockport (47635)
*Santa Claus (47579)

Unincorporated towns

*Evanston
*Fulda (47531)
*Hatfield (47634)
*Lamar (47550)
*Lincoln City (47552)
*Mariah Hill
*Midway
*New Boston
*Reo
*Richland (47636)
*Saint Meinrad (47577)

Townships

*Carter
*Clay
*Grass
*Hammond
*Harrison
*Huff
*Jackson
*Luce
*Ohio

Adjacent counties

*Dubois County, Indiana (north)
*Daviess County, Kentucky (south)
*Perry County, Indiana (east)
*Hancock County, Kentucky (southeast)
*Warrick County, Indiana (west)

Major highways

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National protected area

* Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 20,391 people, 7,569 households, and 5,752 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile (20/km²). There were 8,333 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile (8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.70% White, 0.60% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.74% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races. 1.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 40.6% were of German, 21.7% American, 8.9% English and 8.2% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 7,569 households out of which 35.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.00% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.00% were non-families. 20.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.50% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 29.10% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,451, and the median income for a family was $49,123. Males had a median income of $35,125 versus $22,787 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,000. About 4.80% of families and 6.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.90% of those under age 18 and 7.80% 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