Randolph County, Indiana

Infobox U.S. County
county = Randolph County

state = Indiana
map size = 155
founded = 1818
seat = Winchester
largest city = Winchester
area_total_sq_mi =453
area_land_sq_mi =453
area_water_sq_mi =0
area percentage = 0.09%
census yr = 2000
pop = 27401
density_km2 =23
web = |

Randolph County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2000, the population was 27,401. The county seat is WinchesterGR|6.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 453 square miles (1,174 km²), of which 453 square miles (1,173 km²) is land and 0 square miles (1 km²) (0.09%) is water.

Randolph County is the point of origin for the White River and Whitewater River.

As of June 22, 2004, Randolph Farms Landfill, owned by the Balkema family in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is seeking a zoning exception allowing it to expand into 320 acres (1.3 km²), in order to keep it in operation for a further 50 years. This would make the landfill, already one of the largest in the county, the point of highest elevation in the state of Indiana. Opponents, including the majority of the county residents, have been vocal against expansion, pointing out the possible effects landfill toxins could cause on aquifers and on agriculture. The landfill has twice been denied a petition to expand.

Adjacent counties

*Jay County (north)
*Darke County, Ohio (east)
*Wayne County (south)
*Henry County (southwest)
*Delaware County (west)

Education

Public schools in Randolph County are administered by the Union School Corporation, Randolph Central Schools Corporation, Randolph Eastern School Corporation, Randolph Southern School Corporation, and Monroe Central School Corporation.

High Schools

*Union High School (Modoc) - Modoc-Union School Corporation
*Randolph Southern High School - Lynn-Randolph Southern School Corporation
*Winchester Community High School - Winchester-Randolph Central School Corporation
*Union City High School - Union City - Randolph Eastern School Corporation
*Monroe Central High School - Parker City - Monroe Central School Corporation

Jr. High/Middle Schools

*Union Jr. High School
*Randolph Southern Jr. High School
*Driver Middle School-Winchester
*West Side Middle School-Union City
*Monroe Central Jr. High School

Elementary Schools

*Union Elementary School
*Randolph Southern Elementary School
*Deerfield Elementary School - Winchester
*Baker Elementary School - Winchester
*Williard Elementary School - Winchester
*North Side Elementary School - Union City
*Monroe Central Elementary School

Notable residents

*Robert Wise (1914 - 2005), Hollywood director, was born in Winchester.
*Amy Lindsay-Fuller (September 25, 1979-November 28, 2004), was a former NCAA basketball player and a high school girls basketball coach, was raised in Modoc.
*Jim Jones 1970s cult leader, founder of Jonestown.

Transportation

Major highways

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Airports

*Randolph County Airport

History

Randolph County was formed in 1818. There is a dispute as to the origin of the name. Some say that the County was named for Randolph County, North Carolina where the areas first settlers came from. That County was named for Peyton Randolph, the first President of the Continental Congress under the Articles of Confederation. [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=570]

Another version is that the County was named for President Thomas Jefferson's first cousin, Thomas Randolph, who was Attorney General for the Indiana Territory, and who was killed in the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. One problem with this story is whether Thomas Randolph was killed at Tippecanoe. There was a Thomas Randolph listed in Capt. Benjamin Parke's Troop of Light Dragoons, but this Randolph is not shown as killed.

The obvious namesake would be Gov. Edmund Randolph of Virginia, who signed the law transferring the Northwest Territory from Virginia to the United States, allowing for the formation of the Indiana Territory. Edmund was the nephew of Peyton Randolph, and the executor of his estate. Historians have, however, studied this and rejected the obvious conclusion.

All of the above Randolphs were related, so that one can safely conclude that the County was named for this important, early colonial family.

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.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 27,401 people, 10,937 households, and 7,798 families residing in the county. The population density was 60 people per square mile (23/km²). There were 11,775 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.06% White, 0.26% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.59% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. 1.22% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.3% were of American, 25.6% German, 11.5% English and 9.2% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 10,937 households out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.20% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,544, and the median income for a family was $40,855. Males had a median income of $30,951 versus $20,634 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,954. About 8.30% of families and 11.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.70% of those under age 18 and 8.30% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Incorporated

*Farmland
*Losantville
*Lynn
*Modoc
*Parker City
*Ridgeville
*Saratoga
*Union City
*Winchester

Unincorporated

*Crete
*Deerfield
*Huntsville
*New Pittsburg
*Spartanburg

Townships

*Franklin
*Green
*Greensfork
*Jackson
*Monroe
*Stoney Creek
*Union
*Ward
*Washington
*Wayne
*White River

Nettle Creek (Losantville) and West River (Modoc) Townships were combined to form Union Township.

Local attractions

ME's Zoo

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----