Pulaski County, Indiana

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


map size = 150
founded = 1839
seat = Winamac
area_total_sq_mi =435
area_land_sq_mi =434
area_water_sq_mi =1
area percentage = 0.20%
census yr = 2000
pop = 13755
density_km2 = 12 | density_sq_mi = 32
web = www.pulaskionline.org|

Pulaski County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. According to the 2000 U.S. census, the population was 13,755. The county seat is WinamacGR|6.

History

Pulaski County was formed in 1839. It was is named for Kazimierz Pułaski, an ally of the Americans during the Revolutionary War. He was killed in 1779 at the Siege of Savannah. An adjacent County, Jasper, was also named for a hero of Savannah. [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=571]

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.

Pulaski County is part of Indiana's 2nd congressional district and in 2008 was represented by Joe Donnelly in the United States Congress. [cite web|url=http://www.house.gov/donnelly/|title=US Congressman Joe Donnelly|publisher=US Congress|accessdate=2008-10-08]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 435 square miles (1,126 km²), of which 434 square miles (1,123 km²) is land and 1 square mile (2 km²) (0.20%) is water.

Cities and towns

*Francesville
*Medaryville
*Monterey
*Star City
*Winamac

Townships

*Beaver
*Cass
*Franklin
*Harrison
*Indian Creek
*Jefferson
*Monroe
*Rich Grove
*Salem
*Tippecanoe
*Van Buren
*White Post

Adjacent counties

*Starke County (north)
*Marshall County (northeast)
*Fulton County (east)
*Cass County (southeast)
*White County (south)
*Jasper County (west)

Major highways

*
*
*
*
*
*

Railroads

*CSX Transportation

Demographics

USCensusPop
1840= 561
1850= 2595
1860= 5711
1870= 7801
1880= 9851
1890= 11233
1900= 14033
1910= 13312
1920= 12385
1930= 11195
1940= 12056
1950= 12493
1960= 12837
1970= 12534
1980= 13258
1990= 12643
2000= 13755

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 13,755 people, 5,170 households, and 3,779 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile (12/km²). There were 5,918 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.53% White, 0.92% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 1.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 41.2% were of German, 15.5% American, 10.4% Irish and 7.6% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 5,170 households out of which 33.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.40% were married couples living together, 7.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.90% were non-families. 23.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.90% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 101.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,422, and the median income for a family was $41,028. Males had a median income of $30,673 versus $21,246 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,835. About 6.30% of families and 8.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.40% of those under age 18 and 6.90% of those age 65 or over.

On March 11, 2007, Pulaski County switched from Central Standard Time to Eastern Time with daylight saving time, and will henceforth remain in the Eastern time zone.

Education

Public schools in Pulaski County are administered by the Eastern Pulaski Community School Corporation and the West Central School Corporation.

High Schools
*Winamac Community High School
*West Central High School

Middle Schools
*Winamac Community Middle School
*West Central Middle School

Elementary Schools
*Eastern Pulaski Elementary School
*West Central Elementary School

Trivia

*Most residents of Pulaski County pronounce the name of the county as /pʊlæ'skaɪ/, as opposed to the commonly accepted pronunciation of /pʊlæ'ski/.

*Sasquatch is fabled to roam "Haschel's Hill", near the Tippicanoe State Park, 3.96 miles north of the county seat of Winamac.

External links

* [http://www.pulaskionline.org/ Pulaski County official website]
* [http://www.epulaski.k12.in.us/ Eastern Pulaski Community School Corporation]
* [http://www.west-central.k12.in.us/ West Central School Corporation]

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