Jefferson County
County
Jefferson County Courthouse in Madison
Jefferson County Courthouse in Madison
Map of Indiana highlighting Jefferson County
Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
Map of the United States highlighting Indiana
Indiana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°47′N 85°26′W / 38.79°N 85.44°W / 38.79; -85.44
Country United States
State Indiana
Founded1811
Named forThomas Jefferson
SeatMadison
Largest cityMadison
Area
 • Total362.89 sq mi (939.9 km2)
 • Land360.63 sq mi (934.0 km2)
 • Water2.26 sq mi (5.9 km2)  0.62%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total33,147 Increase
 • Density89/sq mi (34/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitejeffersoncounty.in.gov/index.php
Indiana county number 39

Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2020, the population was 33,147.[1] The county seat is Madison.[2]

History

Jefferson County was formed on February 1, 1811, from Dearborn and Clark Counties. It was named for Thomas Jefferson, principal draftsman of the Northwest Ordinance and President of the United States from 1801 through 1809.[3][4]

Jefferson County was one of Indiana's first counties, and many important early Hoosiers came from Madison, including William Hendricks. Throughout the early history of the state, Madison was one of the leading cities competing with Vincennes, and later New Albany, to be the largest city in the state. The county fell into economic decline after the American Civil War, as industry began to shift from southern Indiana to the northern part of the state.

On the evening of May 20, 2009, the county courthouse caught fire. The fire began in the steeple of the courthouse, which was under reconstruction for Madison's bicentenary. The roof of the dome had just been painted gold. Fire departments from across southern Indiana and northern Kentucky arrived to put out the fire which burned for several hours, destroyed much of the inside of the building and the county records. The fire forced the evacuation of the nearby county jail, and effectively shut down the downtown area of the city.[5] It was later determined the fire was accidentally started by workers who were welding on the metal roof dome.

The tallest waterfall in Indiana, Fremont Falls, is located in Hanover.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 362.89 square miles (939.9 km2), of which 360.63 square miles (934.0 km2) (or 99.38%) is land and 2.26 square miles (5.9 km2) (or 0.62%) is water.[6] Jefferson County makes up the Madison, IN Micropolitan Statistical Area.[7]

Cities and towns

Census-designated places

Townships

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Sources: National Atlas,[8] U.S. Census Bureau[9]

National protected area

Climate and weather

Madison, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
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Source:The Weather Channel[10]
Metric conversion
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In recent years, average temperatures in Madison have ranged from a low of 23 °F (−5 °C) in January to a high of 87 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −18 °F (−28 °C) was recorded in December 1989 and a record high of 108 °F (42 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.92 inches (74 mm) in September to 4.96 inches (126 mm) in May.[10]

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.[11][12]

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, collecting revenue, and managing the day-to-day functions of the county government.[11][12]

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 a four-year term. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level circuit court.[12]

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 serves a term of four years and oversees a different part of county government. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare party affiliations and to be residents of the county.[12]

Jefferson County is part of Indiana's 6th congressional district and is represented in Congress by Republican Luke Messer.[13] It is also part of Indiana Senate district 45 and is split between Indiana House of Representatives districts 66, 67 and 69.[14]

Politics

United States presidential election results for Jefferson County, Indiana[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 9,663 65.60% 4,731 32.12% 336 2.28%
2016 8,546 62.59% 4,326 31.69% 781 5.72%
2012 7,096 53.94% 5,728 43.54% 332 2.52%
2008 7,053 52.21% 6,255 46.30% 202 1.50%
2004 7,763 59.85% 5,117 39.45% 91 0.70%
2000 6,582 55.17% 5,117 42.89% 232 1.94%
1996 4,827 40.96% 5,441 46.17% 1,517 12.87%
1992 4,937 37.43% 5,510 41.77% 2,744 20.80%
1988 6,949 56.64% 5,221 42.56% 98 0.80%
1984 7,482 59.20% 4,952 39.18% 205 1.62%
1980 6,831 52.20% 5,496 42.00% 760 5.81%
1976 5,573 46.94% 6,139 51.71% 161 1.36%
1972 6,722 60.54% 4,267 38.43% 114 1.03%
1968 5,731 49.31% 4,635 39.88% 1,257 10.81%
1964 4,808 41.50% 6,694 57.78% 84 0.73%
1960 6,333 55.11% 5,119 44.54% 40 0.35%
1956 6,632 60.27% 4,344 39.48% 28 0.25%
1952 6,169 58.90% 4,251 40.59% 53 0.51%
1948 5,166 53.79% 4,302 44.79% 136 1.42%
1944 5,748 56.17% 4,376 42.76% 110 1.07%
1940 5,957 55.80% 4,688 43.91% 31 0.29%
1936 5,320 52.12% 4,805 47.08% 82 0.80%
1932 4,670 45.95% 5,305 52.19% 189 1.86%
1928 5,295 57.24% 3,906 42.22% 50 0.54%
1924 5,192 55.50% 3,914 41.84% 249 2.66%
1920 5,732 58.02% 4,000 40.49% 148 1.50%
1916 2,675 49.76% 2,518 46.84% 183 3.40%
1912 1,563 30.46% 2,325 45.31% 1,243 24.23%
1908 2,995 50.06% 2,708 45.26% 280 4.68%
1904 3,195 53.20% 2,542 42.32% 269 4.48%
1900 3,371 55.12% 2,636 43.10% 109 1.78%
1896 3,636 57.30% 2,645 41.69% 64 1.01%
1892 3,135 53.44% 2,549 43.45% 182 3.10%
1888 3,321 54.87% 2,700 44.61% 31 0.51%

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18208,038—
183011,46542.6%
184016,61444.9%
185023,91644.0%
186025,0364.7%
187029,74118.8%
188025,977−12.7%
189024,507−5.7%
190022,913−6.5%
191020,483−10.6%
192020,7091.1%
193019,182−7.4%
194019,9123.8%
195021,6138.5%
196024,06111.3%
197027,00612.2%
198030,41912.6%
199029,797−2.0%
200031,7056.4%
201032,4282.3%
202033,1472.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[16]
1790-1960[17] 1900-1990[18]
1990-2000[19] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 32,428 people, 12,635 households, and 8,456 families residing in the county.[20] The population density was 89.9 inhabitants per square mile (34.7/km2). There were 14,311 housing units at an average density of 39.7 per square mile (15.3/km2).[6] The racial makeup of the county was 95.2% white, 1.7% black or African American, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.9% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.3% of the population.[20] In terms of ancestry, 23.5% were German, 15.4% were American, 12.9% were Irish, and 11.2% were English.[21]

Of the 12,635 households, 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.1% were non-families, and 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age was 39.7 years.[20]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $52,343. Males had a median income of $42,629 versus $30,475 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,278. About 10.2% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.1% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.[22]

Education

All Jefferson County residents five years and older are eligible to obtain a free library card from the Jefferson County Public Library in Madison. The public school system in Jefferson County is Madison Consolidated Schools.[23]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Jefferson County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ De Witt Clinton Goodrich & Charles Richard Tuttle (1875). An Illustrated History of the State of Indiana. Indiana: R. S. Peale & co. pp. 562.
  4. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 168.
  5. ↑ "Topic Galleries". Chicago Tribune.
  6. 1 2 "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  7. ↑ Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas, March 6, 2020
  8. ↑ The National Atlas of the United States of America. "The National Map: Small Scale". Archived from the original on December 5, 2008.
  9. ↑ "Directory Browsing is Not Allowed". Archived from the original on May 23, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  10. 1 2 "Monthly Averages for Madison, Indiana". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  11. 1 2 Indiana Code. "Title 36, Article 2, Section 3". IN.gov. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Indiana Code. "Title 2, Article 10, Section 2" (PDF). IN.gov. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
  13. ↑ "About Indiana's 6th District". House.Gov. Archived from the original on February 2, 2015. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Election Results". State of Indiana. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
  15. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  16. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  20. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  21. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  22. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Library Accounts". Jefferson County Public Library. Retrieved March 8, 2018.

38°47′N 85°26′W / 38.79°N 85.44°W / 38.79; -85.44

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