Dearborn County, Indiana#References

{{About|the Indiana County|other places with that name|Dearborn (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Dearborn County

| state = Indiana

| seal =

| founded = 1803

| seat wl = Lawrenceburg

| largest city wl = Lawrenceburg

| area_total_sq_mi = 307.42

| area_land_sq_mi = 305.03

| area_water_sq_mi = 2.38

| area percentage = 0.77%

| census yr = 2020

| pop = 50679

| pop_est_as_of = 2023

| population_est = 51215 {{increase}}

| density_sq_mi = auto

| demonym = Dearbornian

| web = http://www.dearborncounty.org/

| named for = Dr. Henry Dearborn

| district = 6th

| footnotes = Indiana county number 15

| ex image = Dearborn County Courthouse, Lawrenceburg, IN (48370088711).jpg

| ex image cap = Dearborn County Courthouse

| time zone = Eastern

}}

Image:Lawrenceburg-indiana-from-above.jpg at lower-left.]]

Dearborn County is one of 92 counties of the U.S. state of Indiana. Located on the Ohio border near the southeast corner of the state, Dearborn County was formed in 1803 from a portion of Hamilton County, Ohio. In 2020, the population was 50,679.{{cite web

|url = http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/18/18029.html

|title = Dearborn County QuickFacts

|access-date = September 17, 2021

|publisher = United States Census Bureau

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210711034418/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/18/18029.html

|archive-date = July 11, 2021

}} The county seat and largest city is Lawrenceburg.{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}

Dearborn County is part of the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

In 1803, following Ohio's admission to the Union, a wedge, or pie shaped, remnant of the former Northwest Territory along Ohio's southwestern border was ceded to Indiana Territory and organized as Dearborn County. It was named after Henry Dearborn who was U.S. Secretary of War at that time.{{cite web|url=http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=5294|title=Profile for Dearborn County, Indiana, IN|publisher=ePodunk|access-date=August 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113115142/http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=5294|archive-date=November 13, 2012|url-status=dead}}
- {{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n101 102] }} Lawrenceburg was then designated as the county seat.

All or part of seven other present day counties were carved from the original county with the present boundaries being established in 1845. The region, nicknamed the "Gore", slices through the present-day counties of Dearborn, Franklin, Ohio, Randolph, Switzerland, Union, Wayne and Fayette.{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_b040AQAAMAAJ | title=History of Dearborn and Ohio Counties, Indiana | publisher=F. E. Weakley | year=1885 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_b040AQAAMAAJ/page/n105 111]}} Subdivision of Dearborn County began in 1811 with the formation of Franklin and Wayne Counties, followed by Switzerland in 1814.

Early growth in the region was centered on Lawrenceburg which became an important railroad junction connecting two of the regions major rail lines.{{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=https://archive.org/details/anillustratedhi02tuttgoog| pages=[https://archive.org/details/anillustratedhi02tuttgoog/page/n565 553]}} A contention existed between the towns of Lawrenceburg and the mostly German-speaking immigrants that dominated Rising Sun over the favored status of Lawrenceburg as the county seat. The rivalry between the two towns was resolved in 1844 when the Indiana State legislature separated the portion of Dearborn County south of Laughery Creek and created the last and smallest Indiana county, county of Ohio on March 1, 1844, with Rising Sun designated as its county seat.{{cite web|url=http://www.countyhistory.com/dearborn/more.htm |title=More About Dearborn County |publisher=Indiana County History Preservation Society |access-date=December 16, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131084630/http://countyhistory.com/dearborn/more.htm |archive-date=January 31, 2011 }}

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of {{convert|307.42|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|305.03|sqmi}} (or 99.22%) is land and {{convert|2.38|sqmi}} (or 0.77%) is water. Part of the southeastern county line is formed by the Ohio River.

=Cities=

=Towns=

=Census-designated places=

=Other unincorporated communities=

=Townships=

=Adjacent counties=

Franklin County (north)
Butler County, Ohio (northeast)
Hamilton County, Ohio (east)
Boone County, Kentucky (southeast)
Ohio County (south)
Ripley County (west)

= Climate =

In recent years, average temperatures in Lawrenceburg have ranged from a low of {{convert|21|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|86|°F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-27|°F}} was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of {{convert|107|°F}} was recorded in July 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|2.94|in}} in September to {{convert|5.53|in}} in May.

{{climate chart

|Lawrenceburg, Indiana

|21|38|3.49

|24|44|3.02

|31|54|4.38

|39|64|4.40

|49|74|5.53

|58|82|4.62

|63|86|4.57

|62|85|3.95

|55|79|2.94

|43|67|3.15

|35|55|3.81

|26|43|3.68

|float=left

|units=imperial

|clear=left

|source=The Weather Channel{{cite web

|url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIN0355

|title=Monthly Averages for Lawrenceburg, Indiana

|access-date=January 27, 2011

|publisher=The Weather Channel

}}}}

Major highways

{{jct|state=IN|I|74}}
{{jct|state=IN|I|275}}
{{jct|state=IN|US|50}}
{{jct|state=IN|US|52}}
{{jct|state=IN|SR|1}}
{{jct|state=IN|SR|46}}
{{Jct|state=IN|SR|48}}
{{Jct|state=IN|SR|56}}
{{Jct|state=IN|SR|62}}
{{Jct|state=IN|SR|148}}
{{Jct|state=IN|SR|262}}
{{Jct|state=IN|SR|350}}

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1810= 7310

|1820= 11468

|1830= 13974

|1840= 19327

|1850= 20166

|1860= 24406

|1870= 24116

|1880= 26671

|1890= 23364

|1900= 22194

|1910= 21396

|1920= 20033

|1930= 21056

|1940= 23053

|1950= 25141

|1960= 28674

|1970= 29430

|1980= 34291

|1990= 38835

|2000= 46109

|2010= 50047

|2020= 50679

|estyear=2023

|estimate=51215

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 2, 2024}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 10, 2014}}
1790-1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=July 10, 2014|archive-date=August 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=dead}} 1900-1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/in190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 10, 2014}}
1990-2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 10, 2014}} 2010-2013

}}

At the 2010 United States Census, there were 50,047 people, 18,743 households and 13,773 families residing in the county.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US18029

|title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data

|access-date=July 10, 2015

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213034356/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US18029

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The population density was {{convert|164.1|PD/sqmi}}. There were 20,171 housing units at an average density of {{convert|66.1|/sqmi}}.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18029

|access-date=July 10, 2015

|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212195849/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18029

|archive-date=February 12, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The racial makeup of the county was 97.5% white, 0.6% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.3% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 46.5% were German, 19.2% were Irish, 11.4% were English, and 7.8% were American.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0400000US18%7c0500000US18029

|title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

|access-date=July 10, 2015

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200214002137/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0400000US18%7C0500000US18029

|archive-date=February 14, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

Of the 18,743 households, 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 26.5% were non-families, and 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.07. The median age was 40.0 years.

The median household income was $47,697 and the median family income was $66,561. Males had a median income of $45,270 and females $33,353. The per capita income was $25,023. About 4.5% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0400000US18%7c0500000US18029

|title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

|access-date=July 10, 2015

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200214003013/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0400000US18%7C0500000US18029

|archive-date=February 14, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

=2020 census=

class="wikitable"

|+Dearborn County Racial Composition{{Cite web|title =P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Dearborn County, Indiana|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Dearborn%20County,%20Indiana&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}

!Race

!Num.

!Perc.

White (NH)

|47,319

|93.37%

Black or African American (NH)

|292

|0.6%

Native American (NH)

|66

|0.13%

Asian (NH)

|211

|0.42%

Pacific Islander (NH)

|0.02%

Other/Mixed (NH)

|2,058

|4.06%

Hispanic or Latino

|724

|1.43%

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|author-link=Indiana Code|url=http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title36/ar2/ch3.html |title=Title 36, Article 2, Section 3|access-date=September 16, 2008|publisher=IN.gov}}{{cite web|author= Indiana Code|author-link= Indiana Code|url= http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title3/ar10/ch2.pdf |title= Title 2, Article 10, Section 2 |access-date=September 16, 2008|publisher=IN.gov}}

There are seven members of council from four districts and three elected at large.

District 1-Elizabeth Morris (Council President) Republican

District 2-Dan Lansing Democrat

District 3-Kevin Turner Republican

District 4- Denny Kraus Republican

At large- Allen Goodman (Vice-President) Republican, Tim Doll Republican, and Glenn Wright Republican. {{Cite web|url= https://www.dearborncounty.org/egov/apps/staff/directory.egov?structureid=11| title=Staff Directory / Browse Staff / Dearborn County, Indiana }}

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.

Court: Dearborn County's courts consist of a Circuit Court, presided over by the Honorable James Humphrey (shared with Ohio County in the only such arrangement in the state{{cite web |url=http://www.in.gov/judiciary/about/04-trialcourts.html |title=Know Your Indiana Courts: Trial Courts: Types of Courts |access-date=December 3, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019180119/http://in.gov/judiciary/about/04-trialcourts.html |archive-date=October 19, 2011 }}) and two Superior Courts, the Honorable Jonathan Cleary, presiding over Dearborn County Superior Court No. 1 and the Honorable Sally McLaughlin, presiding over Dearborn County z Superior Court No. 2. Judges are elected to six-year terms. Lawrenceburg also has City Courts, presided over by the Honorable Joseph R. Johns. The Lawrenceburg City Court Judge serves a four-year term.

County Officials: The county has several other elected offices, including sheriff, prosecuting attorney, 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 a party affiliation and to be residents of the county.

Dearborn County is part of Indiana's 6th congressional district; Indiana Senate district 43;{{cite web

|url=http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3006.htm

|title=Indiana Senate Districts

|publisher=State of Indiana

|access-date=January 23, 2011

}} and Indiana House of Representatives districts 55 and 68.{{cite web

|url=http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3005.htm

|title=Indiana House Districts

|publisher=State of Indiana

|access-date=January 23, 2011

}}

{{PresHead|place=Dearborn County, Indiana|source={{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=May 14, 2018}}}}

Infrastructure

=Major highways=

Notable people

Nick Goepper professional slopestyle skier, three-time winter Olympic medalist
Erwin "Cannonball" Baker, motorcycle and auto racer, 1989 inductee in Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
John Whiteaker, first state Governor of Oregon from 1859 until 1862 and Oregon's Congressman from 1879 to 1881
Jim Lyttle, professional baseball player
Lonnie Mack, influential guitar soloist of early rock 'n' roll
Louis Skidmore, architect that co-founded Skidmore, Owings & Merrill