Dubois County, Indiana

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Dubois County

| state = Indiana

| seal =

| founded year = 1818

| founded date = December 20

| seat wl = Jasper

| largest city wl = Jasper

| area_total_sq_mi = 435.33

| area_land_sq_mi = 427.27

| area_water_sq_mi = 8.06

| area percentage = 1.85%

| census yr = 2020

| pop = 43637

| pop_est_as_of = 2023

| population_est = 43546 {{decrease}}

| density_sq_mi = 97.4

| time zone = Eastern

| footnotes = Indiana county number 19

| named for = Toussaint Dubois

| ex image= Jasper indiana square.jpg

| ex image cap = The Dubois County courthouse in Jasper, Indiana

| district = 8th

|website=https://www.duboiscountyin.org/}}

Dubois County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2020, the population was 43,637.{{cite web

|url = http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/18/18037.html

|title = Dubois County QuickFacts

|access-date = September 17, 2021

|publisher = United States Census Bureau

|url-status =

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110607080846/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/18/18037.html

|archive-date = June 7, 2011

}} The county seat is Jasper.{{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/20120712220218/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=July 12, 2012 }} Dubois County is now the sole county of the Jasper Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Dubois County was formed on December 20, 1818, from Orange, Pike and Perry counties. It is named for Toussaint Dubois,{{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/n108 109]}} a Frenchman who fought in the American Revolutionary War, the Battle of Tippecanoe and the War of 1812. Dubois was a merchant who lived mainly in Vincennes. He drowned in 1816 while crossing the Little Wabash River near Lawrenceville, Illinois.{{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/n568 556]}}

In 1818, as many as half of the residents of the county died of milk sickness.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ingenweb.org/indubois/Dubois%20County%20History/milksick.html|title = 404 Not Found}} The plant contains the potent toxin temetrol, which is passed through the milk.{{cite news |title=Abraham Lincoln Biography |url=http://www.biography.com/articles/Abraham-Lincoln-9382540?part=1 |work=Biography.com |access-date=April 28, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418234511/http://www.biography.com/articles/Abraham-Lincoln-9382540?part=1 |archive-date=April 18, 2010 }} The migrants from the East were unfamiliar with the Midwestern plant and its effects.{{cite journal | url=https://www.jstor.org/pss/27792690 | jstor=27792690 | last1=Daly | first1=Walter J. | title=The "Slows": The Torment of Milk Sickness on the Midwest Frontier | journal=Indiana Magazine of History | date=2006 | volume=102 | issue=1 | pages=29–40 }}

Dubois County switched to the Central Time Zone on April 2, 2006, and returned to the Eastern Time Zone on November 4, 2007; both changes were controversial as Huntingburg wished to remain on Central Time while Jasper never wanted to leave Eastern Time.{{cite web|url=http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070921/LOCAL/709210491/-1/LOCAL17|title=Indianapolis Star|website=Indianapolis Star|access-date=April 8, 2018}}[http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot10007.htm DOT Moves Five Indiana Counties from Central to Eastern Time] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080520155932/http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot10007.htm |date=May 20, 2008 }}

The original county seat was Portersville. In 1830, the county seat was moved south to Jasper.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of {{convert|435.33|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|427.27|sqmi}} (or 98.15%) is land and {{convert|8.06|sqmi}} (or 1.85%) is water.

=Cities=

=Towns=

=Census-designated places=

Dubois

=Other unincorporated places=

=Townships=

=Adjacent counties=

Martin County (north)
Orange County (northeast)
Crawford County (east)
Perry County (southeast/CT Border)
Spencer County (south/CT Border)
Warrick County (southwest/CT Border)
Pike County (west)
Daviess County (northwest)

= Climate and weather =

{{climate chart

|Jasper, Indiana

|20|38|3.03

|24|44|2.81

|33|54|4.08

|43|65|4.65

|52|74|5.29

|61|82|4.68

|66|86|4.38

|63|85|4.12

|56|79|3.55

|44|67|3.15

|35|55|4.29

|25|43|3.50

|float=right

|units=imperial

|clear=both

|source=The Weather Channel{{cite web

|url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIN0312

|title=Monthly Averages for Jasper, Indiana

|access-date=January 27, 2011

|publisher=The Weather Channel

}}}}

In recent years, average temperatures in Jasper have ranged from a low of {{convert|20|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|86|°F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-25|°F}} was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of {{convert|104|°F}} was recorded in July 1966. Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|2.81|in}} in February to {{convert|5.29|in}} in May.

Politics

Prior to 1980, Dubois County was heavily Democratic voting Republican only 3 times since 1888 although George McGovern came within 272 votes of winning it in 1972. But starting with the 1980 election it has been reliably Republican although Jimmy Carter came within 75 votes of winning it in 1980 and Bill Clinton came within 341 votes of winning it in 1996.

{{PresHead|place=Dubois County, Indiana|source={{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 8, 2018}}}}

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1820= 1168

|1830= 1778

|1840= 3632

|1850= 6321

|1860= 10394

|1870= 12597

|1880= 15992

|1890= 20253

|1900= 20357

|1910= 19843

|1920= 19915

|1930= 20553

|1940= 22579

|1950= 23785

|1960= 27463

|1970= 30934

|1980= 34238

|1990= 36616

|2000= 39674

|2010= 41889

|2020= 43637

|estyear=2023

|estimate=43546

|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}} 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

}}

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 41,889 people, 16,133 households, and 11,459 families residing in the county.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US18037

|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/20200213012449/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US18037

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The population density was {{convert|98.0|PD/sqmi}}. There were 17,384 housing units at an average density of {{convert|40.7|/sqmi}}.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18037

|access-date=July 10, 2015

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

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212201139/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18037

|archive-date=February 12, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The racial makeup of the county was 95.1% white, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 3.1% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 58.0% were German, 9.0% were American, 8.1% were Irish, and 6.7% were English.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0400000US18%7c0500000US18037

|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/20200214003501/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0400000US18%7C0500000US18037

|archive-date=February 14, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

Of the 16,133 households, 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.0% were non-families, and 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.03. The median age was 39.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $64,286. Males had a median income of $42,078 versus $31,411 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,801. About 6.9% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0400000US18%7c0500000US18037

|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/20200214003429/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0400000US18%7C0500000US18037

|archive-date=February 14, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

=2020 census=

class="wikitable"

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

!Race

!Num.

!Perc.

White (NH)

|38,137

|87.4%

Black or African American (NH)

|190

|0.44%

Native American (NH)

|55

|0.13%

Asian (NH)

|247

|0.56%

Pacific Islander (NH)

|0.01%

Other/Mixed (NH)

|857

|2%

Hispanic or Latino

|4,146

|9.5%

Economy

=Personal income=

The median income for a household in the county was $44,169, and the median income for a family was $50,342. Males had a median income of $32,484 versus $23,526 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,225. About 2.90% of families and 6.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.30% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.

=Tourism=

Patoka Lake is located along the county's eastern borders with both Crawford and Orange Counties. Several annual national bass fishing tournaments are held there.{{Cite web |date=August 13, 2016 |title=Patoka Lake |url=https://anglerschannel.com/lakes/patoka-lake/ |access-date=December 20, 2023 |website=Anglers Channel |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=May 22, 2023 |title=Walker Hangs on for Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Patoka Lake |url=https://anglerschannel.com/walker-hangs-on-for-win-at-phoenix-bass-fishing-league-event-at-patoka-lake/ |access-date=December 20, 2023 |website=Anglers Channel |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Patoka Lake Open |url=https://www.pdga.com/tour/event/65941 |access-date=December 20, 2023 |website=Professional Disc Golf Association |language=en}}

The Hoosier National Forest is located in the county. Part of it is protected.

Education

Public education in Dubois County is administered through four school corporations:{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st18_in/schooldistrict_maps/c18037_dubois/DC20SD_C18037.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Dubois County, IN|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2024-06-12}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st18_in/schooldistrict_maps/c18037_dubois/DC20SD_C18037_SD2MS.txt Text list].

High Schools