Jefferson County, Indiana

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Jefferson County

| state = Indiana

| seal =

| founded year = 1811

| founded date =

| seat wl = Madison

| largest city wl = Madison

| area_total_sq_mi = 362.89

| area_land_sq_mi = 360.63

| area_water_sq_mi = 2.26

| area percentage = 0.62%

| census yr = 2020

| pop = 33147

| pop_est_as_of = 2023

| population_est = 33056 {{decrease}}

| density_sq_mi = auto

| time zone = Eastern

| web = http://jeffersoncounty.in.gov/index.php

| named for = Thomas Jefferson

| district = 6th

| ex image = Jefferson County Courthouse, Madison, IN (48572055487).jpg

| ex image cap = Jefferson County Courthouse in Madison

| footnotes = 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.{{cite web

|url = http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/18/18077.html

|title = Jefferson County QuickFacts

|access-date = September 25, 2011

|publisher = United States Census Bureau

|url-status = dead

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110607083038/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/18/18077.html

|archive-date = June 7, 2011

}} The county seat is Madison.{{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 }}

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.{{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/n567 562]}}{{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/n167 168]}}

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.{{cite news| url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-in-courthousefire,0,7027486.story | work=Chicago Tribune | title=Topic Galleries}} 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 {{convert|362.89|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|360.63|sqmi}} (or 99.38%) is land and {{convert|2.26|sqmi}} (or 0.62%) is water. Jefferson County makes up the Madison, IN Micropolitan Statistical Area.[https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Bulletin-20-01.pdf 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]

=Cities and towns=

Brooksburg
Dupont
Hanover
Madison (county seat)

=Census-designated places=

=Townships=

=Adjacent counties=

Ripley County (north)
Switzerland County (east)
Carroll County, Kentucky (southeast)
Trimble County, Kentucky (south)
Clark County (southwest)
Scott County (west)
Jennings County (northwest)

=Major highways=

Sources: National Atlas,{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalatlas.gov/ |title=The National Map: Small Scale |author=The National Atlas of the United States of America |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205020547/http://www.nationalatlas.gov/ |archive-date=December 5, 2008 }} U.S. Census Bureau{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/|title=Directory Browsing is Not Allowed|access-date=December 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170523020601/https://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/|archive-date=May 23, 2017|url-status=dead}}

=National protected area=

Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Climate and weather

{{climate chart

|Madison, Indiana

|23|39|3.13

|26|44|2.96

|34|55|4.26

|43|65|4.28

|53|75|4.96

|62|83|4.36

|66|87|4.39

|65|85|4.10

|57|79|2.92

|45|67|3.20

|36|55|3.84

|27|44|3.69

|float=right

|units=imperial

|clear=both

|source=The Weather Channel{{cite web

|url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIN0386

|title=Monthly Averages for Madison, Indiana

|access-date=January 27, 2011

|publisher=The Weather Channel

}}}}

In recent years, average temperatures in Madison have ranged from a low of {{convert|23|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|87|°F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-18|°F}} was recorded in December 1989 and a record high of {{convert|108|°F}} was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|2.92|in}} in September to {{convert|4.96|in}} in May.

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}}

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: 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.

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.

Jefferson County is part of Indiana's 6th congressional district and is represented in Congress by Republican Luke Messer.{{cite web|url=http://messer.house.gov/our-district/about-6th-district|title=About Indiana's 6th District|publisher=House.Gov|access-date=February 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202222203/http://messer.house.gov/our-district/about-6th-district|archive-date=February 2, 2015|url-status=dead}} It is also part of Indiana Senate district 45 and is split between Indiana House of Representatives districts 66, 67 and 69.{{cite web

|url=http://www.in.gov/apps/sos/election/general/general2014

|title=Election Results

|publisher=State of Indiana

|access-date=February 11, 2015

}}

=Politics=

{{PresHead|place=Jefferson 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 9, 2018}}}}

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1820= 8038

|1830= 11465

|1840= 16614

|1850= 23916

|1860= 25036

|1870= 29741

|1880= 25977

|1890= 24507

|1900= 22913

|1910= 20483

|1920= 20709

|1930= 19182

|1940= 19912

|1950= 21613

|1960= 24061

|1970= 27006

|1980= 30419

|1990= 29797

|2000= 31705

|2010= 32428

|2020= 33147

|estyear=2023

|estimate=33056

|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 32,428 people, 12,635 households, and 8,456 families residing in the county.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US18077

|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/20200213020755/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US18077

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The population density was {{convert|89.9|PD/sqmi}}. There were 14,311 housing units at an average density of {{convert|39.7|/sqmi}}.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18077

|access-date=July 10, 2015

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

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212204230/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18077

|archive-date=February 12, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} 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. In terms of ancestry, 23.5% were German, 15.4% were American, 12.9% were Irish, and 11.2% were English.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0400000US18%7c0500000US18077

|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/20200214002941/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0400000US18%7C0500000US18077

|archive-date=February 14, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

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.

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.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0400000US18%7c0500000US18077

|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/20200214002347/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0400000US18%7C0500000US18077

|archive-date=February 14, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

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.{{cite web | url=http://www.mjcpl.org/borrow-policy | title=Library Accounts | publisher=Jefferson County Public Library | access-date=March 8, 2018}}