Jennings County, Indiana#Micropolitan Statistical Area

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Jennings County

| state = Indiana

| seal =

| founded year = 1817

| founded date =

| seat wl = Vernon

| largest city wl = North Vernon

| area_total_sq_mi = 378.34

| area_land_sq_mi = 376.58

| area_water_sq_mi = 1.76

| area percentage = 0.47%

| census yr = 2020

| pop = 27613

| pop_est_as_of = 2023

| population_est = 27622 {{gain}}

| density_sq_mi = auto

| time zone = Eastern

| named for = Jonathan Jennings

| district = 6th

| ex image = Jennings County Indiana courthouse.jpg

| ex image cap = Jennings County courthouse in Vernon, Indiana

| footnotes = Indiana county number 40

|website=https://jenningscounty-in.gov/ }}

Jennings County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2020, the population was 27,613.{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Jennings_County,_Indiana?g=050XX00US18079|title=Jennings County, Indiana|access-date=June 2, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau}} The county seat is Vernon.{{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/20150509170006/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 9, 2015 }}

History

Jennings County was formed in 1817. It was named for the first Governor of Indiana and a nine-term congressman, Jonathan Jennings. Jennings was governor when the county was organized.{{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 563]}}

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of {{convert|378.34|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|376.58|sqmi}} (or 99.53%) is land and {{convert|1.76|sqmi}} (or 0.47%) is water. It is a rural county, with majority of the county consisting of personal farms and woodlands. There are only two incorporated towns in this county, Vernon, the county seat, and North Vernon. Both are quite small and underdeveloped by urban standards. The county is located in the center of an imaginary triangle consisting of Indianapolis, IN, Cincinnati, OH, and Louisville, KY and requires only 1{{fraction|1|4}} hour drive time to any of these urban centers.

It is also home to the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, located just outside North Vernon, at which various training exercises and scenarios are conducted for homeland security and other similar purposes.{{cite web

| title = Muscatatuck Urban Training Center

| publisher = United States Department of Defense

| url = http://www.mutc.org/

| access-date = October 5, 2007 }}

=City=

North Vernon

=Town=

Vernon

=Census-designated places=

=Other unincorporated places=

=Townships=

=Adjacent counties=

Decatur County (north)
Ripley County (east)
Jefferson County (southeast)
Scott County (south)
Jackson County (west)
Bartholomew County (northwest)

=Major highways=

Sources: National Atlas,[http://www.nationalatlas.gov/ National Atlas] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205020547/http://www.nationalatlas.gov/ |date=December 5, 2008 }} U.S. Census Bureau{{Cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/ |title=U.S. Census Bureau TIGER shape files |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 }}

=Parks and protected areas=

Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge (part)
Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge (part)
Muscatatuck County Park
Selmier State Forest

Climate and weather

{{climate chart

|Vernon, Indiana

|22|38|2.97

|26|45|2.71

|34|55|3.76

|43|66|4.37

|52|75|4.72

|61|83|3.82

|65|86|4.42

|63|84|4.42

|56|78|2.89

|44|67|3.19

|36|54|3.83

|27|43|3.40

|float=right

|units=imperial

|clear=both

|source=The Weather Channel{{cite web

|url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIN0684

|title=Monthly Averages for Vernon, Indiana

|access-date=January 27, 2011

|publisher=The Weather Channel

}}}}

In recent years, average temperatures in Vernon have ranged from a low of {{convert|22|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|86|°F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-24|°F}} was recorded in January 1977 and a record high of {{convert|105|°F}} was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|2.71|in}} in February to {{convert|4.72|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.

Jennings County is part of Indiana's 6th congressional district and is represented in Congress by Republican Greg Pence. It is also part of Indiana Senate districts 43 and 45{{cite web

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

|title=Indiana Senate Districts

|publisher=State of Indiana

|access-date=July 14, 2011

}} and Indiana House of Representatives districts 66 and 69.{{cite web

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

|title=Indiana House Districts

|publisher=State of Indiana

|access-date=July 14, 2011

}}

Jennings County is, and has historically been, a staunchly Republican county and in the top 5 highest taxed counties in the state. Democratic presidential candidates have won Jennings County only thrice in the past 130 years.

{{PresHead|place=Jennings 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 17, 2018}}}}

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1820= 2000

|1830= 3974

|1840= 8829

|1850= 12096

|1860= 14749

|1870= 16218

|1880= 16453

|1890= 14608

|1900= 15757

|1910= 14203

|1920= 13280

|1930= 11800

|1940= 13680

|1950= 15250

|1960= 17267

|1970= 19454

|1980= 22854

|1990= 23661

|2000= 27554

|2010= 28525

|2020= 27613

|estyear=2023

|estimate=27622

|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{{cite web|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/18/18079.html|title=Jennings County QuickFacts|access-date=September 25, 2011|publisher=United States Census Bureau|archive-date=June 7, 2011

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607083104/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/18/18079.html

|url-status=dead}}

}}

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 28,525 people, 10,680 households, and 7,733 families residing in the county.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US18079

|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/20200213021040/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US18079

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The population density was {{convert|75.7|PD/sqmi}}. There were 12,069 housing units at an average density of {{convert|32.0|/sqmi}}.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18079

|access-date=July 10, 2015

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

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212204145/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18079

|archive-date=February 12, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The racial makeup of the county was 96.8% white, 0.8% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 1.0% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 26.2% were German, 16.3% were Irish, 14.7% were American, and 7.2% were English.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0400000US18%7c0500000US18079

|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/20200214002256/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0400000US18%7C0500000US18079

|archive-date=February 14, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

Of the 10,680 households, 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 27.6% were non-families, and 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.06. The median age was 38.4 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $48,470. Males had a median income of $38,506 versus $27,633 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,636. About 8.9% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0400000US18%7c0500000US18079

|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/20200214003440/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0400000US18%7C0500000US18079

|archive-date=February 14, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

Education

Jennings County residents may obtain a library card from the Jennings County Public Library in North Vernon.{{cite web | url=https://jenningslib.org/get-a-library-card/ | title=Get A Library Card | publisher=Jennings County Public Library | access-date=March 8, 2018}}

In popular culture

Jennings County is the setting of the novel The Friendly Persuasion, later adapted into the Oscar-nominated film Friendly Persuasion in 1956. Although initially planned to be filmed on location, it was finally filmed in California.Friendly Persuasion (1956 film)#Production See the film's wikipage.{{circular reference|date=November 2021}}