Sullivan County, Indiana#References

On February 25, 1779, Col. George Rogers Clark captured Fort Sackville at Vincennes from the British. About {{convert|6|mi|km|spell=in}} west at Pointe Coupee on the Wabash River on March 2, 1779, Capt. Leonard Helm commanding three boats and 50 volunteers from Vincennes captured a reinforcement fleet of seven boats carrying 40 soldiers and valuable supplies and Indian trade goods. This small naval battle completed the destruction of British military strength in the Wabash Valley.

The county's first settlement occurred between 1808 and 1812, by a religious society of celibates known as Shakers. The 400 members of this communal group occupied {{convert|1300|acre|km2|0}}, {{convert|7|mi|km|spell=in}} west of Carlisle.

General William Henry Harrison’s army made its last camp in Sullivan County at Big Springs on September 29, 1811. Harrison used Benjamin Turman's fort as his headquarters. With spring water available, it was an ideal location for 1000 men, including 160 dragoons and 60 mounted riflemen. A Kentucky soldier killed a fellow Kentuckian, Clark, either accidentally or in a grudge fight. The deceased was buried at the top of a hill that became the Mann Turman Cemetery. General Harrison and his troops continued north on the Wea Indiana Trail to build Fort Harrison and then proceeded to the Battle of Tippecanoe.

A War of 1812 military action occurred in September 1812, {{convert|3|mi|km|spell=in}} west−southwest of Sullivan County. While escorting supplies from Fort Knox near Vincennes to Fort Harrison at Terre Haute, Sergeant Nathan Fairbanks and approximately a dozen soldiers were ambushed - and most killed - by Indians.

In 1815, Carlisle was founded.

An act of the Indiana legislature dated December 30, 1816, created Sullivan County, with areas partitioned from Knox County. The effective date of the new government was January 15, 1817, with interim commissioners charged to begin organizing the new government in February.{{sfn|Wolfe|1909|p=7}}{{cite web|title=Organization Of Sullivan County|url=http://sctb.net/Historical_history.htm|website=Sullivan County, Indiana|publisher=Sullivan County Historical Society|access-date=July 12, 2014}}{{cite web|title=Sullivan County, Indiana|url=http://www.stats.indiana.edu/profiles/profiles.asp?scope_choice=a&county_changer=18153|website=STATS Indiana|publisher=Indiana Business Research Center|access-date=July 12, 2014}} It was named for Daniel Sullivan, a prominent frontiersman killed in 1790 by Native Americans while carrying a dispatch between Fort Vincennes and Louisville.

A log courthouse in Merom served as Sullivan County's first county seat from 1819 to 1842. Merom was an important river port and a stop on the stage route known as The Old Harrison Trail. William Henry Harrison's troops camped near here on their 1811 march to the Battle of Tippecanoe.

Pioneer heroine of abdominal surgery Jane Todd is buried in Sullivan County. Born in Virginia in 1763, she and her husband, Thomas Crawford, moved to Green County, Kentucky, in 1805. Suffering from a huge abdominal tumor, she rode {{convert|60|mi|km|-1}} to Danville, Kentucky, to submit to a never−before−performed surgical procedure. On Christmas Day 1809, Dr. Ephraim McDowell performed the first ovariotomy, in his home. The ordeal lasted 25 minutes. There was no anesthesia. Mrs. Crawford recovered completely and years later came to Graysville to live with her son, Thomas, a Presbyterian minister. She died in 1842 at age 78. The restored McDowell home in Danville, Kentucky, is a surgical shrine.

Sullivan was founded in 1853 and became the county seat.

Dedicated in 1862, Union Christian College served as a preparatory school and college until 1924. In 1936 it became Merom Institute—a rural enrichment center. Now owned by the United Church of Christ, it serves as a camp, conference, and retreat center.

Numerous violent conflicts erupted in Sullivan County during the American Civil War over differing war sentiments. On July 14, 1864, anti-war Democrat John Drake was fatally shot at a community picnic near here.

In November 1902, a mob abducted James Dillard from the Sullivan County sheriff, John S. Dudley, as he was being taken to Sullivan. After kidnapping Dillard, they lynched him.{{Cite web |last=Tribune-Star |first=Lisa Trigg |title=One lynching each recorded in Sullivan, Vigo histories |url=https://www.tribstar.com/news/local_news/one-lynching-each-recorded-in-sullivan-vigo-histories/article_4433bdf3-3e5f-5ca5-ac80-64835d57340d.html |access-date=April 15, 2022 |website=Terre Haute Tribune-Star |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=McCormick |first=Mike |date=November 17, 2002 |title=A lynching, fightin' women, and a visit from Eugene V. Debs mark 100 years ago |work=Terre Haute Tribune Star |url=https://indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/vcpl/id/10362/rec/1 |access-date=April 15, 2022}} In response to the lynching, Governor Winfield Durbin dismissed the sheriff - a decision which was in line with Indiana's 1899 anti-lynching law.{{Cite book |last=Madison |first=James H. |title=A Lynching in the Heartland: Race and Memory in America |publisher=Palgrave |year=2001 |location=New York |pages=18–19}} However, Sheriff Dudley ultimately remained in office after he and other officials entered into a legal battle about the decision.{{Cite book |last=Cutler |first=James Elbert |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uSgKAAAAIAAJ&q=sullivan+county+sheriff+indiana+trial+1902.&pg=PA250 |title=Lynch-law: An Investigation Into the History of Lynching in the United States |date=1905 |publisher=Longmans, Green, and Company |language=en}}

Organized nationally to bring culture to rural communities, Merom's 10-day religious and educational Chautauqua event featured concerts, debates, plays, and lectures. Carrie Nation, William Jennings Bryan, William Howard Taft, Warren G. Harding, and Billy Sunday were among its speakers.

On February 20, 1925, an explosion occurred at the Sullivan City Mine, killing 51.{{cite journal |editor1-last=Nystrom |editor1-first=Eric |title=In the Aftermath of Tragedy: Herschel Wence and the 1925 City Mine Disaster, Sullivan County, Indiana |journal=The Mining History Journal |date=2014 |volume=21 |pages=22-29 |url=https://www.mininghistoryassociation.org/Journal/MHJ-v21-2014-Nystrom.pdf |access-date=2 February 2025}}{{cite web |last1=Cummings |first1=Molly |title=100th anniversary of Sullivan City Mine explosion next month |url=https://www.mywabashvalley.com/news/local-news/100th-anniversary-of-sullivan-city-mine-explosion-next-month/ |website=MyWabashValley.com |access-date=2 February 2025 |date=31 January 2025}}

In 1968, the Sullivan County Park and Lake was created. It contains a {{convert|468|acre|km2|1|adj=on}} reservoir for swimming, boating, and fishing. The lake is stocked with crappie, hybrid saugeye, bass, bluegill, and channel catfish. Water skiing is popular. Sullivan County Park and Lake has {{convert|400|acre|km2|1}} of land for camping and a 9-hole golf course. The campground offers sites ranging from primitive camping to space for motor homes.

Sullivan County lies on the west edge of Indiana; its western border abuts the state of Illinois (across the Wabash River). The meanders of the Wabash delineate the county's west border. The upper part of the county is drained by Turtle Creek, which flows southwestward into the river. The lower part of the county is similarly drained by Busseron Creek.

The county's abundant woods were largely cleared and devoted to agriculture during the nineteenth century. At present only the drainages remain wooded.[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sullivan+County,+IN/@39.1204608,-87.55021,66780m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x886d8f02f832b2bf:0x48bd6ce3f46478ef!8m2!3d39.0843122!4d-87.4207518 Sullivan County IN (Google Maps, accessed 4 November 2020)] Its highest point ({{convert|640|ft|m|abbr=off|disp=x|/|sp=us}} ASL) is a small rise {{convert|6|mi|km|spell=in}} east of Carlisle.[https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=23012 Sullivan County High Point, Indiana (PeakBagger.com, accessed 4 November 2020)]

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of {{convert|454.12|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|447.14|sqmi}} (or 98.46%) is land and {{convert|6.97|sqmi}} (or 1.53%) is water.

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Vigo County − north
• Clay County − northeast
• Greene County − east
• Knox County − south
• Crawford County, Illinois − west
• Clark County, Illinois − northwest

{{div col end}}

{{div col|colwidth=30em}}

• Busseron Creek Fish & Wildlife Area{{cite web |title=Historic Partnership Secures Nearly 4,000 Acres for Conservation and Future Public Recreation in Southern Indiana |url=https://www.nature.org/en-us/newsroom/indiana-busseron-creek-acquisition/ |website=The Nature Conservancy |publisher=The Nature Conservancy |access-date=3 February 2025 |date=12 December 2024}}
• Elliott Woods State Nature Preserve
• Greene-Sullivan State Forest (part)
• Redbird State Recreation Area (part)
• Shakamak State Park (part)
• Sullivan County Park and Lake
• Turtle Creek Reservoir

{{div col end}}

• Sullivan - county seat

{{div col}}

• Carlisle
• Dugger
• Farmersburg
• Hymera
• Merom
• Shelburn

{{div col end}}

{{div col}}

• Baker
• Baldridge
• Benefiel Corner
• Bucktown
• Cass
• Curryville
• Dodds Bridge
• East Shelburn
• Fairbanks
• Gambill
• Gilmour − part
• Glendora
• Graysville
• Greenville
• Hawton
• Jackson Hill
• Jericho
• Lewis − part
• Massacre
• Merom Station
• New Lebanon
• Paxton
• Pleasantville
• Riverton
• Riverview
• Scotchtown
• Scott City
• Shiloh
• Standard
• Stringtown
• Wilfred

{{div col end}}

• Caledonia
• Farnsworth

{{div col}}

• Cass
• Curry
• Fairbanks
• Gill
• Haddon
• Hamilton
• Jackson
• Jefferson
• Turman

{{div col end}}

{{div col|colwidth=25em}}

• 20px U.S. Route 41
• 20px U.S. Route 150
• 20px State Road 48
• 20px State Road 54
• 20px State Road 58
• 20px State Road 63
• 20px State Road 154
• 20px State Road 159

{{div col end}}

The county contains one public-use airport, the Sullivan County Airport (SIV) at Sullivan.[http://www.tollfreeairline.com/indiana/sullivan.htm Public and Private Airports, Sullivan County, Indiana]

Peabody Energy Corporation The Bear Run mine is the largest surface mine in the eastern U.S. and was expected to produce 12 million tons of coal per year. The mine employed 500 employees in 2012.[https://web.archive.org/web/20110715060541/http://www.peabodyenergy.com/pdfs/Q109EarningsRel.pdf] Peabody Energy Earnings Report 2011 However, as national coal demand declined, its production was cut back (to 7.2 million tons in 2016 and 2017, to 6.8 in 2018), and in November 2019 there were further reductions and layoffs.{{cite web|url=https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/story/41282243/miners-to-be-laid-off-as-peabody-scales-back-production|publisher=Inside Indiana Business|title=Miners To Be Laid Off As Peabody Scales Back Production|date=November 6, 2019|access-date=November 4, 2020}}

Sullivan County is served by two school corporations, the Southwest School Corporation and the Northeast School Corporation. The former's high school is Sullivan High School in Sullivan, and the latter's high schools are North Central High School in Farmersburg and Union High School in Dugger. Union Christian College formerly operated in Merom.

{{climate chart

|Sullivan, Indiana

|18|36|2.79

|22|42|2.58

|31|52|3.22

|42|64|4.22

|52|73|4.10

|61|82|3.54

|65|85|4.69

|63|84|3.80

|56|78|3.72

|44|67|3.03

|34|53|4.09

|23|40|3.03

|float=right

|units=imperial

|clear=both

|source=The Weather Channel{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIN0643|title=Monthly Averages for Sullivan, Indiana|access-date=January 27, 2011|publisher=The Weather Channel}}}}

In recent years, average temperatures in Sullivan have ranged from a low of {{convert|18|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|85|°F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-33|°F}} was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of {{convert|98|°F}} was recorded in July 1999. Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|2.58|in}} in February to {{convert|4.69|in}} in July.

{{see also|Government of Indiana}}

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 legislative branch of the county government; controls spending and revenue collection in the county. Representatives are elected to four-year terms from county districts. They set salaries, the annual budget, and special spending. The council 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|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|url=http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title3/ar10/ch2.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041227171739/http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title3/ar10/ch2.pdf |archive-date=December 27, 2004 |url-status=live|title=Title 2, Article 10, Section 2|access-date=September 16, 2008|publisher=IN.gov}}

Board of Commissioners: The executive body of the county; commissioners are elected county-wide to staggered four-year terms. One commissioner serves as president. The commissioners execute acts legislated by the council, collect revenue, and manage the county government.

Court: The county maintains a small claims court that handles 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 other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor, and circuit court clerk. These officers are elected to four-year terms. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare party affiliations and to be residents of the county.

{{PresHead|place=Sullivan County, Indiana|source={{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=May 20, 2018}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Republican|6,639|2,006|150|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|2020|Republican|6,691|2,153|164|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|6,138|2,113|362|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|2012|Republican|4,902|3,191|197|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|2008|Republican|4,343|4,284|155|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|4,999|3,341|54|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,319|3,833|110|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|3,207|4,076|1,359|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|3,052|4,211|1,905|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|4,246|4,320|31|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|4,771|4,006|36|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|4,465|4,335|303|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|3,747|5,198|61|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|5,338|3,624|39|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|4,266|4,453|1,155|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|3,867|7,351|42|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|1960|Republican|6,012|5,975|73|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|5,829|6,048|69|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|5,929|6,964|95|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|4,824|6,705|272|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|5,855|6,420|122|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|6,471|8,667|151|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|4,685|10,203|266|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,667|7,835|975|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|1928|Republican|6,199|5,642|293|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|5,139|5,213|1,701|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|5,376|6,160|1,455|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|2,630|3,880|953|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,406|3,707|2,480|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|2,942|4,657|649|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|3,076|3,641|578|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|2,326|4,008|257|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|2,317|4,010|82|Indiana}}

{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|1,784|3,159|519|Indiana}}

{{PresFoot|1888|Democratic|1,902|3,382|64|Indiana}}

{{US Census population

|1820= 3498

|1830= 4630

|1840= 8315

|1850= 10141

|1860= 15064

|1870= 18453

|1880= 20336

|1890= 21877

|1900= 26005

|1910= 32439

|1920= 31630

|1930= 28133

|1940= 27014

|1950= 23667

|1960= 21721

|1970= 19889

|1980= 21107

|1990= 18993

|2000= 21751

|2010= 21475

|2020 = 20817

|estyear=2023

|estimate=20757

|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=US Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=US Decennial Census|publisher=US 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=US 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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=July 10, 2014}} 2010-2021

}}

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 21,475 people, 7,823 households, and 5,422 families in the county.{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US18153|title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data|access-date=July 10, 2015|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213025318/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US18153|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}} The population density was {{convert|48.0|PD/sqmi}}. There were 8,939 housing units at an average density of {{convert|20.0|/sqmi}}.{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18153|access-date=July 10, 2015|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212204353/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18153|archive-date=February 12, 2020|url-status=dead}} The racial makeup of the county was 93.7% white, 4.5% black or African American, 0.3% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 20.8% were German, 19.8% were American, 10.3% were Irish, and 9.7% were English.{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0400000US18%7c0500000US18153|title=Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|access-date=July 10, 2015|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200214003956/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0400000US18%7C0500000US18153|archive-date=February 14, 2020|url-status=dead}}

Of the 7,823 households, 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.7% were non-families, and 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 39.8 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $52,558. Males had a median income of $44,645 versus $26,335 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,093. About 8.5% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.9% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0400000US18%7c0500000US18153|title=Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|access-date=July 10, 2015|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200214002800/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0400000US18%7C0500000US18153|archive-date=February 14, 2020|url-status=dead}}

File:Turtle Creek Reservoir (Sullivan County, Indiana).png|Turtle Creek Reservoir

File:Boating on Sullivan Lake (Sullivan County, Indiana).jpg|Sullivan County Park & Lake

Image:Farm300.jpg|Sullivan County Farm

Image:Merom Generating Station (Sullivan County, Indiana).jpg|Merom Power Station

File:Sullivan Public Library 2.jpg|Sullivan Public Library

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Sullivan County, Indiana

{{Reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book|title=A History of Sullivan County, Indiana|date=1909|editor1-first=Thomas J.|editor1-last=Wolfe|location=Chicago|publisher=The Lewis Publishing Company|ol=13445272M}} ({{Internet Archive|id=ahistorysulliva00compgoog|name=A History of Sullivan County, Indiana}} {{HathiTrust Catalog|id=008652136|title=A History of Sullivan County, Indiana}})

{{refend}}

• {{Official website}}
• [https://discoversullivan.com/ Discover Sullivan County]
• [http://genealogytrails.com/ind/sullivan/ Sullivan County Genealogy Trails]

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Sullivan County, Indiana

|North = Vigo County

|Northeast = Clay County

|East = Greene County

|South = Knox County

|West = Crawford County, Illinois

|Northwest = Clark County, Illinois

}}

{{Sullivan County, Indiana}}

{{Indiana}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Indiana counties

Category:1817 establishments in Indiana

Category:Populated places established in 1817

Category:Terre Haute metropolitan area