Union County, Indiana#References

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Union County

| state = Indiana

| seal =

| founded = January 5, 1821 (created)
February 1, 1821 (organized)

| seat wl = Liberty

| largest city = Liberty

| city type = town

| area_total_sq_mi = 165.18

| area_land_sq_mi = 161.22

| area_water_sq_mi = 3.95

| area percentage = 2.39%

| census yr = 2020

| pop = 7087

| pop_est_as_of = 2023

| population_est = 6973 {{loss}}

| density_sq_mi = auto

| time zone = Eastern

| footnotes = Indiana county number 81

| web = www.unioncountyin.gov

| named for =

| district = 6th

| ex image = Union County Courthouse, Liberty, IN (48490910786).jpg

| ex image cap = Union County Courthouse in Liberty }}

Union County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 7,087.{{cite web|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/18/18161.html|title=Union County QuickFacts|access-date=September 25, 2011|publisher=US Census Bureau}} The county seat is Liberty.{{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}} Since 2018, Union County has been included in the Cincinnati-Middletown, OH-KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is located on the Indiana-Ohio border.

History

Prior to cession to the United States government, this area belonged to and was inhabited by peoples of the Chippewa, Delaware, Eel River, Kaskaskia, Kickapoo, Miami, Ottawa, Piankishaw, Potawatomi, Shawnee, Wea, and Wyandot tribes.{{cite web | url=https://digitreaties.org/treaties/treaty/170281462/ | title=Treaty: Ratified Indian Treaty 23: Wyandot, Delaware, Shawnee, Ottawa, Chippewa, Potawatomi, Eel River, Wea, Kickapoo, Piankashaw, and Kaskaskia - Greenville, August 3, 1795 }}

The future state of Indiana was first regulated by passage of the Northwest Ordinance in 1787. In 1790 the Territory was divided into two counties, with Knox covering much of present-day Indiana. The area later known as Union County was included in lands ceded to the U.S. government in two treaties: in 1795 with the Treaty of Greenville{{cite web | url=https://digitreaties.org/treaties/treaty/170281462/ | title=Treaty: Ratified Indian Treaty 23: Wyandot, Delaware, Shawnee, Ottawa, Chippewa, Potawatomi, Eel River, Wea, Kickapoo, Piankashaw, and Kaskaskia - Greenville, August 3, 1795 }} and in 1809 with the Treaty of Fort Wayne.{{cite web | url=https://digitreaties.org/treaties/treaty/12013184/ | title=Treaty: Ratified Indian Treaty 57: Delaware, Potawatomi, Miami, and Eel River - Fort Wayne, September 30, 1809 }}

In 1810, a portion of Knox was partitioned to create Wayne County; in 1811 a portion further south was partitioned to create Franklin. The area between those two counties was partitioned in 1818 to create Fayette; by the 1820s the eastern part of Fayette County was sufficiently populated to warrant separate representation. Thus on January 5, 1821, the state legislature authorized the creation of Union County, with areas ceded from Wayne County, Fayette County and Franklin County. The organization of the new county's governing structure began on February 1, 1821.[https://www.ereferencedesk.com/resources/counties/indiana/union.html Union County History (ReferenceDesk.com, accessed 8 August 2020)]

Image:Liberty-indiana-from-above.jpg from the air, looking east]]

It was so named because it united parts of Fayette, Franklin and Wayne counties. The first non-native settlers were from Laurens District, South Carolina. John Templeton was the first settler to enter land at the Cincinnati land office in what would become Harmony Township, Union County, Indiana. The first county seat was Brownsville, a small community on the East Fork of the Whitewater River. The seat was moved in 1824 to Liberty, a central location. The primary industry of Union County was and is farming.

Geography

Union County lies on the east side of Indiana; its east border abuts the state of Ohio. Its low rolling hills have now been cleared of timber, although drainage areas are still largely brush-filled. The area is devoted to agricultural or recreational uses.[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Union+County,+IN/@39.6255229,-85.0657624,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x886aa0acfa8e1431:0x7065b82d7ef5e85d!8m2!3d39.6637751!4d-84.8984775 Union County IN (Google Maps, accessed 8 August 2020)] The highest point on the terrain ({{convert|1140|ft|m|abbr=off|disp=x|/|sp=us}} ASL) is a rise near the county's north border, {{convert|1.0|mi|km}} ENE from Witts Station.[https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=23014 Union County High Point, Indiana (PeakBagger.com, accessed 7 August 2020)]

Silver Creek flows southwestward through the northeastern part of the county, discharging into Whitewater Lake. The East Fork of Whitewater River flows southward through the upper western part of the county, discharging into Brookville Lake. The lower part of the county is drained by Dubois Creek, flowing westward into Brookville Lake.

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of {{convert|165.18|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|161.22|sqmi}} (or 97.60%) is land and {{convert|3.95|sqmi}} (or 2.39%) is water.

=Adjacent counties=

Wayne County – north
Preble County, Ohio – east
Butler County, Ohio – southeast
Franklin County – south
Fayette County – west

=Major highways=

=Lakes=

Brookville Lake (part)
Whitewater Lake

=Protected areas=

Whitewater Memorial State Park

Quakertown State Recreation Area

=Incorporated towns=

Liberty (county seat)
West College Corner

=Unincorporated communities=

=Townships=

Climate and weather

{{climate chart

|Liberty, Indiana

|17|36|3.01

|20|42|2.69

|29|53|3.80

|38|64|3.99

|48|74|4.90

|58|83|4.08

|62|87|4.27

|60|85|3.89

|52|79|2.68

|40|67|3.03

|32|53|3.66

|23|41|3.30

|float=right

|units=imperial

|clear=both

|source=The Weather Channel{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIN0366|title=Monthly Averages for Liberty IN|access-date=January 27, 2011|publisher=The Weather Channel}}}}

In recent years, average temperatures in Liberty have ranged from a low of {{convert|17|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|87|°F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-31|°F}} was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of {{convert|104|°F}} was recorded in September 1951. Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|2.68|in}} in September to {{convert|4.90|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 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|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|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 county government.

Court: The county maintains a circuit court that can handle all case types. The judge of the court is elected to a term of six years and must be a member of the Indiana Bar Association. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level appeals 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. People elected to county government positions are required to be residents of the county.

{{PresHead|place=Union 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}}}}

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1830= 7944

|1840= 8017

|1850= 6944

|1860= 7109

|1870= 6341

|1880= 7673

|1890= 7006

|1900= 6748

|1910= 6260

|1920= 6021

|1930= 5880

|1940= 6017

|1950= 6412

|1960= 6457

|1970= 6582

|1980= 6860

|1990= 6976

|2000= 7349

|2010= 7516

|2020= 7087

|estyear=2023

|estimate=6973

|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=U.S. 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}} 2010–2013

}}

=2010 Census=

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 7,516 people, 2,938 households, and 2,117 families in the county.{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US18161|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/20200213023518/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US18161|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}} The population density was {{convert|46.6|PD/sqmi}}. There were 3,239 housing units at an average density of {{convert|20.1|/sqmi}}.{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18161|access-date=July 10, 2015|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212201603/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18161|archive-date=February 12, 2020|url-status=dead}} The racial makeup of the county was 97.5% white, 0.4% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.3% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.1% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 26.2% were German, 16.0% were Irish, 11.9% were English, and 11.6% were American.{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0400000US18%7c0500000US18161|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/20200214002557/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0400000US18%7C0500000US18161|archive-date=February 14, 2020|url-status=dead}}

Of the 2,938 households, 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 27.9% were non-families, and 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.99. The median age was 40.3 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $49,815. Males had a median income of $39,603 versus $27,394 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,243. About 8.2% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.2% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0400000US18%7c0500000US18161|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/20200214002449/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0400000US18%7C0500000US18161|archive-date=February 14, 2020|url-status=dead}}

Education

All of Union County is served by the Union County–College Corner Joint School District, the only joint state school district in the state.{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st18_in/schooldistrict_maps/c18161_union/DC20SD_C18161.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Union County, IN|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2024-05-02}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st18_in/schooldistrict_maps/c18161_union/DC20SD_C18161_SD2MS.txt Text list]

Notable people

Ambrose Everett Burnside (1824–1881), soldier, railroad executive, inventor, industrialist, politician
Thomas W. Bennett (territorial governor) (1831–1893), governor of Idaho Territory 1871–1875; born in Union County
Hiram Rhodes Revels (1827–1901), first African-American member of the US Senate, representing Mississippi 1870–1871; attended the Union County Quaker Seminary.
Bill Bartlett (fl. 1970s-2010s), musician, guitarist for Ram Jam
Jay Hall Connaway (1893–1970), Realist painter
Mary Alice Smith (1850-_), aka Little Orphant Annie
Bob Jenkins (1947–2021), television and radio sports announcer for ESPN/ABC Sports
Edward E. Moore (1866–1940), Indiana state senator and Los Angeles City Council member
Joaquin Miller American poet, author, and frontiersman

James R. Williams Former Judge of Union County, Partner at DeFur Voran LLP and President of the Muncie Community Schools Board of Directors. Presented Sagamore of the Wabash on Nov. 15th 2022 by Ball State University President Geoffrey Mearns and Muncie Community Schools CEO Lee Ann Kwiatkowski, signed by Governor Eric Holcomb