Decatur County, Indiana: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 17:53, 28 February 2025

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county

Decatur County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 26,472.<ref name=QF>Template:Cite web</ref> The county seat (and only incorporated city) is Greensburg.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

In 1787, the US defined the Northwest Territory which included the area of present-day Indiana. In 1800, Congress separated Ohio from the Northwest Territory, designating the rest of the land as the Indiana Territory.<ref name="GAC"/> President Thomas Jefferson chose William Henry Harrison as the governor of the territory, and Vincennes was established as the capital.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> After the Michigan Territory was separated and the Illinois Territory was formed, Indiana was reduced to its current size and geography.<ref name="GAC">Template:Cite web</ref> By December 1816 the Indiana Territory was admitted to the Union as a state.

Starting in 1794, Native American titles to Indiana lands were extinguished by usurpation, purchase, or war and treaty. The United States acquired land from the Native Americans in the 1809 treaty of Fort Wayne, and by the treaty of St. Mary's in 1818 considerably more territory became property of the government. This included the future Decatur County, which was authorized by the state legislature on December 12, 1821. No settler was allowed in the area until the government survey was completed in 1820.

The Decatur County governing structure was formed in 1822. The county was named for Commodore Stephen Decatur Jr., naval officer in the First and Second Barbary Wars, and in the War of 1812.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Decatur was killed in a duel in 1820.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Geography

The low rolling hills are devoted to agriculture or urban development, with only the areas carved by drainages still wooded.<ref name=DCI>Decatur County IN (Google Maps, accessed 13 August 2020)</ref> The highest point (Template:Convert ASL) is a hillock Template:Convert SSE from Kingston.<ref>Decatur County High Point, Indiana (PeakBagger.com, accessed 13 August 2020)</ref> The Flatrock River flows westward through the upper part of the county, continuing into Shelby County. Clifty Creek flows southwestward through the central part of the county, continuing into Bartholomew, and Sand Creek flows south-southwestward through the lower center of the county, continuing into Jennings County.

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert (or 99.80%) is land and Template:Convert (or 0.20%) is water.<ref name=DC/>

File:Decatur County Courthouse, Greensburg, IN (48477380817).jpg

Tree on the Courthouse Tower in Greensburg, Indiana

Adjacent counties

Rush County – north
Franklin County – east
Ripley County – southeast
Jennings County – south
Bartholomew County – west
Shelby County – northwest

City and towns

Greensburg (city/county seat)
Millhousen
New Point
St. Paul (part)
Westport

Census-designated places

Unincorporated places

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Townships

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Major highways

Protected areas

Greenburg Reservoir State Fishing Area<ref name=DCI/>

Lakes

Greenburg Reservoir
Lake McCoy
Lake Santee<ref name=DCI/>

Climate and weather

Template:Climate chart In recent years, average temperatures in Greensburg have ranged from a low of Template:Convert in January to a high of Template:Convert in July, although a record low of Template:Convert was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of Template:Convert was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from Template:Convert in February to Template:Convert in May.<ref name=WX/>

Government

Template:See also 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.<ref name=inc3623>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="inc2102">Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref name=inc3623/><ref name=inc2102/>

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.<ref name=inc2102/>

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 a party affiliation and to be residents of the county.<ref name=inc2102/>

Decatur County is part of Indiana's 6th congressional district; Indiana Senate district 42;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Indiana House of Representatives district 67.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Demographics

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2010 Census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 25,740 people, 9,977 households, and 6,995 families in the county.<ref name=DP>Template:Cite web</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. There were 11,209 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert.<ref name=DC>Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 97.3% white, 0.7% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 0.6% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.7% of the population.<ref name=DP/> In terms of ancestry, In terms of ancestry, 35.5% were of English ancestry, 35.1% were of German, and 9.0% were of Irish ancestry according to 2010 American Community Survey.

Of the 9,977 households, 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.9% were non-families, and 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.02. The median age was 38.7 years.<ref name=DP/>

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $52,308. Males had a median income of $41,143 versus $30,226 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,719. About 8.3% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2020 census

Decatur County Racial Composition<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (NH)	24,769	93.56%
Black or African American (NH)	90	0.34%
Native American (NH)	35	0.13%
Asian (NH)	154	0.6%
Pacific Islander (NH)	8	0.03%
Other/Mixed (NH)	802	3%
Hispanic or Latino	614	2.3%