Vanderburgh County, Indiana

Vanderburgh County, Indiana
The Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse
Seal
Location in the state of Indiana
Indiana's location in the U.S.
Founded	January 7, 1818
Seat	Evansville
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	236.33 sq mi (612 km²) 233.48 sq mi (605 km²) 2.86 sq mi (7 km²), 1.21%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	179,703 766/sq mi (295.81/km²)
Congressional district	8th
Website	www.vanderburghgov.org
Footnotes:   Indiana county number 82 Seventh largest county in Indiana by population as of 2010 Eight smallest county in Indiana by area Currently in process of Unigov with the city of Evansville

Vanderburgh County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 179,703. The county seat is in Evansville. Vanderburgh County was the seventh largest county in 2010 population while it is also the eighth smallest county in area in Indiana.

Vanderburgh County forms the core of the Evansville Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Vanderburgh County was formed on January 7, 1818 from Gibson, Posey, and Warrick counties. It was named for Captain Henry Vanderburgh, Revolutionary War veteran and judge for the Indiana Territory.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 236.33 square miles (612.1 km²), of which 233.48 square miles (604.7 km²) (or 98.79%) is land and 2.86 square miles (7.4 km²) (or 1.21%) is water.

Regional

• Illinois-Indiana-Kentucky Tri-State Area
• Southwestern Indiana

Adjacent counties

• Gibson County - north
• Warrick County - east
• Henderson County, Kentucky - south
• Posey County - west

Cities and towns

• Darmstadt
• Evansville

Census-designated Places

• Highland
• Melody Hill

Unincorporated towns

• Earle
• Hillsdale
• Inglefield
• McCutchanville
• Saint Joseph

Townships

(2000 Population)

Armstrong (1,651) Center (32,220) German (7,354) Knight (67,941)

Perry (23,687) Pigeon (33,682) Scott (5,445) Union (392)

Major highways

I-64 I-69 I-164 US 41

SR 57 SR 62 SR 65 SR 66

Climate and weather

Evansville, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     3.1   42 25     3.3   48 29     4.5   59 37     4.5   70 46     4.8   79 55     4.2   87 64     4.1   91 69     3.1   90 67     3.2   83 60     3   72 48     4.3   58 39     3.7   46 29 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches Source: The Weather Channel
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     80   6 -4     83   9 -2     114   15 3     115   21 8     121   26 13     107   31 18     104   33 21     79   32 19     81   28 16     75   22 9     109   14 4     93   8 -2 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in Evansville have ranged from a low of 25 °F (−4 °C) in January to a high of 91 °F (33 °C) in July, although a record low of −17 °F (−27 °C) was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of 109 °F (43 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.96 inches (75 mm) in October to 4.78 inches (121 mm) in May.

Government

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 county council is the fiscal branch of the county government that has the legislative responsibilities for the spending and revenue collection in the county. Five representatives are elected from county districts and three are elected at-large by the entire county. 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.

Board of Commissioners: The executive body of the county is made of a board of commissioners. The commissioners are elected county-wide but must live with-in the district of the seat they hold, 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 has eight state trial courts of original jurisdiction. One circuit court and seven superior courts. The judges offices are non-partisan with terms of six years. A judge must be a member of the Indiana Bar Association. The judges are assisted by magistrated that are appointed. 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.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1820	1,798		—
1830	2,611		45.2%
1840	6,250		139.4%
1850	11,414		82.6%
1860	20,552		80.1%
1870	33,145		61.3%
1880	42,193		27.3%
1890	59,809		41.8%
1900	71,769		20.0%
1910	77,438		7.9%
1920	92,293		19.2%
1930	113,320		22.8%
1940	130,783		15.4%
1950	160,422		22.7%
1960	165,794		3.3%
1970	168,772		1.8%
1980	167,515		−0.7%
1990	165,058		−1.5%
2000	171,922		4.2%
2010	179,703		4.5%
Sources: United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Population Division Census Quickfacts

As of the census of 2000, there were 171,922 people, 70,623 households, and 44,421 families residing in the county. The population density was 733 people per square mile (283/km²). There were 76,300 housing units at an average density of 325 per square mile (126/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 89.30% White, 8.19% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. 0.98% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 35.0% were of German, 16.1% American, 9.4% Irish and 9.3% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 70,623 households out of which 28.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.50% were married couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.10% were non-families. 31.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.10% under the age of 18, 11.50% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 22.00% from 45 to 64, and 15.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,823, and the median income for a family was $47,416. Males had a median income of $34,162 versus $22,869 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,655. About 7.80% of families and 11.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.40% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.

See also

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