Ohio County, Indiana

Ohio County, Indiana
Ohio County courthouse in Rising Sun
Location in the state of Indiana
Indiana's location in the U.S.
Founded	1844
Seat	Rising Sun
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	87.43 sq mi (226 km²) 86.14 sq mi (223 km²) 1.29 sq mi (3 km²), 1.48%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	6,128 71/sq mi (27.28/km²)
Congressional district	9th
Footnotes: * Indiana county number 58 Smallest county in Indiana by both area and population

Ohio County is located in southeastern Indiana. It borders the state of Kentucky across the Ohio River for which it was named. It is part of the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky metropolitan area. The county was officially established in 1844 and was one of the last Indiana counties to be created. It is the smallest county in the state in terms of both area and population. The county seat is Rising Sun.

As of 2010, the population was 6,128. The county has a single incorporated city with a population of about 2,500, as well as many small unincorporated communities. It is divided into four townships which provide local services. Three Indiana state roads pass through or into the county.

History

Dearborn County was formed as part of the Indiana Territory in 1803, and its borders were modified several times, both before and after the creation of the state of Indiana in 1816. Switzerland County was formed from part of Dearborn County in 1814. Ohio County also came out of Dearborn County, but not until much later in March 1844. It was named for the Ohio River, which defines its eastern border.

The Ohio County courthouse was built in the county seat of Rising Sun in 1845. It is a two-story Greek Revival brick building measuring about 60 feet (18 m) by 40 feet (12 m), including the portico supported by Doric pillars. This courthouse is still in use and is the oldest continuously-used courthouse in the state.

Geography

Map of Ohio County, showing townships and settlements

Ohio County is bordered by Dearborn County to the north, across Laughrey Creek which forms the border between the two counties. A short portion of the western border, less than 2 miles (3.2 km) long, is shared with Ripley County to the northwest. Switzerland County lies to the south, and Boone County, Kentucky lies across the Ohio River to the east. According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 87.43 square miles (226.4 km²), of which 86.14 square miles (223.1 km²) (or 98.52%) is land and 1.29 square miles (3.3 km²) (or 1.48%) is water.

The county's sole incorporated settlement is the city of Rising Sun, which is located in the far east part of the county on the banks of the Ohio River. There are many small unincorporated communities throughout the county:

• Aberdeen
• Bascom Corner
• Bear Branch
• Blue
• Buffalo
• Camp Shor
• Cofield Corner
• Downey Corner
• French
• Hartford
• Milton
• North Landing
• Pate

The county is divided into four townships: Cass, Pike, Randolph and Union.

Rising Sun, on the Ohio River.

Transportation

There are no interstate or U.S. highways in the county, although U.S. Route 50 in Dearborn County passes within 2 miles (3.2 km) of Ohio County's northern border. Three Indiana state roads pass through or into the county. Indiana State Road 56 enters from Switzerland County to the south and passes east along the southern border, then north through Rising Sun and along the river, continuing north to Dearborn county. Indiana State Road 156 hugs the river in Switzerland County, and enters the far southeast part of Ohio County before terminating where it meets State Road 56. Indiana State Road 262 enters from Dillsboro to the northwest and terminates in Rising Sun near the river.

There are no active railroad lines in the county.

Education

Ohio County has two schools managed by a single school corporation. The Ohio County Elementary–Middle School served a total of 636 students during the 2009–2010 school year. Rising Sun High School served a total of 264 students during the same period.

Climate and weather

Rising Sun, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     3.1   39 21     3   45 24     4.1   55 32     4.2   66 41     4.7   75 51     4.8   83 60     3.9   87 65     3.8   86 63     3.1   79 56     2.9   68 43     3.5   56 35     3.4   44 26 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     78   4 -6     75   7 -4     104   13 0     107   19 5     120   24 11     123   28 16     100   31 18     97   30 17     78   26 13     74   20 6     88   13 2     87   7 -3 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in Rising Sun have ranged from a low of 21 °F (−6 °C) in January to a high of 87 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −23 °F (−31 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded in July 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.92 inches (74 mm) in October to 4.83 inches (123 mm) in June.

Government

See also: Government of Indiana

The county government is a constitutional body granted specific powers by the Constitution of Indiana and the Indiana Code. The county council is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all spending and revenue collection. Representatives are elected from county districts. The council members serve four-year terms and 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.

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 day-to-day functions of the county government.

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 elected to a four-year term. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level circuit court which is shared with neighboring Dearborn County.

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 be residents of the county.

Each of the townships has a trustee who administers rural fire protection and ambulance service, provides poor relief and manages cemetery care, among other duties. The trustee is assisted in these duties by a three-member township board. The trustees and board members are elected to four-year terms.

Ohio County is part of Indiana's 9th congressional district; Indiana Senate district 43; and Indiana House of Representatives district 68.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1850	5,308		—
1860	5,462		2.9%
1870	5,837		6.9%
1880	5,563		−4.7%
1890	4,955		−10.9%
1900	4,724		−4.7%
1910	4,329		−8.4%
1920	4,024		−7.0%
1930	3,747		−6.9%
1940	3,782		0.9%
1950	4,223		11.7%
1960	4,165		−1.4%
1970	4,289		3.0%
1980	5,114		19.2%
1990	5,315		3.9%
2000	5,623		5.8%
2010	6,128		9.0%
Sources: United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Population Division Census Quickfacts

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,623 people, 2,201 households, and 1,586 families residing in the county. The population density was 65 people per square mile (25/km²). There were 2,424 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.70% White, 0.48% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. 0.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 38.4% were of German, 26.6% American, 10.0% English and 9.9% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 2,201 households out of which 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.90% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.90% were non-families. 23.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.80% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,348, and the median income for a family was $48,801. Males had a median income of $37,297 versus $25,242 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,627. About 5.80% of families and 7.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.50% of those under age 18 and 11.40% of those age 65 or over.

See also

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

Bibliography

• History of Dearborn and Ohio Counties, Indiana. Chicago: Weakley, Harraman and Company, Publishers. 1885. http://www.archive.org/stream/historyofdearbor02chic#page/n7/mode/2up.