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Union County, Indiana

Coordinates: 39°37′N 84°55′W / 39.62°N 84.92°W / 39.62; -84.92
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Union County
County
Union County Courthouse in Liberty
Union County Courthouse in Liberty
Map of Indiana highlighting Union County
Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
Map of the United States highlighting Indiana
Indiana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°37′N 84°55′W / 39.62°N 84.92°W / 39.62; -84.92
Country United States
State Indiana
FoundedJanuary 5, 1821 (created)
February 1, 1821 (organized)
SeatLiberty
Largest townLiberty
Area
 • Total
165.18 sq mi (427.8 km2)
 • Land161.22 sq mi (417.6 km2)
 • Water3.95 sq mi (10.2 km2)  2.39%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
7,087
 • Density43.6/sq mi (16.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.unioncountyin.gov
Indiana county number 81

Union County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 7,087.[1] The county seat is Liberty.[2]

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

[edit]

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.[3]

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[4] and in 1809 with the Treaty of Fort Wayne.[5]

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.[6]

Liberty 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

[edit]

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.[7] The highest point on the terrain (1,140 feet/350 meters ASL) is a rise near the county's north border, 1.0 mile (1.6 km) ENE from Witts Station.[8]

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.[7]

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 165.18 square miles (427.8 km2), of which 161.22 square miles (417.6 km2) (or 97.60%) is land and 3.95 square miles (10.2 km2) (or 2.39%) is water.[9]

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Lakes

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Protected areas

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Quakertown State Recreation Area

Incorporated towns

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Unincorporated communities

[edit]

Townships

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Climate and weather

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Liberty, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[10]
Metric conversion
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in Liberty have ranged from a low of 17 °F (−8 °C) in January to a high of 87 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −31 °F (−35 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded in September 1951. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.68 inches (68 mm) in September to 4.90 inches (124 mm) in May.[10]

Government

[edit]
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.[11][12]

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.[11][12]

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.[12]

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.[12]

United States presidential election results for Union County, Indiana[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 2,698 77.22% 746 21.35% 50 1.43%
2020 2,688 76.98% 736 21.08% 68 1.95%
2016 2,445 73.76% 715 21.57% 155 4.68%
2012 2,022 65.14% 1,018 32.80% 64 2.06%
2008 2,061 61.43% 1,224 36.48% 70 2.09%
2004 2,266 67.76% 1,045 31.25% 33 0.99%
2000 1,838 64.99% 927 32.78% 63 2.23%
1996 1,334 48.86% 1,019 37.33% 377 13.81%
1992 1,394 46.97% 898 30.26% 676 22.78%
1988 1,814 65.49% 946 34.15% 10 0.36%
1984 1,970 70.36% 816 29.14% 14 0.50%
1980 1,766 63.53% 898 32.30% 116 4.17%
1976 1,631 58.25% 1,160 41.43% 9 0.32%
1972 2,043 72.50% 765 27.15% 10 0.35%
1968 1,691 56.01% 920 30.47% 408 13.51%
1964 1,531 50.95% 1,463 48.69% 11 0.37%
1960 2,087 63.73% 1,180 36.03% 8 0.24%
1956 2,026 63.47% 1,157 36.25% 9 0.28%
1952 2,159 67.24% 1,029 32.05% 23 0.72%
1948 1,859 63.25% 1,049 35.69% 31 1.05%
1944 1,998 63.05% 1,154 36.42% 17 0.54%
1940 2,009 58.35% 1,415 41.10% 19 0.55%
1936 1,630 49.20% 1,662 50.17% 21 0.63%
1932 1,658 50.41% 1,587 48.25% 44 1.34%
1928 2,101 65.99% 1,069 33.57% 14 0.44%
1924 1,907 58.77% 1,284 39.57% 54 1.66%
1920 1,984 58.30% 1,375 40.41% 44 1.29%
1916 997 52.95% 826 43.87% 60 3.19%
1912 643 35.88% 705 39.34% 444 24.78%
1908 1,066 54.25% 808 41.12% 91 4.63%
1904 1,156 57.51% 758 37.71% 96 4.78%
1900 1,060 52.68% 897 44.58% 55 2.73%
1896 1,118 54.06% 915 44.25% 35 1.69%
1892 981 51.80% 839 44.30% 74 3.91%
1888 1,108 54.74% 868 42.89% 48 2.37%

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18307,944—
18408,0170.9%
18506,944−13.4%
18607,1092.4%
18706,341−10.8%
18807,67321.0%
18907,006−8.7%
19006,748−3.7%
19106,260−7.2%
19206,021−3.8%
19305,880−2.3%
19406,0172.3%
19506,4126.6%
19606,4570.7%
19706,5821.9%
19806,8604.2%
19906,9761.7%
20007,3495.3%
20107,5162.3%
20207,087−5.7%
2023 (est.)6,973[14]−1.6%
US Decennial Census[15]
1790–1960[16] 1900–1990[17]
1990–2000[18] 2010–2013[1]

2010 Census

[edit]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 7,516 people, 2,938 households, and 2,117 families in the county.[19] The population density was 46.6 inhabitants per square mile (18.0/km2). There were 3,239 housing units at an average density of 20.1 per square mile (7.8/km2).[9] 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.[19] In terms of ancestry, 26.2% were German, 16.0% were Irish, 11.9% were English, and 11.6% were American.[20]

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.[19]

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.[21]

Education

[edit]

All of Union County is served by the Union County–College Corner Joint School District, the only joint state school district in the state.[22]

Notable people

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Union County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Treaty: Ratified Indian Treaty 23: Wyandot, Delaware, Shawnee, Ottawa, Chippewa, Potawatomi, Eel River, Wea, Kickapoo, Piankashaw, and Kaskaskia - Greenville, August 3, 1795".
  4. ^ "Treaty: Ratified Indian Treaty 23: Wyandot, Delaware, Shawnee, Ottawa, Chippewa, Potawatomi, Eel River, Wea, Kickapoo, Piankashaw, and Kaskaskia - Greenville, August 3, 1795".
  5. ^ "Treaty: Ratified Indian Treaty 57: Delaware, Potawatomi, Miami, and Eel River - Fort Wayne, September 30, 1809".
  6. ^ Union County History (ReferenceDesk.com, accessed 8 August 2020)
  7. ^ a b Union County IN (Google Maps, accessed 8 August 2020)
  8. ^ Union County High Point, Indiana (PeakBagger.com, accessed 7 August 2020)
  9. ^ a b "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  10. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Liberty IN". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  11. ^ a b Indiana Code. "Title 36, Article 2, Section 3". IN.gov. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
  12. ^ a b c d Indiana Code. "Title 2, Article 10, Section 2" (PDF). IN.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 27, 2004. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
  13. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
  14. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  15. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  16. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  17. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  18. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  19. ^ a b c "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  20. ^ "Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  21. ^ "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  22. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Union County, IN" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 2, 2024. - Text list

39°37′N 84°55′W / 39.62°N 84.92°W / 39.62; -84.92

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