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Daviess County, Indiana
Daviess County Courthouse in Washington
Daviess County courthouse
Map of Indiana highlighting Daviess County
Location in the state of Indiana
Map of the U.S
Indiana's location in the U.S.
Founded February 2, 1818
Named for Joseph Hamilton Daveiss
Seat Washington
Largest city Washington
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

436.87 sq mi (1,131 km²)
429.49 sq mi (1,112 km²)
7.39 sq mi (19 km²), 1.69%
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

33,381
Congressional district 8th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website http://www.daviess.org/
Footnotes:  

Indiana county number 14

Daviess County /ˈdvz/ is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 33,381.[1] The county seat is Washington.[2] About 15% of the county's population is Amish of Swiss origin, as of 2017.[3]

History[]

After the American Revolutionary War was settled, the fledgling nation created the Northwest Territory, tentatively divided into two counties. The area that would become the state of Indiana in 1816 was included in the original Knox County. As the area became more settled, Knox was partitioned into smaller counties, the last of which was the present-day Daviess, authorized on 2 February 1818. The boundaries of Daviess were reduced on 21 December 1818 by the formation of Owen County, and on 17 January 1820 by the formation of Martin County. It has retained its present boundary since 1820.

Daviess County was named for Major Joseph Hamilton Daveiss,[4] U.S. District Attorney for Kentucky, killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. The earliest settlements were along the White River, which allowed crops and timber to be transported to distant markets. The northeast part of the county was heavily forested, and timber industry flourished in the first half of the nineteenth century.[5] Daviess County shares its namesake with another nearby Daviess County of Kentucky. Both Counties are in the Illinois-Indiana-Kentucky Tri-State Area.

Geography[]

The terrain of Daviess County is hilly, with its area completely devoted to agriculture or urban development.[6] Its highest elevation (740'/266 meters ASL) is a rise one mile (1.6 km) NNE of Farlen.[7] The county is drained by the White River flowing to the southwest, whose two main forks (East White and West White) come together at the county's SW corner. The county's west boundary is defined by the West White River's course and its south boundary is defined by the East White River's course; their confluence defines the county's corner point.

According to the 2010 census, Daviess County has a total area of 436.87 square miles (1,131.5 km2), of which 429.49 square miles (1,112.4 km2) (or 98.31%) is land and 7.39 square miles (19.1 km2) (or 1.69%) is water.[8]

Adjacent counties[]

Major highways[]

  • I-69 I-69
  • US 50 US 50
  • US 150 US 150
  • US 231 US 231
  • Indiana 57 SR 57
  • Indiana 58 SR 58
  • Indiana 257 SR 257
  • Indiana 358 SR 358
  • Indiana 558 SR 558
  • Indiana 645 SR 645

Climate and weather[]

Climate chart for Washington, Indiana
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
2.82
 
39
23
 
 
2.69
 
45
27
 
 
4.15
 
56
36
 
 
4.23
 
67
45
 
 
5.52
 
77
55
 
 
4.16
 
85
64
 
 
4.94
 
88
68
 
 
3.84
 
86
66
 
 
2.90
 
80
58
 
 
3.10
 
69
47
 
 
4.36
 
55
38
 
 
3.40
 
43
28
temperatures in °Cprecipitation totals in mm
source: The Weather Channel[9]


In recent years, average temperatures in Washington have ranged from a low of 23 °F (−5 °C) in January to a high of 88 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −19 °F (−28.3 °C) was recorded in December 1989 and a record high of 113 °F (45 °C) was recorded in July 1930. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.69 inches (68 mm) in February to 5.52 inches (140 mm) in May.[9]

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1820 3,432
1830 4,543 32.4%
1840 6,720 47.9%
1850 10,352 54.0%
1860 13,323 28.7%
1870 16,747 25.7%
1880 21,552 28.7%
1890 26,227 21.7%
1900 29,914 14.1%
1910 27,747 −7.2%
1920 26,856 −3.2%
1930 25,832 −3.8%
1940 26,163 1.3%
1950 26,762 2.3%
1960 26,636 −0.5%
1970 26,602 −0.1%
1980 27,836 4.6%
1990 27,533 −1.1%
2000 29,820 8.3%
2010 31,648 6.1%
US Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2020[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 31,648 people, 11,329 households, and 8,116 families in the county.[14] The population density was 73.7 inhabitants per square mile (28.5 /km2). There were 12,471 housing units at an average density of 29.0 per square mile (11.2 /km2).[8] The racial makeup of the county was 95.0% white, 0.5% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 2.6% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.2% of the population.[14] In terms of ancestry, 31.4% were German, 13.1% were Irish, 10.8% were American, and 10.6% were English.[15]

Of the 11,329 households, 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.4% were non-families, and 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.29. The median age was 35.4 years.[14]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $53,769. Males had a median income of $36,405 versus $29,652 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,254. About 7.6% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.[16]

Amish community[]

The Amish (Swiss Amish) community in Daviess County, established in 1868, had a total population of 4,855 people (in 29 congregations) in 2017[3] or 14.6% of the county's population, stretching along the eastern side of the county from Alfordsville, to Cannelburg and Montgomery to Odon.

Communities[]

City[]

Towns[]

  • Alfordsville
  • Cannelburg
  • Elnora
  • Montgomery
  • Odon
  • Plainville

Census-designated place[]

  • Raglesville

Other unincorporated places[]

  • Black Oak
  • Capehart
  • Cornettsville
  • Corning
  • Epsom
  • Farlen
  • Glendale
  • Graham
  • Hudsonville
  • Jordan
  • Maysville
  • Pennyville
  • South Washington

Townships[]

  • Barr
  • Bogard
  • Elmore
  • Harrison
  • Madison
  • Reeve
  • Steele
  • Van Buren
  • Veale
  • Washington

Government[]

The county government is a constitutional body, and is granted specific powers by the Constitution of Indiana, and by the Indiana Code. The county council is the legislative branch of the county government and controls spending and revenue collection in the county. Representatives are elected from county districts. 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.[17][18]

A board of commissioners constitutes the county's executive body. Commissioners are elected county-wide, in staggered four-year terms. One commissioner serves as president. The board executes the council's legislative acts, collects revenue, and manages the county's government functions.[17][18]

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 also elected to a four-year term. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level circuit court.[18]

The county has 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.[18]

Each township has a trustee who administers rural fire protection and ambulance service, provides poor relief, manages cemetery care, and performs farm assessment, 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.[19]

Daviess County is part of Indiana's 8th congressional district; Indiana Senate districts 39 and 48;[20] and Indiana House of Representatives districts 45, 63 and 64.[21]

Political Culture[]

United States presidential election results for Daviess County, Indiana[22]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 9,576 79.99% 2,169 18.12% 226 1.89%
2016 8,545 78.98% 1,800 16.64% 474 4.38%
2012 7,638 74.42% 2,437 23.74% 189 1.84%
2008 7,098 67.05% 3,370 31.83% 118 1.11%
2004 7,936 74.87% 2,573 24.28% 90 0.85%
2000 6,872 70.40% 2,697 27.63% 192 1.97%
1996 5,531 56.35% 3,230 32.91% 1,054 10.74%
1992 5,591 53.15% 3,201 30.43% 1,728 16.43%
1988 6,768 65.75% 3,483 33.84% 43 0.42%
1984 7,721 68.26% 3,545 31.34% 45 0.40%
1980 7,022 60.89% 4,057 35.18% 453 3.93%
1976 6,829 57.69% 4,952 41.83% 57 0.48%
1972 8,490 70.33% 3,538 29.31% 43 0.36%
1968 7,036 56.77% 4,071 32.85% 1,286 10.38%
1964 6,319 49.00% 6,528 50.62% 48 0.37%
1960 8,285 60.20% 5,433 39.48% 45 0.33%
1956 8,608 62.80% 5,057 36.89% 42 0.31%
1952 8,328 60.89% 5,247 38.37% 101 0.74%
1948 7,030 53.89% 5,867 44.98% 147 1.13%
1944 7,458 57.14% 5,523 42.32% 71 0.54%
1940 7,615 54.10% 6,401 45.48% 59 0.42%
1936 6,459 47.95% 6,848 50.84% 163 1.21%
1932 5,838 45.29% 6,772 52.54% 279 2.16%
1928 7,116 56.73% 5,324 42.45% 103 0.82%
1924 6,427 51.42% 5,558 44.46% 515 4.12%
1920 6,748 53.42% 5,587 44.23% 298 2.36%
1916 3,191 47.56% 3,143 46.84% 376 5.60%
1912 2,005 31.62% 2,759 43.51% 1,577 24.87%
1908 3,424 48.38% 3,253 45.97% 400 5.65%
1904 3,682 52.97% 2,802 40.31% 467 6.72%
1900 3,298 46.93% 3,424 48.73% 305 4.34%
1896 3,120 45.00% 3,785 54.59% 29 0.42%
1892 2,610 42.99% 2,498 41.15% 963 15.86%
1888 2,691 49.60% 2,689 49.57% 45 0.83%



See also[]

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

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Daviess County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/18/18027.html. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  3. ^ a b The 12 Largest Amish Communities (2017) at Amish America
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off.. p. 101. https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ. 
  5. ^ De Witt Clinton Goodrich & Charles Richard Tuttle (1875). An Illustrated History of the State of Indiana. Indiana: R. S. Peale & co.. p. 553. https://archive.org/details/anillustratedhi02tuttgoog. 
  6. ^ Daviess County IN (Google Maps, accessed 26 July 2020)
  7. ^ Daviess County High Point, Indiana (PeakBagger.com, accessed 26 July 2020)
  8. ^ a b "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18027. 
  9. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Washington IN". The Weather Channel. http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIN0698. 
  10. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  12. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/in190090.txt. 
  13. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  14. ^ a b c "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US18027. 
  15. ^ "Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0400000US18%7c0500000US18027. 
  16. ^ "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0400000US18%7c0500000US18027. 
  17. ^ a b Indiana Code. "Title 36, Article 2, Section 3". Government of Indiana. http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title36/ar2/ch3.html. 
  18. ^ a b c d Indiana Code. "Title 2, Article 10, Section 2". Government of Indiana. http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title3/ar10/ch2.pdf. 
  19. ^ "Government". United Township Association of Indiana. http://unitedtownships.org/?page_id=95. 
  20. ^ "Indiana Senate Districts". State of Indiana. http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3006.htm. 
  21. ^ "Indiana House Districts". State of Indiana. http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3005.htm. 
  22. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 
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Coordinates: 38°42′N 87°05′W / 38.70, -87.08


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