Marion County, Indiana

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Marion County, Indiana
Map
Map of Indiana highlighting Marion County
Location in the state of Indiana
Map of the U.S. highlighting Indiana
Indiana's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded 1822
Seat Indianapolis
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

403 sq mi (1,044 km²)
396 sq mi (1,026 km²)
7 sq mi (18 km²), 1.68%
Population
 - (2000)
 - Density

860,454
2,172/sq mi (838/km²)
Website: www.in.gov/mylocal/marion_county.htm

Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of July 2007 its population was estimated at 876,804 making it the largest county in the state and 55th most populated county in the country, greater than the population of six states. The county seat is Indianapolis.[1]

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 403 square miles (1,044 km²), of which 396 square miles (1,026 km²) is land and 7 square miles (18 km²) (1.68%) is water.

[edit] Adjacent counties

[edit] County elected officials

  • Auditor: Billie Breaux (D)
  • Clerk: Elizabeth White (D)
  • Coroner: Kenneth Ackles (D)
  • Assessor: Greg Bowes (D)
  • Prosecutor: Carl Brizzi (R)
  • Recorder: Julie Voorhies (D)
  • Sheriff: Frank J. Anderson (D)
  • Surveyor: Mary Catherine Barton (D)
  • Treasurer: Michael Rodman (D)

County commissioners: Bowes, Breaux, Rodman

[edit] History

Marion County was formed in 1822. It is named for Francis Marion, a Brigadier General from South Carolina in the American Revolutionary War.[2]

[edit] Demographics

Marion County
Population by year

2007 876,804
2000 860,454
1990 797,159
1980 765,233
1970 792,299
1960 697,567
1950 551,777
1940 460,926
1930 422,666
1920 348,061
1910 263,661
1900 197,227
1890 141,156
1880 102,782
1870 71,939
1860 39,855
1850 24,103
1840 16,080
1830 7,192

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 860,454 people, 352,164 households, and 213,411 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,172 people per square mile (838/km²). There were 387,183 housing units at an average density of 977 per square mile (377/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 70.49% White, 24.17% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 1.43% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.98% from other races, and 1.64% from two or more races. 3.87% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.0% were of German, 12.7% American, 9.0% Irish and 7.3% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

2005 Census estimates for Marion County was 65.3% non-Hispanic white, 25.8% African-American, 5.9% Latino, and 1.5% Asian[4]

In 2000 there were 352,164 households out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.20% were married couples living together, 14.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.40% were non-families. 31.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.80% under the age of 18, 10.00% from 18 to 24, 32.90% from 25 to 44, 20.20% from 45 to 64, and 11.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,421, and the median income for a family was $49,387. Males had a median income of $36,503 versus $27,846 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,789. About 8.70% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.30% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Cities and towns

Marion County has a consolidated city-county government, known as Unigov, in which only four municipalities retain full government autonomy (including a mayor and city council) as "excluded cities". The remaining municipalities within the county are "included towns" and exercise very limited authority, mainly in zoning and appointing their own police departments. They retain the ability to levy taxes for these purposes. Since many of these included towns were and remain fairly wealthy and influential within the county, they can still have considerable unofficial clout. Likewise, some neighborhoods that had already been formally incorporated into Indianapolis (such as Broad Ripple) possess similar influence.

Downtown Indianapolis from the air.
Downtown Indianapolis from the air.
Townships

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ Baker, Ronald L.; Marvin Carmony (1995). Indiana Place Names. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 98. ISBN 0-253-28340-X. 
  3. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  4. ^ Marion County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau

[edit] References

  • Forstall, Richard L. (editor) (1996). Population of states and counties of the United States: 1790 to 1990 : from the twenty-one decennial censuses. United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Population Division. ISBN 0-934213-48-8. 

Coordinates: 39°47′N 86°08′W / 39.78, -86.14