Henry County, Indiana

Henry County, Indiana
Henry County Courthouse
Map of Indiana highlighting Henry County
Location in the state of Indiana
Map of the United States highlighting Indiana
Indiana's location in the U.S.
Founded 1822
Named for Patrick Henry
Seat New Castle
Largest city New Castle
Area
 • Total 394.83 sq mi (1,023 km2)
 • Land 391.88 sq mi (1,015 km2)
 • Water 2.96 sq mi (8 km2), 0.75%
Population
 • (2010) 49,462
 • Density 126/sq mi (48.6/km²)
Congressional district 6th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Footnotes: Indiana county number 33

Henry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 49,462.[1] The county seat is New Castle.[2] Henry County is the main setting of the novel Raintree County by Ross Lockridge, Jr..

History

Henry County was formed in 1822. It was named for Patriot Patrick Henry, governor of Virginia.[3]

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 394.83 square miles (1,022.6 km2), of which 391.88 square miles (1,015.0 km2) (or 99.25%) is land and 2.96 square miles (7.7 km2) (or 0.75%) is water.[4]

New Castle from the air, looking east.

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated areas

Townships

Reservoirs

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Sources: National Atlas,[5] U.S. Census Bureau[6]

Climate and weather

New Castle, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
2.2
 
 
33
16
 
 
2.3
 
 
38
19
 
 
3
 
 
49
28
 
 
3.9
 
 
60
37
 
 
4.7
 
 
71
48
 
 
4.6
 
 
80
57
 
 
4.7
 
 
84
61
 
 
3.6
 
 
82
59
 
 
2.9
 
 
76
52
 
 
2.9
 
 
64
41
 
 
3.7
 
 
50
32
 
 
2.8
 
 
38
22
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[7]

In recent years, average temperatures in New Castle have ranged from a low of 16 °F (−9 °C) in January to a high of 84 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −26 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 103 °F (39 °C) was recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.24 inches (57 mm) in January to 4.70 inches (119 mm) in May.[7]

Government

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 legislative branch of the county government and controls all the 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.[8][9]

Board of Commissioners: 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 the day-to-day functions of the county government.[8][9]

Court: The county maintains three courts. Superior Court I, Superior Court II and Circuit Court. The judge on the court is elected to a term of four years and must be a member of the Indiana Bar Association. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level circuit court.[9]

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.[9]

Henry County is part of Indiana's 6th congressional district; Indiana Senate district 28;[10] and Indiana House of Representatives districts 54 and 56.[11]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18306,497—
184015,128132.8%
185017,60516.4%
186020,11914.3%
187022,98614.3%
188024,0164.5%
189023,879−0.6%
190025,0885.1%
191029,75818.6%
192034,68216.5%
193035,2381.6%
194040,20814.1%
195045,50513.2%
196048,8997.5%
197052,6037.6%
198053,3361.4%
199048,139−9.7%
200048,5080.8%
201049,4622.0%
Est. 201349,044−0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[16] of 2000, there were 48,508 people, 19,486 households, and 13,971 families residing in the county. The population density was 124 people per square mile (48/km²). There were 20,592 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile (20/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.96% White, 0.86% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. 0.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.8% were of American, 19.6% German, 13.8% English and 9.1% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 19,486 households out of which 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.40% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,150, and the median income for a family was $45,470. Males had a median income of $36,439 versus $22,432 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,355. About 6.0% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

Recreation

Notable people

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Henry County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-09-20.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 155.
  4. ↑ "Census 2010 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  5. ↑ National Atlas
  6. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau TIGER shape files
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Monthly Averages for New Castle, Indiana". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Indiana Code. "Title 36, Article 2, Section 3". IN.gov. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Indiana Code. "Title 2, Article 10, Section 2" (PDF). IN.gov. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  10. ↑ "Indiana Senate Districts". State of Indiana. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
  11. ↑ "Indiana House Districts". State of Indiana. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
  12. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  16. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
 Madison County Delaware County Randolph County
Wayne County
   Henry County, Indiana  
Hancock County Rush County Fayette County

Coordinates: 39°56′N 85°24′W / 39.93°N 85.40°W