Putnam County, Indiana

Putnam County, Indiana

Putnam County Courthouse in Greencastle
Map of Indiana highlighting Putnam County
Location in the state of Indiana
Map of the United States highlighting Indiana
Indiana's location in the U.S.
Founded December 31, 1822
Named for Israel Putnam
Seat Greencastle
Largest city Greencastle
Area
 • Total 482.69 sq mi (1,250 km2)
 • Land 480.53 sq mi (1,245 km2)
 • Water 2.16 sq mi (6 km2), 0.45%
Population
 • (2010) 37,963
 • Density 79/sq mi (30.37/km²)
Congressional district 4th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website co.putnam.in.us
Footnotes: Indiana county number 67

Putnam County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 37,963.[1] The county seat is Greencastle.[2] The name is in honor of Israel Putnam, who was a hero in the French and Indian War and a general in the American Revolutionary War. The county was formed on April 1, 1822 from Owen and Vigo Counties and parts of the Wabash New Purchase attached to Monroe and Parke Counties.[3]

Putnam County is included in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 482.69 square miles (1,250.2 km2), of which 480.53 square miles (1,244.6 km2) (or 99.55%) is land and 2.16 square miles (5.6 km2) (or 0.45%) is water.[4]

Cities and towns

Unincorporated towns

Townships

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Climate and weather

Greencastle, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
2.4
 
 
34
18
 
 
2.5
 
 
40
22
 
 
3.6
 
 
51
32
 
 
3.8
 
 
63
42
 
 
4.8
 
 
74
52
 
 
4.3
 
 
82
61
 
 
5.1
 
 
86
65
 
 
4.2
 
 
84
63
 
 
3.3
 
 
78
56
 
 
3.1
 
 
66
44
 
 
4
 
 
52
34
 
 
3.1
 
 
39
23
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[5]

In recent years, average temperatures in Greencastle have ranged from a low of 18 °F (−8 °C) in January to a high of 86 °F (30 °C) in July, although a record low of −23 °F (−31 °C) was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of 107 °F (42 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.40 inches (61 mm) in January to 5.14 inches (131 mm) in July.[5]

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.[6][7]

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.[6][7]

Court: 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.[7]

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.[7]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18308,262—
184016,843103.9%
185018,61510.5%
186020,68111.1%
187021,5144.0%
188022,5014.6%
189022,335−0.7%
190021,478−3.8%
191020,520−4.5%
192019,880−3.1%
193020,4482.9%
194020,8391.9%
195022,95010.1%
196024,9278.6%
197026,9328.0%
198029,1638.3%
199030,3154.0%
200036,01918.8%
201037,9635.4%
Est. 201437,618[8]−0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 37,963 people, 12,917 households, and 9,256 families residing in the county.[13] The population density was 79.0 inhabitants per square mile (30.5/km2). There were 14,706 housing units at an average density of 30.6 per square mile (11.8/km2).[4] The racial makeup of the county was 93.4% white, 4.0% black or African American, 0.7% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.5% of the population.[13] In terms of ancestry, 23.6% were German, 15.3% were American, 12.7% were Irish, and 12.6% were English.[14]

Of the 12,917 households, 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.1% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.3% were non-families, and 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.96. The median age was 37.9 years.[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $59,354. Males had a median income of $44,615 versus $29,211 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,441. About 7.7% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.[15]

Covered Bridges

Dunbar Covered Bridge

The Dick Huffman or Webster CB is the furthest south, just off I-70. This route is not at an interstate exit.

Houck CB is out in the country, south of Greencastle. Oakala CB is just a short distance away from Houk CB.

According to the Encyclopedia of Haunted Indiana, the Edna Collins CB is considered to be haunted.[16]

The Dunbar CB is nearest to Greencastle, which can be accessed via US 231 north, under the concrete railroad viaduct.

The Baker's Camp CB is east of Brainbridge on the old US 36.

The Rolling Stone CB which is the next parallel north of US 36. A third covered bridge is one parallel north of the Rolling Stone. This and Pine Bluff CB are on gravel roads.

The Cornstalk CB is the furthest north. It's east of the town of Raccoon, which is just off US 231. It is on a secondary road out of town to the south.

Athletics

Putnam County, Indiana offers many athletics. In Putnam County Indiana Smoke Softball and Baseball, the Putnam County Swim Team (PSCT-IN). Others include athletics at the Big Walnut Sports Park. Indiana Smoke has its HQ in Coatesville. The PCST is HQ in Greencastle and the Big Walnuts Sports Park is in Greencastle on the border with Fillmore.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Putnam County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Peggy Tuck Sinko: Indiana Atlas of Historical County Boundaries, John H. Long, Ed., Charles Scribner's Sons, Simon & Schuster Macmillan, New York, N.Y., 1996, p. 245.
  4. 1 2 "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  5. 1 2 "Monthly Averages for Greencastle, Indiana". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
  6. 1 2 Indiana Code. "Title 36, Article 2, Section 3". IN.gov. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Indiana Code. "Title 2, Article 10, Section 2" (PDF). IN.gov. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  8. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  13. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  14. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  15. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  16. ↑ Kobrowski, Nicole Encyclopedia of Haunted Indiana 1st Ed. ISBN 978-0-9774130-2-7

Further reading

 Montgomery County
Parke County Hendricks County
   Putnam County, Indiana  
Clay County Owen County Morgan County

Coordinates: 39°40′N 86°50′W / 39.67°N 86.84°W / 39.67; -86.84

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