Jennings County
County
Jennings County courthouse in Vernon, Indiana
Jennings County courthouse in Vernon, Indiana
Map of Indiana highlighting Jennings 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°00′N 85°38′W / 39°N 85.63°W / 39; -85.63
Country United States
State Indiana
Founded1817
Named forJonathan Jennings
SeatVernon
Largest cityNorth Vernon
Area
 • Total378.34 sq mi (979.9 km2)
 • Land376.58 sq mi (975.3 km2)
 • Water1.76 sq mi (4.6 km2)  0.47%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total27,613
 • Density73/sq mi (28/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district6th
Indiana county number 40

Jennings County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2020, the population was 27,613.[1] The county seat is Vernon.[2]

History

Jennings County was formed in 1817. It was named for the first Governor of Indiana and a nine-term congressman, Jonathan Jennings. Jennings was governor when the county was organized.[3]

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 378.34 square miles (979.9 km2), of which 376.58 square miles (975.3 km2) (or 99.53%) is land and 1.76 square miles (4.6 km2) (or 0.47%) is water.[4] It is a rural county, with majority of the county consisting of personal farms and woodlands. There are only two incorporated towns in this county, Vernon, the county seat, and North Vernon. Both are quite small and underdeveloped by urban standards. The county is located in the center of an imaginary triangle consisting of Indianapolis, IN, Cincinnati, OH, and Louisville, KY and requires only 11⁄4 hour drive time to any of these urban centers.

It is also home to the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, located just outside North Vernon, at which various training exercises and scenarios are conducted for homeland security and other similar purposes.[5]

City

Town

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated places

Townships

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Sources: National Atlas,[6] U.S. Census Bureau[7]

Parks and protected areas

Climate and weather

Vernon, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Source:The Weather Channel[8]
Metric conversion
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in Vernon have ranged from a low of 22 °F (−6 °C) in January to a high of 86 °F (30 °C) in July, although a record low of −24 °F (−31 °C) was recorded in January 1977 and a record high of 105 °F (41 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.71 inches (69 mm) in February to 4.72 inches (120 mm) in May.[8]

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.[9][10]

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.[9][10]

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.[10]

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.[10]

Jennings County is part of Indiana's 6th congressional district and is represented in Congress by Republican Greg Pence. It is also part of Indiana Senate districts 43 and 45[11] and Indiana House of Representatives districts 66 and 69.[12]

Jennings County is, and has historically been, a staunchly Republican county and in the top 5 highest taxed counties in the state. Democratic presidential candidates have won Jennings County only thrice in the past 130 years.

United States presidential election results for Jennings County, Indiana[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 9,490 77.29% 2,523 20.55% 265 2.16%
2016 8,224 73.23% 2,364 21.05% 643 5.73%
2012 6,120 59.71% 3,821 37.28% 309 3.01%
2008 6,261 52.88% 5,312 44.87% 266 2.25%
2004 6,864 65.27% 3,538 33.64% 115 1.09%
2000 5,732 60.37% 3,549 37.38% 213 2.24%
1996 4,461 42.81% 4,223 40.53% 1,736 16.66%
1992 4,392 42.66% 3,471 33.72% 2,432 23.62%
1988 5,636 60.29% 3,667 39.23% 45 0.48%
1984 6,356 65.48% 3,264 33.63% 87 0.90%
1980 5,498 55.98% 3,931 40.02% 393 4.00%
1976 4,505 49.99% 4,430 49.16% 77 0.85%
1972 5,156 63.21% 2,903 35.59% 98 1.20%
1968 4,416 51.11% 2,996 34.68% 1,228 14.21%
1964 3,469 44.41% 4,307 55.14% 35 0.45%
1960 4,478 56.63% 3,403 43.03% 27 0.34%
1956 4,502 60.72% 2,879 38.83% 33 0.45%
1952 4,460 61.21% 2,777 38.11% 49 0.67%
1948 3,485 52.52% 3,084 46.47% 67 1.01%
1944 3,643 58.58% 2,537 40.79% 39 0.63%
1940 3,921 56.51% 2,989 43.08% 29 0.42%
1936 3,594 52.67% 3,157 46.27% 72 1.06%
1932 3,020 44.96% 3,603 53.64% 94 1.40%
1928 3,705 60.76% 2,369 38.85% 24 0.39%
1924 3,506 54.41% 2,730 42.36% 208 3.23%
1920 3,404 55.65% 2,603 42.55% 110 1.80%
1916 1,791 50.01% 1,686 47.08% 104 2.90%
1912 955 27.06% 1,577 44.69% 997 28.25%
1908 2,100 51.23% 1,871 45.65% 128 3.12%
1904 2,139 54.26% 1,688 42.82% 115 2.92%
1900 2,155 51.84% 1,925 46.31% 77 1.85%
1896 2,040 52.00% 1,850 47.16% 33 0.84%
1892 1,785 49.61% 1,381 38.38% 432 12.01%
1888 2,057 55.55% 1,598 43.15% 48 1.30%

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18202,000—
18303,97498.7%
18408,829122.2%
185012,09637.0%
186014,74921.9%
187016,21810.0%
188016,4531.4%
189014,608−11.2%
190015,7577.9%
191014,203−9.9%
192013,280−6.5%
193011,800−11.1%
194013,68015.9%
195015,25011.5%
196017,26713.2%
197019,45412.7%
198022,85417.5%
199023,6613.5%
200027,55416.5%
201028,5253.5%
202027,613−3.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[14]
1790-1960[15] 1900-1990[16]
1990-2000[17] 2010[18]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 28,525 people, 10,680 households, and 7,733 families residing in the county.[19] The population density was 75.7 inhabitants per square mile (29.2/km2). There were 12,069 housing units at an average density of 32.0 per square mile (12.4/km2).[4] The racial makeup of the county was 96.8% white, 0.8% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 1.0% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.0% of the population.[19] In terms of ancestry, 26.2% were German, 16.3% were Irish, 14.7% were American, and 7.2% were English.[20]

Of the 10,680 households, 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 27.6% were non-families, and 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.06. The median age was 38.4 years.[19]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $48,470. Males had a median income of $38,506 versus $27,633 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,636. About 8.9% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.[21]

Education

Jennings County residents may obtain a library card from the Jennings County Public Library in North Vernon.[22]

Jennings County is the setting of the novel The Friendly Persuasion, later adapted into the Oscar-nominated film Friendly Persuasion in 1956. Although initially planned to be filmed on location, it was finally filmed in California.[23]

Notable residents

References

  1. ↑ "Jennings County, Indiana". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ De Witt Clinton Goodrich & Charles Richard Tuttle (1875). An Illustrated History of the State of Indiana. Indiana: R. S. Peale & co. pp. 563.
  4. 1 2 "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Muscatatuck Urban Training Center". United States Department of Defense. Retrieved October 5, 2007.
  6. ↑ National Atlas Archived 2008-12-05 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ "U.S. Census Bureau TIGER shape files". Archived from the original on May 23, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  8. 1 2 "Monthly Averages for Vernon, Indiana". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  9. 1 2 Indiana Code. "Title 36, Article 2, Section 3". IN.gov. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Indiana Code. "Title 2, Article 10, Section 2" (PDF). IN.gov. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
  11. ↑ "Indiana Senate Districts". State of Indiana. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Indiana House Districts". State of Indiana. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
  13. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  14. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Jennings County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
  19. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  20. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  21. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Get A Library Card". Jennings County Public Library. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  23. ↑ Friendly Persuasion (1956 film)#Production See the film's wikipage.

See also

39°00′N 85°38′W / 39.00°N 85.63°W / 39.00; -85.63

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