Knox County
County
Knox County Courthouse, Vincennes
Knox County Courthouse, Vincennes
Map of Indiana highlighting Knox County
Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
Map of the United States highlighting Indiana
Indiana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°41′N 87°25′W / 38.69°N 87.42°W / 38.69; -87.42
Country United States
State Indiana
FoundedJune 6, 1790
Named forHenry Knox
SeatVincennes
Largest cityVincennes
Area
 • Total524.04 sq mi (1,357.3 km2)
 • Land516.03 sq mi (1,336.5 km2)
 • Water8.01 sq mi (20.7 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total36,282
 • Density69/sq mi (27/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district8th
Websitewww.knoxcounty.in.gov
 

Indiana county number 42

  • Oldest county in Indiana and Indiana Territory
  • Eighth largest county in Indiana by area

Knox County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana in the United States. The oldest county in Indiana, it was one of two original counties created in the Northwest Territory in 1790, alongside St. Clair County, Illinois. Knox County was gradually reduced in size as subsequent counties were established. It was established in its present configuration when Daviess County was partitioned off (2 February 1818). At the 2020 United States Census, the county population was 36,282.[1] The county seat is Vincennes.[2]

Knox County comprises the Vincennes, IN Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

In 1790, Winthrop Sargent, Secretary of Northwest Territory, organized Knox County, the fourth in the Northwest Territory. It was named for Major General Henry Knox, who had completed his term as second U.S. Secretary of War the previous September.[3] Knox County was created prior to the formation of the Indiana Territory. When it was created, Knox County extended to Canada and encompassed all or part of the present states of Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio. When the Illinois Territory was formed in 1809, the portions of Knox County beyond the Wabash River became Saint Clair County, Illinois.

Many of Knox County townships and lots were surveyed with the French system, which employs non-cardinal compass points. Knox and Clark counties are the only ones laid out in this fashion.[4]

Geography

1875 county map

Knox County lies on the west edge of the state; its western border abuts the eastern border of Illinois across the Wabash River. According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 524.04 square miles (1,357.3 km2), of which 516.03 square miles (1,336.5 km2) (or 98.47%) is land and 8.01 square miles (20.7 km2) (or 1.53%) is water.[5] The county's west border is defined by the south-flowing Wabash River, and its east border is defined by the south-southwest-flowing White River. Its southwesternmost point occurs at the confluence of the two rivers, near Mount Carmel, Illinois. The terrain consists of verdant low-rolling hills, largely devoted to agriculture.[6] Its highest points (around 620 feet/190 meters ASL) occur in the hills midway between Bruceville and Bicknell.[7]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated areas

Townships

Climate and weather

Vincennes, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
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2.6
 
 
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2.5
 
 
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5.1
 
 
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68
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4.3
 
 
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Source:The Weather Channel[8]
Metric conversion
J
F
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66
 
 
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−7
 
 
64
 
 
6
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18
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130
 
 
24
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103
 
 
29
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119
 
 
31
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94
 
 
30
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80
 
 
27
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82
 
 
20
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108
 
 
12
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6
−4
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, the average temperature in Vincennes has ranged from a low of 20 °F (−7 °C) in January to a high of 88 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −26 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.51 inches (64 mm) in February to 5.13 inches (130 mm) in May.[8]

Government

Knox County Sheriff's Department
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionKnox, Indiana, United States
Legal jurisdictionAs per operations jurisdiction
General nature
Operational structure
Agency executive
  • Michael Morris, Sheriff

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 legislative branch of the county government; controls the county's spending and revenue collection. Representatives are elected from county districts to four-year terms. They set salaries, the annual budget, and special spending. The council 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. The commissioners are elected county-wide to staggered four-year terms. One commissioner serves as president. The commissioners are charged with executing the legislative acts of the County Council, collecting revenue, and managing the county government's functions.[9][10]

Court: The county maintains a small claims court that can handle some civil cases. The court judge is elected to a four-year term, and must be a member of the Indiana Bar Association. The judge is assisted by a constable, who is elected county-wide to a four-year term. Some 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 is elected county-wide to a four-year term. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare party affiliations and to be residents of the county.[10]

Knox County is part of Indiana's 8th congressional district, Indiana Senate districts 39 and 48,[11] and Indiana House of Representatives districts 45 and 64.[12]

United States presidential election results for Knox County, Indiana[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 11,655 72.72% 4,067 25.37% 306 1.91%
2016 11,077 71.00% 3,772 24.18% 753 4.83%
2012 9,612 63.47% 5,228 34.52% 305 2.01%
2008 8,639 52.60% 7,569 46.08% 216 1.32%
2004 9,990 63.44% 5,649 35.88% 107 0.68%
2000 8,485 56.36% 6,300 41.85% 269 1.79%
1996 6,395 41.17% 7,003 45.09% 2,134 13.74%
1992 6,683 38.67% 6,718 38.87% 3,883 22.47%
1988 9,813 58.13% 7,006 41.50% 62 0.37%
1984 10,872 62.27% 6,417 36.75% 170 0.97%
1980 10,083 53.57% 7,829 41.59% 910 4.83%
1976 9,100 48.25% 9,612 50.97% 148 0.78%
1972 11,940 65.62% 6,089 33.46% 167 0.92%
1968 8,369 46.97% 7,297 40.95% 2,152 12.08%
1964 7,612 37.29% 12,678 62.11% 121 0.59%
1960 11,490 53.40% 9,918 46.10% 108 0.50%
1956 13,047 59.85% 8,691 39.87% 63 0.29%
1952 12,786 57.30% 9,384 42.05% 146 0.65%
1948 9,250 43.67% 11,650 55.00% 282 1.33%
1944 10,023 48.98% 10,297 50.32% 143 0.70%
1940 11,211 47.52% 12,265 51.99% 114 0.48%
1936 8,589 38.34% 13,669 61.02% 142 0.63%
1932 6,590 31.17% 14,084 66.62% 466 2.20%
1928 10,035 49.92% 9,837 48.93% 232 1.15%
1924 8,493 44.31% 8,603 44.88% 2,072 10.81%
1920 10,011 51.39% 8,052 41.34% 1,416 7.27%
1916 4,805 42.28% 5,380 47.34% 1,179 10.37%
1912 2,805 28.76% 4,448 45.61% 2,499 25.63%
1908 4,247 42.53% 5,116 51.24% 622 6.23%
1904 4,278 47.94% 4,093 45.87% 552 6.19%
1900 3,554 43.28% 4,443 54.10% 215 2.62%
1896 3,480 43.87% 4,349 54.83% 103 1.30%
1892 2,653 38.81% 3,417 49.99% 765 11.19%
1888 2,922 43.57% 3,621 53.99% 164 2.45%

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18002,517—
18107,945215.7%
18205,437−31.6%
18306,52520.0%
184010,65763.3%
185011,0844.0%
186016,05644.9%
187021,56234.3%
188026,32422.1%
189028,0446.5%
190032,74616.8%
191039,18319.7%
192046,19517.9%
193043,813−5.2%
194043,9730.4%
195043,415−1.3%
196041,561−4.3%
197041,5460.0%
198041,8380.7%
199039,884−4.7%
200039,256−1.6%
201038,440−2.1%
202036,282−5.6%
US Decennial Census[14]
1790-1960[15] 1900-1990[16]
1990-2000[17] 2010[18]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 38,440 people, 15,249 households, and 9,725 families in the county.[5] The population density was 74.5 inhabitants per square mile (28.8/km2). There were 17,038 housing units at an average density of 33.0 per square mile (12.7/km2).[19] The racial makeup of the county was 94.9% white, 2.6% black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.5% of the population.[5] In terms of ancestry, 26.9% were German, 19.9% were American, 13.0% were Irish, and 9.1% were English.[20]

Of the 15,249 households, 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.2% were non-families, and 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age was 38.5 years.[5]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $51,534. Males had a median income of $40,553 versus $27,201 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,381. About 12.6% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.[21]

Workforce

In 2005, Knox County had 998 business units and 16,240 jobs. The largest employing industry in the county was education and health services (including both public and private employment) with almost 34 percent of total industry employment. Trade, transportation, and utilities came in second with over 22 percent of total industry employment. Manufacturing showed the most job growth and the largest percentage gain since 2001, increasing 316 jobs or almost 21 percent.

The 2005 all industry earnings average for Knox County was $26,875, up $2,824 or 11.7 percent over the county's 2001 average. The manufacturing industry had the highest average annual earnings at $33,238, increasing $1,695 since 2001. Annual earnings in the information sector increased the most between 2001 and 2005, up $6,518 or 29.7 percent.

The Vincennes area has a diversified economy. In 2005 retail trade was the largest of 20 major sectors. It had an average wage per job of $19,743. Per capita income grew by 17.9% between 1994 and 2004 (adjusted for inflation). While manufacturing accounts for 8.2% of the jobs, the services sector is rapidly growing. Knox County's ground breaking Pathways Program insures a well-trained, highly motivated labor force. Knox County encompasses an area that attracts approximately 300,000 potential employees within an easy commute. Because of the proximity of the surrounding counties, and ease of access to the Vincennes area, businesses routinely draw from a labor force that lies within a 50-mile radius of their work site.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Knox County, Indiana". US Census Bureau. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the U.S. GPO. p. 177.
  4. ↑ Taylor, Jr., Robert M. (1989). Indiana: A New Historical Guide. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society. ISBN 0-87195-048-0.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  6. ↑ Knox County IN (Google Maps - accessed 6 December 2019)
  7. ↑ Knox County High Point, Indiana (PeakBagger.com, accessed 20 September 2020)
  8. 1 2 "Monthly Averages for Vincennes IN". 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. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  14. ↑ "US Decennial Census". US 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". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  18. ↑ "U.S. Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  19. ↑ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Selected Economic Characteistics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.

38°40′N 87°26′W / 38.66°N 87.43°W / 38.66; -87.43

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