Dubois County, Indiana

Dubois County (/duːˈbɔɪz/ doo-BOYZ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 41,889.[1] The county seat is Jasper.[2]

Dubois County
U.S. county
The Dubois County courthouse in Jasper, Indiana
Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
Indiana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°22′N 86°53′W
Country United States
State Indiana
FoundedDecember 20, 1818
Named forToussaint Dubois
SeatJasper
Largest cityJasper
Area
 • Total435.33 sq mi (1,127.5 km2)
 • Land427.27 sq mi (1,106.6 km2)
 • Water8.06 sq mi (20.9 km2)  1.85%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
42,565
 • Density97/sq mi (37.61/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district8th
Indiana county number 19

Dubois County is part of the Jasper Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Dubois County was formed on December 20, 1818, from Orange, Pike and Perry counties. It is named for Toussaint Dubois,[3] a Frenchman who fought in the American Revolutionary War, the Battle of Tippecanoe and the War of 1812. Dubois was a merchant who lived mainly in Vincennes. He drowned in 1816 while crossing the Little Wabash River near Lawrenceville, Illinois.[4]

In 1818, as many as half of the residents of the county died of milk sickness.[5] There is one view that the mother of Abraham Lincoln, Nancy Hanks Lincoln died of this disease at that time.[6] It was caused by settlers drinking the milk or eating the meat of cows that had eaten the white snakeroot. The plant contains the potent toxin temetrol, which is passed through the milk.[7] The migrants from the East were unfamiliar with the Midwestern plant and its effects.[8]

Dubois County switched to the Central Time Zone on April 2, 2006, and returned to the Eastern Time Zone on November 4, 2007; both changes were controversial.[9][10]

The original county seat was Portersville. In 1830 the county seat was moved south to Jasper.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 435.33 square miles (1,127.5 km2), of which 427.27 square miles (1,106.6 km2) (or 98.15%) is land and 8.06 square miles (20.9 km2) (or 1.85%) is water.[11]

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated places

Townships

Adjacent counties

Climate and weather
Jasper, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
3
 
 
38
20
 
 
2.8
 
 
44
24
 
 
4.1
 
 
54
33
 
 
4.7
 
 
65
43
 
 
5.3
 
 
74
52
 
 
4.7
 
 
82
61
 
 
4.4
 
 
86
66
 
 
4.1
 
 
85
63
 
 
3.6
 
 
79
56
 
 
3.2
 
 
67
44
 
 
4.3
 
 
55
35
 
 
3.5
 
 
43
25
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[12]

In recent years, average temperatures in Jasper have ranged from a low of 20 °F (−7 °C) in January to a high of 86 °F (30 °C) in July, although a record low of −25 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded in July 1966. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.81 inches (71 mm) in February to 5.29 inches (134 mm) in May.[12]

Government
See also: Government of Indiana

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.[13][14]

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.[13][14]

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.[14]

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.[14]

Dubois County is part of Indiana's 9th congressional district and is represented in Congress by Republican Trey Hollingsworth. It is also part of Indiana Senate districts 47 and 48,[15] and Indiana House of Representatives districts 63, 73 and 74.[16]

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 69.1% 15,033 28.9% 6,292 2.0% 445
2016 66.5% 13,365 26.8% 5,389 6.7% 1,341
2012 62.8% 11,654 35.1% 6,522 2.1% 395
2008 51.2% 9,526 47.1% 8,748 1.7% 319
2004 68.7% 11,726 30.5% 5,210 0.8% 130
2000 65.4% 10,134 32.8% 5,090 1.8% 280
1996 44.9% 6,840 42.6% 6,499 12.5% 1,911
1992 42.4% 6,785 36.8% 5,878 20.8% 3,326
1988 62.3% 9,995 37.1% 5,954 0.6% 99
1984 62.8% 9,391 36.3% 5,423 1.0% 148
1980 47.5% 6,775 46.9% 6,700 5.6% 801
1976 46.0% 6,383 53.2% 7,385 0.8% 116
1972 50.4% 6,637 48.3% 6,365 1.3% 177
1968 43.2% 5,865 49.6% 6,725 7.2% 973
1964 27.3% 3,800 72.6% 10,114 0.2% 25
1960 38.3% 5,117 61.5% 8,214 0.2% 22
1956 57.2% 6,942 42.7% 5,177 0.2% 20
1952 53.5% 6,538 46.3% 5,658 0.3% 31
1948 39.3% 4,295 60.1% 6,564 0.6% 69
1944 47.8% 4,855 51.9% 5,273 0.3% 34
1940 44.0% 4,729 55.8% 5,992 0.2% 24
1936 29.1% 3,011 66.9% 6,927 4.1% 421
1932 23.6% 2,357 75.5% 7,547 0.9% 92
1928 35.2% 3,301 64.4% 6,044 0.4% 39
1924 30.5% 2,708 63.7% 5,651 5.8% 511
1920 46.2% 3,738 52.4% 4,238 1.5% 119
1916 32.1% 1,492 66.0% 3,072 1.9% 89
1912 14.8% 666 68.0% 3,059 17.2% 773
1908 28.9% 1,397 69.1% 3,344 2.0% 97
1904 30.8% 1,413 67.9% 3,119 1.3% 60
1900 29.7% 1,362 69.5% 3,192 0.9% 40
1896 28.6% 1,215 70.8% 3,005 0.5% 23
1892 26.1% 1,081 68.8% 2,847 5.1% 210
1888 28.9% 1,220 70.7% 2,986 0.5% 19

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18201,168—
18301,77852.2%
18403,632104.3%
18506,32174.0%
186010,39464.4%
187012,59721.2%
188015,99227.0%
189020,25326.6%
190020,3570.5%
191019,843−2.5%
192019,9150.4%
193020,5533.2%
194022,5799.9%
195023,7855.3%
196027,46315.5%
197030,93412.6%
198034,23810.7%
199036,6166.9%
200039,6748.4%
201041,8895.6%
2018 (est.)42,565[18]1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[19]
1790-1960[20] 1900-1990[21]
1990-2000[22] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 41,889 people, 16,133 households, and 11,459 families residing in the county.[23] The population density was 98.0 inhabitants per square mile (37.8/km2). There were 17,384 housing units at an average density of 40.7 per square mile (15.7/km2).[11] The racial makeup of the county was 95.1% white, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 3.1% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.0% of the population.[23] In terms of ancestry, 58.0% were German, 9.0% were American, 8.1% were Irish, and 6.7% were English.[24]

Of the 16,133 households, 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.0% were non-families, and 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.03. The median age was 39.9 years.[23]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $64,286. Males had a median income of $42,078 versus $31,411 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,801. About 6.9% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.[25]

Economy

Personal income

The median income for a household in the county was $44,169, and the median income for a family was $50,342. Males had a median income of $32,484 versus $23,526 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,225. About 2.90% of families and 6.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.30% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.

Tourism

Patoka Lake is located along the county's eastern borders with both Crawford and Orange Counties. Several annual national tournaments are held there.

The Hoosier National Forest is located in the county. Part of it is protected.

Education

Public education in Dubois County is administered through four school corporations:

High Schools

Infrastructure

Major highways

See also

References
  1. "Dubois County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2011-09-17.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 109.
  4. De Witt Clinton Goodrich & Charles Richard Tuttle (1875). An Illustrated History of the State of Indiana. Indiana: R. S. Peale & co. pp. 556.
  6. "Abraham Lincoln Research Site", Roger J. Norton Website, accessed 1 July 2011
  7. "Abraham Lincoln Biography". Biography.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2010. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  8. Walter J. Daly, "'The Slows', The Torment of Milk Sickness on the Midwest Frontier", Indiana Magazine of History, Vol. 102, No. 1, March 2006
  9. "Indianapolis Star". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  10. DOT Moves Five Indiana Counties from Central to Eastern Time Archived May 20, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  11. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-12. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  12. "Monthly Averages for Jasper, Indiana". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
  13. Indiana Code. "Title 36, Article 2, Section 3". IN.gov. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  14. Indiana Code. "Title 2, Article 10, Section 2" (PDF). IN.gov. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  15. "Indiana Senate Districts". State of Indiana. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
  16. "Indiana House Districts". State of Indiana. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
  17. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  18. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  19. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  20. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  21. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  22. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  23. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  24. "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 2020-02-14. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  25. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-14. Retrieved 2015-07-10.

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