Marion County, Indiana

Marion County is located in the U.S. state of Indiana. The 2010 United States Census reported a population of 903,393,[1] making it the largest county in the state and 55th most populated county in the country. The county seat is Indianapolis, the state capital and largest city.[2] Marion County is consolidated with Indianapolis through an arrangement known as Unigov.

For counties with a similar name, see Marion County (disambiguation).
Marion County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
Indiana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°47′N 86°08′W
Country United States
State Indiana
FoundedApril 1, 1822
Named forFrancis Marion
SeatIndianapolis
Largest cityIndianapolis
Area
 • Total403.01 sq mi (1,043.8 km2)
 • Land396.30 sq mi (1,026.4 km2)
 • Water6.71 sq mi (17.4 km2)  1.66%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
964,582
 • Density2,434/sq mi (940/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts5th, 7th
Websitewww.indy.gov/eGov/County
  • Indiana county number 49
  • Most populous county in Indiana
  • Currently only Unigov county in Indiana

Marion County is the central county of the Indianapolis–Carmel–Anderson MSA in Central Indiana.

Geography

The low rolling hills of Marion County have been cleared of trees, and the area is completely devoted to municipal development or to agriculture, except for wooded drainages.[3] The highest point (920 feet/279 meters ASL) is a small ridge at the county's northwest corner.[4]

According to the 2010 census, the county has an area of 403.01 square miles (1,043.8 km2), of which 396.30 square miles (1,026.4 km2) (or 98.34%) is land and 6.71 square miles (17.4 km2) (or 1.66%) is water.[5]

The White River flows southwestward through the central part of the county; it is joined by Eagle Creek and Fall Creek, both of which have dams in the county forming Eagle Creek Reservoir and Geist Reservoir, respectively.

Marion County has two Indiana State Parks, Fort Harrison State Park and White River State Park, as well as many municipal parks.

Adjacent counties

Transportation

Major highways

* I-69 currently ends in Indianapolis at the I-465 interchange in the northeast section of the county. The extension connecting Indianapolis and Evansville is expected to be completed in the mid to late 2020s.

Airports
Control tower at Indianapolis International Airport

History

Marion County was created on April 1, 1822, from part of the "New Purchase" lands that had been obtained from its inhabitants, the Lenape, by the Treaty of St. Mary's.[8] It is named for Francis Marion, a Brigadier General from South Carolina in the American Revolutionary War.[9]

The state capital was moved to Indianapolis in Marion County from Corydon on January 10, 1825. This began a period of rapid growth in population.[10]

Climate and weather
Indianapolis, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
2.1
 
 
33
18
 
 
2.1
 
 
39
22
 
 
3.1
 
 
50
31
 
 
3.8
 
 
61
41
 
 
4.6
 
 
72
52
 
 
4.1
 
 
81
61
 
 
4.8
 
 
84
65
 
 
3.9
 
 
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76
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2.9
 
 
65
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3.7
 
 
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39
23
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[11]

In recent years, average temperatures in Indianapolis have ranged from a low of 18 °F (−8 °C) in January to a high of 84 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −22 °F (−30 °C) was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.05 inches (52 mm) in January to 4.78 inches (121 mm) in July.[11]

Demographics
Age and gender distribution in Marion County
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18307,192—
184016,080123.6%
185024,10349.9%
186039,85565.4%
187071,93980.5%
1880102,78242.9%
1890141,15637.3%
1900197,22739.7%
1910263,66133.7%
1920348,06132.0%
1930422,66621.4%
1940460,9269.1%
1950551,77719.7%
1960697,56726.4%
1970792,29913.6%
1980765,233−3.4%
1990797,1594.2%
2000860,4547.9%
2010903,3935.0%
2019 (est.)964,582[12]6.8%
US Decennial Census[13]
1790-1960[14] 1900-1990[15]
1990-2000[16] 2010-2019[1]

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 903,393 people, 366,176 households, and 218,338 families in the county.[17] The population density was 2,279.6 inhabitants per square mile (880.2/km2). There were 417,862 housing units at an average density of 1,054.4 per square mile (407.1/km2).[5] The racial makeup of the county was 62.7% white, 26.7% black or African American, 2.0% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 5.4% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 9.3% of the population.[17] In terms of ancestry, 18.9% were German, 11.8% were Irish, 8.4% were English, 6.6% were American, and 5.2% were Subsaharan African.[18]

Of the 366,176 households, 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.9% were married couples living together, 17.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 40.4% were non-families, and 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.08. The median age was 33.9 years.[17]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $54,142. Males had a median income of $42,215 versus $34,169 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,498. About 13.5% of families and 17.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.7% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.[19]

Cities and towns

Marion County has a consolidated city-county government, known as Unigov, in which only four municipalities retain full government autonomy (including a mayor and city council) as "excluded cities". The remaining municipalities within the county are "included towns" and exercise very limited authority, mainly in zoning and appointing their own police departments and maintaining some of their own municipal services and town identities. They retain the ability to levy taxes for these purposes.

Municipalities

Excluded cities in bold.

Townships

Marion County has nine townships roughly organized into a grid-like, three-by-three pattern. This arrangement can be seen below, with the top being north.

Pike Washington Lawrence
Wayne Center Warren
Decatur Perry Franklin

Politics

Most of Marion County is in Indiana's 7th congressional district, which is held by Democrat André Carson. Indiana's 5th congressional district, which runs along the northern edge of the county, is held by Republican Susan Brooks. The county is represented by 15 seats in the Indiana House of Representatives, 86th through 100th districts, with ten seats held by Democrats and five by Republicans. In the State Senate Marion County is divided among nine districts, which are held by two Democrats and seven Republicans. The Senate districts are numbered 28 through 36.

The Indianapolis City-County Council is the combined legislative body of Indianapolis and Marion County. The consolidated government, known as Unigov, was formally established in 1970 upon the merger of the city government with the county government. The council passes ordinances for the city and county, and makes appointments to certain boards and commissions.

County elected officials
Marion County
Sheriff's Department
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionMarion County, Indiana, United States
Legal jurisdictionAs per operations jurisdiction
General nature
Operational structure
Agency executive
  • John Layton, Sheriff
  • Mayor (County Executive): Joe Hogsett (D)
  • Auditor: Julie Voorhies (D)
  • Clerk: Myla A. Eldrige (D)
  • Coroner: Dr. Lee Sloan (D)
  • Assessor: Joseph P. O'Connor (D)
  • Prosecutor: Ryan Mears (D)
  • Recorder: Kate Sweeney Bell (D)
  • Sheriff: Kerry J. Forestal (D)
  • Surveyor: Debra S. Jenkins (D)
  • Treasurer: Claudia O. Fuentes (D)

The Auditor, Assessor, and Treasurer form the county's Board of Commissioners.

For most of the 20th century, Marion County was considered one of the most conservative urban counties in the nation. Between 1896 and 2000, it went Democratic only four times, in the national landslides of 1932, 1936 and 1964 as well as 1912 when Woodrow Wilson won a plurality in the county. The Republican edge began to lessen considerably in the 1990s, and in 2004 John Kerry became the first Democrat since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 to carry the county. The trend continued in 2008 and 2012 with Barack Obama showing strongly in Marion County, winning 63% and 60% of the vote respectively.

Presidential election results[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 34.4% 134,175 63.5% 247,772 1.9% 7,672
2016 35.5% 130,360 58.0% 212,899 6.4% 23,620
2012 37.9% 136,509 60.1% 216,336 2.0% 7,127
2008 35.3% 134,313 63.7% 241,987 1.0% 3,790
2004 48.7% 156,072 50.6% 162,249 0.8% 2,517
2000 49.2% 137,810 47.9% 134,189 2.8% 7,904
1996 47.2% 133,329 44.1% 124,448 8.7% 24,437
1992 43.7% 141,369 37.8% 122,234 18.6% 60,187
1988 58.6% 184,519 40.8% 128,627 0.6% 1,949
1984 58.3% 184,880 41.1% 130,185 0.7% 2,083
1980 53.7% 168,680 40.1% 126,103 6.2% 19,486
1976 54.6% 177,767 44.6% 145,274 0.8% 2,535
1972 66.5% 206,065 33.0% 102,166 0.5% 1,535
1968 52.3% 162,503 37.2% 115,715 10.5% 32,704
1964 48.3% 143,015 51.4% 152,418 0.3% 948
1960 57.7% 166,202 42.1% 121,336 0.2% 668
1956 62.0% 162,566 37.8% 99,102 0.3% 679
1952 60.5% 164,466 39.1% 106,387 0.4% 1,086
1948 50.8% 103,603 48.0% 97,915 1.2% 2,495
1944 52.0% 116,421 47.5% 106,382 0.5% 1,034
1940 50.4% 124,845 49.3% 121,907 0.3% 787
1936 40.5% 87,798 57.7% 124,961 1.8% 3,791
1932 46.2% 98,256 50.2% 106,661 3.6% 7,747
1928 59.6% 109,630 39.8% 73,309 0.6% 1,161
1924 59.1% 95,135 37.0% 59,498 3.9% 6,247
1920 54.9% 79,957 42.2% 61,460 2.9% 4,154
1916 51.5% 40,699 44.3% 35,043 4.2% 3,288
1912 18.2% 12,280 44.2% 29,805 37.6% 25,323
1908 48.7% 34,351 48.3% 34,078 3.1% 2,151
1904 58.5% 35,103 37.3% 22,336 4.2% 2,524
1900 54.2% 29,272 43.8% 23,660 1.9% 1,034
1896 56.0% 27,353 42.3% 20,654 1.8% 853
1892 47.8% 19,551 49.9% 20,426 2.3% 949
1888 48.8% 17,139 49.9% 17,515 1.3% 456

See also

References
  1. "Marion County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  3. Marion County IN (Google Maps, accessed 31 August 2020)
  4. Marion County High Point, Indiana (PeakBagger.com, accessed 31 August 2020)
  5. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  6. Eagle Creek Airpark (Google Maps, accessed 31 August 2020)
  7. Post Air Airport (Google Maps, accessed 31 August 2020)
  8. Divita, James J. (1994). "Demography and Ethnicity". In Bodenhamer, David J.; Barrows, Robert G. (eds.). The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press. pp. 51–52. ISBN 0-253-31222-1. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
  9. Baker, Ronald L.; Marvin Carmony (1995). Indiana Place Names. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. p. 98. ISBN 0-253-28340-X.
  10. De Witt Clinton Goodrich & Charles Richard Tuttle (1875). An Illustrated History of the State of Indiana. Indiana: R. S. Peale & co. p. 566.
  11. "Monthly Averages for Indianapolis IN". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
  12. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  13. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  14. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  15. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  16. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  17. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  18. "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 10 July 2015.
  19. "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  20. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.

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