Perry County, Indiana

Perry County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 19,338.[1] The county seat is Tell City.[2] It is the hilliest county as well as one of the most forested counties in Indiana as it features more than 60,000 acres (240 km2) of Hoosier National Forest. The Ohio River Scenic Byway along Indiana State Road 66 runs along the southern border of the county while Interstate 64 traverses the northern portion of the county. Connecting the two is Indiana State Road 37.[3]

Perry County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
Indiana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°05′N 86°38′W
Country United States
State Indiana
FoundedNovember 1, 1814
Named forOliver Hazard Perry
SeatTell City
Largest cityTell City
Area
 • Total386.29 sq mi (1,000.5 km2)
 • Land381.73 sq mi (988.7 km2)
 • Water4.56 sq mi (11.8 km2)  1.18%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
19,102
 • Density51/sq mi (19.58/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district8th
Websitewww.perrycounty.in.gov
Indiana county number 62

The county features three incorporated communities: Tell City (2009 population 7,473), Cannelton (2009 population 1,130) and Troy (2009 population 379). Each is located in Troy Township which is situated along the south western corner of the county.

Coordinated efforts with County officials led to the acquisition of an abandoned rail line that has since been reactivated as the County-owned Hoosier Southern Rail Road. Managed by the Perry County Port Authority, the 22-mile (35 km) short-line rail road connects the Perry County River Port with the Norfolk Southern Rail Road.

Climate and weather
Tell City, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
3.4
 
 
39
24
 
 
3.2
 
 
45
27
 
 
4.5
 
 
55
35
 
 
4.5
 
 
66
44
 
 
5.2
 
 
75
54
 
 
4.3
 
 
84
63
 
 
4.5
 
 
88
68
 
 
3.8
 
 
86
66
 
 
3.4
 
 
80
59
 
 
3
 
 
69
47
 
 
4.1
 
 
56
38
 
 
4
 
 
44
29
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[4]

In recent years, average temperatures in Tell City have ranged from a low of 24 °F (−4 °C) in January to a high of 88 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −17 °F (−27 °C) was recorded in January 1985, and a record high of 106 °F (41 °C) was recorded in September 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.98 inches (76 mm) in October to 5.22 inches (133 mm) in May.[4]

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 fiscal body 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.[5][6]

Board of Commissioners: The executive and legislative 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 managing the day-to-day functions of the county government.[5][6]

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 six years and must be a member of the Indiana Bar Association. The judge is assisted by a magistrate who is appointed by the judge. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level circuit court.[6]

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.[6]

Perry County is part of Indiana's 8th congressional district and is represented in Congress by Republican Larry Bucshon.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[7]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 61.3% 5,345 36.7% 3,203 2.0% 174
2016 56.6% 4,556 38.0% 3,062 5.4% 437
2012 43.2% 3,403 54.8% 4,316 2.0% 156
2008 37.7% 3,202 60.6% 5,141 1.7% 147
2004 49.8% 4,137 49.7% 4,131 0.6% 47
2000 46.9% 3,461 51.8% 3,823 1.4% 103
1996 32.2% 2,554 55.8% 4,427 12.0% 949
1992 31.7% 2,973 51.5% 4,829 16.8% 1,580
1988 49.3% 4,720 50.2% 4,804 0.6% 56
1984 49.9% 4,785 49.7% 4,760 0.5% 43
1980 45.9% 4,350 48.0% 4,540 6.1% 578
1976 42.0% 4,088 57.7% 5,620 0.4% 38
1972 54.7% 5,204 45.0% 4,277 0.3% 29
1968 46.2% 4,211 47.7% 4,343 6.1% 554
1964 33.1% 3,090 66.7% 6,226 0.3% 25
1960 47.0% 4,372 52.9% 4,920 0.2% 16
1956 55.0% 4,946 44.9% 4,037 0.1% 10
1952 54.5% 4,816 45.3% 4,001 0.2% 15
1948 45.0% 3,761 54.7% 4,569 0.3% 24
1944 50.4% 4,087 49.3% 3,996 0.2% 19
1940 50.0% 4,489 49.8% 4,475 0.2% 14
1936 42.0% 3,619 55.1% 4,752 2.9% 248
1932 38.9% 3,253 60.5% 5,053 0.6% 51
1928 49.9% 3,772 50.0% 3,782 0.1% 7
1924 44.3% 3,240 53.3% 3,895 2.4% 179
1920 51.8% 3,864 47.7% 3,560 0.6% 41
1916 45.1% 1,762 53.5% 2,089 1.4% 55
1912 14.3% 520 52.9% 1,931 32.9% 1,199
1908 43.9% 1,903 54.4% 2,356 1.7% 73
1904 48.9% 2,105 49.7% 2,142 1.4% 59
1900 47.2% 2,078 51.7% 2,278 1.1% 47
1896 49.9% 2,139 49.2% 2,109 0.8% 35
1892 46.3% 1,890 50.8% 2,074 2.9% 120
1888 49.5% 1,974 50.4% 2,007 0.1% 4

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 386.29 square miles (1,000.5 km2), of which 381.73 square miles (988.7 km2) (or 98.82%) is land and 4.56 square miles (11.8 km2) (or 1.18%) is water.[8]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected area

Roads and highways

Interstate 64 cuts across the northern portion of the county. State Road 66, designated as the Ohio River Scenic Byway for most of its course in the county, is the most heavily traveled road by residents and visitors alike, adjacent to the three most populous towns in the county as well as most major tourist destinations. State Road 37 connects the county to Bloomington and Indianapolis. Other state roads in the county include State Road 62, which closely parallels I-64; State Road 145, which winds through the western parts of the county; State Road 166, which is little more than a road to and from the hamlet of Tobinsport; State Road 237, which connects Cannelton directly to State Road 37 (also the site of a bridge on the Ohio River); a short run of State Road 545 near Troy; and State Road 70 which connects State Road 37 with State Road 66.

History

Perry County was formed on November 1, 1814 (two years before the state of Indiana was admitted to the Union) from Warrick and Gibson Counties. It was named for Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry who defeated the British squadron in the decisive Battle of Lake Erie in 1813.[9] The Ohio River made Perry County a focal point and settlers were drawn here due to plentiful supplies of natural resources and the area's scenic beauty.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18202,330—
18303,36944.6%
18404,65538.2%
18507,26856.1%
186011,84763.0%
187014,80124.9%
188016,99714.8%
189018,2407.3%
190018,7782.9%
191018,078−3.7%
192016,692−7.7%
193016,625−0.4%
194017,7706.9%
195017,367−2.3%
196017,232−0.8%
197019,07510.7%
198019,3461.4%
199019,107−1.2%
200018,899−1.1%
201019,3382.3%
2018 (est.)19,102[10]−1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 19,338 people, 7,476 households, and 5,020 families residing in the county.[15] The population density was 50.7 inhabitants per square mile (19.6/km2). There were 8,495 housing units at an average density of 22.3 per square mile (8.6/km2).[8] The racial makeup of the county was 96.0% white, 2.4% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.0% of the population.[15] In terms of ancestry, 37.8% were German, 14.4% were Irish, 11.6% were American, and 8.7% were English.[16]

Of the 7,476 households, 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.9% were non-families, and 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.91. The median age was 40.4 years.[15]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $55,497. Males had a median income of $42,017 versus $26,301 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,806. About 6.7% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.[17]

Cities, towns, and unincorporated communities

Cities and towns

Unincorporated communities

Townships

See also

References
  1. "Perry County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2016-02-18. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-03-26. Retrieved 2011-06-22.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Monthly Averages for Tell City, Indiana". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
  5. Indiana Code. "Title 36, Article 2, Section 3". IN.gov. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  6. Indiana Code. "Title 2, Article 10, Section 2" (PDF). IN.gov. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  7. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
  8. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-12. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  9. De Witt Clinton Goodrich & Charles Richard Tuttle (1875). An Illustrated History of the State of Indiana. Indiana: R. S. Peale & co. pp. 570.
  10. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  11. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  13. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  14. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  15. "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.
  16. "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.
  17. "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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