Colonel William A. Phillips

Lawrenceburg on the Ohio River, from the air. AEP's Tanner's Creek Generating Station at lower-left.

Dearborn County is one of 92 counties of the U.S. state of Indiana. Located on the Ohio border near the southeast corner of the state, Dearborn County was formed in 1803 from a portion of Hamilton County, Ohio. In 2020, the population was 50,679.[1] The county seat and largest city is Lawrenceburg.[2] Dearborn County is part of the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

In 1803, following Ohio's admission to the Union, a wedge, or pie shaped, remnant of the former Northwest Territory along Ohio's southwestern border was ceded to Indiana Territory and organized as Dearborn County. It was named after Henry Dearborn who was U.S. Secretary of War at that time.[3] Lawrenceburg was then designated as the county seat.

All or part of seven other present day counties were carved from the original county with the present boundaries being established in 1845. The region, nicknamed the "Gore", slices through the present-day counties of Dearborn, Franklin, Ohio, Randolph, Switzerland, Union, Wayne and Fayette.[4] Subdivision of Dearborn County began in 1811 with the formation of Franklin and Wayne Counties, followed by Switzerland in 1814.[4]

Early growth in the region was centered on Lawrenceburg which became an important railroad junction connecting two of the regions major rail lines.[5] A contention existed between the towns of Lawrenceburg and the mostly German-speaking immigrants that dominated Rising Sun over the favored status of Lawrenceburg as the county seat. The rivalry between the two towns was resolved in 1844 when the Indiana State legislature separated the portion of Dearborn County south of Laughery Creek and created the last and smallest Indiana county, county of Ohio on March 1, 1844, with Rising Sun designated as its county seat.[6]

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 307.42 square miles (796.2 km2), of which 305.03 square miles (790.0 km2) (or 99.22%) is land and 2.38 square miles (6.2 km2) (or 0.77%) is water.[7] Part of the southeastern county line is formed by the Ohio River.


Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Townships

Adjacent counties

Climate

In recent years, average temperatures in Lawrenceburg have ranged from a low of 21 °F (−6 °C) in January to a high of 86 °F (30 °C) in July, although a record low of −27 °F (−33 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 107 °F (42 °C) was recorded in July 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.94 inches (75 mm) in September to 5.53 inches (140 mm) in May.[8]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18107,310
182011,46856.9%
183013,97421.9%
184019,32738.3%
185020,1664.3%
186024,40621.0%
187024,116−1.2%
188026,67110.6%
189023,364−12.4%
190022,194−5.0%
191021,396−3.6%
192020,033−6.4%
193021,0565.1%
194023,0539.5%
195025,1419.1%
196028,67414.1%
197029,4302.6%
198034,29116.5%
199038,83513.3%
200046,10918.7%
201050,0478.5%
202050,6791.3%
2022 (est.)51,138[9]0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2013[1]

At the 2010 United States Census, there were 50,047 people, 18,743 households and 13,773 families residing in the county.[14] The population density was 164.1 inhabitants per square mile (63.4/km2). There were 20,171 housing units at an average density of 66.1 per square mile (25.5/km2).[7] The racial makeup of the county was 97.5% white, 0.6% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.3% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.0% of the population.[14] In terms of ancestry, 46.5% were German, 19.2% were Irish, 11.4% were English, and 7.8% were American.[15]

Of the 18,743 households, 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 26.5% were non-families, and 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.07. The median age was 40.0 years.[14]

The median household income was $47,697 and the median family income was $66,561. Males had a median income of $45,270 and females $33,353. The per capita income was $25,023. About 4.5% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.[16]

2020 census

Dearborn County Racial Composition[17]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 47,319 93.37%
Black or African American (NH) 292 0.6%
Native American (NH) 66 0.13%
Asian (NH) 211 0.42%
Pacific Islander (NH) 9 0.02%
Other/Mixed (NH) 2,058 4.06%
Hispanic or Latino 724 1.43%

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.[18][19] [20] 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.[18][19]

Court: Dearborn County's courts consist of a Circuit Court, presided over by the Honorable James Humphrey (shared with Ohio County in the only such arrangement in the state[21]) and two Superior Courts, the Honorable Jonathan Cleary, presiding over Dearborn County Superior Court No. 1 and the Honorable Sally McLaughlin, presiding over Dearborn County z Superior Court No. 2. Judges are elected to six-year terms. Lawrenceburg also has City Courts, presided over by the Honorable Joseph R. Johns. The Lawrenceburg City Court Judge serves a four-year term.

County Officials: The county has several other elected offices, including sheriff, prosecuting attorney, 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 a party affiliation and to be residents of the county.[19]

Dearborn County is part of Indiana's 6th congressional district; Indiana Senate district 43;[22] and Indiana House of Representatives districts 55 and 68.[23]

United States presidential election results for Dearborn County, Indiana[24]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 19,528 76.78% 5,446 21.41% 460 1.81%
2016 18,113 75.06% 4,883 20.24% 1,135 4.70%
2012 15,394 68.86% 6,528 29.20% 434 1.94%
2008 14,886 67.00% 7,123 32.06% 208 0.94%
2004 14,231 67.87% 6,596 31.46% 142 0.68%
2000 11,452 64.88% 6,020 34.11% 178 1.01%
1996 8,318 50.60% 6,269 38.13% 1,852 11.27%
1992 6,974 44.80% 5,116 32.86% 3,477 22.34%
1988 8,195 61.57% 5,066 38.06% 48 0.36%
1984 9,149 64.74% 4,920 34.81% 63 0.45%
1980 7,467 56.36% 5,135 38.76% 647 4.88%
1976 6,176 49.04% 6,348 50.40% 71 0.56%
1972 7,689 64.69% 4,137 34.81% 59 0.50%
1968 6,208 48.65% 4,842 37.95% 1,710 13.40%
1964 5,473 41.47% 7,699 58.33% 26 0.20%
1960 7,619 54.99% 6,216 44.87% 19 0.14%
1956 7,189 56.40% 5,535 43.43% 22 0.17%
1952 7,091 54.82% 5,810 44.92% 33 0.26%
1948 5,353 46.70% 6,040 52.70% 69 0.60%
1944 5,487 51.32% 5,157 48.24% 47 0.44%
1940 5,908 49.29% 6,038 50.37% 41 0.34%
1936 4,669 41.48% 6,366 56.56% 221 1.96%
1932 4,716 41.83% 6,429 57.02% 130 1.15%
1928 6,334 58.49% 4,459 41.18% 36 0.33%
1924 4,588 48.11% 4,330 45.41% 618 6.48%
1920 5,159 50.66% 4,884 47.96% 140 1.37%
1916 2,318 42.18% 3,010 54.78% 167 3.04%
1912 1,366 25.93% 2,957 56.13% 945 17.94%
1908 2,520 41.81% 3,365 55.83% 142 2.36%
1904 2,588 42.99% 3,264 54.22% 168 2.79%
1900 2,533 42.00% 3,371 55.89% 127 2.11%
1896 2,714 44.75% 3,313 54.62% 38 0.63%
1892 2,274 39.20% 3,397 58.56% 130 2.24%
1888 2,648 42.25% 3,531 56.33% 89 1.42%

Infrastructure

Major highways

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Dearborn County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Profile for Dearborn County, Indiana, IN". ePodunk. Archived from the original on November 13, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2012.
    - Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 102.
  4. ^ a b History of Dearborn and Ohio Counties, Indiana. F. E. Weakley. 1885. pp. 111.
  5. ^ De Witt Clinton Goodrich & Charles Richard Tuttle (1875). An Illustrated History of the State of Indiana. Indiana: R. S. Peale & co. pp. 553.
  6. ^ "More About Dearborn County". Indiana County History Preservation Society. Archived from the original on January 31, 2011. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  7. ^ a b "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  8. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Lawrenceburg, Indiana". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  9. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  12. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  13. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  14. ^ a b c "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.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Dearborn County, Indiana".
  18. ^ a b Indiana Code. "Title 36, Article 2, Section 3". IN.gov. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
  19. ^ a b c Indiana Code. "Title 2, Article 10, Section 2" (PDF). IN.gov. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
  20. ^ There are seven members of council from four districts and three elected at large. District 1-Elizabeth Morris (Council President) Republican District 2-Dan Lansing Democrat District 3-Kevin Turner Republican District 4- Denny Kraus Republican At large- Allen Goodman (Vice-President) Republican, Tim Doll Republican, and Glenn Wright Republican. "Staff Directory / Browse Staff / Dearborn County, Indiana".
  21. ^ "Know Your Indiana Courts: Trial Courts: Types of Courts". Archived from the original on October 19, 2011. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
  22. ^ "Indiana Senate Districts". State of Indiana. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
  23. ^ "Indiana House Districts". State of Indiana. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
  24. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 14, 2018.

External links

39°09′N 84°59′W / 39.15°N 84.98°W / 39.15; -84.98