Rush County, Indiana

Rush County
County
The Rush County Courthouse in Rushville
Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
Indiana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°37′N85°28′W / 39.62°N 85.47°W / 39.62; -85.47
Country	United States
State	Indiana
Founded	1822
Named for	Benjamin Rush
Seat	Rushville
Largest city	Rushville
Area
• Total	408.46 sq mi (1,057.9 km2)
• Land	408.12 sq mi (1,057.0 km2)
• Water	0.34 sq mi (0.9 km2)  0.08%
Population  (2020)
• Total	16,752
• Density	41/sq mi (16/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	6th
Website	rushcounty.in.gov
Indiana county number 70

Aerial view of Rushville

Rush County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. In the 2020 United States Census, the population was 16,752. ^[1] The county seat (and only city) is Rushville. ^[2]

History

When the Indiana Territory was granted statehood (December 20, 1816), there were no settlers on the lands of the future Rush County. However, this changed quickly, and by 1821 the newly founded settlements were desirous of being organized into a county unit. Accordingly, the state legislature passed an act dated December 31, 1821, which authorized Rush County, effective April 1, and further authorized the first commissioners (pro tem) to begin organizing the county's governing structure on June 3, 1822. The act also authorized six townships to cover the county; subsequent growth through the years has caused the number of townships to double. ^[3] It was named for Dr. Benjamin Rush, one of the signers of the 1776 Declaration of Independence. ^[4] That same summer (1822) the future town (and county seat) of Rushville was platted and laid out.

Geography

In the 1820s the low rolling hills of Rush County were generously covered with trees, usually walnut and sugar maples. By 1879 Rush County was the state's largest producer of maple syrup. ^[5] However, logging and clearing for agriculture have completely removed the trees, except for stands in drainages, and the available land is completely devoted to agriculture or urban development. ^[6] The Big Blue River drains the upper part of the county, flowing to the southwest. The Little Blue River flows southwest to drain the central part of the county, and Flatrock River flows south-southwest through the lower central part of the county. ^{[7] [8]} The terrain's highest point (1,135 feet/346 m ASL) is an isolated rise at the county's east boundary, 1.4 miles (2.3 km) SSW of Glenwood. ^[9] According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 408.46 square miles (1,057.9 km²), of which 408.12 square miles (1,057.0 km²) (or 99.92%) is land and 0.34 square miles (0.88 km²) (or 0.08%) is water. ^[10]

Adjacent counties

• Henry County - north
• Fayette County - east
• Franklin County - southeast
• Decatur County - south
• Shelby County - west
• Hancock County - northwest

Cities and towns

• Carthage
• Glenwood
• Rushville (city/county seat)

Census-designated places

• Arlington
• Manilla
• Milroy

Unincorporated towns

• Boyd
• Charlottesville
• Circleville
• Fairview
• Falmouth
• Farmers
• Farmington
• Gings
• Gowdy
• Henderson
• Henry
• Homer
• Mauzy
• Mays
• Moscow
• New Salem
• Occident
• Raleigh
• Richland
• Sexton
• Sulphur Spring
• Williamstown

Townships

• Anderson
• Center
• Jackson
• Noble
• Orange
• Posey
• Richland
• Ripley
• Rushville
• Union
• Walker
• Washington

Major highways

• / Interstate 74/U.S. Route 421**
• U.S. Route 52
• Indiana State Road 3
• Indiana State Road 44
• Indiana State Road 140
• Indiana State Road 244

Climate and weather

Rushville, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     2.6     34 17     2.6     39 21     3.2     50 30     4.2     62 39     5.1     73 50     4.3     81 60     4.4     84 63     3.6     83 61     2.9     77 53     2.9     65 42     3.6     51 33     3.1     39 24 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches Source: The Weather Channel [11]
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     67     1 −8     65     4 −6     81     10 −1     107     17 4     129     23 10     110     27 16     111     29 17     91     28 16     73     25 12     72     18 6     91     11 1     78     4 −4 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in Rushville have ranged from a low of 17 °F (−8 °C) in January to a high of 84 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −28 °F (−33 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 108 °F (42 °C) was recorded in July 1901. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.55 inches (65 mm) in February to 5.06 inches (129 mm) in May. ^[11]

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 legislative branch of the county government; controls spending and revenue collection in the county. Representatives are elected to four-year terms from county districts. 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. ^{[12] [13]}

Board of Commissioners: The executive body of the county; commissioners are elected county-wide to staggered four-year terms. One commissioner serves as president. The commissioners execute acts legislated by the council, collect revenue, and manage the county government. ^{[12] [13]}

County Officials: The county has other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor and circuit court clerk. These officers are elected to four-year terms. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare party affiliations and to be residents of the county. ^[13]

United States presidential election results for Rush County, Indiana ^[14]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	6,035	76.00%	1,754	22.09%	152	1.91%
2016	5,292	72.83%	1,525	20.99%	449	6.18%
2012	4,633	65.94%	2,221	31.61%	172	2.45%
2008	4,271	55.98%	3,229	42.33%	129	1.69%
2004	5,363	72.27%	2,000	26.95%	58	0.78%
2000	4,749	65.20%	2,370	32.54%	165	2.27%
1996	3,827	51.52%	2,578	34.71%	1,023	13.77%
1992	3,873	48.36%	2,168	27.07%	1,967	24.56%
1988	5,112	67.41%	2,451	32.32%	20	0.26%
1984	5,429	69.86%	2,307	29.69%	35	0.45%
1980	4,829	64.29%	2,388	31.79%	294	3.91%
1976	4,723	60.32%	3,052	38.98%	55	0.70%
1972	5,965	76.95%	1,764	22.76%	23	0.30%
1968	5,004	59.42%	2,636	31.30%	781	9.27%
1964	4,507	49.94%	4,450	49.31%	68	0.75%
1960	6,215	63.54%	3,516	35.94%	51	0.52%
1956	6,202	64.69%	3,346	34.90%	39	0.41%
1952	6,918	66.82%	3,348	32.34%	87	0.84%
1948	5,362	57.53%	3,814	40.92%	145	1.56%
1944	5,853	59.60%	3,891	39.62%	77	0.78%
1940	6,486	60.02%	4,282	39.62%	39	0.36%
1936	5,457	47.45%	5,999	52.17%	44	0.38%
1932	5,094	49.50%	5,056	49.14%	140	1.36%
1928	6,640	68.38%	2,996	30.85%	75	0.77%
1924	5,958	62.58%	3,415	35.87%	148	1.55%
1920	6,113	56.59%	4,513	41.78%	177	1.64%
1916	2,950	51.22%	2,569	44.60%	241	4.18%
1912	1,931	34.57%	2,312	41.39%	1,343	24.04%
1908	3,102	52.96%	2,544	43.44%	211	3.60%
1904	3,082	54.12%	2,363	41.49%	250	4.39%
1900	2,913	52.21%	2,503	44.86%	163	2.92%
1896	2,891	51.88%	2,602	46.69%	80	1.44%
1892	2,566	51.26%	2,210	44.15%	230	4.59%
1888	2,713	52.46%	2,292	44.32%	167	3.23%

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1830	9,707		—
1840	16,456		69.5%
1850	16,445		−0.1%
1860	16,193		−1.5%
1870	17,626		8.8%
1880	19,238		9.1%
1890	19,034		−1.1%
1900	20,148		5.9%
1910	19,349		−4.0%
1920	19,241		−0.6%
1930	19,412		0.9%
1940	18,927		−2.5%
1950	19,799		4.6%
1960	20,393		3.0%
1970	20,352		−0.2%
1980	19,604		−3.7%
1990	18,129		−7.5%
2000	18,261		0.7%
2010	17,392		−4.8%
2020	16,752		−3.7%
2023 (est.)	16,847	[15]	0.6%
US Decennial Census [16] 1790-1960 [17] 1900-1990 [18] 1990-2000 [19] 2010 [20]

2010 Census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 17,392 people, 6,767 households, and 4,803 families in the county. ^[21] The population density was 42.6 inhabitants per square mile (16.4/km²). There were 7,508 housing units at an average density of 18.4 per square mile (7.1/km²). ^[10] The racial makeup of the county was 97.4% white, 0.8% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.5% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.1% of the population. ^[21] In terms of ancestry, 23.4% were German, 16.8% were American, 12.0% were Irish, and 11.9% were English. ^[22]

Of the 6,767 households, 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.9% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.0% were non-families, and 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.99. The median age was 40.6 years. ^[21]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $52,874. Males had a median income of $41,581 versus $30,035 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,215. About 10.3% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over. ^[23]

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Rush County, Indiana
• Edward E. Moore, Indiana state senator and Los Angeles City Council member

References

1. "Rush County, Indiana". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 7, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. History of Rush County, Indiana. Chicago IL: Brant & Fuller. 1888. pp. 284–5.
4. De Witt Clinton Goodrich & Charles Richard Tuttle (1875). An Illustrated History of the State of Indiana. Indiana: R. S. Peale & Co. p. 572.
5. History of Rush County, Indiana. Chicago IL: Brant & Fuller. 1888. pp. 271–3.
6. Rush County, Indiana (Google Maps, accessed 6 August 2020)
7. Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). "Rush. I. A S. E. county of Indiana"  . The American Cyclopædia .
8. AAA World Atlas. Hammond Inc. 1992. p. 227.
9. Rush County High Point, Indiana (PeakBagger.com, accessed 6 August 2020)
10. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
11. "Monthly Averages for Rushville IN". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
12. Indiana Code. "Title 36, Article 2, Section 3". IN.gov. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
13. Indiana Code. "Title 2, Article 10, Section 2" (PDF). IN.gov. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
14. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
15. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
16. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
17. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
18. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
19. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
20. "Rush County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
21. "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.
22. "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.
23. "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.

External links

• County website
• History of Rush County, Indiana

39°37′N85°28′W / 39.62°N 85.47°W / 39.62; -85.47