Washington County, Indiana

Washington County
County
Washington County courthouse in Salem
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
Indiana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°36′N86°07′W / 38.6°N 86.11°W / 38.6; -86.11
Country	United States
State	Indiana
Founded	1814
Named for	George Washington
Seat	Salem
Largest city	Salem
Area
• Total	516.60 sq mi (1,338.0 km2)
• Land	513.72 sq mi (1,330.5 km2)
• Water	2.87 sq mi (7.4 km2)  0.56%
Population  (2020)
• Total	28,182
• Estimate  (2023)	28,205
• Density	55/sq mi (21/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	9th
Website	www.washingtoncounty.in.gov
Indiana county number 88

Washington County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 28,182. ^[1] The county seat (and the county's only incorporated city) is Salem. ^[2] Washington County is part of the Louisville metropolitan area.

History

In 1787, the fledgling United States defined the Northwest Territory, which included the area of present-day Indiana. In 1800, Congress separated Ohio from the Northwest Territory, designating the rest of the land as the Indiana Territory. ^[3] President Thomas Jefferson chose William Henry Harrison as the territory's first governor, and Vincennes was established as the territorial capital. ^[4] After the Michigan Territory was separated and the Illinois Territory was formed, Indiana was reduced to its current size and geography. ^[3]

In 1790, Knox County was laid out. In 1801, Clark County was established, and in 1808 Harrison County was laid out, including the territory of the future Washington County.

Starting in 1794, Native American titles to Indiana lands were extinguished by usurpation, purchase, or war and treaty. The United States acquired land from the Native Americans in the Treaty of Grouseland (1805), by which a large portion of the southern Indiana Territory became property of the government. This included the future Washington County. As early as 1802, a man named Frederick Royce lived among the Ox Indians at a place known as the Lick, two miles east of Salem and is probably the first white man to inhabit this county. He was a hunter-trader and salt manufacturer. In 1803, Thomas Hopper settled in this county near Hardinsburg. Washington County was created by act of the Territorial legislature dated December 21, 1813, taking territory from Harrison and Clark counties. Interim commissioners were named and directed to determine the proper choice of the seat of government. Accordingly, they began deliberating in January 1814, and by February 2 had selected an uninhabited site near the center, naming it 'Salem'. ^[5] In the territorial act creating the county, it was named for U.S. President George Washington, ^[6] who had died fourteen years earlier.

On September 1, 1814, the original boundary of Washington County was increased, by act of the Territorial legislature, but on December 26, 1815, much of this added territory was partitioned off to create Orange and Jackson counties. ^[7] In December 1816 the Indiana Territory was admitted to the Union as a state. On January 12, 1820, the state partitioned a further portion of Washington County to create Scott County. ^[8] In 1842, and again in 1873, the border between Scott and Washington counties was adjusted.

In 1808, the first Black settlers arrived in the area along with white Quakers. In 1815 they established the Blue River Meeting House northeast of Salem. ^{[9] [10]} By 1850, 252 Black people had settled in the county, mainly living in Posey and Washington townships. ^[10] The passing into law in 1851 of a new state constitution, in which, Article 13 excluded further settlement of Black and mixed-race persons was indicative of increasing hostility towards this population and saw a decline in Black residents of the county to 187 by 1860. ^[10] In Posey Township, the population of 90 Black people in 1850 had decreased to zero by 1860. ^[10]

Whitecapping, the process by which rural citizens used threats or extralegal violence to force Black people out of the region, continued in Washington County during the Civil War. In December 1864, John Williams, a prosperous Black farmer in the county, was shot dead in the doorway of his home. ^{[10] [11]} In 1867, Alexander White, an elderly man, was stabbed to death in Salem after repeatedly ignoring the threats of white attendees to quit coming to their church. ^{[10] [12] [13]} These lynchings convinced people the county was not safe and contributed to a continual exodus of Black people from the county. ^{[14] [10] [15] [16]} In 1870, 18 Black people remained in the county, and by 1880 only three remained. ^[10]

Salem, the county seat, had become a sundown town by 1898 at the latest. ^[17] By the 20th century the entire county was officially sundown. ^[18] A county history from 1916 declared that, "Washington County has for several decades boasted that no colored man or woman lived within her borders." ^{[10] [19]} Sundown signs existed in the county, with one located near Canton, east of Salem. ^[16] Law enforcement would not allow Black people to stop in Salem, and would escort them to the county line. ^[20] Washington County remained sundown until 1990 at the latest, when 15 Black people were recorded living in Salem on that year's census. ^{[20] [16]}

Geography

The low rolling hills of Washington County were tree-covered before settlement, but have been largely cleared and devoted to agriculture, although drainage areas are still wooded. ^[21] The north portion of the county is drained by the Muscatatuck River, which forms the eastern portion of the county's north border. The East Fork of the White River joins the Muscatatuck near the center of the county's north line. The south part of the county is drained by the Blue River, which rises in the county and flows southwestward into Harrison County on its way to the Ohio River. The highest point on the terrain (1,050 feet (320 meters) ASL) is an isolated rise two miles (3.2 km) NNW from New Philadelphia in the eastern part. ^[22]

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 516.60 square miles (1,338.0 km²), of which 513.72 square miles (1,330.5 km²) (or 99.44%) is land and 2.87 square miles (7.4 km²) (or 0.56%) is water. ^[23]

Adjacent counties

• Jackson County − north
• Scott County − northeast
• Clark County − east
• Floyd County − southeast
• Harrison County − south
• Crawford County − southwest
• Orange County − west
• Lawrence County − northwest

City

• Salem

Towns

• Campbellsburg
• Hardinsburg
• Little York
• Livonia
• New Pekin
• Saltillo

Unincorporated communities

• Bartle
• Beck's Mill
• Blue River
• Brimstone Corners
• Bunker Hill
• Canton
• Claysville
• Daisy Hill
• Fairview
• Farabee
• Fayetteville
• Fredericksburg
• Georgetown
• Gooseport
• Haleysbury
• Harristown
• Highland
• Hitchcock
• Kossuth
• Martinsburg
• McKinley
• Millport
• Mount Carmel
• New Liberty
• New Philadelphia
• New Salem
• Old Pekin
• Organ Springs
• Plattsburg
• Prowsville
• Pumpkin Center
• Rosebud
• Rush Creek Valley
• Shorts Corner
• Smedley
• South Boston

Townships

• Brown
• Franklin
• Gibson
• Howard
• Jackson
• Jefferson
• Madison
• Monroe
• Pierce
• Polk
• Posey
• Vernon
• Washington

Transit

• Southern Indiana Transit System

Major highways

• U.S. Route 150
• Indiana State Road 39
• Indiana State Road 56
• Indiana State Road 60
• Indiana State Road 66
• Indiana State Road 135
• Indiana State Road 160
• Indiana State Road 256
• Indiana State Road 335
• Indiana State Road 337

Climate and weather

Salem, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     3.3     39 21     3.2     46 25     4.3     56 33     4.6     67 42     4.9     76 51     3.9     84 60     4.4     87 64     4     86 62     3.1     79 55     2.9     68 44     3.9     55 36     3.7     44 26 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches Source: The Weather Channel [24]
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     85     4 −6     81     8 −4     109     13 1     117     19 6     123     24 11     100     29 16     112     31 18     101     30 17     78     26 13     73     20 7     99     13 2     94     7 −3 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in Salem have ranged from a low of 21 °F (−6 °C) in January to a high of 87 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −32 °F (−36 °C) was recorded in February 1951 and a record high of 105 °F (41 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.87 inches (73 mm) in October to 4.86 inches (123 mm) in May. ^[24]

Five people were reported killed in Washington County during the tornado outbreak of March 2–3, 2012. ^[25] Four were found dead in a home on Old Pekin Road according to Washington County officials.^{[ citation needed ]} The fifth, a 15-month-old from the same family, had been found in a field, and died later in hospital. ^[26]

Government

United States presidential election results for Washington County, Indiana ^[27]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	9,739	76.55%	2,764	21.72%	220	1.73%
2020	9,114	75.08%	2,784	22.93%	241	1.99%
2016	8,209	72.12%	2,636	23.16%	537	4.72%
2012	6,533	60.85%	3,909	36.41%	295	2.75%
2008	6,519	57.43%	4,562	40.19%	271	2.39%
2004	6,915	63.56%	3,879	35.65%	86	0.79%
2000	5,868	59.87%	3,675	37.50%	258	2.63%
1996	4,066	44.14%	3,819	41.46%	1,326	14.40%
1992	4,043	40.20%	4,092	40.69%	1,922	19.11%
1988	4,998	59.39%	3,370	40.04%	48	0.57%
1984	5,874	62.62%	3,334	35.54%	172	1.83%
1980	5,234	56.30%	3,663	39.40%	400	4.30%
1976	3,794	45.61%	4,409	53.01%	115	1.38%
1972	4,758	60.06%	3,086	38.95%	78	0.98%
1968	3,891	48.61%	2,936	36.68%	1,177	14.71%
1964	3,598	41.97%	4,943	57.66%	32	0.37%
1960	5,057	56.74%	3,821	42.87%	35	0.39%
1956	4,864	55.66%	3,849	44.04%	26	0.30%
1952	4,849	55.45%	3,844	43.96%	52	0.59%
1948	3,660	47.18%	4,033	51.99%	64	0.83%
1944	4,033	50.32%	3,940	49.16%	42	0.52%
1940	4,216	48.37%	4,471	51.30%	29	0.33%
1936	3,690	43.50%	4,766	56.19%	26	0.31%
1932	3,316	40.53%	4,809	58.78%	56	0.68%
1928	3,835	51.96%	3,518	47.66%	28	0.38%
1924	3,479	46.37%	3,942	52.55%	81	1.08%
1920	3,708	46.86%	4,157	52.53%	48	0.61%
1916	1,871	42.80%	2,414	55.23%	86	1.97%
1912	712	17.00%	2,233	53.31%	1,244	29.70%
1908	1,976	42.58%	2,573	55.44%	92	1.98%
1904	2,094	45.35%	2,364	51.20%	159	3.44%
1900	2,152	43.71%	2,723	55.31%	48	0.98%
1896	2,214	45.52%	2,613	53.72%	37	0.76%
1892	1,833	41.30%	2,322	52.32%	283	6.38%
1888	1,847	43.38%	2,389	56.11%	22	0.52%

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. ^{[28] [29]}

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 the acts legislated by the council, collect revenue, and manage the county government. ^{[28] [29]}

Court: There are two judges in Washington County. The Judge of the Circuit Court is the Hon. Larry Medlock (R). The Judge of the Superior Court is the Hon. Dustin Houchin. (R). Case distribution is determined by local court rules. Each judge serves a six-year term.

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. ^[29]

See also: Government of Indiana

Washington County Sheriff's Department
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction	Washington, Indiana, United States
Legal jurisdiction	As per operations jurisdiction
General nature	Local civilian police
Operational structure
Agency executive	Claude Combs, Sheriff

Washington County is part of Indiana's 9th congressional district and is represented in Congress by Republican Erin Houchin.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1820	9,039		—
1830	13,064		44.5%
1840	15,269		16.9%
1850	17,040		11.6%
1860	17,909		5.1%
1870	18,495		3.3%
1880	18,955		2.5%
1890	18,619		−1.8%
1900	19,409		4.2%
1910	17,445		−10.1%
1920	16,645		−4.6%
1930	16,285		−2.2%
1940	17,008		4.4%
1950	16,520		−2.9%
1960	17,819		7.9%
1970	19,278		8.2%
1980	21,932		13.8%
1990	23,717		8.1%
2000	27,223		14.8%
2010	28,262		3.8%
2020	28,182		−0.3%
2023 (est.)	28,205	[30]	0.1%
US Decennial Census [31] 1790-1960 [32] 1900-1990 [33] 1990-2000 [34] 2010 [35]

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 28,262 people, 10,850 households, and 7,799 families in the county. ^[36] The population density was 55.0 inhabitants per square mile (21.2/km²). There were 12,220 housing units at an average density of 23.8 per square mile (9.2/km²). ^[23] The racial makeup of the county was 98.1% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.3% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.1% of the population. ^[36] In terms of ancestry, 25.2% were German, 14.3% were American, 13.7% were Irish, and 9.6% were English. ^[37]

Of the 10,850 households, 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.1% were non-families, and 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.02. The median age was 39.2 years. ^[36]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $45,500. Males had a median income of $38,100 versus $28,092 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,278. About 12.2% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.7% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over. ^[38]

Education

The county is served by 3 school districts: ^[39]

• Salem Community Schools
• East Washington School Corporation
• South Central Area Special Ed
• West Washington School Corporation.

East Washington School Corporation (Superintendent:Steve Darnell ^[40] ) includes: ^[41]

• East Washington Elementary School
• East Washington Middle School
• Eastern High School

Salem Community Schools (Superintendent:Dr. D. Lynn Reed) includes: ^[42] )

• Salem High School
• Salem Middle School
• Bradie Shrum Elementary School

West Washington School Corporation (Superintendent:Gerald Jackson) includes: ^[43] )

• West Washington Elementary School
• West Washington Junior/Senior High School

See also

• List of sundown towns in the United States
• Louisville-Jefferson County, KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area
• Louisville/Jefferson County–Elizabethtown–Bardstown, KY-IN Combined Statistical Area
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Indiana

References

Specific

1. "Washington County, Indiana". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 7, 2023.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "Government at Crossroads: An Indiana chronology". The Herald Bulletin . January 5, 2008. Retrieved July 22, 2009.
4. Brill, Marlene Targ (2005). Indiana. Marshall Cavendish. p. 35. ISBN   978-0-7614-2020-0.
5. Stevens (1916). pp. 78, 81
6. De Witt Clinton Goodrich & Charles Richard Tuttle (1875). An Illustrated History of the State of Indiana. Indiana: R. S. Peale & Co. pp.  575.
7. Stevens (1916). p. 79
8. Stevens (1916). p. 80
9. "The Historic Blue River Quaker Settlement in Salem Indiana" . Retrieved April 28, 2022.
10. Thornbrough, Emma Lou (1957). The Negro in Indiana: A Study of a Minority. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Bureau.
11. Trueblood, Lillie D. (1934). "The Story of John Williams, Colored". Indiana Magazine of History. 30 (2): 149–152. ISSN   0019-6673. JSTOR   27786657.
12. "Cold Blooded Murder in Salem". Terre Haute Daily Express. September 24, 1867. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
13. Stevens (1916). p. 435
14. "'Pigeon Roost Massacre' Historical Event Told About Family of Mrs. Lewis, DAR Regent". The Victoria Advocate . Victoria, Texas. November 3, 1957. p. 46 – via Newspapers.com. No Negroes were allowed to live in Washington County, but Beezon Baynes brought in a family and established them in a small house on the farm. However, the people in the community forced him to get rid of the family—so he sent them on to Canada.
15. Campney, Brent M.S. (2019). Hostile Heartland: Racism, Repression, and Resistance in the Midwest. Urbana: University of Illinois. ISBN   978-0252042492.
16. Loewen, James W. (2005). Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism. New York: New Press. ISBN   9781565848870.
17. "Singular Isolation". The Evening Item . Richmond, Indiana. October 24, 1903. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com. She had seen many Indians in the pioneer days, but until she reached this city had never seen any person of African descent, as negroes are not allowed to live in Washington county.
18. "Removal". Richmond Item. October 24, 1903. p. 10. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
19. Stevens (1916). p. 282
20. "History & Social Justice: Salem, Indiana" . Retrieved April 28, 2022.
21. "Washington County · Indiana". Washington County · Indiana.
22. "Washington County High Point - Peakbagger.com". peakbagger.com.
23. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
24. "Monthly Averages for Salem IN". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
25. "Tornado Climatology of Washington County, Indiana". National Weather Service. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
26. "US Tornadoes: Toddler Found in Field Dies After Coming off Life Support". The Guardian. London. March 5, 2012. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
27. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
28. Indiana Code. "Title 36, Article 2, Section 3". IN.gov. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
29. Indiana Code. "Title 2, Article 10, Section 2" (PDF). IN.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 27, 2004. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
30. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
31. "U.S. Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
32. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
33. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
34. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
35. "Washington County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
36. "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.
37. "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.
38. "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.
39. Education, Indiana Department of (2009). "Indiana Public Superintendent Directory 2009" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 31, 2009. Retrieved May 28, 2009.
40. Corporation, East Washington School (2009). "Central Office" . Retrieved May 28, 2009.
41. Corporation, East Washington School (2009). "Welcome to the EWSC" . Retrieved May 28, 2009.
42. Schools, Salem Community (2009). ":: Salem Community Schools ::" . Retrieved May 28, 2009.
43. Corporation, West Washington School. "West Washington School". Archived from the original on March 8, 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2009.

General

• American Legion Pekin Post 203, The. History of Pekin, Indiana (1959). The American Legion Pekin Post 203
• Everton Publishers, Inc, The. Handy book for Genealogists (1971). Everton Publishers, Inc.
• History of Washington County 1884 (1884).
• Indiana Historical Commission. Indiana History Bulletin (August 1924). Wm. B. Burford
• B. F. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis, Indiana. Centennial History of Washington County, Indiana: Its People, Industries and Institution (1916). Warder W. Stevens Centennial History of Washington County, Indiana: Its People, Industries and Institutions : with Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families

External links

• Washington County Government website

38°36′N86°07′W / 38.60°N 86.11°W / 38.60; -86.11