Rush County, Indiana | |
|---|---|
.jpg) The Rush County Courthouse in Rushville | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofIndiana | |
 Indiana's location within theU.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 after | 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 (0.88 km2) 0.08% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 16,752 |
• Estimate (2023) | 16,847 |
| • Density | 41.047/sq mi (15.848/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
| Website | rushcounty |
| Indiana county number 70 | |
Rush County is acounty in theU.S. state ofIndiana. In the2020 United States census, the population was 16,752.[1] Thecounty seat (and only city) isRushville.[2]
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 1776Declaration of Independence.[4] That same summer (1822) the future town (and county seat) ofRushville was platted and laid out.
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] TheBig 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, andFlatrock 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 ofGlenwood.[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]
| Rushville, Indiana | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climate chart (explanation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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]
The county government is a constitutional body, and is granted specific powers by theConstitution of Indiana, and by theIndiana 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, includingsheriff,coroner,auditor,treasurer,recorder,surveyor and circuitcourt clerk. These officers are elected to four-year terms. Members elected to county government positions are required to declareparty affiliations and to be residents of the county.[13]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 2,713 | 52.46% | 2,292 | 44.32% | 167 | 3.23% |
| 1892 | 2,566 | 51.26% | 2,210 | 44.15% | 230 | 4.59% |
| 1896 | 2,891 | 51.88% | 2,602 | 46.69% | 80 | 1.44% |
| 1900 | 2,913 | 52.21% | 2,503 | 44.86% | 163 | 2.92% |
| 1904 | 3,082 | 54.12% | 2,363 | 41.49% | 250 | 4.39% |
| 1908 | 3,102 | 52.96% | 2,544 | 43.44% | 211 | 3.60% |
| 1912 | 1,931 | 34.57% | 2,312 | 41.39% | 1,343 | 24.04% |
| 1916 | 2,950 | 51.22% | 2,569 | 44.60% | 241 | 4.18% |
| 1920 | 6,113 | 56.59% | 4,513 | 41.78% | 177 | 1.64% |
| 1924 | 5,958 | 62.58% | 3,415 | 35.87% | 148 | 1.55% |
| 1928 | 6,640 | 68.38% | 2,996 | 30.85% | 75 | 0.77% |
| 1932 | 5,094 | 49.50% | 5,056 | 49.14% | 140 | 1.36% |
| 1936 | 5,457 | 47.45% | 5,999 | 52.17% | 44 | 0.38% |
| 1940 | 6,486 | 60.02% | 4,282 | 39.62% | 39 | 0.36% |
| 1944 | 5,853 | 59.60% | 3,891 | 39.62% | 77 | 0.78% |
| 1948 | 5,362 | 57.53% | 3,814 | 40.92% | 145 | 1.56% |
| 1952 | 6,918 | 66.82% | 3,348 | 32.34% | 87 | 0.84% |
| 1956 | 6,202 | 64.69% | 3,346 | 34.90% | 39 | 0.41% |
| 1960 | 6,215 | 63.54% | 3,516 | 35.94% | 51 | 0.52% |
| 1964 | 4,507 | 49.94% | 4,450 | 49.31% | 68 | 0.75% |
| 1968 | 5,004 | 59.42% | 2,636 | 31.30% | 781 | 9.27% |
| 1972 | 5,965 | 76.95% | 1,764 | 22.76% | 23 | 0.30% |
| 1976 | 4,723 | 60.32% | 3,052 | 38.98% | 55 | 0.70% |
| 1980 | 4,829 | 64.29% | 2,388 | 31.79% | 294 | 3.91% |
| 1984 | 5,429 | 69.86% | 2,307 | 29.69% | 35 | 0.45% |
| 1988 | 5,112 | 67.41% | 2,451 | 32.32% | 20 | 0.26% |
| 1992 | 3,873 | 48.36% | 2,168 | 27.07% | 1,967 | 24.56% |
| 1996 | 3,827 | 51.52% | 2,578 | 34.71% | 1,023 | 13.77% |
| 2000 | 4,749 | 65.20% | 2,370 | 32.54% | 165 | 2.27% |
| 2004 | 5,363 | 72.27% | 2,000 | 26.95% | 58 | 0.78% |
| 2008 | 4,271 | 55.98% | 3,229 | 42.33% | 129 | 1.69% |
| 2012 | 4,633 | 65.94% | 2,221 | 31.61% | 172 | 2.45% |
| 2016 | 5,292 | 72.83% | 1,525 | 20.99% | 449 | 6.18% |
| 2020 | 6,035 | 76.00% | 1,754 | 22.09% | 152 | 1.91% |
| 2024 | 5,812 | 75.91% | 1,675 | 21.88% | 169 | 2.21% |
| 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] | |||
As of the2010 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% wereGerman, 16.8% wereAmerican, 12.0% wereIrish, and 11.9% wereEnglish.[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 thepoverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.[23]
Places adjacent to Rush County, Indiana | |
|---|---|
Municipalities and communities ofRush County, Indiana,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| City |  | |
| Towns | ||
| Townships | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
39°37′N85°28′W / 39.62°N 85.47°W /39.62; -85.47
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
