Carroll County | |
|---|---|
 Carroll County courthouse in Delphi | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofIndiana | |
 Indiana's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:40°35′N86°34′W / 40.58°N 86.56°W /40.58; -86.56 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Indiana |
| Founded | January 17, 1828 (authorized) April 28, 1828 (organized) |
| Named after | Charles Carroll of Carrollton |
| Seat | Delphi |
| Largest city | Delphi |
| Area | |
• Total | 375.02 sq mi (971.3 km2) |
| • Land | 372.22 sq mi (964.0 km2) |
| • Water | 2.80 sq mi (7.3 km2) 0.75% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 20,306 |
• Estimate (2023) | 20,525 |
| • Density | 54/sq mi (21/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
| Website | www |
| Indiana county number 8 | |
Carroll County is acounty located in theU.S. state ofIndiana. As of the2020 United States census, the population was 20,306.[1] Thecounty seat isDelphi.[2] Carroll County is part of theLafayette, Indiana,Metropolitan Statistical Area.
In 1787, the fledgling United States defined theNorthwest Territory, which included the area of present-day Indiana. In 1800, Congress separatedOhio from the Northwest Territory, designating the rest of the land as theIndiana Territory.[3] PresidentThomas Jefferson choseWilliam Henry Harrison as the territory's first governor, andVincennes was established as the territorial capital.[4] After theMichigan Territory was separated and theIllinois Territory was formed, Indiana was reduced to its current size and geography.[3] By December 1816, the Indiana Territory was admitted to the Union as a state.
Starting in 1794, Native American titles to Indiana lands were extinguished by usurpation, purchase, or war and treaty. The United States acquired land from theNative Americans in thetreaty of St. Mary's in 1818, which included most of the future county, and in 1826 theTreaty of Mississinewas made more area available for settlement. These two treaties resolved the occupation issue for the future Carroll County.
White people had been living in the future Carroll County area since 1824[5] and their numbers increased rapidly in the next few years. Accordingly, Carroll County was authorized by the state legislature on January 17, 1828; it was named forCharles Carroll, the last surviving signer of theDeclaration of Independence, who died in 1832.[5][6] The first commissioners began organizing the county government on April 28 of that year and determined to site the county seat at land donated by William Wilson. The name 'Carrollton' was first suggested for the new community, but at the suggestion of General Samuel Milroy, 'Delphi' was selected instead.[5]
TheWabash and Erie Canal, built through the county in 1840 and operating until the early 1870s, is among the county's most significant historical legacies.[7]
The first county courthouse was built in 1831. It was replaced by a brick structure in 1856. The 730-pound bell from the first courthouse was made in Cincinnati in 1836 and given by Sheriff Samuel Davis Gresham and was used in the second courthouse until 1916. While the bell was in transit toLafayette by boat, the boat sank. The bell was recovered from theOhio River, and was sold, but was returned to Carroll County in 1967.[8]
The currentCarroll County courthouse was designed by Jaxson Cowell ofIndianapolis, who also designed theSpencer County courthouse. It was constructed by A. E. Kemmer at a cost of about $250,000 from 1916 to 1917. The exterior is understated, but the interior is surprisingly elaborate, including a stained glass dome over a mosaic tile floor.
TheWabash River flows southwestward from Cass County through the upper part of Carroll County, exiting into Tippecanoe County. TheTippecanoe River flows southward through the county's upper west edge, also exiting into Tippecanoe County, where it merges with the Wabash shortly after leaving Carroll County's border.Wildcat Creek drains the south part of Carroll County, flowing westward into Tippecanoe to merge with the Wabash there.
The terrain of Carroll County was heavily wooded at the start, but now the flat areas are cleared and devoted to agriculture or urban development, with only the drainage areas still wooded.[9] The highest point on the terrain (830 feet/250 meters ASL) is the county's SE corner.[10]
According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 375.02 square miles (971.3 km2), of which 372.22 square miles (964.0 km2) (or 99.25%) is land and 2.80 square miles (7.3 km2) (or 0.75%) is water.[11]
| Delphi, Indiana | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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In recent years, average temperatures in Delphi have ranged from a low of 17 °F (−8 °C) in January to a high of 86 °F (30 °C) in July, although a record low of −25 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in January 1963 and a record high of 107 °F (42 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.94 inches (49 mm) in February to 4.16 inches (106 mm) in July.[12]
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.[13][14]
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.[13][14]
Court: The county maintains asmall claims court that handles civil cases. The judge on the court is elected to a term of four years and must be a member of the Indiana Bar Association. The judge is assisted by a constable who is also elected to a four-year term. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state levelcircuit court.[14]
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 declare aparty affiliation and to be residents of the county.[14]
Carroll County is part ofIndiana's 4th congressional district and is represented byJim Baird in theUnited States Congress. It is also part ofIndiana Senate district 7[15] andIndiana House of Representatives district 24.[16]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 6,902 | 75.15% | 2,120 | 23.08% | 162 | 1.76% |
| 2020 | 7,086 | 74.48% | 2,224 | 23.38% | 204 | 2.14% |
| 2016 | 6,273 | 72.10% | 1,892 | 21.74% | 536 | 6.16% |
| 2012 | 4,999 | 64.01% | 2,635 | 33.74% | 176 | 2.25% |
| 2008 | 4,858 | 55.61% | 3,736 | 42.77% | 142 | 1.63% |
| 2004 | 5,868 | 67.93% | 2,689 | 31.13% | 81 | 0.94% |
| 2000 | 5,102 | 61.71% | 2,965 | 35.86% | 201 | 2.43% |
| 1996 | 4,062 | 50.58% | 2,747 | 34.20% | 1,222 | 15.22% |
| 1992 | 3,800 | 44.38% | 2,561 | 29.91% | 2,201 | 25.71% |
| 1988 | 4,981 | 62.54% | 2,952 | 37.07% | 31 | 0.39% |
| 1984 | 5,528 | 66.09% | 2,774 | 33.17% | 62 | 0.74% |
| 1980 | 5,262 | 60.49% | 2,966 | 34.10% | 471 | 5.41% |
| 1976 | 4,797 | 56.48% | 3,606 | 42.46% | 90 | 1.06% |
| 1972 | 5,885 | 72.32% | 2,214 | 27.21% | 38 | 0.47% |
| 1968 | 4,796 | 56.19% | 2,816 | 32.99% | 923 | 10.81% |
| 1964 | 3,896 | 44.71% | 4,789 | 54.96% | 29 | 0.33% |
| 1960 | 5,411 | 61.88% | 3,299 | 37.73% | 34 | 0.39% |
| 1956 | 5,748 | 63.26% | 3,312 | 36.45% | 26 | 0.29% |
| 1952 | 5,902 | 64.31% | 3,208 | 34.95% | 68 | 0.74% |
| 1948 | 4,597 | 53.99% | 3,845 | 45.16% | 72 | 0.85% |
| 1944 | 4,872 | 57.28% | 3,578 | 42.07% | 55 | 0.65% |
| 1940 | 5,012 | 54.05% | 4,214 | 45.44% | 47 | 0.51% |
| 1936 | 4,426 | 48.28% | 4,676 | 51.01% | 65 | 0.71% |
| 1932 | 3,853 | 43.79% | 4,866 | 55.30% | 80 | 0.91% |
| 1928 | 4,780 | 59.54% | 3,182 | 39.64% | 66 | 0.82% |
| 1924 | 4,543 | 53.52% | 3,660 | 43.11% | 286 | 3.37% |
| 1920 | 5,006 | 53.92% | 4,186 | 45.09% | 92 | 0.99% |
| 1916 | 2,468 | 49.09% | 2,401 | 47.75% | 159 | 3.16% |
| 1912 | 1,467 | 30.03% | 2,275 | 46.57% | 1,143 | 23.40% |
| 1908 | 2,546 | 47.46% | 2,590 | 48.28% | 229 | 4.27% |
| 1904 | 2,671 | 49.96% | 2,420 | 45.27% | 255 | 4.77% |
| 1900 | 2,585 | 47.59% | 2,690 | 49.52% | 157 | 2.89% |
| 1896 | 2,546 | 47.43% | 2,764 | 51.49% | 58 | 1.08% |
| 1892 | 2,230 | 44.43% | 2,361 | 47.04% | 428 | 8.53% |
| 1888 | 2,607 | 48.96% | 2,560 | 48.08% | 158 | 2.97% |
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1830 | 1,611 | — | |
| 1840 | 7,819 | 385.4% | |
| 1850 | 11,015 | 40.9% | |
| 1860 | 13,489 | 22.5% | |
| 1870 | 16,152 | 19.7% | |
| 1880 | 18,345 | 13.6% | |
| 1890 | 20,021 | 9.1% | |
| 1900 | 19,953 | −0.3% | |
| 1910 | 17,970 | −9.9% | |
| 1920 | 16,315 | −9.2% | |
| 1930 | 15,049 | −7.8% | |
| 1940 | 15,410 | 2.4% | |
| 1950 | 16,010 | 3.9% | |
| 1960 | 16,934 | 5.8% | |
| 1970 | 17,734 | 4.7% | |
| 1980 | 19,722 | 11.2% | |
| 1990 | 18,809 | −4.6% | |
| 2000 | 20,165 | 7.2% | |
| 2010 | 20,155 | 0.0% | |
| 2020 | 20,306 | 0.7% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 20,525 | [18] | 1.1% |
| US Decennial Census[19] 1790-1960[20] 1900-1990[21] 1990-2000[22] 2010[23] | |||
As of the2010 United States Census, there were 20,155 people, 7,900 households, and 5,678 families in the county.[24] The population density was 54.1 inhabitants per square mile (20.9/km2). There were 9,472 housing units at an average density of 25.4 per square mile (9.8/km2).[11] The racial makeup of the county was 96.8% white, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 1.7% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.5% of the population.[24] In terms of ancestry, 29.7% wereGerman, 14.7% wereAmerican, 12.6% wereIrish, and 8.8% wereEnglish.[25]
Of the 7,900 households, 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.1% were non-families, and 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.98. The median age was 40.9 years.[24]
The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $60,420. Males had a median income of $46,241 versus $29,541 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,163. About 6.1% of families and 9.4% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.[26]
As of the2020 United States census, there were 20,306 people[27]
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 18,727 | 92.2% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 128 | 0.6% |
| Native American (NH) | 33 | 0.16% |
| Asian (NH) | 48 | 0.24% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 0 | 0% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 547 | 2.7% |
| Hispanic orLatino | 823 | 4.1% |
Public schools in Carroll County are administered by the following school districts:[28]
High schools and middle schools
Elementary schools
Places adjacent to Carroll County, Indiana | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofCarroll County, Indiana,United States | ||
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40°35′N86°34′W / 40.58°N 86.56°W /40.58; -86.56
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