Dearborn County, Indiana | |
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 Location within the U.S. state ofIndiana | |
 Indiana's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:39°09′N84°59′W / 39.15°N 84.98°W /39.15; -84.98 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Indiana |
| Founded | 1803 |
| Named after | Dr.Henry Dearborn |
| Seat | Lawrenceburg |
| Largest city | Lawrenceburg |
| Area | |
• Total | 307.42 sq mi (796.2 km2) |
| • Land | 305.03 sq mi (790.0 km2) |
| • Water | 2.38 sq mi (6.2 km2) 0.77% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 50,679 |
• Estimate (2023) | 51,215 |
| • Density | 166.14/sq mi (64.149/km2) |
| Demonym | Dearbornian |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
| Website | www |
| Indiana county number 15 | |
Dearborn County is one of 92counties of theU.S. state ofIndiana. 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] Thecounty seat and largest city isLawrenceburg.[2]Dearborn County is part of theCincinnati, OH-KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.
In 1803, following Ohio'sadmission to the Union, a wedge, or pie shaped, remnant of the formerNorthwest Territory along Ohio's southwestern border was ceded toIndiana Territory and organized as Dearborn County. It was named afterHenry Dearborn who wasU.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 andFayette.[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 dominatedRising 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 ofLaughery 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]
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 theOhio River.
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]
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| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1810 | 7,310 | — | |
| 1820 | 11,468 | 56.9% | |
| 1830 | 13,974 | 21.9% | |
| 1840 | 19,327 | 38.3% | |
| 1850 | 20,166 | 4.3% | |
| 1860 | 24,406 | 21.0% | |
| 1870 | 24,116 | −1.2% | |
| 1880 | 26,671 | 10.6% | |
| 1890 | 23,364 | −12.4% | |
| 1900 | 22,194 | −5.0% | |
| 1910 | 21,396 | −3.6% | |
| 1920 | 20,033 | −6.4% | |
| 1930 | 21,056 | 5.1% | |
| 1940 | 23,053 | 9.5% | |
| 1950 | 25,141 | 9.1% | |
| 1960 | 28,674 | 14.1% | |
| 1970 | 29,430 | 2.6% | |
| 1980 | 34,291 | 16.5% | |
| 1990 | 38,835 | 13.3% | |
| 2000 | 46,109 | 18.7% | |
| 2010 | 50,047 | 8.5% | |
| 2020 | 50,679 | 1.3% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 51,215 | [9] | 1.1% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12] 1990-2000[13] 2010-2013[1] | |||
At the2010 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% wereGerman, 19.2% wereIrish, 11.4% wereEnglish, and 7.8% wereAmerican.[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]
Themedian 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 thepoverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.[16]
| 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 orLatino | 724 | 1.43% |
The county government is a constitutional body, and is granted specific powers by theConstitution of Indiana, and by theIndiana 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 HonorableJonathan Cleary, presiding over Dearborn County Superior Court No. 1 and the HonorableSally 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 HonorableJoseph R. Johns. The Lawrenceburg City Court Judge serves a four-year term.
County Officials: The county has several other elected offices, includingsheriff,prosecuting attorney,coroner,auditor,treasurer,recorder,surveyor, and circuitcourt 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 aparty affiliation and to be residents of the county.[19]
Dearborn County is part ofIndiana's 6th congressional district;Indiana Senate district 43;[22] andIndiana House of Representatives districts 55 and 68.[23]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 2,648 | 42.25% | 3,531 | 56.33% | 89 | 1.42% |
| 1892 | 2,274 | 39.20% | 3,397 | 58.56% | 130 | 2.24% |
| 1896 | 2,714 | 44.75% | 3,313 | 54.62% | 38 | 0.63% |
| 1900 | 2,533 | 42.00% | 3,371 | 55.89% | 127 | 2.11% |
| 1904 | 2,588 | 42.99% | 3,264 | 54.22% | 168 | 2.79% |
| 1908 | 2,520 | 41.81% | 3,365 | 55.83% | 142 | 2.36% |
| 1912 | 1,366 | 25.93% | 2,957 | 56.13% | 945 | 17.94% |
| 1916 | 2,318 | 42.18% | 3,010 | 54.78% | 167 | 3.04% |
| 1920 | 5,159 | 50.66% | 4,884 | 47.96% | 140 | 1.37% |
| 1924 | 4,588 | 48.11% | 4,330 | 45.41% | 618 | 6.48% |
| 1928 | 6,334 | 58.49% | 4,459 | 41.18% | 36 | 0.33% |
| 1932 | 4,716 | 41.83% | 6,429 | 57.02% | 130 | 1.15% |
| 1936 | 4,669 | 41.48% | 6,366 | 56.56% | 221 | 1.96% |
| 1940 | 5,908 | 49.29% | 6,038 | 50.37% | 41 | 0.34% |
| 1944 | 5,487 | 51.32% | 5,157 | 48.24% | 47 | 0.44% |
| 1948 | 5,353 | 46.70% | 6,040 | 52.70% | 69 | 0.60% |
| 1952 | 7,091 | 54.82% | 5,810 | 44.92% | 33 | 0.26% |
| 1956 | 7,189 | 56.40% | 5,535 | 43.43% | 22 | 0.17% |
| 1960 | 7,619 | 54.99% | 6,216 | 44.87% | 19 | 0.14% |
| 1964 | 5,473 | 41.47% | 7,699 | 58.33% | 26 | 0.20% |
| 1968 | 6,208 | 48.65% | 4,842 | 37.95% | 1,710 | 13.40% |
| 1972 | 7,689 | 64.69% | 4,137 | 34.81% | 59 | 0.50% |
| 1976 | 6,176 | 49.04% | 6,348 | 50.40% | 71 | 0.56% |
| 1980 | 7,467 | 56.36% | 5,135 | 38.76% | 647 | 4.88% |
| 1984 | 9,149 | 64.74% | 4,920 | 34.81% | 63 | 0.45% |
| 1988 | 8,195 | 61.57% | 5,066 | 38.06% | 48 | 0.36% |
| 1992 | 6,974 | 44.80% | 5,116 | 32.86% | 3,477 | 22.34% |
| 1996 | 8,318 | 50.60% | 6,269 | 38.13% | 1,852 | 11.27% |
| 2000 | 11,452 | 64.88% | 6,020 | 34.11% | 178 | 1.01% |
| 2004 | 14,231 | 67.87% | 6,596 | 31.46% | 142 | 0.68% |
| 2008 | 14,886 | 67.00% | 7,123 | 32.06% | 208 | 0.94% |
| 2012 | 15,394 | 68.86% | 6,528 | 29.20% | 434 | 1.94% |
| 2016 | 18,113 | 75.06% | 4,883 | 20.24% | 1,135 | 4.70% |
| 2020 | 19,528 | 76.78% | 5,446 | 21.41% | 460 | 1.81% |
| 2024 | 20,844 | 78.36% | 5,335 | 20.06% | 421 | 1.58% |
Interstate 74
Interstate 275
U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 52
State Road 1
State Road 46
State Road 48
State Road 56
State Road 62
State Road 148
State Road 262
State Road 350Places adjacent to Dearborn County, Indiana | |
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Municipalities and communities ofDearborn County, Indiana,United States | ||
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39°09′N84°59′W / 39.15°N 84.98°W /39.15; -84.98
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