White County, Indiana | |
|---|---|
 White County Courthouse in Monticello | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofIndiana | |
 Indiana's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:40°45′N86°52′W / 40.75°N 86.86°W /40.75; -86.86 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Indiana |
| Founded | February 1, 1834 (authorized) |
| Named after | Isaac White |
| Seat | Monticello |
| Largest city | Monticello |
| Area | |
• Total | 508.68 sq mi (1,317.5 km2) |
| • Land | 505.12 sq mi (1,308.3 km2) |
| • Water | 3.56 sq mi (9.2 km2) 0.70% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 24,688 |
• Estimate (2023) | 24,917 |
| • Density | 48.876/sq mi (18.871/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
| Website | www |
| Indiana county number 91 | |
White County is acounty in theU.S. state ofIndiana. As of the2020 United States census, the population was 24,688.[1] Thecounty seat (and only incorporated city) isMonticello.[2]
The first white settlers[3] in the future White County arrived in the land west ofTippecanoe River in 1829, and in other parts of the county in 1831. This area was part ofCarroll County during that period.
By 1833, so many settlers had entered the area that the state legislature were pressured to have a separate county created. On February 1, 1834, the state approved the creation of this county, directing that it be named for Isaac White, a colonel in the Illinois militia. White was a mining geologist who was in charge of the salt works inEquality, Illinois, and was a close friend to GovernorWilliam Henry Harrison of theNorthwest Territory, and toJoseph Hamilton Daveiss, U.S. District Attorney for Kentucky. In 1811, when Harrison declined the offer of Illinois troops to march onTecumseh's village atProphetstown, White enlisted as a private in the Indiana dragoons, which had been placed under the command of Daveiss. Both were killed at theBattle of Tippecanoe, and were buried in a common grave.[4]
Interim commissioners were named and directed to organize the county during the summer of 1834, and to choose a county seat in September. They did so on September 5, 1834, namingMonticello as the future seat, due to its central location. While the county was being organized, it was attached toCarroll County for administrative and judicial purposes.
Alterations were made to the county's boundaries on December 24, 1834, on February 4, 1837, and on February 14, 1839. In addition, the counties ofJasper (1837),Pulaski (1839),Newton (1839), andBenton (1840) removed significant portions of the county's territory. The borders have remained unchanged since 1840.[5]
The low, rolling hills of White County are entirely devoted to agriculture or to urban development.[6] TheTippecanoe River flows southward through the central part of the county. The highest point on the terrain (770 feet/230 meters ASL) is a gentle rise about 2.8 miles (4.5 km) SSE fromWolcott.[7]
According to the2010 United States census, the county has a total area of 508.68 square miles (1,317.5 km2), of which 505.12 square miles (1,308.3 km2) (or 99.30%) is land and 3.56 square miles (9.2 km2) (or 0.70%) is water.[8]
| Monticello, Indiana | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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In recent years, average temperatures in Monticello 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.[9]
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.[10][11]
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.[10][11]
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.[11]
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.[11]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1888 | 1,942 | 48.01% | 2,017 | 49.86% | 86 | 2.13% |
| 1892 | 1,807 | 44.04% | 1,896 | 46.21% | 400 | 9.75% |
| 1896 | 2,383 | 47.57% | 2,537 | 50.65% | 89 | 1.78% |
| 1900 | 2,562 | 49.13% | 2,510 | 48.13% | 143 | 2.74% |
| 1904 | 2,679 | 53.02% | 2,096 | 41.48% | 278 | 5.50% |
| 1908 | 2,423 | 49.26% | 2,326 | 47.29% | 170 | 3.46% |
| 1912 | 1,613 | 34.77% | 2,059 | 44.38% | 967 | 20.85% |
| 1916 | 2,442 | 50.66% | 2,262 | 46.93% | 116 | 2.41% |
| 1920 | 4,871 | 58.57% | 3,375 | 40.58% | 71 | 0.85% |
| 1924 | 4,475 | 56.36% | 3,138 | 39.52% | 327 | 4.12% |
| 1928 | 4,534 | 60.01% | 2,980 | 39.44% | 42 | 0.56% |
| 1932 | 3,484 | 40.55% | 4,976 | 57.91% | 132 | 1.54% |
| 1936 | 4,245 | 45.89% | 4,863 | 52.57% | 142 | 1.54% |
| 1940 | 5,189 | 55.15% | 4,176 | 44.38% | 44 | 0.47% |
| 1944 | 5,039 | 58.25% | 3,570 | 41.27% | 41 | 0.47% |
| 1948 | 4,911 | 55.72% | 3,849 | 43.67% | 53 | 0.60% |
| 1952 | 6,795 | 67.60% | 3,211 | 31.94% | 46 | 0.46% |
| 1956 | 6,708 | 67.42% | 3,219 | 32.36% | 22 | 0.22% |
| 1960 | 6,678 | 62.93% | 3,914 | 36.88% | 20 | 0.19% |
| 1964 | 5,015 | 47.97% | 5,407 | 51.72% | 33 | 0.32% |
| 1968 | 5,932 | 57.56% | 3,395 | 32.95% | 978 | 9.49% |
| 1972 | 7,419 | 73.19% | 2,675 | 26.39% | 43 | 0.42% |
| 1976 | 6,287 | 60.63% | 3,963 | 38.22% | 119 | 1.15% |
| 1980 | 6,999 | 64.48% | 3,247 | 29.91% | 609 | 5.61% |
| 1984 | 7,279 | 69.33% | 3,157 | 30.07% | 63 | 0.60% |
| 1988 | 6,220 | 65.38% | 3,256 | 34.23% | 37 | 0.39% |
| 1992 | 4,622 | 45.22% | 2,988 | 29.23% | 2,611 | 25.55% |
| 1996 | 4,642 | 47.87% | 3,396 | 35.02% | 1,660 | 17.12% |
| 2000 | 6,037 | 60.96% | 3,655 | 36.90% | 212 | 2.14% |
| 2004 | 6,974 | 67.28% | 3,277 | 31.61% | 115 | 1.11% |
| 2008 | 5,731 | 53.04% | 4,839 | 44.78% | 235 | 2.17% |
| 2012 | 5,970 | 60.09% | 3,637 | 36.61% | 328 | 3.30% |
| 2016 | 6,893 | 68.27% | 2,590 | 25.65% | 613 | 6.07% |
| 2020 | 7,957 | 71.13% | 3,032 | 27.10% | 198 | 1.77% |
| 2024 | 7,969 | 71.30% | 2,945 | 26.35% | 262 | 2.34% |
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 1,832 | — | |
| 1850 | 4,761 | 159.9% | |
| 1860 | 8,258 | 73.5% | |
| 1870 | 10,554 | 27.8% | |
| 1880 | 13,795 | 30.7% | |
| 1890 | 15,671 | 13.6% | |
| 1900 | 19,138 | 22.1% | |
| 1910 | 17,602 | −8.0% | |
| 1920 | 17,351 | −1.4% | |
| 1930 | 15,831 | −8.8% | |
| 1940 | 17,037 | 7.6% | |
| 1950 | 18,042 | 5.9% | |
| 1960 | 19,709 | 9.2% | |
| 1970 | 20,995 | 6.5% | |
| 1980 | 23,867 | 13.7% | |
| 1990 | 23,265 | −2.5% | |
| 2000 | 25,267 | 8.6% | |
| 2010 | 24,643 | −2.5% | |
| 2020 | 24,688 | 0.2% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 24,917 | [13] | 0.9% |
| US Decennial Census[14] 1790-1960[15] 1900-1990[16] 1990-2000[17] 2010[18] | |||
As of the2010 United States census, there were 24,643 people, 9,741 households, and 6,849 families in the county.[19] The population density was 48.8 inhabitants per square mile (18.8/km2). There were 12,970 housing units at an average density of 25.7 per square mile (9.9/km2).[8] The racial makeup of the county was 93.9% white, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 3.7% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 7.1% of the population.[19] In terms of ancestry, 27.0% wereGerman, 13.3% wereIrish, 9.7% wereEnglish, and 8.4% wereAmerican.[20]
Of the 9,741 households, 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.7% were non-families, and 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.96. The median age was 41.9 years.[19]
The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $52,626. Males had a median income of $39,715 versus $28,880 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,323. About 7.7% of families and 9.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 13.0% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.[21]
Five school districts have portions of the county:Frontier School Corporation,North White School Corporation,Tri-County School Corporation,Twin Lakes School Corporation, andPioneer Regional School Corporation.[22]
Places adjacent to White County, Indiana | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofWhite County, Indiana,United States | ||
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| City |  | |
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| Other unincorporated communities | ||
40°45′N86°52′W / 40.75°N 86.86°W /40.75; -86.86
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