Switzerland County, Indiana

Switzerland County, Indiana

Switzerland County Courthouse
Map of Indiana highlighting Switzerland County
Location in the state of Indiana
Map of the United States highlighting Indiana
Indiana's location in the U.S.
Founded 1814
Named for Switzerland
Seat Vevay
Largest town Vevay
Area
 • Total 223.44 sq mi (579 km2)
 • Land 220.63 sq mi (571 km2)
 • Water 2.81 sq mi (7 km2), 1.26%
Population
 • (2010) 10,613
 • Density 41/sq mi (16/km²)
Congressional district 6th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Footnotes: Indiana county number 78

Switzerland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 10,613.[1] The county seat is Vevay.[2]

History

Switzerland County was formed in 1814. It was named for the home country of many of the early settlers. No railroad tracks were ever laid Switzerland County, which hindered its growth in the 19th century, after the decline of steamboat travel.[3][4] Industrial wine grape production in Switzerland County earned the area the title "The Rhineland of America".[5]

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 223.44 square miles (578.7 km2), of which 220.63 square miles (571.4 km2) (or 98.74%) is land and 2.81 square miles (7.3 km2) (or 1.26%) is water.[6]

Incorporated towns

Unincorporated towns

Townships

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Climate and weather

Vevay, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
3.2
 
 
40
23
 
 
3
 
 
46
26
 
 
4.1
 
 
56
35
 
 
4.2
 
 
67
43
 
 
4.7
 
 
77
53
 
 
4.6
 
 
85
62
 
 
3.9
 
 
88
67
 
 
4
 
 
86
65
 
 
3.1
 
 
80
58
 
 
3.1
 
 
68
46
 
 
3.7
 
 
55
37
 
 
3.7
 
 
44
28
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[7]

In recent years, average temperatures in Vevay have ranged from a low of 23 °F (−5 °C) in January to a high of 88 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −24 °F (−31 °C) was recorded in January 1977 and a record high of 106 °F (41 °C) was recorded in July 1999. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 3.00 inches (76 mm) in February to 4.72 inches (120 mm) in May.[7]

Government

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 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.[8][9]

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.[8][9]

Court: The county maintains a circuit court which was established January 1, 2009. The first Judge of the Switzerland Circuit Court is W. Gregory Coy. The Judge is elected to a term of six years. The Court is a general jurisdiction court, meaning it handles all types of cases. The Judge must be a licensed attorney. All decisions of the Court are appealable to the Indiana Court of Appeals or the Indiana Supreme Court.

County Officials: The county has several other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor, and circuit court 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 party affiliations and to be residents of the county.[9]

Switzerland County is part of Indiana's 6th congressional district and is represented in Congress by Republican Luke Messer.[10]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18203,934—
18307,02878.6%
18409,92041.1%
185012,93230.4%
186012,698−1.8%
187012,134−4.4%
188013,3369.9%
189012,514−6.2%
190011,840−5.4%
19109,914−16.3%
19209,311−6.1%
19308,432−9.4%
19408,167−3.1%
19507,599−7.0%
19607,092−6.7%
19706,306−11.1%
19807,15313.4%
19907,7388.2%
20009,06517.1%
201010,61317.1%
Est. 201410,452[11]−1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 10,613 people, 4,034 households, and 2,847 families residing in the county.[16] The population density was 48.1 inhabitants per square mile (18.6/km2). There were 4,969 housing units at an average density of 22.5 per square mile (8.7/km2).[6] The racial makeup of the county was 97.8% white, 0.3% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.7% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population.[16] In terms of ancestry, 25.4% were German, 16.1% were American, 13.2% were Irish, and 10.1% were English.[17]

Of the 4,034 households, 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.4% were non-families, and 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.07. The median age was 39.1 years.[16]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $51,769. Males had a median income of $39,167 versus $30,814 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,214. About 11.0% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.2% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.[18]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Sullivan County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-09-25.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Soil Survey of Switzerland County, Indiana. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. 1987. p. 1.
  4. ↑ "History of Settlement". Vevay Bicentennial. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  5. ↑ Wissing, Douglas (Mar 1, 2001). Indiana. Globe Pequot. p. 15. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  7. 1 2 "Monthly Averages for Vevay, Indiana". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
  8. 1 2 Indiana Code. "Title 36, Article 2, Section 3". IN.gov. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  9. 1 2 3 Indiana Code. "Title 2, Article 10, Section 2" (PDF). IN.gov. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  10. ↑ "Conressman Baron Hill". House.Gov. Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  11. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  12. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  16. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  17. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  18. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
 Ripley County Ohio County
Jefferson County Gallatin County, Kentucky
   Switzerland County, Indiana  
Carroll County, Kentucky

Coordinates: 38°49′N 85°02′W / 38.82°N 85.03°W / 38.82; -85.03

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