Decatur County, Indiana

Decatur County
Decatur County Courthouse in Greensburg
Map of Indiana highlighting Decatur County
Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
Map of the United States highlighting Indiana
Indiana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°18′N 85°30′W / 39.3°N 85.5°W / 39.3; -85.5
Country United States
State Indiana
Founded12 December 1821 (authorized)
1822 (organized)
Named forStephen Decatur, Jr.
SeatGreensburg
Largest cityGreensburg
Area
 • Total373.32 sq mi (966.9 km2)
 • Land372.57 sq mi (965.0 km2)
 • Water0.76 sq mi (2.0 km2)  0.20%
Population
 • Total26,472
 • Density71.9/sq mi (27.8/km2)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.decaturcounty.in.gov
Indiana county number 16

Decatur County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 26,472. The county seat (and only incorporated city) is Greensburg.

History

In 1787, the US defined the Northwest Territory which included the area of present-day Indiana. In 1800, Congress separated Ohio from the Northwest Territory, designating the rest of the land as the Indiana Territory. President Thomas Jefferson chose William Henry Harrison as the governor of the territory, and Vincennes was established as the capital. After the Michigan Territory was separated and the Illinois Territory was formed, Indiana was reduced to its current size and geography. 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 the Native Americans in the 1809 treaty of Fort Wayne, and by the treaty of St. Mary's in 1818 considerably more territory became property of the government. This included the future Decatur County, which was authorized by the state legislature on 12 December 1821. No settler was allowed in the area until the government survey was completed in 1820.

The Decatur County governing structure was formed in 1822. The county was named for Commodore Stephen Decatur, Jr., naval officer in the First and Second Barbary Wars, and in the War of 1812. Decatur was killed in a duel in 1820.

Geography

The low rolling hills are devoted to agriculture or urban development, with only the areas carved by drainages still wooded. The highest point (1,097 feet/334 meters ASL) is a hillock 0.8 miles (1.3 km) SSE from Kingston. The Flatrock River flows westward through the upper part of the county, continuing into Shelby County. Clifty Creek flows southwestward through the central part of the county, continuing into Bartholomew, and Sand Creek flows south-southwestward through the lower center of the county, continuing into Jennings County.

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 373.32 square miles (966.9 km2), of which 372.57 square miles (965.0 km2) (or 99.80%) is land and 0.76 square miles (2.0 km2) (or 0.20%) is water.

Tree on the Courthouse Tower in Greensburg, Indiana

Adjacent counties

City and towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated places

Townships

Major highways

Protected areas

  • Greenburg Reservoir State Fishing Area

Lakes

  • Greenburg Reservoir
  • Lake McCoy
  • Lake Santee

Climate and weather

Greensburg, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
2.6
 
 
34
19
 
 
2.4
 
 
40
22
 
 
3.7
 
 
50
32
 
 
4.3
 
 
62
42
 
 
5
 
 
72
53
 
 
4.3
 
 
81
62
 
 
4.1
 
 
85
65
 
 
4.2
 
 
83
63
 
 
3.1
 
 
77
56
 
 
3.1
 
 
65
44
 
 
3.8
 
 
51
35
 
 
3.2
 
 
40
25
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source:The Weather Channel
Metric conversion
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
65
 
 
1
−7
 
 
61
 
 
4
−6
 
 
93
 
 
10
0
 
 
109
 
 
17
6
 
 
128
 
 
22
12
 
 
110
 
 
27
17
 
 
105
 
 
29
18
 
 
107
 
 
28
17
 
 
78
 
 
25
13
 
 
78
 
 
18
7
 
 
97
 
 
11
2
 
 
81
 
 
4
−4
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in Greensburg have ranged from a low of 19 °F (−7 °C) in January to a high of 85 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −24 °F (−31 °C) was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of 105 °F (41 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.42 inches (61 mm) in February to 5.03 inches (128 mm) in May.

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 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.

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.

Court: The county maintains a small 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 level circuit court.

County Officials: The county has other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor, and circuit court clerk. These officers are elected to four-year terms. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare a party affiliation and to be residents of the county.

Decatur County is part of Indiana's 6th congressional district; Indiana Senate district 42; and Indiana House of Representatives district 67.

United States presidential election results for Decatur County, Indiana
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 9,575 77.82% 2,439 19.82% 290 2.36%
2016 8,490 75.95% 2,121 18.97% 567 5.07%
2012 7,119 68.94% 2,941 28.48% 267 2.59%
2008 6,449 61.40% 3,892 37.06% 162 1.54%
2004 7,499 73.53% 2,621 25.70% 79 0.77%
2000 6,115 66.68% 2,889 31.50% 167 1.82%
1996 4,782 50.82% 3,190 33.90% 1,437 15.27%
1992 5,195 50.48% 2,774 26.96% 2,322 22.56%
1988 6,245 67.35% 2,979 32.13% 48 0.52%
1984 6,551 69.97% 2,766 29.54% 46 0.49%
1980 5,819 58.48% 3,646 36.64% 486 4.88%
1976 5,555 55.63% 4,365 43.72% 65 0.65%
1972 6,761 68.84% 2,994 30.48% 67 0.68%
1968 5,474 55.67% 3,602 36.63% 757 7.70%
1964 4,702 45.58% 5,564 53.94% 49 0.48%
1960 6,240 60.17% 4,080 39.34% 50 0.48%
1956 6,390 64.87% 3,427 34.79% 34 0.35%
1952 6,490 65.15% 3,393 34.06% 78 0.78%
1948 5,163 56.95% 3,808 42.00% 95 1.05%
1944 5,479 60.86% 3,471 38.55% 53 0.59%
1940 6,087 57.71% 4,417 41.88% 43 0.41%
1936 5,126 50.72% 4,887 48.35% 94 0.93%
1932 4,646 45.56% 5,437 53.31% 115 1.13%
1928 5,400 58.40% 3,791 41.00% 55 0.59%
1924 4,907 52.94% 4,092 44.15% 270 2.91%
1920 5,516 57.66% 3,896 40.73% 154 1.61%
1916 2,717 51.39% 2,374 44.90% 196 3.71%
1912 1,263 24.43% 2,246 43.44% 1,661 32.13%
1908 2,838 50.62% 2,564 45.73% 205 3.66%
1904 3,178 55.48% 2,341 40.87% 209 3.65%
1900 2,900 51.58% 2,598 46.21% 124 2.21%
1896 2,848 52.56% 2,520 46.50% 51 0.94%
1892 2,519 49.39% 2,355 46.18% 226 4.43%
1888 2,663 51.86% 2,400 46.74% 72 1.40%

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18305,887
184012,171106.7%
185015,10724.1%
186017,29414.5%
187019,05310.2%
188019,7793.8%
189019,277−2.5%
190019,5181.3%
191018,793−3.7%
192017,813−5.2%
193017,308−2.8%
194017,7222.4%
195018,2182.8%
196020,0199.9%
197022,73813.6%
198023,8414.9%
199023,645−0.8%
200024,5553.8%
201025,7404.8%
202026,4722.8%
US Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010–2013

2010 Census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 25,740 people, 9,977 households, and 6,995 families in the county. The population density was 69.1 inhabitants per square mile (26.7/km2). There were 11,209 housing units at an average density of 30.1 per square mile (11.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.3% white, 0.7% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 0.6% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, In terms of ancestry, 35.5% were of English ancestry, 35.1% were of German, and 9.0% were of Irish ancestry according to 2010 American Community Survey.

Of the 9,977 households, 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.6% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.9% were non-families, and 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.02. The median age was 38.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $52,308. Males had a median income of $41,143 versus $30,226 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,719. About 8.3% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census

Decatur County Racial Composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 24,769 93.56%
Black or African American (NH) 90 0.34%
Native American (NH) 35 0.13%
Asian (NH) 154 0.6%
Pacific Islander (NH) 8 0.03%
Other/Mixed (NH) 802 3%
Hispanic or Latino 614 2.3%

See also

39°18′N 85°30′W / 39.30°N 85.50°W / 39.30; -85.50


This page was last updated at 2023-12-07 19:40 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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