Pike County, Indiana

Infobox U.S. County
county = Pike County
state = Indiana


founded year = 1817
founded date =
seat wl = Petersburg
largest city wl =
city type = town
area_total_sq_mi = 341
area_total_km2 = 883
area_land_sq_mi = 336
area_land_km2 = 871
area_water_sq_mi = 5
area_water_km2 = 13
area percentage = 1.44%
lat deg =
lat min =
long deg =
long min =
census yr = 2000
pop = 12837
density_sq_mi = 38
density_km2 = 15
time zone = Eastern
footnotes =
web =
named for = Zebulon Pike

Pike County is a county located in the Southwest part of the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2000, the population is 12,837. The county seat is PetersburgGR|6. Pike County's Alphanumeric County Number is 63. Pike County switched to the Central Time Zone on April 2, 2006. [http://www.wtwo.com/news/default.asp?mode=shownews&id=5809] It returned to Eastern Time Zone on November 4, 2007. [http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070921/LOCAL/709210491/-1/LOCAL17] [ [http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot10007.htm DOT Moves Five Indiana Counties from Central to Eastern Time ] ]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 341 square miles (883 km²), of which, 336 square miles (871 km²) of it is land and 5 square miles (13 km²) of it is water. The total area is 1.44% water.

Major highways

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* To reach Pike County around 2010.

Adjacent counties

*Daviess County (northeast)
*Dubois County (east)
*Warrick County (south)
*Gibson County (west)
*Knox County (northwest)

National protected area

* Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge (part)

History

Pike County was formed in 1817. It was named for Zebulon Pike, mostly famous for the Pike Expedition of 1806 - 1807, exploring the southwest portion of the Louisiana Purchase. Pike also fought at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. Pike was killed, in 1813, during the War of 1812. [cite book|author=De Witt Clinton Goodrich & Charles Richard Tuttle|publisher=R. S. Peale & co.|year=1875|location=Indiana|title=An Illustrated History of the State of Indiana|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=YDIUAAAAYAAJ| pages=582]

From 1959 to 1963 Vance Hartke and Homer E. Capehart were the U.S. Senators for Indiana, both from Pike County.

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.cite web|author=Indiana Code|url=http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title36/ar2/ch3.html |title=Title 36, Article 2, Section 3|accessdate=2008-09-16|publisher=IN.gov] cite web|author= Indiana Code |url= http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title3/ar10/ch2.pdf |title= Title 2, Article 10, Section 2 |accessdate=2008-09-16|publisher=IN.gov]

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, the collection of revenue, and managing the day-to-day functions of the county government.

Court: The county maintains a small claims court that can handle some 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 terms of four years. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level circuit 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 serve terms of four years and oversee different parts of the county government. Members elected to any county government position are required to declare a party affiliation and be a resident of the county.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 12,837 people, 5,119 households, and 3,680 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15/km²). There were 5,611 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 99.10% White, 0.10% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.39% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 35.0% were of American, 24.6% German, 11.4% English and 9.5% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 5,119 households out of which 30.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.80% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.90% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 24.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 99.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,759, and the median income for a family was $41,420. Males had a median income of $31,967 versus $20,970 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,217. About 5.10% of families and 8.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.00% of those under age 18 and 9.70% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Incorporated

*Petersburg
*Spurgeon
*Winslow

Unincorporated

*Otwell
*Stendal
*Velpen

Townships

*Clay
*Jefferson
*Lockhart
*Logan
*Madison
*Marion
*Monroe
*Patoka
*Washington

References

*cite book
first = Richard L. (editor)
last = Forstall
year = 1996
title = Population of states and counties of the United States: 1790 to 1990 : from the twenty-one decennial censuses
publisher = United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Population Division
id = ISBN 0-934213-48-8