Franklin County, Indiana

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




map size = 150
founded = 1811
seat = Brookville
area_total_sq_mi =391
area_land_sq_mi =386
area_water_sq_mi =5
area percentage = 1.36%
census yr = 2000
pop = 22151
density_km2 = 22 | density_sq_mi = 57
web = www.franklincountyin.com
named for= Benjamin Franklin|

Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2000, the population was 22,151. The county seat is BrookvilleGR|6.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 391 square miles (1,014 km²), of which 386 square miles (1,000 km²) is land and 5 square miles (14 km²) (1.36%) is water.

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

*Fayette County (north [1] )
*Union County (north [2] )
*Butler County, Ohio (east)
*Hamilton County, Ohio (southeast)
*Dearborn County (south [1] )
*Ripley County (south [2] )
*Decatur County (west)
*Rush County (northwest)

History

Franklin County was formed in 1811. It was named for Benjamin Franklin. [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=558]

Some of the early settlers of this county were Primitive Baptists, they came with Elder William Tyner who came from Virginia in 1797. They organized the Little Cedar Grove Baptist Church, the first church in the Whitewater Valley. [http://www.carthage.lib.il.us/community/churches/primbap/FamHist-FranklinIN.html] The members built a log church as early as 1805, about two or three miles southeast of Brookville, Indiana. In 1812 they built a large brick church, with balcony, and rifle ports. They held the first meeting in it on August 1, 1812. It is the oldest church building standing on its original site in Indiana. It is open as a historic site. [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=xU5NF4EAbQMC&pg=PA6&dq=harrison+spring+indiana&as_brr=3&sig=vtmZ2aQQILJjADDIVYbfEFFG4KI#PPA6,M1 Amazing Tales from Indiana, By Fred D., Pg 6-7] ]

One further landmark in the county is the Big Cedar Baptist Church and Burying Ground on Big Cedar Creek Road, between the road to Reily and the Oxford Pike. The original church was established in 1817, as an arm of the Little Cedar Baptist church. The plain, simple brick building, but impressive in its simplicity was built in 1838. This church, like all, or nearly all of the pioneer Baptist groups in the county was originally Primitive Baptist or Hardshell. In the 1830’s or there abouts, modernism came upon the scene, modernism and human inventions, like Sunday Schools, Missionary Societies, and organs. Organs were particularly anathema to the Primitive Party; an organ was Arron’s golden calf. The Big Cedar congregation divided into two congregations, but the two groups arrived at an amicable settlement and both congregations continued to use the same building. The Primitives, or Hardshells, had church there on the first and third Sabbath of each month, and the Modernists or Missionary Baptists used the church on the second and fourth Sundays. Each congregation had its own wood shed. The building is now maintained in connection with the Big Cedar Cemetery Association. [http://www.franklinchs.com/PPP/places/Springfield.htm]

Governors James B. Ray, Noah Noble and David Wallace were known as the "Brookville Triumvirate," in that they all had lived in Brookville, Franklin County, Indiana and served consecutive terms in the office of Governor of Indiana. Noble and former governor Ray were political enemies. [http://www.franklinchs.com/ppp/people/noah_noble.htm]

James B. Goudie Jr. Speaker of the Indiana House was from Franklin 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 22,151 people, 7,868 households, and 6,129 families residing in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile (22/km²). There were 8,596 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 99.02% White, 0.03% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.09% from other races, and 0.47% from two or more races. 0.47% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 46.4% were of German, 19.4% American, 9.2% English and 8.5% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 7,868 households out of which 37.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.00% were married couples living together, 8.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.10% were non-families. 19.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.10% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 12.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,530, and the median income for a family was $50,171. Males had a median income of $33,998 versus $24,516 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,624. About 4.70% of families and 7.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.90% of those under age 18 and 9.70% of those age 65 or over.

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 0-934213-48-8HISTORY OF THE BIG CEDAR CHURCH AND CEMETERY, Page 2