Cass County, Indiana

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


map size = 150
founded = 1829
seat = Logansport
area_total_sq_mi =415
area_land_sq_mi =413
area_water_sq_mi =2
area percentage = 0.05%
census yr = 2000
pop = 40930
density_km2 = 38 | density_sq_mi = 99
web = www.co.cass.in.us
named for = Lewis Cass|

Cass County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. The county seat is LogansportGR|6.

History

Cass County was formed in 1828. It is named for Gen. Lewis Cass, Governor of Michigan Territory through 1831. Cass was U.S. Secretary of State just prior to the outbreak of the Civil War.

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.

Cass County is part of Indiana's 2nd congressional district and in 2008 was represented by Joe Donnelly in the United States Congress. [cite web|url=http://www.house.gov/donnelly/|title=US Congressman Joe Donnelly|publisher=US Congress|accessdate=2008-10-08]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 415 square miles (1,075 km²), of which 413 square miles (1,069 km²) is land and 2 square miles (5 km²) (0.50%) is water. The Wabash River flows through the county, mostly from east to west, and is joined by the Eel River in Logansport.

Adjacent counties

*Fulton County (north)
*Miami County (east)
*Howard County (south)
*Carroll County (southwest)
*White County (west)
*Pulaski County (northwest)

Cities and towns

*Galveston
*Logansport
*Onward
*Royal Center
*Walton

Unincorporated towns

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 40,930 people, 15,715 households, and 10,921 families residing in the county. The population density was 99 people per square mile (38/km²). There were 16,620 housing units at an average density of 40 per square mile (16/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.70% White, 1.29% Black or African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.23% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. 7.10% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 27.5% were of German, 23.0% American, 9.1% English and 8.2% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 15,715 households out of which 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.90% were married couples living together, 9.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 25.90% 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 2.53 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.90% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 28.40% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 101.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,193, and the median income for a family was $46,506. Males had a median income of $32,362 versus $22,017 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,892. About 4.70% of families and 7.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.80% of those under age 18 and 5.30% of those age 65 or over.

Notable natives and former residents

*Rollie Zeider (1883-1967), major league baseball player, 1910-1918, played for Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, Chicago Chi-Feds, Chicago Whales and Chicago Cubs. He was born near the unincorporated town of Hoover in Cass County.
*Actor Greg Kinnear was born in Logansport.

Education

Public schools in Cass County are administered by the Logansport Community School Corporation, the Pioneer Regional School Corporation and the Southeastern School Corporation.

High Schools and Middle Schools
*Columbia Middle School
*Lewis Cass High School
*Lincoln Middle School
*Logansport High School
*Pioneer Junior-Senior High School

Elementary Schools
*Columbia Elementary School
*Fairview Elementary School
*Franklin Elementary School
*Galveston Elementary School
*Landis Elementary School
*Pioneer Elementary School
*Thompson Elementary School

External links

* [http://www.co.cass.in.us/ Cass County official website]
* [http://www.lcsc.k12.in.us/ Logansport Community School Corporation]
* [http://www.pioneer.k12.in.us/ Pioneer Regional School Corporation]
* [http://www.sesc.k12.in.us/ Southeastern School Corporation]

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----