Perry County, Indiana

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


founded year = 1814
founded date =
seat wl = Tell City
largest city wl = Tell City
city type = town
area_total_sq_mi = 386
area_total_km2 = 1001
area_land_sq_mi = 381
area_land_km2 = 988
area_water_sq_mi = 5
area_water_km2 = 13
area percentage = 1.28%
lat deg =
lat min =
long deg =
long min =
census yr = 2000
pop = 18899
density_sq_mi = 50
density_km2 = 19
time zone = Central
footnotes =
web =
named for = Oliver Hazard Perry

Perry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2000, the population was 18,899. The county seat is Tell CityGR|6. It is the hilliest county in Indiana.

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.

Perry County is part of Indiana's 9th congressional district and is represented in Congress by Democrat Baron Hill. [cite web|url=http://baronhill.house.gov/district.shtml|title=Conressman Baron Hill|publisher=House.Gov|accessdate=2008-09-12]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 386 square miles (1,001 km²), of which 381 square miles (988 km²) is land and 5 square miles (13 km²) (1.28%) is water.

Adjacent counties

*Crawford County (northeast)
*Meade County, Kentucky (east)
*Breckinridge County, Kentucky (southeast)
*Hancock County, Kentucky (southwest)
*Spencer County (west)
*Dubois County (northwest)

National protected area

* Hoosier National Forest (part)

Roads and highways

Interstate 64 cuts across the northern portion of the county. State Road 66, designated as the Ohio River Scenic Byway for most of its course in the county, is the most heavily traveled road by residents and visitors alike, adjacent to the three most populated towns in the county as well as most major tourist destinations. State Road 37 connects the county to Bloomington and Indianapolis. Other state roads in the county include State Road 62, which closely parallels I-64; State Road 145, which winds through the western parts of the county; State Road 166, which is little more than a road to and from the hamlet of Tobinsport; State Road 237, which connects Cannelton directly to State Road 37 (also the site of a bridge on the Ohio River); a short run of State Road 545 near Troy; and State Road 70 which connects State Road 37 with State Road 66.

History

Perry County was formed in 1814. It was named for Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry who defeated the British squadron in the decisive Battle of Lake Erie in 1813. [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=570]

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 18,899 people, 7,270 households, and 5,074 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile (19/km²). There were 8,223 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile (8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.61% White, 1.45% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 0.50% from two or more races. 0.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 34.5% were of German, 19.7% American, 10.0% Irish, 9.3% French and 9.2% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 7,270 households out of which 30.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.70% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 26.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county the population was spread out with 22.90% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 107.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,246, and the median income for a family was $43,743. Males had a median income of $31,554 versus $22,123 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,673. About 7.10% of families and 9.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.30% of those under age 18 and 8.90% of those age 65 or over.

Cities, towns, and unincorporated communities

Cities and towns

*Cannelton
*Leopold
*Tell City
*Troy

Unincorporated communities

Townships

*Anderson
*Clark
*Leopold
*Oil
*Tobin
*Troy
*Union

External links

* [http://www.perrycountyindiana.org Perry County Convention & Visitors Bureau]
* [http://www.perrycountyforum.com The Perry County Forum]
* [http://www.perrycountyforum.com/scanner.htm Perry County Indiana Online Police Scanner]
* [http://www.perrycountynews.com Perry County News]

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