Vermillion County, Indiana

Vermillion County, Indiana

The Vermillion County Courthouse in Newport

Seal
Map of Indiana highlighting Vermillion County
Location in the U.S. state of Indiana
Map of the United States highlighting Indiana
Indiana's location in the U.S.
Founded February 1, 1824
Named for Vermilion River
Seat Newport
Largest city Clinton
Area
 • Total 259.93 sq mi (673 km2)
 • Land 256.88 sq mi (665 km2)
 • Water 3.05 sq mi (8 km2), 1.17%
Population
 • (2010) 16,212
 • Density 63/sq mi (24.37/km²)
Congressional district 8th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.vermilliongov.us
Footnotes: Indiana county number 83

Vermillion County lies in the western part of the U.S. state of Indiana between the Illinois border and the Wabash River. As of the 2010 census, the population was 16,212.[1] The county seat is Newport.[2] It was officially established in 1824 and was the fiftieth Indiana county to be formed.

Vermillion County is included in the Terre Haute, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The county contains seven incorporated towns with a total population of about 9,900,[3] as well as several unincorporated communities; it is also divided into five townships which provide local services.[4][5] An interstate highway, two U.S. routes, and five state roads cross the county, as does a major railroad line.[6][7]

History

The first settlers in the area arrived in 1816, the same year that the state of Indiana was established. Vigo County was formed in 1818 and included the area that later became Parke and Vermillion counties. In 1821, Parke County was formed, and on January 2, 1824, the Indiana General Assembly created Vermillion County out of Parke County; the act took effect on February 1. The county seat was established at Newport later that year, and it has always remained there.[8]

The county was named for the southbound Vermilion River, which flows nearby. The name is spelled in the French/Commonwealth English style with a double letter "l", in contrast to the American English spelling of the adjacent Vermilion County, Illinois. This is one of only a few cases in the United States in which a county borders a county with the same name in another state.[9]

The county courthouse which served from 1868 to 1923

The first courthouse was a frame building. The contract was awarded in June 1824 for $345[n 1] and was to be completed by the following November; it was used for county business until a brick building could be constructed. The brick courthouse was contracted in 1831; the completed building was used until January 29, 1844, when the building caught fire. It was repaired and served until 1868 when a third courthouse was built at a cost of $30,000;[n 2] a west wing was added in 1903 at a cost of $28,000.[11][n 3] That building was struck by lightning early on the morning of May 27, 1923, and was largely destroyed by fire. Construction on the fourth (and current) courthouse began that same year; Halbert Fillinger and John Bayard were the architects. The stone building was constructed by Jasper Good of Columbus at a cost of $358,707, and the new courthouse was dedicated on June 11, 1925.[12][n 4]

The Newport Hill Climb was first held in 1909. The event was started and stopped several times over the years, but the Newport Lions Club now runs the Newport Antique Auto Hill Climb; it has been held continuously since the 1960s and involves several hundred cars each year.[13]

An REO leaves the hill climb starting line

Geography

Map of Vermillion County

Vermillion County is less than 10 miles (16 km) from east to west at its widest point, but it extends over 37 miles (60 km) from north to south. It shares a 6.5-mile (10.5 km) border with Warren County to the north. Its eastern border is defined by the Wabash River; Fountain and Parke counties lie across the river to the northeast and southeast, respectively. Vermillion County is the southernmost county in Indiana entirely on the right bank of the Wabash. Vigo County, from which Parke and Vermillion counties were formed, lies to the south. The county's western border is shared with the state of Illinois. To the northwest lies Vermilion County; its city of Danville is west of the northern border of Vermillion County. To the southwest is Edgar County; its city of Paris is west of Vermillion County's southern border. The state capital of Indianapolis lies about 65 miles (105 km) to the east.[14]

Vermillion County in Indiana and Vermilion County in Illinois are two of twenty-two counties or parishes in the United States with the same name to border each other across state lines. (Note, despite the different spellings, the source of the name is the same for Vermilion County, Illinois and Vermillion County, Indiana—the Vermillion River which flows through both counties.) The others are Union Parish, Louisiana and Union County, Arkansas, Big Horn County, Montana and Big Horn County, Wyoming, Sabine County, Texas and Sabine Parish, Louisiana, Bristol County, Massachusetts and Bristol County, Rhode Island, Kent County, Delaware and Kent County, Maryland, Escambia County, Alabama and Escambia County, Florida., Pike County, Illinois and Pike County, Missouri, Teton County, Idaho and Teton County, Wyoming, Park County, Montana and Park County, Wyoming, and San Juan County, New Mexico and San Juan County, Utah,. respectively.

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 259.93 square miles (673.2 km2), of which 256.88 square miles (665.3 km2) (or 98.83%) is land and 3.05 square miles (7.9 km2) (or 1.17%) is water.[15] The Vermillion River, for which the county was named, enters from Illinois to the west and crosses the county to empty into the Wabash River near Cayuga. Forests cover about 23% of the county, or about 37,865 acres (15,323 ha),[16] and consist principally of deciduous hardwoods among which maple–beech and oak–hickory forests are the most common.[17]

At a meeting of the board of commissioners on March 23, 1824 (the same year the county was formed), four townships were created: Clinton, Helt, Highland and Vermillion. Later, Eugene Township was created out of portions of Highland and Vermillion; the north end of Highland Township became part of Warren County.[18]

There are seven incorporated towns in Vermillion County. Cayuga is located near the confluence of the Vermillion and Wabash rivers, along State Road 63 just west of its intersection with State Road 234. Clinton is the largest settlement in the county with a population of about 5100, and lies further to the south along the Wabash River, between it and State Road 63; State Road 163 passes through the town to reach U.S. Route 41 on the east side of the river. Fairview Park is just north of Clinton; State Road 63 passes through the north end of the town. Dana is a small town just north of the intersection of U.S. Route 36 and State Road 71. Newport is located just east of State Road 63, a few miles south of Cayuga; it is the county seat, although it is one of the smallest towns in the county. Perrysville is also located along the Wabash River, on State Road 32 just east of its intersection with State Road 63. Universal is in the far southern part of the county, west of State Road 63.[19]

In addition to the towns, there are also many unincorporated communities. Helt Township has more than any other township and includes the communities of Alta, Bono, Highland, Hillsdale, Jonestown, Saint Bernice, Summit Grove. Clinton Township contains Blanford, Centenary, Klondyke and Syndicate. Highland Township includes Flat Iron, Gessie, Rileysburg and Tree Spring. Eugene Township, which contains Cayuga, has just one unincorporated community: Eugene, which is just north of Cayuga.[19]

At least three other communities once existed in Vermillion County but have since become extinct: Quaker, Randall,and Toronto.

Tree Spring in northern Vermillion County

Climate

Newport
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
1.9
 
 
32
15
 
 
1.8
 
 
38
20
 
 
2.8
 
 
49
29
 
 
3.4
 
 
62
39
 
 
4.3
 
 
73
50
 
 
4.5
 
 
82
60
 
 
4.2
 
 
85
63
 
 
3.7
 
 
83
60
 
 
3.1
 
 
77
52
 
 
2.8
 
 
65
41
 
 
3.2
 
 
50
33
 
 
2.5
 
 
37
21
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[20]

Vermillion County is in the humid continental climate region of the United States along with most of Indiana. Its Köppen climate classification is Dfa,[21] meaning that it is cold, has no dry season, and has a hot summer.[22] In recent years, temperatures in Newport have ranged from an average low of 15 °F (−9 °C) in January to a high of 85 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −26 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in 1994, and a record high of 105 °F (41 °C) was recorded in 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.80 inches (46 mm) inches in February to 4.53 inches (115 mm) inches in June.[20]

Transportation

Interstate 74 passes from east to west through the north end of the county;[23] U.S. Route 136 does so as well, about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) further to the north.[24] U.S. Route 36 crosses the south part of the county on its way from Rockville to Chrisman, Illinois, passing just south of Dana.[25]

State Road 32 runs from the state line through Perrysville and continues east toward Crawfordsville.[26] State Road 63 runs the length of the county from north to south on its way to Terre Haute in the south;[27] State Road 71 begins at State Road 63 near Newport and runs southwest, then south through Dana and Bono before ending at Blanford.[28] There, State Road 163 runs east through Clinton to join U.S. Route 41 on the east side of the Wabash River.[29] State Road 234 runs from the Indiana border through Cayuga, continuing east through Kingman in Fountain County.[30]

CSX Transportation operates a railroad line running from Danville, Illinois to Terre Haute; this line runs most of the length of Vermillion County from north to south, passing through Rilesyburg, Cayuga, and Clinton before crossing the Wabash River. Another CSX line coming from Decatur, Illinois enters the county from the west and meets the north–south line near Hillsdale. The 6-mile (9.7 km) Vermilion Valley Railroad passes through the very north edge of the county on its way from the Flex-N-Gate factory west of Covington to Danville, Illinois.[7]

Airport

The county has a small airport, the Clinton Airport, located in Clinton.[31] The Indianapolis International Airport is located about 65 miles (105 km) to the east.[14][32]

Economy

Vermillion County's economy is supported by a labor force of approximately 7,924 workers with an unemployment rate in December 2010 of 12.5%. Government jobs make up 13% of the county's employment. Manufacturing accounts for 12.4%, and construction 10%, while 8.5% of the county's jobs relate to farming.[33]

Education and health care

The administration of public schools in Vermillion County is divided between two entities. The North Vermillion Community School Corporation administers North Vermillion Junior-Senior High School and North Vermillion Elementary School, both located just north of Cayuga along State Road 63.[34] The South Vermillion Community School Corporation administers schools located in Clinton, including South Vermillion High School, South Vermillion Middle School and three elementary schools: Central, Ernie Pyle and Van Duyn. It also manages the Parke Vermillion Education and Training Interlocal (PVETI) in Hillsdale.[35]

There are no colleges or universities within Vermillion County, but there are several nearby. Indiana State University is a public four-year college in Terre Haute in neighboring Vigo County, about 30 miles (48 km) to the south of Newport. Rose–Hulman Institute of Technology, a smaller private college also in Terre Haute, specializes in teaching engineering, mathematics, and science. Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana has 23 campuses throughout the state; the nearest to Vermillion County is in Terre Haute.

The Vermillion County Public Library has branches in Cayuga, Newport, and Dana.[36] In 1909 a Carnegie library was built in Clinton; it was expanded in 1947 and in 1953. In the early 1990s it was determined that an entirely new building was needed, and this was completed in 1994.[37]

Union Hospital, located in Terre Haute to the south, operates a hospital in Clinton.[38]

Notable people

Henry Washburn
Claude Matthews
Ernie Pyle

Henry Dana Washburn was born in Vermont in 1832; in 1850 he moved to Vermillion County, studied law, and opened a practice in Newport in 1853. He served in the Civil War on the Union side as a lieutenant colonel and later as a general; after the war he was elected to the United States House of Representatives and served through 1869. In 1870 he headed an expedition which explored the area that later became Yellowstone National Park. He died 1871 in Clinton and is buried at Riverside Cemetery.[39]

Claude Matthews was the governor of Indiana from 1893 to 1897. He was born in Kentucky in 1845; he moved to Vermillion County in 1867 and became a prominent farmer. He was elected Indiana Secretary of State in 1890, and governor in 1893. He died in 1898 in Indianapolis and is buried in Clinton; he was 52 years old.[40]

Ernie Pyle was born on a farm near Dana in 1900. He served for three months in the United States Navy Reserve at the end of World War I; after the war he attended Indiana University but left before graduating to take a newspaper job. He served for several years as the managing editor at the Washington Daily News, and later became the nation's first aviation columnist. He began as a roving correspondent in 1935, and became a war correspondent when the United States entered World War II. His work during the war earned him a Pulitzer Prize. He died in combat in 1945.[41]

Ken Kercheval was born in Clinton[42] in 1935 and became an actor in 1962; he is best known for his role as "Cliff Barnes" in the television series Dallas.

Government

The county government is a constitutional body granted specific powers by the Constitution of Indiana and the Indiana Code. The county council is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all spending and revenue collection. Representatives are elected from county districts. The council members serve four-year terms and 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.[43][44]

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, collecting revenue and managing day-to-day functions of the county government.[43][44]

Vermillion Circuit Court serves as the court of general jurisdiction. It hears civil cases, criminal felonies, and some misdemeanors and infractions. Clinton maintains a city court that can hear misdemeanors and infractions.[44]

The county has several other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor and circuit court clerk. Each of these elected officers serves a term of four years and oversees a different part of county government. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare party affiliations and be residents of the county.[44]

Each of the townships has a trustee who administers rural fire protection and ambulance service, provides poor relief and manages cemetery care, among other duties.[5] The trustee is assisted in these duties by a three-member township board. The trustees and board members are elected to four-year terms.[45]

Based on 2000 census results, Vermillion County is part of Indiana's 8th congressional district, the 38th Indiana Senate district,[46] and the 42nd Indiana House of Representatives district.[47]

Communities

Townships

Cities and Towns

Census-Designated Places

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18305,692—
18408,27445.4%
18508,6614.7%
18609,4228.8%
187010,84015.0%
188012,02510.9%
189013,1549.4%
190015,25215.9%
191018,86523.7%
192027,62546.4%
193023,238−15.9%
194021,787−6.2%
195019,723−9.5%
196017,683−10.3%
197016,793−5.0%
198018,2298.6%
199016,773−8.0%
200016,7880.1%
201016,212−3.4%
Est. 201515,692[48]−3.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[49]
1790-1960[50] 1900-1990[51]
1990-2000[52] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 16,212 people, 6,619 households, and 4,533 families residing in the county.[53] The population density was 63.1 inhabitants per square mile (24.4/km2). There were 7,488 housing units at an average density of 29.1 per square mile (11.2/km2).[15] The racial makeup of the county was 98.3% white, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.1% black or African American, 0.3% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.8% of the population.[53] In terms of ancestry, 24.7% were American, 19.5% were German, 11.0% were Irish, 9.8% were English, and 7.9% were Italian.[54]

Of the 6,619 households, 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.5% were non-families, and 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age was 41.9 years.[53]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $50,743. Males had a median income of $41,620 versus $30,168 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,178. About 11.8% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.9% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.[55]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ A $345 capital expense in 1824 would be roughly equivalent to $229,000 in 2009.[10]
  2. ↑ A $30,000 capital expense in 1868 would be roughly equivalent to $6,410,000 in 2009.[10]
  3. ↑ A $28,000 capital expense in 1903 would be roughly equivalent to $4,000,000 in 2009.[10]
  4. ↑ A $350,000 capital expense in 1925 would be roughly equivalent to $21,000,000 in 2009.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County – Vermillion County, IN". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
  3. ↑ "Vermillion County, Indiana -- County Subdivision and Place. GCT-PH1. Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2000". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  4. ↑ "Indiana Township Association". Retrieved 2010-09-12.
  5. 1 2 "Duties". United Township Association of Indiana. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
  6. ↑ "Indiana Transportation Map 2009-2010" (PDF). Indiana Department of Transportation. 2009. Retrieved 2010-12-16.
  7. 1 2 "Indiana Railroads" (PDF). Indiana Department of Transportation. 2008. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
  8. ↑ Bowen 1913, p. 249.
  9. ↑ Baker, Ronald L.; Carmony, Marvin (1975). Indiana Place Names. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. p. 170.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Williamson, Samuel H. (April 2010). Seven Ways to Compute the Relative Value of a U.S. Dollar Amount, 1774 to present. MeasuringWorth. Calculations made using Nominal GDP Per Capita, a measure of capital intensivity, using "the 'average' per-person output of the economy in the prices of the current year." This is a measure of the amount of capital and volume of labor required to reproduce the work over varying production methods, but assuming that money represents a proportion of the economy.
  11. ↑ Bowen 1913, p. 256.
  12. ↑ Counts, Will; Jon Dilts (1991). The 92 Magnificent Indiana Courthouses. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. pp. 172–3. ISBN 978-0-253-33638-5.
  13. ↑ Greninger, Howard (2 October 2009). "Newport Antique Auto Hill Climb marks 100th anniversary of its first race". Terre Haute Tribune-Star. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  14. 1 2 Region of Vermillion County, Indiana (Map). National Atlas of the United States. Retrieved 2010-12-19.
  15. 1 2 "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  16. ↑ Indiana Department of Natural Resources' Division of Forestry (2010). Indiana Statewide Forestry Strategy (PDF) (Report). Indiana DNR. Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  17. ↑ USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area State & Private Forestry. "Forests of Indiana: A 1998 Overview". Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  18. ↑ Bowen 1913, pp. 252-253.
  19. 1 2 United States Geological Survey. "Geographic Names Information System: Populated places in Vermillion County, Indiana". Retrieved 2010-12-19.
  20. 1 2 "Monthly Averages for Newport, Indiana". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
  21. ↑ "Köppen Climate Classification for the Conterminous United States". Idaho State Climate Services. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
  22. ↑ Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification" (PDF). Copernicus Publications. p. 1636. Retrieved 2011-01-23. Cite uses deprecated parameter |coauthors= (help)
  23. ↑ "Interstate 74". Highway Explorer. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
  24. ↑ "U.S. Route 136". Highway Explorer. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
  25. ↑ "U.S. Route 36". Highway Explorer. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
  26. ↑ "State Road 32". Highway Explorer. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
  27. ↑ "State Road 63". Highway Explorer. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
  28. ↑ "State Road 71". Highway Explorer. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
  29. ↑ "State Road 163". Highway Explorer. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
  30. ↑ "State Road 234". Highway Explorer. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
  31. ↑ "Clinton". AirportIQ. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  32. ↑ "Indiana Public Use Airports". Indiana Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2011-02-01.
  33. ↑ STATS Indiana. "InDepth Profile: Vermillion County, Indiana". Indiana Business Research Center. Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  34. ↑ "North Vermillion Community School Corporation". Retrieved 2010-12-19.
  35. ↑ "South Vermillion Community School Corporation". Retrieved 2010-12-19.
  36. ↑ "Vermillion County Public Library". Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  37. ↑ "Clinton Public Library". Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  38. ↑ "Union Hospital Clinton". Retrieved 2011-02-09.
  39. ↑ "Biographical Directory of the United States Congress: Washburn, Henry Dana". United States Congress. Retrieved 2010-12-19.
  40. ↑ Gugin, Linda C.; St. Clair, James E., eds. (2006). The Governors of Indiana. Indianapolis, Indiana: Indiana Historical Society Press. pp. 204–208. ISBN 0-87195-196-7.
  41. ↑ "Ernie Pyle Is Killed on Ie Island; Foe Fired When All Seemed Safe". The New York Times. April 19, 1945. Retrieved 2010-12-19.
  42. ↑ http://www.tribstar.com/news/local_news/hometown-boy-embraces-promise-i-made-clinton-native-ken-kercheval/article_98ee1181-8d40-5580-818c-39c4801be484.html
  43. 1 2 Indiana Code. "Title 36, Article 2, Section 3". Government of Indiana. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  44. 1 2 3 4 Indiana Code. "Title 2, Article 10, Section 2" (PDF). Government of Indiana. Retrieved 2008-09-16.
  45. ↑ "Government". United Township Association of Indiana. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
  46. ↑ "Indiana Senate Districts" (GIF). Stats Indiana. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
  47. ↑ "Indiana House Districts" (GIF). Stats Indiana. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
  48. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  49. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  50. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  51. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  52. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  53. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  54. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  55. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-10.

Bibliography

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