Fountain County, Indiana

Fountain County lies in the western part of the U.S. state of Indiana on the east side of the Wabash River. The county was officially established in 1826 and was the 53rd in Indiana. The county seat is Covington.[2]

"Fountain County" redirects here. For another place from 1859 to 1861, see Fountain County, Jefferson Territory.

Fountain County
County
Fountain County Courthouse
Fountain County Courthouse
Map of Indiana highlighting Fountain County
Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
Map of the United States highlighting Indiana
Indiana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°07′N 87°14′W
Country United States
State Indiana
FoundedApril 1, 1826
Named forJames Fontaine
SeatCovington
Largest cityAttica
Area
 • Total397.88 sq mi (1,030.5 km2)
 • Land395.66 sq mi (1,024.8 km2)
 • Water2.22 sq mi (5.7 km2)  0.56%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total16,479
 • Density41/sq mi (16/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district4th
Indiana county number 23
FIPS code 045[1]

According to the 2020 United States Census, its population was 16,479.[3] The county has two incorporated cities and six incorporated towns, as well as many small unincorporated communities. It is divided into eleven townships which provide local services.[4][5] An interstate highway, two U.S. Routes and five Indiana state roads cross the county, as does a major railroad line.[6][7]

History

Indiana was granted statehood near the end of 1816. The first non-indigenous settler in the future Fountain County is thought to have been a Mr. Forbes, who arrived in early 1823 and was soon followed by others.[8] The legislative act creating Fountain County was passed on December 30, 1825, setting an effective date of April 1, 1826. The county's boundaries have remained unchanged since that time.[9] It was named for Major James Fontaine of Kentucky who was killed at Harmar's Defeat (near modern Fort Wayne, Indiana) on October 22, 1790, during the Northwest Indian War.[10][11]

Map of Fountain County from an 1876 atlas

The first Fountain County courthouse was a two-story frame building constructed in Covington in 1827; Abraham Griffith submitted the winning bid of $335.[n 1] In 1829, plans were made for a larger courthouse building, but then an act of the legislature called for the county seat to be moved. In the end it was decided that the county seat should remain in Covington, and the brick courthouse was completed in 1833. A third courthouse was commissioned in 1856, and was completed in 1857 at a cost of $33,500.[n 2] The circuit court met for the first time in the new building in January 1860, and the building was largely destroyed by fire the same day. Isaac Hodgson was the architect for the rebuilt courthouse, which was first occupied in January 1861; the total cost, including the reconstruction, totaled $54,624.05.[n 3][13] The current courthouse was built in 1936–37 at a cost of $246,734;[n 4] it replaced the previous building which had been declared unsafe. The 1937 building was constructed by the Jacobson Brothers of Chicago; the architects were Louis R. Johnson and Walter Scholar of Lafayette. The courthouse walls display murals painted by Eugene Francis Savage and others from 1937 to 1940, covering 2,500 square feet (232 m2) of wall space and depicting the settlement of western Indiana.[14]

Digging on the Wabash and Erie Canal began in 1832 and worked southwest; it reached Lafayette by 1842. In 1846 it reached Covington, and by 1847 traffic was moving through the county via the canal. Completion of the county's first railroad line in the 1850s heralded an end to the canal's usefulness, and in 1875 the last canal boat passed through Covington.[15]

The first railway line through the county was the Toledo, Wabash and Western Railway (later the Wabash Railroad) which was built from the east across the northern part of the county and reached Attica in 1856; it continued west through Warren County and reached the Illinois state line the following year. The Indianapolis, Crawfordsville and Danville Railroad (later the Indiana, Bloomington and Western Railway), was started in 1855, but the general state of the economy halted construction in 1858. It was completed by another owner in 1870, and traffic started in 1871. It passed through Covington, Veedersburg and Hillsboro.[16]

Geography
Map of Fountain County, showing townships and settlements
The town of Mellott

Fountain County's northern and western borders are defined by the Wabash River which flows southwesterly out of Tippecanoe County.

According to the 2010 United States Census, the county has a total area of 397.88 square miles (1,030.5 km2), of which 395.66 square miles (1,024.8 km2) (or 99.44%) is land and 2.22 square miles (5.7 km2) (or 0.56%) is water.[17] Elevations range from 770 feet (230 m) above sea level in the northeastern part of the county to 465 feet (142 m) in the southwest where the Wabash River leaves the county. The county is within the drainage basin of the Wabash River, sloping to the southwest. It is covered with loess ranging in thickness from a few inches to more than 7 feet (2.1 m). Approximately 84 percent of the county's land is use for agriculture.[18]

The Portland Arch Nature Preserve and the Miller-Campbell Memorial Tract, a 435-acre (176 ha) preserve managed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, are located adjacent to the Wabash River.[19]

Adjacent counties

Cities

Incorporated towns

Unincorporated communities

Previous settlements
  • Stringtown - abandoned mining settlement south of Covington

There are several coal mines in southwest Fountain County.[21]

Townships

Transportation
Looking across the Wabash River to Fountain County
A 19th-century home in Attica
Attica from the west

Highways

Interstate 74 runs east–west through the middle of Fountain County.[23] US Route 136 follows the same general east–west route of I-74 through the county; in the eastern part it runs on the south side of the interstate, but crosses to the north side between Veedersburg and Covington.[24] US Route 41 runs north–south through the county, passing through Attica and Veedersburg.[25]

Three east–west state roads cross the county. State Road 28 enters Attica from Warren County and crosses the north end of the county.[26] State Road 32 enters the middle of the county from Perrysville to the west and passes through Fountain County on its way to Crawfordsville to the east.[27] State Road 234, further to the south, enters from Cayuga to the west and passes east through Kingman.[28] Two north–south state roads run through the county. State Road 55 passes through Attica and shares the route of US Route 41 running goes south. At Rob Roy it turns to run southeast through Newton.[29] State Road 341 starts at State Road 28 in the north and runs south, ending at State Road 234.[30]

Railroads

A Norfolk Southern Railway line crosses northern Fountain County on its route between Danville, Illinois and Lafayette, Indiana;[7] it carries about 45 freight trains each day.[31]

Air transportation

There are no public-use airports within the boundary of Fountain County; air service is available at nearby airports:

Climate and weather
Covington, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
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Source:The Weather Channel[34]
Metric conversion
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Fountain County is in the humid continental climate region of the United States along with most of Indiana. Its Köppen climate classification is Dfa,[35] meaning that it is cold, has no dry season, and has a hot summer.[36] In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Covington have ranged from a 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 January 1994 and a record high of 105 °F (41 °C) was recorded in August 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.80 inches (46 mm) inches in February to 4.53 inches (115 mm) inches in June.[34]

From 1950 through 2009, six tornadoes were reported in Fountain County, causing $25 million in damage but no fatalities.[37]

Education

Three public bodies administer Fountain County schools:

  • Attica Consolidated School Corporation (northern Fountain County) – served 964 students during the 2009–2010 school year. It runs Attica Elementary and Attica Junior–Senior High Schools.
  • Covington Community School Corporation (western Fountain County) – served 1,012 students during 2009–2010. It runs Covington Elementary, Covington Middle, and Covington High Schools.
  • Southeast Fountain School Corporation (eastern Fountain County) – served 1,279 students during 2009–2010. It runs Southeast Fountain Elementary and Fountain Central Junior–Senior High Schools.[38]

Notable people

Daniel Wolsey Voorhees was born in Ohio but was raised in Fountain County. He attended school in Veedersburg, graduated from college in 1849, was admitted to the bar, and began practicing law in Covington; he moved to Terre Haute in 1857. He served as a United States Senator (1877–1897), and was known as "the tall sycamore of the Wabash". He died in Washington in 1897 and is buried in Terre Haute.[39]

John Myers was born in Covington in 1927. He graduated from Covington High School, then from Indiana State University in Terre Haute; he served in the United States Army and then served in the US House of Representatives 1967–1997.[40]

  • Daniel Voorhees
    Daniel Voorhees
  • Voorhees historical marker
    Voorhees historical marker
  • John Myers
    John Myers

Government
See also: Government of Indiana

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 spending and revenue collection. Representatives are elected to four-year terms from county districts. The council members set salaries, the annual budget and special spending. The council 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.[41][42] In 2010, the county budgeted approximately $9.8 million for the district's schools and $3.2 million for other county operations and services, for a total annual budget of approximately $13 million.[43]

A board of commissioners comprises the county's executive body. The commissioners are elected county-wide, in staggered four–year terms. One commissioner serves as president. The commissioners execute acts legislated by the council, collect revenue, and manage the county government.[41][42]

The county maintains a circuit court. The judge on the court is elected to a term of six years and must be a lawyer admitted to practice law in Indiana.[42]

The county has other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, 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.[42]

Each township 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 by a three-member township board. The trustees and board members are elected to four-year terms.[44]

Based on the 2010 United States Census, Fountain County is part of Indiana's 4th congressional district; Indiana Senate district 23;[45] and Indiana House of Representatives districts 13 and 42.[46]

United States presidential election results for Fountain County, Indiana[47]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 6,154 76.99% 1,629 20.38% 210 2.63%
2016 5,662 75.15% 1,476 19.59% 396 5.26%
2012 4,664 65.59% 2,237 31.46% 210 2.95%
2008 4,158 55.99% 3,094 41.66% 174 2.34%
2004 5,260 67.40% 2,477 31.74% 67 0.86%
2000 4,408 60.54% 2,717 37.32% 156 2.14%
1996 3,984 54.03% 2,327 31.56% 1,063 14.42%
1992 3,391 40.32% 2,829 33.64% 2,190 26.04%
1988 5,113 60.57% 3,279 38.85% 49 0.58%
1984 5,450 64.90% 2,897 34.50% 50 0.60%
1980 5,289 62.18% 2,845 33.45% 372 4.37%
1976 4,903 54.16% 4,089 45.17% 60 0.66%
1972 5,979 66.41% 2,977 33.07% 47 0.52%
1968 5,110 53.02% 3,237 33.59% 1,290 13.39%
1964 4,666 45.40% 5,574 54.23% 38 0.37%
1960 6,123 58.71% 4,277 41.01% 29 0.28%
1956 6,456 63.11% 3,751 36.67% 23 0.22%
1952 6,208 61.35% 3,871 38.25% 40 0.40%
1948 5,186 54.76% 4,215 44.50% 70 0.74%
1944 5,557 57.74% 4,022 41.79% 46 0.48%
1940 5,771 54.59% 4,783 45.24% 18 0.17%
1936 4,663 45.20% 5,617 54.45% 36 0.35%
1932 4,162 41.83% 5,665 56.93% 123 1.24%
1928 4,960 55.60% 3,894 43.65% 67 0.75%
1924 4,796 51.28% 4,282 45.78% 275 2.94%
1920 5,218 54.09% 4,088 42.38% 341 3.53%
1916 2,634 48.36% 2,437 44.74% 376 6.90%
1912 1,560 28.84% 2,499 46.19% 1,351 24.97%
1908 2,894 48.90% 2,846 48.09% 178 3.01%
1904 3,060 52.08% 2,560 43.57% 256 4.36%
1900 3,015 49.93% 2,896 47.96% 127 2.10%
1896 2,809 47.99% 2,997 51.20% 47 0.80%
1892 2,379 46.60% 2,331 45.66% 395 7.74%
1888 2,608 49.41% 2,525 47.84% 145 2.75%

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18307,619—
184011,21847.2%
185013,25318.1%
186015,56617.5%
187016,3895.3%
188020,22823.4%
189019,558−3.3%
190021,4469.7%
191020,439−4.7%
192018,823−7.9%
193017,971−4.5%
194018,2991.8%
195017,836−2.5%
196018,7064.9%
197018,257−2.4%
198019,0334.3%
199017,808−6.4%
200017,9540.8%
201017,240−4.0%
202016,479−4.4%
US Decennial Census[48]
1790-1960[49] 1900-1990[50]
1990-2000[51] 2010[1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States Census there were 16,479 residents in Fountain County.[52]

Fountain County Racial Composition[52]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 15,349 93.6%
Black or African American (NH) 56 0.3%
Native American (NH) 38 0.2%
Asian (NH) 43 0.26%
Pacific Islander (NH) 6 0.04%
Other/Mixed (NH) 575 3.5%
Hispanic or Latino 412 2.5%

2010 Census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 17,240 people, 6,935 households, and 4,787 families in the county.[53] The population density was 43.6 inhabitants per square mile (16.8/km2). There were 7,865 housing units at an average density of 19.9 per square mile (7.7/km2).[17] The racial makeup of the county was 97.5% white, 0.2% black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.8% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.2% of the population.[53] In terms of ancestry, 21.6% were German, 14.4% were Irish, 14.3% were American, and 12.5% were English.[54]

Of the 6,935 households, 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.0% were non-families, and 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.95. The median age was 41.6 years.[53]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $51,696. Males had a median income of $44,118 versus $28,462 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,949. About 8.9% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.8% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.[55]

See also

Notes
  1. A $335 capital expense in 1827 would be roughly equivalent to $200,000 in 2009.[12]
  2. A $33,500 capital expense in 1857 would be roughly equivalent to $10,900,000 in 2009.[12]
  3. A $54,624 capital expense in 1861 would be roughly equivalent to $17,600,000 in 2009.[12]
  4. A $246,734 capital expense in 1936 would be roughly equivalent to $17,300,000 in 2009.[12]

References
  1. "Fountain County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.
  2. "Find a County – Fountain County IN". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
  3. "Fountain County, Indiana". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  4. "Fountain". Indiana Township Association. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
  5. "Duties". United Township Association of Indiana. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
  6. "Indiana Transportation Map 2009–2010" (PDF). Indiana Department of Transportation. 2009. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
  7. "State of Indiana 2011 Rail System Map" (PDF). Indiana Department of Transportation. 2011. Retrieved June 19, 2011.
  8. Clifton 1913, p. 47.
  9. Clifton 1913, pp. 57–59.
  10. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. US Government Printing Office. p. 130.
  11. Goodrich, De Witt Clinton; Tuttle, Charles Richard (1875). An Illustrated History of the State of Indiana. Indianapolis: Richard S. Peale & Co. p. 557.
  12. Williamson, Samuel H. (April 2010). Seven Ways to Compute the Relative Value of a U.S. Dollar Amount, 1774 to present. MeasuringWorth.
  13. Clifton 1913, pp. 64–67.
  14. Counts, Will; Jon Dilts (1991). The 92 Magnificent Indiana Courthouses. Bloomington IN: Indiana University Press. pp. 52, 53. ISBN 978-0-253-33638-5.
  15. Clifton 1913, pp. 130–131.
  16. Clifton 1913, pp. 131–132.
  17. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  18. United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (2003). Soil Survey of Fountain County IN (PDF) (Report). US Government Printing Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 9, 2010. Retrieved February 14, 2011.
  19. "Portland Arch Nature Preserve and the Miller-Campbell Memorial Tract" (PDF). Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 19, 2011. Retrieved January 2, 2012.
  20. United States Geological Survey. "Geographic Names Information System: Populated places in Fountain County, Indiana". Retrieved February 15, 2010.
  21. "Map Showing Surface Coal Mines in Fountain County, Indiana" (PDF). Indiana Geological Survey. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 25, 2012. Retrieved October 22, 2011.
  22. Clifton 1913, p. 59.
  23. "Interstate 74". Highway Explorer. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
  24. "US Route 136". Highway Explorer. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
  25. "US Route 41". Highway Explorer. Archived from the original on December 7, 2010. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
  26. "State Road 28". Highway Explorer. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
  27. "State Road 32". Highway Explorer. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
  28. "State Road 234". Highway Explorer. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
  29. "State Road 55". Highway Explorer. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
  30. "State Road 341". Highway Explorer. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
  31. Warren County Local Economic Development Organization. "Warren County Transportation/Utilities". Retrieved September 12, 2010.
  32. "Airport Information". Purdue University. Archived from the original on February 3, 2011. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
  33. "Indiana Public Use Airports". Indiana Department of Transportation. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  34. "Monthly Averages for Covington IN". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  35. "Köppen Climate Classification for the Conterminous United States". Idaho State Climate Services. Archived from the original on January 21, 2011. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
  36. 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 January 23, 2011.
  37. "Fountain County Tornadoes, 1950–2009". National Weather Service. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  38. "Fountain County Public Schools". Indiana Department of Education. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
  39. "Biographical Directory of the United States Congress: Voorhees, Daniel Wolsey". United States Congress. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
  40. "Biographical Directory of the United States Congress: Myers, John Thomas". United States Congress. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
  41. Indiana Code. "Title 36, Article 2, Section 3". Government of Indiana. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
  42. Indiana Code. "Title 2, Article 10, Section 2" (PDF). Government of Indiana. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
  43. State of Indiana Department of Local Government Finance. "2010 Budget Order (Fountain County IN)" (PDF). Retrieved February 12, 2011.
  44. "Government". United Township Association of Indiana. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
  45. "Indiana Senate Districts". State of Indiana. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  46. "Indiana House Districts". State of Indiana. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  47. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 10, 2018.
  48. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  49. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  50. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  51. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  52. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Fountain County, Indiana".
  53. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  54. "Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  55. "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.

Bibliography
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