Switzerland County, Indiana

Switzerland County is a county in the southeast corner of the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 9,737.[1] The county seat is Vevay,[2] one of two incorporated towns in the county.

Switzerland County
County
Switzerland County Courthouse in Vevay
Switzerland County Courthouse in Vevay
Map of Indiana highlighting Switzerland County
Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
Map of the United States highlighting Indiana
Indiana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°49′N 85°02′W
Country United States
State Indiana
Founded1814
Named forSwitzerland
SeatVevay
Largest townVevay
Area
 • Total223.44 sq mi (578.7 km2)
 • Land220.63 sq mi (571.4 km2)
 • Water2.81 sq mi (7.3 km2)  1.26%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total9,737 Decrease
 • Density44/sq mi (17/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.switzerland-county.com
Indiana county number 78

History

In 1787, the fledgling United States defined the Northwest Territory, which included the area of present-day Indiana. In 1800, Congress separated Ohio from the Northwest Territory, designating the rest of the land as the Indiana Territory.[3] President Thomas Jefferson chose William Henry Harrison as the territory's first governor, and Vincennes was established as the territorial capital.[4] After the Michigan Territory was separated and the Illinois Territory was formed, Indiana was reduced to its current size and geography.[3] By December 1816 the Indiana Territory was admitted to the Union as a state.

Starting in 1794, Native American titles to Indiana lands were extinguished by usurpation, purchase, or war and treaty. The United States acquired land from the Native Americans in the 1809 treaty of Fort Wayne, and by the treaty of St. Mary's in 1818, the SE portion of Indiana Territory was acquired for settlement.

The area included in present-day Switzerland County was first placed in Knox County, formed in 1790. Parts of that extremely large county were partitioned off in 1803 to form Dearborn County and in 1810 to form Jefferson County. Settlers had been pouring into the extreme SE part of the Indiana Territory starting in 1795, and by 1814 there was sufficient population to form a local governing body. Accordingly, the state legislature authorized Switzerland County effective 1 October 1814, partitioning portions of Dearborn and Jefferson counties to make the creation. Four fledgling settlements were considered as the seat of government (Vevay, Little York [present-day Florence], Troy [present-day Patriot], and Center Square).[5] Center Square was nearest the geographic center and was the presumed site, but Vevay carried the day.

Several early settlers were originally from Switzerland. The first was probably Heathcoat Pickett, in 1795. He was followed by John James Dufour (1796), and the Dickason, Cotton, and Rayl families in 1798. Pickett also made the area's first flatboats; he floated them (loaded with goods for sale) to New Orleans and sold the entire package, then walked back to Switzerland County. He made 20 such trips.[5] Early county residents noted the passage of the first steamboat on the Ohio River in 1811; this form of transport quickly transformed the river into a conduit for commerce and travel.[5] Although Indiana was criss-crossed with railroad tracks during the nineteenth century, none was laid to Switzerland County. This hindered its growth after the decline of steamboat travel.[6][7]

Industrial wine grape production in Switzerland County earned the area the title "The Rhineland of America".[8]

Geography

Switzerland County lies at the SE tip of Indiana, with its southeastern border defined by the Ohio River; the state of Kentucky abuts on the opposite shore. Its rolling hills were originally completely wooded. Its more flat areas have been cleared for agricultural or urban use, but its many drainages are still wooded.[9] Its highest elevation (981 feet/299 meters ASL) is a hill in its NW quadrant, 0.7 miles (1.1 km) west of Avonburg.[10]

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 223.44 square miles (578.7 km2), of which 220.63 square miles (571.4 km2) (or 98.74%) is land and 2.81 square miles (7.3 km2) (or 1.26%) is water.[11]

Adjacent counties

Incorporated towns

Unincorporated towns

Townships

Highways

Climate and weather
Vevay, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Source:The Weather Channel[12]
Metric conversion
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
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In recent years, average temperatures in Vevay have ranged from a low of 23 °F (−5 °C) in January to a high of 88 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −24 °F (−31 °C) was recorded in January 1977 and a record high of 106 °F (41 °C) was recorded in July 1999. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 3.00 inches (76 mm) in February to 4.72 inches (120 mm) in May.[12]

Government
See also: Government of Indiana

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 legislative branch of the county government; controls spending and revenue collection in the county. Representatives are elected to four-year terms from county districts. They 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.[13][14]

Board of Commissioners: The executive body of the county; commissioners are elected county-wide to staggered four-year terms. One commissioner serves as president. The commissioners execute acts legislated by the council, collect revenue, and manage the county government.[13][14]

Court: The county maintains a circuit court which was established January 1, 2009. The first Judge of the Switzerland Circuit Court is W. Gregory Coy. The Judge is elected to a term of six years. The Court is a general jurisdiction court, meaning it handles all types of cases. The Judge must be a licensed attorney. All decisions of the Court are appealable to the Indiana Court of Appeals or the Indiana Supreme Court.

County Officials: The county has other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor, and circuit court clerk. They are elected to four-year terms. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare party affiliations and to be residents of the county.[14]

Switzerland County is part of Indiana's 6th congressional district.[15]

United States presidential election results for Switzerland County, Indiana[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 3,133 75.33% 964 23.18% 62 1.49%
2016 2,558 68.97% 930 25.07% 221 5.96%
2012 1,872 55.11% 1,437 42.30% 88 2.59%
2008 1,940 53.30% 1,638 45.00% 62 1.70%
2004 2,161 58.87% 1,479 40.29% 31 0.84%
2000 1,831 56.53% 1,336 41.25% 72 2.22%
1996 1,266 39.72% 1,496 46.94% 425 13.34%
1992 1,211 35.74% 1,535 45.31% 642 18.95%
1988 1,572 51.39% 1,479 48.35% 8 0.26%
1984 1,857 55.48% 1,484 44.34% 6 0.18%
1980 1,584 47.14% 1,704 50.71% 72 2.14%
1976 1,329 38.07% 2,150 61.59% 12 0.34%
1972 1,872 53.53% 1,612 46.10% 13 0.37%
1968 1,515 44.07% 1,466 42.64% 457 13.29%
1964 1,390 38.19% 2,231 61.29% 19 0.52%
1960 1,929 49.40% 1,955 50.06% 21 0.54%
1956 2,074 49.28% 2,114 50.23% 21 0.50%
1952 2,070 48.42% 2,167 50.69% 38 0.89%
1948 1,839 43.30% 2,375 55.92% 33 0.78%
1944 2,019 47.32% 2,191 51.35% 57 1.34%
1940 2,285 46.01% 2,659 53.54% 22 0.44%
1936 2,212 43.66% 2,840 56.06% 14 0.28%
1932 1,953 38.79% 2,981 59.21% 101 2.01%
1928 2,617 58.62% 1,805 40.43% 42 0.94%
1924 2,346 48.29% 2,414 49.69% 98 2.02%
1920 2,525 50.12% 2,412 47.88% 101 2.00%
1916 1,214 44.05% 1,446 52.47% 96 3.48%
1912 882 32.81% 1,342 49.93% 464 17.26%
1908 1,444 47.27% 1,537 50.31% 74 2.42%
1904 1,461 47.48% 1,554 50.50% 62 2.01%
1900 1,631 48.50% 1,713 50.94% 19 0.56%
1896 1,637 48.27% 1,742 51.37% 12 0.35%
1892 1,497 47.42% 1,589 50.33% 71 2.25%
1888 1,560 47.87% 1,637 50.23% 62 1.90%

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18203,934—
18307,02878.6%
18409,92041.1%
185012,93230.4%
186012,698−1.8%
187012,134−4.4%
188013,3369.9%
189012,514−6.2%
190011,840−5.4%
19109,914−16.3%
19209,311−6.1%
19308,432−9.4%
19408,167−3.1%
19507,599−7.0%
19607,092−6.7%
19706,306−11.1%
19807,15313.4%
19907,7388.2%
20009,06517.1%
201010,61317.1%
20209,737−8.3%
US Decennial Census[17]
1790-1960[18] 1900-1990[19]
1990-2000[20] 2010-2013[1]

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 10,613 people, 4,034 households, and 2,847 families in the county.[21] The population density was 48.1 inhabitants per square mile (18.6/km2). There were 4,969 housing units at an average density of 22.5 per square mile (8.7/km2).[11] The racial makeup of the county was 97.8% white, 0.3% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.7% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population.[21] In terms of ancestry, 25.4% were German, 16.1% were American, 13.2% were Irish, and 10.1% were English.[22]

Of the 4,034 households, 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.4% were non-families, and 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.07. The median age was 39.1 years.[21]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $51,769. Males had a median income of $39,167 versus $30,814 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,214. About 11.0% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.2% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.[23]

See also

References
  1. "Switzerland County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
  3. "Government at Crossroads: An Indiana chronology". The Herald Bulletin. January 5, 2008. Retrieved July 22, 2009.
  4. Brill, Marlene Targ (2005). Indiana. Marshall Cavendish. p. 35. ISBN 978-0-7614-2020-0.
  5. "Brief History of Switzerland County, In". INGenWeb Project. 1913. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  6. Soil Survey of Switzerland County, Indiana. US Dept. of Agriculture. 1987. p. 1.
  7. "History of Settlement". Vevay Bicentennial. Archived from the original on July 23, 2014. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  8. Wissing, Douglas (March 1, 2001). Indiana. Globe Pequot. p. 15. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  9. Switzerland County IN (Google Maps, accessed 13 September 2020)
  10. Switzerland County High Point, Indiana (PeakBagger.com, accessed 13 September 2020)
  11. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  12. "Monthly Averages for Vevay IN". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  13. Indiana Code. "Title 36, Article 2, Section 3". IN.gov. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
  14. Indiana Code. "Title 2, Article 10, Section 2" (PDF). IN.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 27, 2004. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
  15. "Congressman Baron Hill". House.Gov. Archived from the original on March 20, 2010. Retrieved September 12, 2008.
  16. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
  17. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  18. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  19. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  20. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  21. "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.
  22. "Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  23. "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.

38.82°N 85.03°W / 38.82; -85.03

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