Carroll County, Indiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carroll County
U.S. county
Carroll County courthouse in Delphi
Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
Indiana's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Indiana
Founded	January 17, 1828 (authorized) April 28, 1828 (organized)
Named for	Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Seat	Delphi
Largest city	Delphi
Area
• Total	375.02 sq mi (971.3 km2)
• Land	372.22 sq mi (964.0 km2)
• Water	2.80 sq mi (7.3 km2)  0.75%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	20,306
• Density	54.1464/sq mi (20.9061/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	4th
Indiana county number 8

Carroll County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 20,306. The county seat is Delphi.

Carroll County is part of the Lafayette, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area.

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. President Thomas Jefferson chose William Henry Harrison as the territory's first governor, and Vincennes was established as the territorial capital. After the Michigan Territory was separated and the Illinois Territory was formed, Indiana was reduced to its current size and geography. 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 treaty of St. Mary's in 1818, which included most of the future county, and in 1826 the Treaty of Mississinewas made more area available for settlement. These two treaties resolved the occupation issue for the future Carroll County.

White people had been living in the future Carroll County area since 1824 and their numbers increased rapidly in the next few years. Accordingly, Carroll County was authorized by the state legislature on January 17, 1828; it was named for Charles Carroll, the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence, who died in 1832. The first commissioners began organizing the county government on April 28 of that year and determined to site the county seat at land donated by William Wilson. The name 'Carrollton' was first suggested for the new community, but at the suggestion of General Samuel Milroy, 'Delphi' was selected instead.

The Wabash and Erie Canal, built through the county in 1840 and operating until the early 1870s, is among the county's most significant historical legacies.

Courthouse

The first county courthouse was built in 1831. It was replaced by a brick structure in 1856. The 730-pound bell from the first courthouse was made in Cincinnati in 1836 and given by Sheriff Samuel Davis Gresham and was used in the second courthouse until 1916. While the bell was in transit to Lafayette by boat, the boat sank. The bell was recovered from the Ohio River, and was sold, but was returned to Carroll County in 1967.

The current Carroll County courthouse was designed by Jaxson Cowell of Indianapolis, who also designed the Spencer County courthouse. It was constructed by A. E. Kemmer at a cost of about $250,000 from 1916 to 1917. The exterior is understated, but the interior is surprisingly elaborate, including a stained glass dome over a mosaic tile floor.

Geography

The Wabash River flows southwestward from Cass County through the upper part of Carroll County, exiting into Tippecanoe County. The Tippecanoe River flows southward through the county's upper west edge, also exiting into Tippecanoe County, where it merges with the Wabash shortly after leaving Carroll County's border. Wildcat Creek drains the south part of Carroll County, flowing westward into Tippecanoe to merge with the Wabash there.

The terrain of Carroll County was heavily wooded at the start, but now the flat areas are cleared and devoted to agriculture or urban development, with only the drainage areas still wooded. The highest point on the terrain (830 feet/250 meters ASL) is the county's SE corner.

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 375.02 square miles (971.3 km²), of which 372.22 square miles (964.0 km²) (or 99.25%) is land and 2.80 square miles (7.3 km²) (or 0.75%) is water.

Adjacent counties

City

• Delphi (county seat)

Towns

• Burlington
• Camden
• Flora
• Yeoman

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Major highways

Railroads

• Norfolk Southern Railway
• Winamac Southern Railway

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in Delphi have ranged from a low of 17 °F (−8 °C) in January to a high of 86 °F (30 °C) in July, although a record low of −25 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in January 1963 and a record high of 107 °F (42 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.94 inches (49 mm) in February to 4.16 inches (106 mm) in July.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 20,155 people, 7,900 households, and 5,678 families in the county. The population density was 54.1 inhabitants per square mile (20.9/km²). There were 9,472 housing units at an average density of 25.4 per square mile (9.8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.8% white, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 1.7% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 29.7% were German, 14.7% were American, 12.6% were Irish, and 8.8% were English.

Of the 7,900 households, 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.1% were non-families, and 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.98. The median age was 40.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $60,420. Males had a median income of $46,241 versus $29,541 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,163. About 6.1% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 20,306 people

Education

Public schools in Carroll County are administered by the following school districts:

• Carroll Consolidated School District
• Delphi Community School Corporation
• Rossville Consolidated School District
• Twin Lakes School Corporation

High schools and middle schools

• Delphi Community High School
• Delphi Community Middle School
• Carroll Consolidated School

Elementary schools

• Carroll Elementary School
• Delphi Community Elementary School

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Carroll (Indiana) para niños