Daviess County, Indiana facts for kids
Daviess County is a county in the state of Indiana, United States. In 2020, about 33,381 people lived here. The main town and county seat is Washington. A special part of Daviess County is its large Amish community. As of 2017, about 15% of the people in the county are Amish, who are known for their simple lifestyle.
Contents
History of Daviess County
After the American Revolutionary War, the land that would become Indiana was part of a larger area called the Northwest Territory. This territory was first divided into big counties. The area of Daviess County was originally part of Knox County.
As more people moved into the area, Knox County was split into smaller counties. Daviess County was officially created on February 2, 1818. Its borders changed a couple of times in 1818 and 1820 when new counties like Owen County and Martin County were formed. Since 1820, Daviess County has kept its current shape.
The county is named after Major Joseph Hamilton Daveiss. He was a lawyer for Kentucky and sadly died in a battle in 1811. The first settlements in Daviess County were built along the White River. This river was important because it helped people transport crops and wood to sell in other places. The northern part of the county had many forests, and the timber industry was very active in the early 1800s. Interestingly, there's another Daviess County nearby in Kentucky, and both are named after the same person!
Geography and Nature
Daviess County has a hilly landscape. Most of its land is used for farming or for towns and cities. The highest point in the county is about 740 feet above sea level.
The White River is a major feature of the county. It flows towards the southwest. The county's western border is defined by the West White River, and its southern border is defined by the East White River. These two parts of the river meet at the county's southwest corner.
In total, Daviess County covers about 436.87 square miles. Most of this (about 98%) is land, and a small part is water.
Neighboring Counties
Daviess County shares its borders with several other counties:
- Greene County to the north
- Martin County to the east
- Dubois County to the southeast
- Pike County to the southwest
- Knox County to the west
How to Get Around
- Washington Transit System helps people travel within the city of Washington.
Main Roads
Several important highways pass through Daviess County, connecting it to other parts of Indiana and beyond:
I-69
US 50
US 150
US 231
SR 57
SR 58
SR 257
SR 358
SR 558
SR 645
Climate and Weather
The weather in Daviess County, especially around Washington, changes with the seasons.
| Weather chart for Washington, Indiana | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2.8
39
23
|
2.7
45
27
|
4.2
56
36
|
4.2
67
45
|
5.5
77
55
|
4.2
85
64
|
4.9
88
68
|
3.8
86
66
|
2.9
80
58
|
3.1
69
47
|
4.4
55
38
|
3.4
43
28
|
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| temperatures in °F precipitation totals in inches source: The Weather Channel |
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Metric conversion
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In January, the average low temperature is about 23°F (about -5°C). In July, the average high temperature is about 88°F (about 31°C). The coldest temperature ever recorded was -19°F (about -28°C) in December 1989. The hottest was 113°F (about 45°C) in July 1930.
The amount of rain also changes throughout the year. February usually gets the least rain, about 2.69 inches (6.8 cm). May is often the wettest month, with about 5.52 inches (14 cm) of rain.
People of Daviess County
The population of Daviess County has grown over the years.
- In 1820, there were 3,432 people.
- By 1900, the population had grown to 29,914.
- In 2010, there were 31,648 people living in the county.
- The most recent count in 2020 showed 33,381 people.
Most people in Daviess County are white (about 95% in 2010). There are also smaller groups of African American, Asian, and American Indian people. About 4.2% of the population in 2010 was of Hispanic or Latino background. Many families in the county have German, Irish, American, or English roots.
The average age of people in Daviess County in 2010 was about 35.4 years old. Many households (about 36.8%) had children under 18 living with them.
The Amish Community
A special and important part of Daviess County is its Amish community. This community was started in 1868. In 2017, there were 4,855 Amish people living in the county, which was about 14.6% of the total population. They live in several areas on the eastern side of the county, including near Alfordsville, Cannelburg, Montgomery, and Odon. The Amish are known for their traditional way of life, often using horse-drawn buggies and living without modern electricity.
Towns and Communities
Daviess County has one city, several towns, and many smaller communities.
City
- Washington (This is the county seat, meaning it's where the county government is located.)
Towns
Census-designated place
- Raglesville (These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as one.)
Other Small Communities
These are smaller, unincorporated places in the county:
- Black Oak
- Cornettsville
- Corning
- Epsom
- Farlen
- Glendale
- Graham
- Hudsonville
- Maysville
- Pennyville
- South Washington
Townships
Daviess County is divided into ten townships, which are local government areas:
- Barr
- Bogard
- Elmore
- Harrison
- Madison
- Reeve
- Steele
- Van Buren
- Veale
- Washington
Images for kids
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A friendly robot.
