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Delaware County, Indiana facts for kids

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Delaware County
Delaware County Building
Delaware County Building
Official seal of Delaware County
Seal
Map of Indiana highlighting Delaware County
Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
Map of the United States highlighting Indiana
Indiana's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Indiana
Founded 1820 (created)
1827 (organized)
Seat Muncie
Largest city Muncie
Area
 • Total 395.91 sq mi (1,025.4 km2)
 • Land 392.12 sq mi (1,015.6 km2)
 • Water 3.78 sq mi (9.8 km2)  0.95%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2020)
111,903
 • Density 300.1/sq mi (115.9/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 6th
Indiana county number 18

Delaware County is a county in the east central portion of the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2020, the population was 111,903. The county seat is Muncie.

Delaware County is part of the Muncie, IN metropolitan statistical area, which is part of the larger Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie CSA.

History

Muncie-indiana-downtown-from-above
Muncie from the northwest.

Delaware County was formed in 1827. It was named for the Delaware, a Native American people who then still inhabited the area. The Delaware were moved to new lands west of the Mississippi River in the 1840s. The county was once home to The Prophet, a brother of Tecumseh who instigated a major Indian uprising in 1811. David Conner was the first white settler, arriving in the early 1810s.

Following the American Civil War the county experienced an economic boom caused by the discovery of natural gas, which spurred rapid industrial growth in the surrounding area.

The first discovery of natural gas in Indiana occurred in 1876 in the town of Eaton. A company was drilling in search of coal, and when they had reaching a depth of six-hundred feet, there was a loud noise and foul smelling fumes began coming from the well. After a brief investigation, it was decided they had breached the ceiling of Hell, and the hole was quickly filled in. In 1884, when natural gas was discovered in nearby Ohio, people recalled the incident. They returned to the spot and opened Indiana's first natural gas well. The gas was so abundant and strong that when the well was lit, the flames could be seen from Muncie.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 395.91 square miles (1,025.4 km2), of which 392.12 square miles (1,015.6 km2) (or 99.04%) is land and 3.78 square miles (9.8 km2) (or 0.95%) is water. The county is drained by White and Mississinewa rivers. The surface is level, and the soil fertile.

Cities and towns

Townships

  • Center
  • Delaware
  • Hamilton
  • Harrison
  • Liberty
  • Monroe
  • Mount Pleasant
  • Niles
  • Perry
  • Salem
  • Union
  • Washington

Major highways

  • I-69.svg Interstate 69
  • US 35.svg U.S. Route 35
  • Indiana 3.svg State Road 3
  • Indiana 28.svg State Road 28
  • Indiana 32.svg State Road 32
  • Indiana 67.svg State Road 67
  • Indiana 167.svg State Road 167
  • Indiana 332.svg State Road 332

Adjacent counties

Climate and weather

Weather chart for Muncie, Indiana
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
2.1
 
33
16
 
 
2.3
 
38
20
 
 
3.1
 
48
29
 
 
3.6
 
61
39
 
 
4.2
 
72
51
 
 
4.3
 
81
60
 
 
4
 
85
64
 
 
3.5
 
83
62
 
 
3
 
76
54
 
 
2.6
 
64
42
 
 
3.4
 
50
33
 
 
3
 
38
22
temperatures in °F
precipitation totals in inches
source: The Weather Channel

In recent years, average temperatures in Muncie have ranged from a low of 16 °F (−9 °C) in January to a high of 85 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −29 °F (−34 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 102 °F (39 °C) was recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.06 inches (52 mm) in January to 4.28 inches (109 mm) in June.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1820 3,677
1830 2,374 −35.4%
1840 8,843 272.5%
1850 10,843 22.6%
1860 15,753 45.3%
1870 19,030 20.8%
1880 22,926 20.5%
1890 30,131 31.4%
1900 49,624 64.7%
1910 51,414 3.6%
1920 56,377 9.7%
1930 67,270 19.3%
1940 74,963 11.4%
1950 90,252 20.4%
1960 110,938 22.9%
1970 129,219 16.5%
1980 128,587 −0.5%
1990 119,659 −6.9%
2000 118,769 −0.7%
2010 117,671 −0.9%
2020 111,903 −4.9%
2021 (est.) 111,355 −5.4%
US Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2019

2020 Census

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 111,903 people and 46,026 households in the county. The population density was 300.1 inhabitants per square mile (115.9/km2). There were 52,713 housing units at an average density of 134.4 per square mile (51.9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 88.7% white, 7.2% African American, 0.3% American Indian or Alaska Native, 1.3% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 2.6% Hispanic or Latino and 2.4% were from two or more races.

4.8% of the population were age 5 or younger, 18.2% were under the age of 18, 64.3% were between the ages of 18 and 64, and 17.5% were age 65 or older. 48.2% were male and 51.8% were female. The average household size was 2.34. 3.4% of households had a language other than English spoken at home.

88.1% of households had a computer present and 78.3% had a broadband Internet connection. 13.1% of the population under 65 had a disability and 10.3% of that same age group had no health insurance. 58.5% of the population was in the civilian labor force. (54.8% of females) Total retail sales per capita was $12,950.

The median household income in Delaware County was $43,512 and the per capita income from May 2019 to April 2020 was $25,107. 21.5% of the population was in poverty.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 117,671 people, 46,516 households, and 27,956 families in the county. The population density was 300.1 inhabitants per square mile (115.9/km2). There were 52,357 housing units at an average density of 133.5 per square mile (51.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.1% white, 6.9% black or African American, 1.0% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.6% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 23.0% were German, 14.2% were Irish, 10.6% were American, and 10.3% were English.

Of the 46,516 households, 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 39.9% were non-families, and 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.87. The median age was 34.8 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $51,394. Males had a median income of $42,346 versus $31,051 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,405. About 12.3% of families and 20.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.1% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Delaware (Indiana) para niños

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