Fayette County, Indiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fayette County
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Fayette County Courthouse in Connersville
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Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
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 Indiana's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Indiana |
| Founded | 1819 |
| Named for | Marquis de la Fayette |
| Seat | Connersville |
| Largest city | Connersville |
| Area | |
| • Total | 215.16 sq mi (557.3 km2) |
| • Land | 215.01 sq mi (556.9 km2) |
| • Water | 0.15 sq mi (0.4 km2) 0.07%% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 23,398 |
| • Density | 113/sq mi (43.61/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
| Website | Fayette County/ Connersville Website |
| Indiana county number 21 | |
Fayette County is one of 92 counties in the U.S. state of Indiana. It is located in the east-central part of the state. In 2020, about 23,398 people lived there.
Most of Fayette County is rural. This means it has many farms, pastures, and woodlands. The main town and county seat is Connersville. Most of the county's population lives in Connersville.
Long ago, in the early 1800s, the county was important for people settling the Northwest Territory. Later, in the early 1900s, it became a big center for making cars. However, since the 1960s, the county's economy has slowed down. Today, it is one of the poorer counties in Indiana. Most jobs are in stores, schools, and healthcare.
Fayette County does not have a commercial airport or bus service. There are also no major U.S. or Interstate highways here. The county was created in 1818. It was formed from parts of Wayne and Franklin counties.
Contents
History of Fayette County
The area around Connersville started as a small trading post. It grew to become a key path for settlers moving into northern and central Indiana. It also helped people settle in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois.
In the early 1900s, Connersville became a major place for making cars. After some ups and downs, the county's economy changed. It is now one of the less wealthy counties in Indiana. As industries grew, more people moved to Connersville. In 1841, Connersville became the first and only official town in the county. It became a city in 1869.
Ancient Cultures
The oldest groups of people in the Fayette County area were called Mound Builders. They lived here between 2,000 and 3,000 years ago. They are known for building special mounds out of earth. You can find these mounds and other items they left behind across Indiana and Ohio.
Later, groups like the Miami, Shawnee, and Potawatomi lived here. They were nomadic, meaning they moved around. They were in the area for at least 200 years before European explorers arrived. The Delaware Indians, who had to leave their homes in the east, also moved to the Whitewater Valley.
Indiana Territory Days
In 1800, the Indiana Territory was formed. It was part of the larger Northwest Territory. The land that would become Fayette County was first part of Clark County.
In 1809, the United States made a deal called the Treaty of Fort Wayne. This treaty bought a strip of land from the Native Americans. This land was called "The 12 Mile Purchase." It included most of the future Fayette County. This treaty helped clear the way for more settlers to move in.
Over time, new counties were created from larger ones. Wayne and Franklin counties were formed in 1811. Much of southeastern Indiana was divided between these two counties.
How the County Was Formed
Fayette County was officially created in December 1818. It was made from parts of Wayne and Franklin counties. It also included some new land called the "New Purchase." The county was named after the Marquis de la Fayette. He was a French hero who helped America during the Revolutionary War.
Connersville, a small village at the time, was chosen as the county seat. In February 1819, the county was divided into five smaller areas called townships. These were Harrison, Connersville, Jennings, Columbia, and Brownsville. Connersville Township included the town of Connersville. Later, more townships were added as the area grew.
Early Growth
When Fayette County was formed in 1819, about 3,000 people lived there. Two big events helped the county grow quickly. The first was the completion of the Whitewater Canal in 1847. The second was the arrival of the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Indianapolis Railroad in Connersville in 1862. These made it easier to transport goods and people.
Car Manufacturing Era
Most of the county's economic activity, besides farming, has been in Connersville. The car-making era in Connersville began in 1909. That's when the McFarlan car first started production. The next year, Lexington moved its car plant to Connersville. Then came Empire, which built the "Little Aristocrat" car.
After Lexington went out of business in 1926, Auburn car production moved to a factory in Connersville. The "Baby Duesenberg" car was designed here. It later became the famous Cord 810 and 812 models. Connersville also had companies that made parts for cars. Central Manufacturing, for example, made bodies for the 1940 Packard Darrin. They also made about 500,000 Jeep bodies during World War II.
Geography
Fayette County covers about 215 square miles. Almost all of this area is land. Only a very small part is water. The county is about 14 miles wide and 19 miles long.
It is located in the northern part of the Whitewater River Valley. This valley runs south from Wayne County to Cincinnati. The main river in the county is the West Fork of the Whitewater River. It flows from north to south through the middle of the county. There is only one small lake, Manlove's Lake, in Posey Township.
The county is mostly flat with gentle, rolling hills. Fayette County is part of a large forest area. This area has many different kinds of deciduous trees, like oaks. Most of the land (over 80%) is used for farms. There are also empty woodlands and pastures. The most common crops grown are corn and soybeans.
Neighboring Counties
- Henry County (north)
- Wayne County (northeast)
- Union County (east)
- Franklin County (south)
- Rush County (west)
Transportation
Major cities are not very close to Fayette County. Cincinnati is about 58 miles southeast. Indianapolis is about 66 miles west. Louisville is about 127 miles south. Columbus, Ohio is about 135 miles northeast.
Main Roads
The state roads in Fayette County are all two-lane roads. The closest major highways are U.S. 40 and Interstate 70. Both are about 12 to 14 miles north in Henry and Wayne Counties. Three important state roads pass through Connersville:
Indiana State Road 1
Indiana State Road 44
Indiana State Road 121
Airport, Rail, and Bus Services
Fayette County does not have a commercial airport. There is also no public bus service. However, Amtrak passenger trains do stop at the Connersville train station. CSX also provides freight train service in Connersville.
Waterways
The Whitewater River is the only important waterway in the county. However, it is not used for commercial shipping.
Recreation
Robert's Park is a city park in Connersville. It has a swimming pool, a clubhouse, sports fields, and a grandstand. The Whitewater Valley Railroad offers fun sightseeing tours. These tours run between Connersville and Metamora. Manlove Lake, near Milton, is a small lake and recreation area. You can go fishing and boating there.
Economy
In 2010, Fayette County ranked 92nd out of 92 counties in Indiana for how much money households earned. Most of the jobs and money-making activities are in Connersville. These include local manufacturing, retail stores, and healthcare services.
Climate and Weather
| Weather chart for Connersville, Indiana | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2.4
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15
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2.3
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3.4
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4.2
60
36
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4.9
71
48
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4.4
79
57
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4.2
83
61
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3.5
81
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2.8
75
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2.8
64
38
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3.6
50
30
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3.1
38
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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 Connersville, the average temperature in January is about 15°F (about -9°C). In July, the average high is about 83°F (about 28°C). The coldest temperature ever recorded was -31°F (-35°C) in January 1994. The hottest was 102°F (39°C) in July 1952.
The average rainfall changes throughout the year. February usually has the least rain, about 2.33 inches. May usually has the most, about 4.89 inches.
Schools and Colleges
Fayette County has its own school system. This includes elementary, middle, and high schools. There are also a few private elementary schools in Connersville. For higher education, both Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana and Indiana University East offer classes in Connersville.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 5,950 | — | |
| 1830 | 9,112 | 53.1% | |
| 1840 | 9,837 | 8.0% | |
| 1850 | 10,217 | 3.9% | |
| 1860 | 10,225 | 0.1% | |
| 1870 | 10,476 | 2.5% | |
| 1880 | 11,394 | 8.8% | |
| 1890 | 12,630 | 10.8% | |
| 1900 | 13,495 | 6.8% | |
| 1910 | 14,415 | 6.8% | |
| 1920 | 17,142 | 18.9% | |
| 1930 | 19,243 | 12.3% | |
| 1940 | 19,411 | 0.9% | |
| 1950 | 23,391 | 20.5% | |
| 1960 | 24,454 | 4.5% | |
| 1970 | 26,216 | 7.2% | |
| 1980 | 28,272 | 7.8% | |
| 1990 | 26,015 | −8.0% | |
| 2000 | 25,588 | −1.6% | |
| 2010 | 24,277 | −5.1% | |
| 2020 | 23,398 | −3.6% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 23,362 | −3.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013 |
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2020 Census Data
In 2020, the U.S. Census counted 23,398 people in Fayette County.
| Race | Number | Percent |
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| White | 22,014 | 94.1% |
| Black or African American | 275 | 1.2% |
| Native American | 32 | 0.1% |
| Asian | 58 | 0.2% |
| Pacific Islander | 2 | 0.01% |
| Other/Mixed | 744 | 3.2% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 273 | 1.16% |
2010 Census Data
In 2010, there were 24,277 people living in Fayette County. There were 9,719 households and 6,669 families. The county had about 113 people per square mile.
Most people in the county were white (96.9%). About 1.3% were Black or African American. About 0.9% of the population was Hispanic or Latino. Many people had German, American, Irish, or English backgrounds.
About 31.9% of households had children under 18. About half (50.6%) were married couples. The average household had 2.46 people. The average family had 2.93 people. The average age of people in the county was 40.8 years old.
The average income for a household was $47,697. For families, it was $46,601. About 19.4% of all people lived below the poverty line. This included 26.0% of those under 18.
Notable People
Many interesting people have come from Fayette County:
- Howard Garns was born in Connersville in 1905. He is known for inventing a puzzle called Number Place. This puzzle later became famous as Sudoku.
- William Grose was a general in the Civil War. He also served as an Indiana State Senator. He grew up in Fayette County.
- George Washington Steele was the first Governor of the Oklahoma Territory.
- Robert Wise grew up in Connersville. He became a famous movie producer and director. He was also president of the Directors Guild of America and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Fayette (Indiana) para niños
