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Jennings County, Indiana facts for kids

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Jennings County
U.S. county
Jennings County courthouse in Vernon, Indiana
Jennings County courthouse in Vernon, Indiana
Map of Indiana highlighting Jennings 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 1817
Named for Jonathan Jennings
Seat Vernon
Largest city North Vernon
Area
 • Total 378.34 sq mi (979.9 km2)
 • Land 376.58 sq mi (975.3 km2)
 • Water 1.76 sq mi (4.6 km2)  0.47%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 27,613
 • Density 72.9846/sq mi (28.1795/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 6th
Indiana county number 40

Jennings County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2020, the population was 27,613. The county seat is Vernon.

History

Jennings County was formed in 1817. It was named for the first Governor of Indiana and a nine-term congressman, Jonathan Jennings. Jennings was governor when the county was organized.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 378.34 square miles (979.9 km2), of which 376.58 square miles (975.3 km2) (or 99.53%) is land and 1.76 square miles (4.6 km2) (or 0.47%) is water. It is a rural county, with majority of the county consisting of personal farms and woodlands. There are only two incorporated towns in this county, Vernon, the county seat, and North Vernon. Both are quite small and underdeveloped by urban standards. The county is located in the center of an imaginary triangle consisting of Indianapolis, IN, Cincinnati, OH, and Louisville, KY and requires only 11⁄4 hour drive time to any of these urban centers.

It is also home to the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, located just outside North Vernon, at which various training exercises and scenarios are conducted for homeland security and other similar purposes.

City

Town

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated places

Townships

  • Bigger
  • Campbell
  • Center
  • Columbia
  • Geneva
  • Lovett
  • Marion
  • Montgomery
  • Sand Creek
  • Spencer
  • Vernon

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Sources: National Atlas, U.S. Census Bureau

  • US 50.svg U.S. Route 50
  • Indiana 3.svg State Road 3
  • Indiana 7.svg State Road 7
  • Indiana 250.svg State Road 250

Parks and protected areas

  • Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge (part)
  • Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge (part)
  • Muscatatuck County Park
  • Selmier State Forest

Climate and weather

Weather chart for Vernon, Indiana
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
3
 
38
22
 
 
2.7
 
45
26
 
 
3.8
 
55
34
 
 
4.4
 
66
43
 
 
4.7
 
75
52
 
 
3.8
 
83
61
 
 
4.4
 
86
65
 
 
4.4
 
84
63
 
 
2.9
 
78
56
 
 
3.2
 
67
44
 
 
3.8
 
54
36
 
 
3.4
 
43
27
temperatures in °F
precipitation totals in inches
source: The Weather Channel
Metric conversion
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
75
 
3
-6
 
 
69
 
7
-3
 
 
96
 
13
1
 
 
111
 
19
6
 
 
120
 
24
11
 
 
97
 
28
16
 
 
112
 
30
18
 
 
112
 
29
17
 
 
73
 
26
13
 
 
81
 
19
7
 
 
97
 
12
2
 
 
86
 
6
-3
temperatures in °C • precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in Vernon have ranged from a low of 22 °F (−6 °C) in January to a high of 86 °F (30 °C) in July, although a record low of −24 °F (−31 °C) was recorded in January 1977 and a record high of 105 °F (41 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.71 inches (69 mm) in February to 4.72 inches (120 mm) in May.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1820 2,000 —
1830 3,974 98.7%
1840 8,829 122.2%
1850 12,096 37.0%
1860 14,749 21.9%
1870 16,218 10.0%
1880 16,453 1.4%
1890 14,608 −11.2%
1900 15,757 7.9%
1910 14,203 −9.9%
1920 13,280 −6.5%
1930 11,800 −11.1%
1940 13,680 15.9%
1950 15,250 11.5%
1960 17,267 13.2%
1970 19,454 12.7%
1980 22,854 17.5%
1990 23,661 3.5%
2000 27,554 16.5%
2010 28,525 3.5%
2020 27,613 −3.2%
2023 (est.) 27,622 −3.2%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 28,525 people, 10,680 households, and 7,733 families residing in the county. The population density was 75.7 inhabitants per square mile (29.2/km2). There were 12,069 housing units at an average density of 32.0 per square mile (12.4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.8% white, 0.8% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 1.0% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 26.2% were German, 16.3% were Irish, 14.7% were American, and 7.2% were English.

Of the 10,680 households, 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 27.6% were non-families, and 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.06. The median age was 38.4 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $48,470. Males had a median income of $38,506 versus $27,633 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,636. About 8.9% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Jennings County residents may obtain a library card from the Jennings County Public Library in North Vernon.

Notable residents

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Jennings para niños

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