Randolph County, Indiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Randolph County
U.S. county
Randolph County Courthouse
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
Indiana's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Indiana
Founded	1818
Named for	Peyton Randolph
Seat	Winchester
Largest city	Winchester
Area
• Total	453.31 sq mi (1,174.1 km2)
• Land	452.38 sq mi (1,171.7 km2)
• Water	0.94 sq mi (2.4 km2)  0.21%%
Population  (2020)
• Total	24,502
• Density	57.8/sq mi (22.31/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	6th
Indiana county number 68

Randolph County is a county located in the central section of U.S. state of Indiana, on its eastern border with Ohio. As of 2010, the population was 26,171. The county seat is Winchester.

History

Modoc from the air, looking northeast.

The Indiana General Assembly authorized the formation of Randolph County from Wayne County in January 1818 to take effect in August 1818. The county was almost certainly named for Randolph County, North Carolina, where the area's first settlers came from. That county was named for Peyton Randolph, the first President of the Continental Congress under the Articles of Confederation.

Between 1820 and 1824, the county's territory extended to the Michigan boundary; consequently, the plat for the town of Fort Wayne (now a city) is recorded in Randolph County's Recorder's Office. Randolph County's population grew rapidly in the early years of the nineteenth century. It was also known as a progressive community. As a home to a large number of members of the Society of Friends (Quakers), education and abolitionism became important movements. The county was home to three famous settlements of free African-Americans. The most famous, the Greenville Settlement, in Greensfork Township, was the site of Union Literary Institute, one of the first racially integrated schools in the United States.

Randolph County has been a Republican-stronghold since the 1850s. As such, the county produced two Governors, one Congressman, one U. S. Senator, three Indiana Secretaries of State, and one State Superintendent of Public Instruction between 1858 and 1931. The county's population growth slowed after 1880.

Randolph County answered the problem of rural decline in the early twentieth century by embracing much of the "Country Life Movement." The major act was the movement to consolidate the county's rural schools. This was done under the leadership of Lee L. Driver, a county native who became the nation's leading expert on rural school consolidation. Randolph County became the exemplar of the movement and was the subject of many publications and visits from officials from as far away as Canada and China.

In recent years, residents in Winchester, Union City, and Farmland have sought to revitalize the county through a renewed focus on historic preservation, tourism, and the arts.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 453.31 square miles (1,174.1 km²), of which 452.38 square miles (1,171.7 km²) (or 99.79%) is land and 0.94 square miles (2.4 km²) (or 0.21%) is water.

Randolph County is the point of origin for the White River and Whitewater River.

Adjacent counties

• Jay County (north)
• Darke County, Ohio (east)
• Wayne County (south)
• Henry County (southwest)
• Delaware County (west)

Transportation

• U.S. Route 36
• U.S. Route 35
• U.S. Route 27
• Indiana State Road 1
• Indiana State Road 28
• Indiana State Road 32
• Indiana State Road 227

Cities and towns

Incorporated

• Farmland
• Losantville
• Lynn
• Modoc
• Parker City
• Ridgeville
• Saratoga
• Union City
• Winchester

Unincorporated

Map of Randolph County, Indiana With Municipal and Township Labels

Townships

• Franklin
• Green
• Greensfork
• Jackson
• Monroe
• Stoney Creek
• Union
• Ward
• Washington
• Wayne
• White River

Nettle Creek (Losantville) and West River (Modoc) Townships were combined to form Union Township.

Local Attractions

Winchester Speedway (one of the world's oldest and fastest high bank half mile tracks in the world) Located approximately 2 miles west of Winchester on State Road 32

Mrs Wicks Pie Factory and Restaurant in Winchester

Silvertowne (one of the largest privately owned coin shops in the United States) Located in Winchester

Wilson Wines (local winery near Modoc with tours and special events)

McVey National Forest (Located North of Farmland approximately 6 miles on State Road 1)

Farmers market during the summer on the Winchester Square

Local Festivals and Events

Mom, Baseball and Apple Pie Festival (Held in Winchester during August annually)

Labor Day Marathon Softball Tournament (Winchester city Park and draws teams from all over the United States to play softball and celebrate the last holiday of Summer. Winchester's population nearly doubles for this weekend)

Madi Gras held annually each fall in Winchester during October

Heritage Days held annually in the fall in Union City.

Airports

• Randolph County Airport (newly expanded in 2010 and 2011)

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in Winchester have ranged from a low of 16 °F (−9 °C) in January to a high of 83 °F (28 °C) in July, although a record low of −26 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 102 °F (39 °C) was recorded in September 1953. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.63 inches (41 mm) in February to 4.34 inches (110 mm) in June.

Demographics

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 26,171 people, 10,451 households, and 7,300 families residing in the county. The population density was 57.9 inhabitants per square mile (22.4/km²). There were 11,743 housing units at an average density of 26.0 per square mile (10.0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.1% white, 0.4% black or African American, 0.3% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 1.8% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 23.7% were German, 13.9% were Irish, 11.5% were American, and 11.4% were English.

Of the 10,451 households, 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.2% were non-families, and 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.93. The median age was 40.8 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $45,543. Males had a median income of $37,528 versus $28,851 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,552. About 10.3% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.3% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public schools in Randolph County are administered by the Union School Corporation, Randolph Central School Corporation, Randolph Eastern School Corporation, Randolph Southern School Corporation, and Monroe Central School Corporation.

High schools

• Union High School (Modoc) - Modoc-Union School Corporation
• Randolph Southern High School - Lynn-Randolph Southern School Corporation
• Winchester Community High School - Winchester-Randolph Central School Corporation
• Union City High School - Union City - Randolph Eastern School Corporation
• Monroe Central High School - Parker City - Monroe Central School Corporation

Junior high/middle schools

• Union Jr. High School
• Randolph Southern Jr. High School
• Driver Middle School-Winchester
• West Side Middle School-Union City
• Monroe Central Jr. High School

Elementary schools

• Union Elementary School
• Randolph Southern Elementary School
• Deerfield Elementary School - Winchester
• Baker Elementary School - Winchester
• Williard Elementary School - Winchester
• North Side Elementary School - Union City
• Monroe Central Elementary School

Notable residents

• Congressman Thomas M. Browne.
• John R. Commons, nationally known economist.
• Governor James P. Goodrich.
• Governor Isaac P. Gray.
• Wendell M. Stanley, Nobel Prize Winner in Chemistry.
• Senator James E. Watson.
• Robert Wise (1914–2005), Hollywood director, was born in Winchester.
• Jim Jones (1931–1978), 1970s leader of the Peoples Temple and founder of Jonestown.
• Rick Derringer of the group, The McCoys, who had the hit song, "Hang On Sloopy". He also did "Rock N Roll Hoochie Koo" and toured with the Ringo Starr, All-Star Band.
• Randy Hobbs, also of the McCoys, one of the great bass guitarists in music history. He also played with Jimi Hendrix, and the Johnny and Edgar Winters Bands.

Fictional residents

The Marshalls of Land of the Lost once lived in Harrisville.