Henry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2000, the population was 48,508. The county seat is New Castle. Henry County is regarded as the main inspiration for the setting of the novel Raintree County by Ross Lockridge, Jr..

History

Henry County was formed in 1822. It was named for Patriot Patrick Henry, governor of Virginia.

Government

The county government is a constitutional body, and is granted specific powers by the Constitution of Indiana, and by the Indiana Code.

County Council: The county council is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all the spending and revenue collection in the county. Representatives are elected from county districts. The council members serve four year terms. They are responsible for setting salaries, the annual budget, and special spending. The council also has limited authority to impose local taxes, in the form of an income and property tax that is subject to state level approval, excise taxes, and service taxes.

Board of Commissioners: The executive body of the county is made of a board of commissioners. The commissioners are elected county-wide, in staggered terms, and each serves a four year term. One of the commissioners, typically the most senior, serves as president. The commissioners are charged with executing the acts legislated by the council, the collection of revenue, and managing the day-to-day functions of the county government.

Court: The county maintains three courts. Superior Court I, Superior Court II and Circuit Court. The judge on the court is elected to a term of four years and must be a member of the Indiana Bar Association. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level circuit court.

County Officials: The county has several other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor, and circuit court clerk. Each of these elected officers serve terms of four years and oversee different parts of the county government. Members elected to any county government position are required to declare a party affiliation and be a resident of the county.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 395 square miles (1,023 km²), of which 393 square miles (1,018 km²) is land and 2 square miles (5 km²) (0.50%) is water.

Cities and towns

Ashland Blountsville Cadiz Corwin Dunreith Fayne Siding Foley Grant City Greensboro Hillsboro	Honey Creek Kennard Knightstown Lewisville Luray Maple Valley Mechanicsburg Messick Middletown Millville	Mooreland Mount Lawn Mount Summit New Castle New Lisbon Ogden Pierson Station Raysville Rogersville Shirley	Spiceland Springport Stone Quarry Mills Straughn Sulphur Springs Van Nuys Westwood Woodville

Townships

Blue River Dudley Fall Creek Franklin Greensboro Harrison Henry	Jefferson Liberty Prairie Spiceland Stoney Creek Wayne

Reservoirs

• Castle Lake
• Giboney Lake
• Haven, Lake
• Summit Lake Reservoir
• Westwood Park Reservoir

Adjacent counties

• Delaware County (north)
• Randolph County (northeast)
• Wayne County (east)
• Fayette County (southeast)
• Rush County (south)
• Hancock County (southwest)
• Madison County (northwest)

Major highways

Sources: National Atlas, U.S. Census Bureau

• Interstate 70
• U.S. Route 35
• U.S. Route 36
• U.S. Route 40
• Indiana State Road 3
• Indiana State Road 38
• Indiana State Road 103
• Indiana State Road 109
• Indiana State Road 140
• Indiana State Road 234
• Indiana State Road 236

Demographics

'''Henry County Population by year

2000 48,508 1990 48,139 1980 53,336 1970 52,603 1960 48,899 1950 45,505 1940 40,208 1930 35,238 1920 34,682 1910 29,758 1900 25,088 1890 23,879 1880 24,016 1870 22,986 1860 20,119 1850 17,605 1840 15,128 1830 6,497

As of the census of 2000, there were 48,508 people, 19,486 households, and 13,971 families residing in the county. The population density was 124 people per square mile (48/km²). There were 20,592 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile (20/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.96% White, 0.86% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. 0.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.8% were of American, 19.6% German, 13.8% English and 9.1% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 19,486 households out of which 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.40% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,150, and the median income for a family was $45,470. Males had a median income of $36,439 versus $22,432 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,355. About 6.0% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

Recreation

• Summit Lake State Park
• Westwood Park

Notable natives and former residents

• Omar Bundy, Major General, World War One
• William Grose, Major General, Civil War
• Robert Indiana, artist
• Arthur C. Mellette, first Governor of South Dakota
• Wilbur Wright, aviation pioneer

External links

• New Castle Henry County Chamber of Commerce
• Henry County Convention & Visitors Bureau
• Websites in Henry County, Indiana
• EZ-Look.com News & Discussion

References

• Forstall, Richard L. (editor) (1996). Population of states and counties of the United States: 1790 to 1990 : from the twenty-one decennial censuses. United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Population Division. ISBN 0-934213-48-8.

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