Hendricks County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 145,448. The county seat is Danville.
Hendricks County is the third largest county within the Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area. Hendricks County is currently the second fastest-growing county in Indiana and 85th in the nation.
History
Hendricks County was formed in 1824. It is named for Indiana Governor William Hendricks, who was serving at the time the County was formed.
Geography
According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 408.78 square miles (1,058.7Â km2), of which 406.91 square miles (1,053.9Â km2) (or 99.54%) is land and 1.87 square miles (4.8Â km2) (or 0.46%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Boone County (north)
- Marion County (east)
- Morgan County (south)
- Putnam County (west)
- Montgomery County (northwest)
Climate
In recent years, average temperatures in Danville have ranged from a low of 18 °F (âˆ'8 °C) in January to a high of 86 °F (30 °C) in July, although a record low of âˆ'27 °F (âˆ'33 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 106 °F (41 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.41 inches (61 mm) in February to 4.42 inches (112 mm) in July.
Transportation
Airport
- 2R2 - Hendricks County Airport
Demographics
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 145,448Â people, 52,368Â households, and 39,698Â families residing in the county. The population density was 357.4 inhabitants per square mile (138.0/km2). There were 55,454 housing units at an average density of 136.3 per square mile (52.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.1% white, 4.9% black or African American, 2.1% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 1.1% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 28.3% were German, 16.2% were English, 15.2% were Irish, and 9.4% were American.
Of the 52,368Â households, 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.9% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 24.2% were non-families, and 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.12. The median age was 36.7 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $77,397. Males had a median income of $54,945 versus $38,919 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,880. About 4.3% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.
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, collecting revenue, and managing the day-to-day functions of the county government.
Court: The county maintains a small claims court that can handle some civil cases. The judge on the court is elected to a term of four years and must be a member of the Indiana Bar Association. The judge is assisted by a constable who is also elected to a four-year term. 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 serves a term of four years and oversees a different part of county government. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare party affiliations and to be residents of the county.
Hendricks County is part of Indiana's 4th congressional district; Indiana Senate districts 23 and 24; and Indiana House of Representatives districts 28, 40, 47 and 91.
Towns
- Amo
- Avon
- Brownsburg
- Clayton
- Coatesville
- Danville
- Lizton
- North Salem
- Pittsboro
- Plainfield
- Stilesville
Townships
- Brown
- Center
- Clay
- Eel River
- Franklin
- Guilford
- Liberty
- Lincoln
- Marion
- Middle
- Union
- Washington
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Hendricks County, Indiana
References
Further reading
- Balough, Linda and Betty Bartley. A Pictorial History of Hendricks County, Indiana. Marceline: Walsworth Publishing Company (1999). ISBN 1-57864-074-1
- Hadley, John Vestal. History of Hendricks County, Indiana, her people, industries and institutions. Charleston: Nabo Press (2010). ISBN 1-178-24317-6
External links
- Hendricks County Government
- Hendricks County Economic Development Partnership
- Hendricks County Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Leadership Hendricks County
- City-Data.com Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Hendricks County