Switzerland County, Indiana
Encyclopedia
Switzerland County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Indiana
. As of 2010, the population was 10,613. The county seat
is Vevay
.
, 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 circuit court which was established January 1, 2009. The first Judge of the Switzerland Circuit Court is W. Gregory Coy. The Judge is elected to a term of six years. The Court is a general jurisdiction court, meaning it handles all types of cases. The Judge must be a licensed attorney. All decisions of the Court are appealable to the Indiana Court of Appeals or the Indiana Supreme 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.
Switzerland County is part of Indiana's 9th congressional district
and is represented in Congress
by Republican
Todd Young
.
of 2000, there were 9,065 people, 3,435 households, and 2,538 families residing in the county. The population density
was 41 people per square mile (16/km²). There were 4,226 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.78% White
, 0.23% Black
or African American
, 0.15% Native American
, 0.09% Asian
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
, 0.31% from other races
, and 0.43% from two or more races. 0.86% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. 37.2% were of American
, 23.1% German
, 11.6% Irish
and 8.1% English
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 3,435 households out of which 33.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.70% were married couples
living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.10% were non-families. 21.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the county the population was spread out with 26.30% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 101.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,092, and the median income for a family was $41,395. Males had a median income of $30,197 versus $21,324 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $17,466. About 10.60% of families and 13.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.40% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. As of 2010, the population was 10,613. The county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Vevay
Vevay, Indiana
Vevay is a town in and the county seat of Jefferson Township, Switzerland County, Indiana, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 1,683 at the 2010 census.-History:...
.
History
Switzerland County was formed in 1814. It was named for the home country of many of the early settlers.Geography
According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 223.44 square miles (578.7 km²), of which 220.63 square miles (571.4 km²) (or 98.74%) is land and 2.81 square miles (7.3 km²) (or 1.26%) is water.Unincorporated towns
- Center SquareCenter Square, IndianaCenter Square is an unincorporated town in Jefferson Township, Switzerland County, Indiana....
- FlorenceFlorence, IndianaFlorence is an unincorporated town in York Township, Switzerland County, Indiana. The Belterra Casino Resort & Spa is located just outside of town....
- East EnterpriseEast Enterprise, IndianaEast Enterprise is an unincorporated community in central Cotton Township, Switzerland County, Indiana, United States. It lies at the intersection of State Roads 56 and 250 northeast of the town of Vevay, the county seat of Switzerland County. Its elevation is 883 feet , and it is located at...
Townships
- CottonCotton Township, Switzerland County, IndianaCotton Township is one of six townships in Switzerland County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,476.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Cotton Township covers an area of ; of this, is land and is water.-Unincorporated towns:* Allensville at * East...
- CraigCraig Township, Switzerland County, IndianaCraig Township is one of six townships in Switzerland County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 777.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Craig Township covers an area of ; of this, is land and is water.-Unincorporated towns:* Braytown at * Five Points...
- JeffersonJefferson Township, Switzerland County, IndianaJefferson Township is one of six townships in Switzerland County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 3,111.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Jefferson Township covers an area of ; of this, is land and is water.-Unincorporated towns:* Center Square at...
- PleasantPleasant Township, Switzerland County, IndianaPleasant Township is one of six townships in Switzerland County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,260.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Pleasant Township covers an area of ; of this, is land and is water.-Unincorporated towns:* Aaron at *...
- PoseyPosey Township, Switzerland County, IndianaPosey Township is one of six townships in Switzerland County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,504.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Posey Township covers an area of ; of this, is land and is water.-Unincorporated towns:* Antioch at * Gurley...
- YorkYork Township, Switzerland County, IndianaYork Township is one of six townships in Switzerland County, Indiana, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 937.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, York Township covers an area of ; of this, is land and is water.-Unincorporated towns:* Florence at * Markland at...
Major highways
Indiana State Road 56Indiana State Road 56State Road 56 in the U.S. state of Indiana is a route that travels the south central part of the state from west to east.-Route description:...
Indiana State Road 101Indiana State Road 101State Road 101 in the U.S. state of Indiana is a north–south state highway in the eastern portion of Indiana that exists in four sections with a combined length of .-First section:...
Indiana State Road 129Indiana State Road 129State Road 129 is a north–south road in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Indiana. It traverses Switzerland and Ripley counties connecting Vevay to Batesville.-Route description:...
Indiana State Road 156Indiana State Road 156State Road 156 in the U.S. State of Indiana is part of the Ohio River Scenic Route in Switzerland and Ohio counties. It skirts the Ohio River, always staying within a mile of the shore throughout its .-Route description:...
Indiana State Road 250Indiana State Road 250State Road 250 in the U.S. State of Indiana is a secondary route that runs from U.S. Route 50 in Brownstown eastward toward the Ohio River at State Road 156 in Patriot in southeast Indiana. Towns include Uniontown, Paris Crossing, Canaan, and East Enterprise...
Adjacent counties
- Ohio CountyOhio County, IndianaAs of the census of 2000, there were 5,623 people, 2,201 households, and 1,586 families residing in the county. The population density was 65 people per square mile . There were 2,424 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
(north) - Gallatin CountyGallatin County, KentuckyGallatin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky along the Ohio River, which at its formation was the main transportation route. It was formed in 1799. As of 2000, the population was 7,870. Its county seat is Warsaw...
, KentuckyKentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
(east) - Carroll CountyCarroll County, KentuckyCarroll County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky and located at the confluence of the Kentucky and Ohio rivers. It was formed in 1838 and named for Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the last living signer of the Declaration of Independence. The population was 10,155 at the 2000 census...
, KentuckyKentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
(south) - Jefferson CountyJefferson County, IndianaJefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 32,428. The county seat is Madison.-History:Jefferson County was formed in 1811...
(west) - Ripley CountyRipley County, IndianaAs of the census of 2000, there were 26,523 people, 9,842 households, and 7,273 families residing in the county. The population density was 59 people per square mile . There were 10,482 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile...
(northwest)
Climate and weather
In recent years, average temperatures in Vevay have ranged from a low of 23 °F (-5 °C) in January to a high of 88 °F (31.1 °C) in July, although a record low of -24 °F was recorded in January 1977 and a record high of 106 °F (41.1 °C) was recorded in July 1999. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 3 inches (7.6 cm) in February to 4.72 inches (12 cm) in May.Government
The county government is a constitutional body, and is granted specific powers by the Constitution of IndianaConstitution of Indiana
There have been two Constitutions of the State of Indiana. The first constitution was created when the Territory of Indiana sent forty-three delegates to a constitutional convention on June 10, 1816 to establish a constitution for the proposed State of Indiana after the United States Congress had...
, and by the Indiana Code
Indiana Code
The Indiana Code is the code of laws for the US State of Indiana. The contents are the codification of the all the laws currently in effect within Indiana...
.
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 circuit court which was established January 1, 2009. The first Judge of the Switzerland Circuit Court is W. Gregory Coy. The Judge is elected to a term of six years. The Court is a general jurisdiction court, meaning it handles all types of cases. The Judge must be a licensed attorney. All decisions of the Court are appealable to the Indiana Court of Appeals or the Indiana Supreme Court.
County Officials: The county has several other elected offices, including sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
, coroner
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
, auditor, treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
, recorder
Recorder of deeds
Recorder of deeds is a government office tasked with maintaining public records and documents, especially records relating to real estate ownership that provide persons other than the owner of a property with real rights over that property.-Background:...
, surveyor
Surveying
See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...
, and circuit court clerk
Court clerk
A court clerk is an officer of the court whose responsibilities include maintaining the records of a court. Another duty is to administer oaths to witnesses, jurors, and grand jurors...
. 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
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
affiliations and to be residents of the county.
Switzerland County is part of Indiana's 9th congressional district
Indiana's 9th congressional district
Indiana's 9th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Indiana. Located in south-central and southeastern Indiana, the district is based in Bloomington....
and is represented in Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Todd Young
Todd Young
Todd Christopher Young is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party.- Early life:Young was born was born August 24, 1972, the second of three children of Bruce and Nancy Young. He lived in Marion County for several years before settling in Hamilton County, where he...
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 9,065 people, 3,435 households, and 2,538 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 41 people per square mile (16/km²). There were 4,226 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.78% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.23% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.15% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.09% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.31% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.43% from two or more races. 0.86% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 37.2% were of American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 23.1% German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 11.6% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
and 8.1% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 3,435 households out of which 33.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.70% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.10% were non-families. 21.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the county the population was spread out with 26.30% under the age of 18, 8.50% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 24.60% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 101.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,092, and the median income for a family was $41,395. Males had a median income of $30,197 versus $21,324 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $17,466. About 10.60% of families and 13.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.40% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.