Marion County, Indiana
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Marion County, Indiana | |
 Location in the state of Indiana |
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 Indiana's location in the U.S. |
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| Seat | Indianapolis |
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| Area - Total - Land - Water |
403 sq mi (1,044 km²) 396 sq mi (1,026 km²) 7 sq mi (18 km²), 1.68% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
860,454 2,172/sq mi (838/km²) |
| Founded | 1822 |
| Named for | Francis Marion |
| Congressional districts | 4th, 5th, 7th |
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| Website | www.in.gov/mylocal/marion_county.htm |
Marion County (County Number: 49) is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of July 2008 its population was estimated at 880,380 making it the largest county in the state and 55th most populated county in the country, greater than the population of six states. The county seat is Indianapolis, the state capital and largest city.[1] Marion County is sometimes considered coterminous with Indianapolis proper.
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[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 403 square miles (1,044 km²), of which 396 square miles (1,026 km²) is land and 7 square miles (18 km²) (1.68%) is water.
[edit] Adjacent counties
- Hamilton County (north)
- Hancock County (east)
- Shelby County (southeast)
- Johnson County (south)
- Morgan County (southwest)
- Hendricks County (west)
- Boone County (northwest)
[edit] Major Highways
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Interstate |
US Highways |
Indiana Highways |
*Currently ends in Indianapolis at current Interstate 465 / Indiana 37 exit.
Expansion connecting Indianapolis and Evansville is expected to be complete around 2018.
[edit] History
Marion County was created in April 1, 1822 and was formed from Delaware New Purchase.[2] It is named for Francis Marion, a Brigadier General from South Carolina in the American Revolutionary War.[3][4]
The state capitol was moved to Marion County in 1824 beginning a period of rapid growth in population.[4]
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1830 | 7,192 |
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| 1840 | 16,080 | 123.6% | |
| 1850 | 24,103 | 49.9% | |
| 1860 | 39,855 | 65.4% | |
| 1870 | 71,939 | 80.5% | |
| 1880 | 102,782 | 42.9% | |
| 1890 | 141,156 | 37.3% | |
| 1900 | 197,227 | 39.7% | |
| 1910 | 263,661 | 33.7% | |
| 1920 | 348,061 | 32.0% | |
| 1930 | 422,666 | 21.4% | |
| 1940 | 460,926 | 9.1% | |
| 1950 | 551,777 | 19.7% | |
| 1960 | 697,567 | 26.4% | |
| 1970 | 792,299 | 13.6% | |
| 1980 | 765,233 | −3.4% | |
| 1990 | 797,159 | 4.2% | |
| 2000 | 860,454 | 7.9% | |
| Est. 2008 | 880,380 | 2.3% | |
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 860,454 people, 352,164 households, and 213,411 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,172 people per square mile (838/km²). There were 387,183 housing units at an average density of 977 per square mile (377/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 70.49% White, 24.17% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 1.43% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.98% from other races, and 1.64% from two or more races. 3.87% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.0% were of German, 12.7% American, 9.0% Irish and 7.3% English ancestry according to Census 2000.
2005 Census estimates for Marion County was 65.3% non-Hispanic white, 25.8% African-American, 5.9% Latino, and 1.5% Asian[6]
In 2000 there were 352,164 households out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.20% were married couples living together, 14.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.40% were non-families. 31.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.80% under the age of 18, 10.00% from 18 to 24, 32.90% from 25 to 44, 20.20% from 45 to 64, and 11.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,421, and the median income for a family was $49,387. Males had a median income of $36,503 versus $27,846 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,789. About 8.70% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.30% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Cities and towns
Marion County has a consolidated city-county government, known as Unigov, in which only four municipalities retain full government autonomy (including a mayor and city council) as "excluded cities". The remaining municipalities within the county are "included towns" and exercise very limited authority, mainly in zoning and appointing their own police departments. They retain the ability to levy taxes for these purposes. Since many of these included towns were and remain fairly wealthy and influential within the county, they can still have considerable unofficial clout. Likewise, some neighborhoods that had already been formally incorporated into Indianapolis (such as Broad Ripple) possess similar influence.
- Excluded City
[edit] Townships
Marion County has nine Townships, many of which operate their own school districts.
[edit] Politics
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 35.4% 134,313 | 63.8% 241,987 | 0.8% 3,062 |
| 2004 | 48.6% 156,072 | 50.6% 162,249 | 0.8% 2,376 |
| 2000 | 49.2% 140,169 | 47.9% 134,553 | 2.9% 6,569 |
| 1996 | 47.2% 133,329 | 44.1% 124,448 | 8.7% 24,437 |
| 1992 | 39.8% 141,369 | 37.8% 122,234 | 22.5% 60,187 |
| 1988 | 58.6% 184,519 | 40.8% 128,627 | 0.6% 1,949 |
| 1984 | 58.3% 184,880 | 41.0% 130,185 | 0.7% 2,083 |
| 1980 | 53.7% 168,680 | 40.1% 126,103 | 6.2% 19,486 |
| 1976 | 54.6% 177,767 | 44.6% 145,274 | 0.8% 2,535 |
| 1972 | 66.5% 206,065 | 33.0% 102,166 | 0.5% 1,535 |
| 1968 | 52.3% 162,503 | 37.2% 115,715 | 10.5% 32,704 |
| 1964 | 48.3% 143,015 | 51.4% 152,418 | 0.3% 948 |
| 1960 | 57.7% 166,202 | 42.1% 121,336 | 0.2% 668 |
Marion County was up until recently a Republican stronghold in Presidential elections, giving majorities to Republicans from 1968 to 2000. Although recently the county is trending Democratic, with John Kerry winning a majority in 2004, the first Democrat since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. The trend continued in 2008 with Barack Obama showing very strongly in Marion County, winning almost 64% of the vote.
Marion is part of Indiana's 7th congressional district, which is located in the heart of the county and held by Democrat André Carson. Marion is also part of Indiana's 4th and 5th congressional districts along the edges of the county, which are held by Republicans Steve Buyer and Dan Burton respectively. In the Indiana House of Representatives Marion is part of the 25th and 86th through 100th districts. In total 16 districts; 10 seats represented by Democrats and six by Republicans. In the State Senate Marion is part of the 30th through 35th districts, which are held by four Republicans and two Democrats.
The Indianapolis City-County Council is the city legislature of Indianapolis, Indiana and Marion County, known as Unigov. It was formally established in 1970 upon the merger of the city government with the county government. The council passes ordinances for the city and county, and also makes appointments to certain boards and commissions.
[edit] County elected officials
- Mayor (County Executive): Gregory A. Ballard (R)
- Auditor: Billie Breaux (D)
- Clerk: Elizabeth White (D)
- Coroner: Kenneth Ackles (D)
- Assessor: Greg Bowes (D)
- Prosecutor: Carl Brizzi (R)
- Recorder: Julie Voorhies (D)
- Sheriff: Frank J. Anderson (D)
- Surveyor: Mary Catherine Barton (D)
- Treasurer: Michael Rodman (D)
County commissioners: Bowes, Breaux, Rodman
[edit] Notes
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/usamap.cfm. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Marion County History and Information". MyIndianaGenealogy.com. http://www.myindianagenealogy.com/in_county/mrn.htm. Retrieved 27 November 2008.
- ^ Baker, Ronald L.; Marvin Carmony (1995). Indiana Place Names. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. p. 98. ISBN 0-253-28340-X.
- ^ a b De Witt Clinton Goodrich & Charles Richard Tuttle (1875). An Illustrated History of the State of Indiana. Indiana: R. S. Peale & co.. pp. 567. http://books.google.com/books?id=YDIUAAAAYAAJ.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ Marion County QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau
[edit] 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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Boone County | Hamilton County | |
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| Hendricks County |  |
Hancock County | ||
 Marion County, Indiana  |
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| Morgan County | Johnson County | Shelby County |
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