Clark County, Indiana

Clark County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana, located directly across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky. At the 2020 census, the population was 121,093. The county seat is Jeffersonville. Clark County is part of the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY–IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Clark County lies on the north bank of the Ohio River. A significant gateway to the state of Indiana, Clark County's settlement began in 1783. The state of Virginia rewarded General George Rogers Clark and his regiment for their victorious capture of Forts Kaskaskia, Cahokia, and Vincennes from the British, by granting them of land. A small portion of this land, , became known as Clarksville, the first authorized American settlement in the Northwest Territory, founded the next year in 1784.

Clark County was formed on February 3, 1801, with territory annexed from Knox, the first county formed in the Territory in 1790. This original area in Clark County was subsequently altered and reduced with the formation of other counties: Harrison (1808), Franklin, Jefferson, and Wayne (1811), Switzerland and Washington (1814), Jackson and Ripley (1816), Jennings (1817), Crawford and Randolph (1818), Fayette and Floyd (1819), Scott (1820), Union (1821), Decatur and Rush (1822).

The first county seat was established in Springville, on April 7, 1801.

From its beginning Clark County's history, culture and growth have been linked to the development of the river. Early nineteenth-century steamboats transported goods to the upper Ohio, providing opportunities for commercial and industrial growth in the county. In 1832, James Howard founded the Howard shipyards making Clark County a leader in shipbuilding.

The railroad brought further economic growth. The Monon line spanned from New Albany to Chicago, and the Jeffersonville, Madison, and Indianapolis Railroad provided Clark County and southern Indiana with access to the northern trading centers of Indianapolis and Chicago.

Industries locating to Clark County during the nineteenth century included the Louisville Cement Company in Speed, Indiana and the Ford Plate Glass Company established in Jeffersonville in 1876.

During the 1920s, Clark County attracted the Colgate-Palmolive Company to the Clarksville Riverfront. Colgate purchased the former Indiana Reformatory building in 1923. The company rehabilitated and adapted the building for its dedication in 1924. It stayed in business until early 2008. The highest point on the terrain is a ridge WNW of Henryville near the border with Scott County, at ASL.

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of , of which (or 99.05%) is land and (or 0.96%) is water.

Arctic Springs
Belknap
Bennettsville
Bethlehem
Black Diamond
Blue Lick
Broom Hill
Carwood
Cementville
Clarke
Dallas
Dyeton
Floyd
Hamburg
Haussdale
Henze
Hibernia
Hughes
Longview Beach
Marysville
Nabb
New Market
Oak Park
Otisco
Otto
Prairie Crossing
Prather
Pulltight
River Ridge
Rockford
Solon
Speed
St Joseph Hill
Starlight
Sunset Village
Underwood
Watson
Wilson

Extinct towns

Andalusia
Claysburg
Oregon
Port Fulton
Springville

Townships

Bethlehem
Carr
Charlestown
Jeffersonville
Monroe
Oregon
Owen
Silver Creek
Union
Utica
Washington
Wood

Transit

Transit Authority of River City

Major highways

Airport

KJVY – Clark Regional Airport

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in Jeffersonville have ranged from a low of in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in October to in May.

Government

For most of its history, Clark County was a Democratic-leaning county, its politics more in line with neighboring Kentucky than Indiana. However, the county voted for the national winner in all but 2 elections from 1924 to 2004 (1952, 1968). Since the start of the second millennium, the county has trended strongly Republican, moving away from its previous near-bellwether status.

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 seven-member county council is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all the spending and revenue collection in the county. Four representatives are elected from county districts, and three are elected at large. 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. Indiana Senate districts 45 and 46; and Indiana House of Representatives districts 66, 70, 71, 72 and 73.

Due to decadal redistricting and the 2022 general election, Clark County is now represented in the Indiana General Assembly by District 45 Senator Chris Garten, District 66 Representative Zach Payne, District 70 Representative Karen Engleman, and District 71 Representative Rita Fleming.

The Clark County Council has 5 elected officials (as of May 2018). The Clark County Council of 2019 includes:

Barbara Hollis (District 1)
Janne Newland (District 2)
Brittney Ferree (District 3)
Steve Doherty (District 4)
David Abbott (at-large)
John Miller (at-large)
Kevin Vissing (at-large)
R. Scott Lewis (Attorney)

The three elected Clark County Commissioners are (as of 2019):

Jack Coffman
Connie Sellers
Bryan Glover

Other county office holders as determined by the 2022 general election:

Prosecutor: Jeremy Mull
Sheriff: Scottie Maples
Clerk: Ryan Lynch
Auditor: Danny Yost
Treasurer: Monty Snelling
Recorder: Steve Gill
Assessor: Butch Love
Surveyor: David Ruckman

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Clark County, Indiana – Racial and ethnic composition

!Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)

!Pop 1980

!Pop 1990

!Pop 2000

!Pop 2010

!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020

!% 1980

!% 1990

!% 2000

!% 2010

!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020

|White alone (NH)

|83,565

|81,952

|86,194

|93,887

|style='background: #ffffe6; |95,403

|94.06%

|93.36%

|89.35%

|85.17%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |78.78%

|Black or African American alone (NH)

|4,296

|4,663

|6,345

|7,541

|style='background: #ffffe6; |9,265

|4.84%

|5.31%

|6.58%

|6.84%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |7.65%

|Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)

|130

|185

|218

|255

|style='background: #ffffe6; |249

|0.15%

|0.21%

|0.23%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.21%

|Asian alone (NH)

|301

|342

|565

|858

|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,305

|0.34%

|0.39%

|0.59%

|0.78%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.08%

|Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)

|30

|43

|style='background: #ffffe6; |127

|0.03%

|0.04%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.10%

|Other race alone (NH)

|111

|75

|102

|198

|style='background: #ffffe6; |491

|0.12%

|0.09%

|0.11%

|0.18%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.41%

|Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)

|1,219

|2,100

|style='background: #ffffe6; |6,362

|1.26%

|1.91%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |5.25%

|Hispanic or Latino (any race)

|435

|560

|1,799

|5,350

|style='background: #ffffe6; |7,891

|0.49%

|0.64%

|1.86%

|4.85%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |6.52%

|Total

|88,838

|87,777

|96,472

|110,232

|style='background: #ffffe6; |121,093

|100.00%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 121,093. The median age was 39.4 years. 22.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.4 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 80.2% White, 7.8% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.3% from some other race, and 7.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 6.5% of the population.

There were 48,778 households in the county, of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 46.1% were married-couple households, 18.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The population density was . There were 47,776 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 87.1% white, 6.9% black or African American, 0.8% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 2.6% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.9% of the population.

Of the 44,248 households, 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.4% were non-families, and 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.98. The median age was 37.9 years.

Education

Four public school districts and the Archdiocese of Indianapolis serve Clark County. The county is also served by two colleges that offer associate and bachelor's degrees.

Public school districts

Clarksville Community School Corporation

Clarksville Senior High School
Clarksville Middle School
Greenacres Elementary School

Silver Creek School Corporation

Silver Creek High School
Silver Creek Middle School
Silver Creek Elementary School
Silver Creek Primary School

Borden–Henryville School Corporation

Borden Jr/Sr High School
Henryville Jr/Sr High School
Borden Elementary School
Henryville Elementary School

Greater Clark County Schools

Charlestown High School
Jeffersonville High School
New Washington Middle/High School
Charlestown Middle School
Parkview Middle School
River Valley Middle School
Charlestown Elementary School
Franklin Square Elementary School
New Washington Elementary School
Northaven Elementary School
Parkwood Elementary School
Riverside Elementary School
Utica Elementary School
Options Alternative School
Corden Porter School

Private schools

; Archdiocese of Indianapolis

Our Lady of Providence Junior-Senior High School
St. Anthony of Padua Elementary School(K–7)
Sacred Heart of Jesus (PK–8)
St. John Paul II School(K–8)

Colleges and universities

Ivy Tech State College (Non-profit)
Mid-America College of Funeral Services (Non-profit)
Ottawa University – Jeffersonville (Non-Profit)