Jennings County, Indiana

Jennings County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2020, the population was 27,613. The county seat is Vernon.

History

Jennings County was formed in 1817. It was named for the first Governor of Indiana and a nine-term congressman, Jonathan Jennings. Jennings was governor when the county was organized.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of , of which (or 99.53%) is land and (or 0.47%) is water.

City

North Vernon

Town

Vernon

Census-designated places

Butlerville
Country Squire Lakes
Hayden
Scipio

Other unincorporated places

Brewersville
Commiskey
Four Corners
Grayford
Hilltown
Lovett
Nebraska
Paris
Paris Crossing
Queensville
San Jacinto
Walnut Ridge
Zenas

Townships

Bigger
Campbell
Center
Columbia
Geneva
Lovett
Marion
Montgomery
Sand Creek
Spencer
Vernon

Adjacent counties

Decatur County (north)
Ripley County (east)
Jefferson County (southeast)
Scott County (south)
Jackson County (west)
Bartholomew County (northwest)

Major highways

Sources: National Atlas, U.S. Census Bureau

25px U.S. Route 50
25px State Road 3
25px State Road 7
25px State Road 250

Parks and protected areas

Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge (part)
Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge (part)
Muscatatuck County Park
Selmier State Forest

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in Vernon have ranged from a low of in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in January 1977 and a record high of was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in February to in May.

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. and Indiana House of Representatives districts 66 and 69.

Jennings County is, and has historically been, a staunchly Republican county and in the top 5 highest taxed counties in the state. Democratic presidential candidates have won Jennings County only thrice in the past 130 years.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 27,613. The median age was 40.4 years. 23.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 100.2 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 93.7% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.5% from some other race, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.1% of the population.

There were 10,582 households in the county, of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.0% were married-couple households, 18.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The population density was . There were 12,069 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 96.8% white, 0.8% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 1.0% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.0% of the population.

Of the 10,680 households, 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 27.6% were non-families, and 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.06. The median age was 38.4 years.

Education

Jennings County residents may obtain a library card from the Jennings County Public Library in North Vernon.

In popular culture

Jennings County is the setting of the novel The Friendly Persuasion, later adapted into the Academy Award-nominated film Friendly Persuasion in 1956. Although initially planned to be filmed on location, it was finally filmed in California.

Notable residents

Sarah T. Bolton, poet
Ovid Butler, founder of Butler University
Royce Campbell, jazz guitarist
Cliff Daringer, Federal League baseball player
Rolla Daringer, Major League Baseball player
Lincoln Dixon, U.S. Representative from Indiana, 1905–1919
Scott Earl, Major League Baseball player
Robert Sanford Foster, Civil War General
John "Spider" Miller, 2015 & 2017 Walker Cup team captain
Jethro New, frontiersmen, Continental Army officer
Jeptha D. New, U.S. Representative from Indiana, 1875–1877, 1879–1881
John C. New, Treasurer of the United States, 1875–1876
Horatio C. Newcomb, Mayor of Indianapolis, 1849–1851
Hannah Milhous Nixon, mother of President Richard Nixon
Pat O'Connor, polesitter for the 1957 Indianapolis 500 and member of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame
Mike Simon, Major League Baseball player
Jessamyn West, author
Edgar Whitcomb, 43rd Governor of Indiana
Albert Edward Wiggam, psychologist, lecturer, and author