Randolph County, Indiana

Randolph County is a county located in the central section of U.S. state of Indiana, on its eastern border with Ohio. As of 2020, the population was 24,502. The county seat is Winchester.

History

thumb|right|Modoc from the air, looking northeast.

The Indiana General Assembly authorized the formation of Randolph County from Wayne County in January 1818, to take effect in August 1818. According to "The History of Randolph County in 1882" by Ebenezer Tucker, The county was named for Randolph County, Indiana Territory, which later became Randolph County, Illinois, which was named in honor of Edmund Randolph, Governor of Virginia. The county may also have been named for Randolph County, North Carolina, where the area's first settlers came from. That county was named for Peyton Randolph, the first President of the Continental Congress under the Articles of Confederation.

Between 1820 and 1824, the county's territory extended to the Michigan boundary; consequently, the plat for the town of Fort Wayne (now a city) is recorded in Randolph County's Recorder's Office. Randolph County's population grew rapidly in the early years of the nineteenth century. It became known as a progressive community, with many residents coming from the mid-Atlantic and northern tier free states. Numerous members of the Society of Friends (Quakers) lived here, and they supported public education and abolitionism.

The county was the site of three settlements developed by free African Americans, and by 1845 there were about 500 people of color here. The most famous, the Greenville Settlement, in Greensfork Township, was in the southeast part of the county and straddled the state line, also partially in Darke County, Ohio. It was the site of the Union Literary Institute, founded in 1846 by Quakers and free people of color. It was primarily for black students of the area, but also accepted whites as one of the first racially integrated schools in the United States. Other predominately black settlements were Cabin Creek, about 10 miles southwest of Winchester, Indiana; and Snow Hill, between Winchester and Lynn, Indiana.

Given its settlement history, with many migrants from the northern tier, Randolph County was politically dominated by the Republican Party into the early twentieth century. Between 1858 and 1931, the county produced two Governors, one Congressman, one U. S. Senator, three Indiana Secretaries of State, and one State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The county's population growth slowed after 1880.

Randolph County answered the problem of rural decline in the early twentieth century by embracing much of the Country Life Movement. The county consolidated its rural schools. This was done under the leadership of Lee L. Driver, a county native who became the nation's leading expert on rural school consolidation. Randolph County became the exemplar of the movement, and was the subject of many publications and visits from officials from as far away as Canada and China.

In the early 21st century, residents in Winchester, Union City, and Farmland have sought to revitalize Randolph County through a renewed focus on historic preservation, heritage tourism, and the arts. The county is included in the Ohio River National Freedom Corridor, as many refugees from slavery sought escape via crossing the Ohio River and using aid of residents at stops along the Underground Railroad, sometimes traveling further north and into Canada. In 2016 a state historical marker was installed at the site of the Union Literary Institute, to recognize its contributions to black and interracial education, and the cause of freedom.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of , of which (or 99.79%) is land and (or 0.21%) is water.

In recent years, average temperatures in Winchester 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 September 1953. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in February to in June.

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.

Education

Five school districts have territory in Randolph County:

Randolph Central School Corporation
Randolph Eastern School Corporation
Randolph Southern School Corporation
Monroe Central School Corporation
Union School Corporation

High schools

Union High School (Modoc)
Randolph Southern High School
Union City High School (Randolph Eastern)
Winchester Community High School (Randolph Central)
Monroe Central High School

Junior high/middle schools

Union Jr. High School
Randolph Southern Jr. High School
West Side Middle School (Randolph Eastern)
Lee L. Driver Middle School (Randolph Central)
Monroe Central Jr. High School

Elementary schools

Union Elementary School
Randolph Southern Elementary School
North Side Elementary School (Randolph Eastern)
Deerfield Elementary School (Randolph Central)
O.R. Baker Elementary School (Randolph Central)
Willard Elementary School (Randolph Central)
Monroe Central Elementary School

Notable residents

Congressman Thomas M. Browne.
John R. Commons, nationally known economist.
Governor James P. Goodrich.
Governor Isaac P. Gray.
Wendell M. Stanley, Nobel Prize Winner in Chemistry.
Senator James E. Watson.
Robert Wise (1914–2005), Hollywood director, was born in Winchester.
Jim Jones (1931–1978), 1970s leader of the Peoples Temple and founder of Jonestown.
Rick Derringer of the group, The McCoys, who had the hit song, "Hang On Sloopy". He also did "Rock N Roll Hoochie Koo" and toured with the Ringo Starr, All-Star Band.
Randy Hobbs, also of the McCoys, one of the great bass guitarists in music history. He also played with Jimi Hendrix, and the Johnny and Edgar Winters Bands.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 24,502. The median age was 43.3 years. 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.3 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 92.2% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.6% from some other race, and 4.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.7% of the population.

There were 10,193 households in the county, of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.9% were married-couple households, 19.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The population density was . There were 11,743 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 96.1% white, 0.4% black or African American, 0.3% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 1.8% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.0% of the population.

Of the 10,451 households, 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.2% were non-families, and 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.93. The median age was 40.8 years.