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Owen County, Indiana facts for kids

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Owen County
Owen County Courthouse in Spencer, Indiana
Owen County Courthouse in Spencer, Indiana
Map of Indiana highlighting Owen County
Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
Map of the United States highlighting Indiana
Indiana's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Indiana
Founded 21 December 1818 (authorized)
1819 (organized)
Named for Abraham Owen
Seat Spencer
Largest town Spencer
Area
 • Total 387.82 sq mi (1,004.4 km2)
 • Land 385.29 sq mi (997.9 km2)
 • Water 2.54 sq mi (6.6 km2)  0.65%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2018)
20,845
 • Density 54.1/sq mi (20.9/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 8th
Website Owen County Official Website: http://owencounty.in.gov/
Indiana county number 60

Owen County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. In 1920 the United States Census Bureau calculated the mean center of U.S. population to fall within this county. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 21,575. The county seat is Spencer.

Owen County is part of the Bloomington, Indiana, Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 387.82 square miles (1,004.4 km2), of which 385.29 square miles (997.9 km2) (or 99.35%) is land and 2.54 square miles (6.6 km2) (or 0.65%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

  • US 231.svg U.S. Route 231
  • Indiana 42.svg Indiana State Road 42
  • Indiana 43.svg Indiana State Road 43
  • Indiana 46.svg Indiana State Road 46
  • Indiana 67.svg Indiana State Road 67
  • Indiana 157.svg Indiana State Road 157
  • Indiana 243.svg Indiana State Road 243
  • Indiana 246.svg Indiana State Road 246

History

Owen County was formed in 1819. It was named after Abraham Owen, a colonel who died at the Battle of Tippecanoe.

In 1920, the United States Census reported Owen County as the Center of Population for the US at a point 8 miles south-southeast of Spencer, Indiana. The center moved the shortest distance since census data collecting began in 1790 (just under 10 miles) from its previous center in Bloomington, IN. When the East experienced high rates of growth, as it did in the decades between 1890 and 1920, the Westward movement of the center slowed.

Climate and weather

Weather chart for Spencer, Indiana
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
2.6
 
34
15
 
 
2.6
 
40
19
 
 
3.7
 
51
28
 
 
4.5
 
62
37
 
 
5
 
72
47
 
 
4.7
 
81
57
 
 
4.6
 
84
61
 
 
4.5
 
82
59
 
 
3.3
 
76
50
 
 
3.2
 
65
38
 
 
4.1
 
52
30
 
 
3.3
 
40
21
temperatures in °F
precipitation totals in inches
source: The Weather Channel

In recent years, average temperatures in Spencer have ranged from a low of 15 °F (−9 °C) in January to a high of 84 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −33 °F (−36 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 107 °F (42 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.56 inches (65 mm) in January to 4.97 inches (126 mm) in May.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1820 838
1830 4,017 379.4%
1840 8,359 108.1%
1850 12,106 44.8%
1860 14,376 18.8%
1870 16,137 12.2%
1880 15,901 −1.5%
1890 15,040 −5.4%
1900 15,149 0.7%
1910 14,053 −7.2%
1920 12,760 −9.2%
1930 11,351 −11.0%
1940 12,090 6.5%
1950 11,763 −2.7%
1960 11,400 −3.1%
1970 12,163 6.7%
1980 15,841 30.2%
1990 17,281 9.1%
2000 21,786 26.1%
2010 21,575 −1.0%
2015 (est.) 20,872 −3.3%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2013

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 21,575 people, 8,486 households, and 5,992 families residing in the county. The population density was 56.0 inhabitants per square mile (21.6/km2). There were 10,091 housing units at an average density of 26.2 per square mile (10.1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.9% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.2% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 28.7% were German, 20.7% were Irish, 8.9% were English, and 8.4% were American.

Of the 8,486 households, 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.4% were non-families, and 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.96. The median age was 42.4 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $52,343. Males had a median income of $40,668 versus $30,556 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,581. About 9.2% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.8% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Unincorporated towns

Coal City, Freedom, Patricksburg, Quincy

Townships

  • Clay
  • Franklin
  • Harrison
  • Jackson
  • Jefferson
  • Jennings
  • Lafayette
  • Marion
  • Montgomery
  • Morgan
  • Taylor
  • Washington
  • Wayne

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Owen (Indiana) para niños

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