kids encyclopedia robot

Ripley County, Indiana facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Ripley County
Ripley County Courthouse in Versailles
Ripley County Courthouse in Versailles
Map of Indiana highlighting Ripley 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 December 27, 1816
Named for Eleazer Wheelock Ripley
Seat Versailles
Largest city Batesville
Area
 • Total 448.06 sq mi (1,160.5 km2)
 • Land 446.43 sq mi (1,156.2 km2)
 • Water 1.64 sq mi (4.2 km2)  0.37%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 28,995
 • Density 64.7123/sq mi (24.9856/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 6th
Website http://www.ripleycounty.com/
Indiana county number 69
FIPS Code 137

Ripley County is a county located at the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of Indiana. According to the 2020 Census, the population was 28,995. The county seat is Versailles.

History

Ripley County was formed on December 27, 1816, in the same legislative act that created Jennings County. It was named for Gen. Eleazer Wheelock Ripley, an officer in the War of 1812, who figured in the Battle of Lundy's Lane and the Siege of Fort Erie during 1814.

Geography

The county seat of Ripley County is Versailles, Indiana. It was selected as the county seat in 1818, and was laid out in 1819.

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 448.06 square miles (1,160.5 km2), of which 446.43 square miles (1,156.2 km2) (or 99.64%) is land and 1.64 square miles (4.2 km2) (or 0.37%) is water.

Overview of townships
Township Established Year Area mi2 Area km2 Population Incorporated Towns
Adams 1858 43.79 113.42 5119 Batesville (part), Sunman
Brown 1823 53.67 139 1597
Center 1858 29.51 76.43 2657 Osgood
Delaware 1823 33.27 86.17 1437
Franklin 1823 36.6 94.79 3773 Milan (part)
Jackson 1823 29.87 77.36 965 Napoleon
Johnson 1823 54.98 142.4 3685 Versailles
Laughery 1819 25.97 67.26 4736 Batesville (part)
Otter Creek 1858 41.69 107.98 1410 Holton
Shelby 1823 69.39 179.72 999
Washington 1823 29.33 75.96 2440 Milan (part)
Ripley County 1816 448.06 1160.471 28,181

Unincorporated communities

Ghost towns

Adjacent counties

Major highways

  • I-74.svg Interstate 74 – runs east–west across northern tip of county.
  • US 50.svg US Route 50 – runs east–west across middle of county, through Holton and Versailles.
  • US 421.svg US Route 421 - enters from Decatur County near northwest tip of Ripley County. Runs SSE to Versailles, then SSW into Jefferson County.
  • Indiana 46.svg State Road 46 – runs east–west across northern tip of county, paralleling Interstate 74 on its south side.
  • Indiana 48.svg State Road 48 – runs east–west across upper portion of county, through Napoleon.
  • Indiana 62.svg State Road 62 – begins at intersection with State Road 129, north of Cross Plains. Runs east through Friendship to Dearborn County.
  • Indiana 101.svg State Road 101 – begins at intersection with US Route 50 near east county line. Runs north to Penntown.
  • Indiana 129.svg State Road 129 – begins at intersection with State Road 46 east of Batesville, runs south to Versailles, then SSE through Cross Plains into Switzerland County.
  • Indiana 229.svg State Road 229 – enters from Franklin County at Batesville, runs SSW to Ballstown then south and west to Napoleon. Runs west to Decatur County.
  • Indiana 350.svg State Road 350 – begins at intersection with US 421 at Osgood, runs east through Delaware and Pierceville into Dearborn County.

National protected area

  • Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Climate and weather

Weather chart for Versailles, Indiana
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
3.1
 
35
18
 
 
2.7
 
40
21
 
 
3.8
 
51
30
 
 
4.1
 
62
38
 
 
5.3
 
71
47
 
 
4
 
79
57
 
 
3.9
 
84
61
 
 
4.6
 
82
59
 
 
2.9
 
76
51
 
 
3
 
65
40
 
 
3.1
 
52
32
 
 
3.5
 
40
23
temperatures in °F
precipitation totals in inches
source: The Weather Channel

In recent years, average temperatures in Versailles have ranged from a low of 18 °F (−8 °C) in January to a high of 84 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −28 °F (−33 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 100 °F (38 °C) was recorded in July 1999. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.71 inches (69 mm) in February to 5.27 inches (134 mm) in May.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1820 1,822
1830 3,989 118.9%
1840 10,392 160.5%
1850 14,820 42.6%
1860 19,054 28.6%
1870 20,977 10.1%
1880 21,627 3.1%
1890 19,350 −10.5%
1900 19,881 2.7%
1910 19,452 −2.2%
1920 18,694 −3.9%
1930 18,078 −3.3%
1940 18,898 4.5%
1950 18,763 −0.7%
1960 20,641 10.0%
1970 21,138 2.4%
1980 24,398 15.4%
1990 24,616 0.9%
2000 26,523 7.7%
2010 28,818 8.7%
2020 28,995 0.6%
2023 (est.) 29,227 1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 28,818 people, 10,789 households, and 7,910 families residing in the county. The population density was 64.6 inhabitants per square mile (24.9/km2). There were 11,952 housing units at an average density of 26.8 per square mile (10.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.6% white, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.5% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 43.4% were German, 14.2% were American, 13.9% were Irish, and 8.7% were English.

Of the 10,789 households, 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.1% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 26.7% were non-families, and 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.08. The median age was 39.2 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $57,305. Males had a median income of $41,711 versus $31,927 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,025. About 7.5% of families and 9.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.3% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.

See also

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

kids search engine
Ripley County, Indiana Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.