Crawford County is a county located in the U.S. state

U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

 of Indiana

Indiana

Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...

. As of 2010, the population was 10,713. The county seat

County seat

A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....

 is English

English, Indiana

English is a town in and the county seat of Sterling Township, Crawford County, Indiana, United States. The population was 645 at the 2010 census, making it one of Indiana's smallest county seats.-Geography:English is located at ....

.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 308.72 square miles (799.6 km²), of which 305.64 square miles (791.6 km²) (or 99.00%) is land and 3.08 square miles (8 km²) (or 1.00%) is water.

Cities and towns

• Alton
  Alton, Indiana
  Alton is a town in Boone Township, Crawford County, Indiana, United States. The population was 55 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Alton is located at ....
  
  
• Eckerty
  Eckerty, Indiana
  Eckerty is an unincorporated town in Johnson Township, Crawford County, Indiana....
  
  
• English
  English, Indiana
  English is a town in and the county seat of Sterling Township, Crawford County, Indiana, United States. The population was 645 at the 2010 census, making it one of Indiana's smallest county seats.-Geography:English is located at ....
  
  
• Leavenworth
  Leavenworth, Indiana
  Leavenworth is a town in Jennings Township, Crawford County, Indiana, along the Ohio River. The population was 238 at the 2010 census.- Foundation and early settlement :...
  
  
• Marengo
  Marengo, Indiana
  Marengo is a town in Liberty Township, Crawford County, Indiana, United States. The population was 828 at the 2010 census. One of the tourist attractions and sources of revenue for the town is Marengo Cave, a U.S. National Landmark...
  
  
• Milltown
  Milltown, Indiana
  Milltown is a town in Blue River and Spencer townships in Harrison County and Whiskey Run Township in Crawford County, Indiana, United States. The population was 818 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Milltown is located at ....
  
  
• Taswell
  Taswell, Indiana
  Taswell is an unincorporated community in Patoka Township, Crawford County, Indiana, located on State Road 64 west of the county seat of English. It was established at a crossroads and had a post office and a small railroad depot serving the farmers and other inhabitants of the area...
  
  

Unincorporated areas

• Grantsburg
  Grantsburg, Indiana
  Grantsburg is an unincorporated town in Union Township, Crawford County, Indiana....
  
  
• Mifflin
• Sulphur
  Sulphur, Indiana
  Sulphur is an unincorporated town in Union Township, Crawford County, Indiana....
  
  
• Wickliffe
  Wickliffe, Indiana
  Wickliffe is an unincorporated community in Patoka Township, Crawford County, Indiana....
  
  

Townships

• Boone
  Boone Township, Crawford County, Indiana
  Boone Township is one of nine townships in Crawford County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 174.-Geography:Boone Township covers an area of ; of this is water.-Unincorporated towns:* Deuchars...
  
  
• Jennings
  Jennings Township, Crawford County, Indiana
  Jennings Township is one of nine townships in Crawford County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,386.-Geography:Jennings Township covers an area of ; of this is water...
  
  
• Johnson
  Johnson Township, Crawford County, Indiana
  Johnson Township is one of nine townships in Crawford County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 556.-Unincorporated towns:* Eckerty-Adjacent townships:...
  
  
• Liberty
  Liberty Township, Crawford County, Indiana
  Liberty Township is one of nine townships in Crawford County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 2,045.-Adjacent townships:* Southeast Township, Orange County * Whiskey Run Township * Sterling Township...
  
  
• Ohio
  Ohio Township, Crawford County, Indiana
  Ohio Township is one of nine townships in Crawford County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 689.-Geography:Ohio Township covers an area of ; of this is water.-Unincorporated towns:* Artist Point* Beechwood* Cape Sandy...
  
  
• Patoka
  Patoka Township, Crawford County, Indiana
  Patoka Township is one of nine townships in Crawford County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,402.-Geography:Patoka Township covers an area of ; of this is water.-Unincorporated towns:* Newton Stewart* Riceville...
  
  
• Sterling
  Sterling Township, Crawford County, Indiana
  Sterling Township is one of nine townships in Crawford County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,668.-Geography:Sterling Township covers an area of ; of this is water...
  
  
• Union
  Union Township, Crawford County, Indiana
  Union Township is one of nine townships in Crawford County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 838.-Unincorporated towns:* Grantsburg* Mifflin* Sulphur* West Fork...
  
  
• Whiskey Run
  Whiskey Run Township, Crawford County, Indiana
  Whiskey Run Township is one of nine townships in Crawford County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,985.-Adjacent townships:* Posey Township, Washington County * Blue River Township, Harrison County...
  
  

Major highways

• Interstate 64
  Interstate 64
  Interstate 64 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western terminus is at I-70, U.S. 40, and U.S. 61 in Wentzville, Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at an interchange with I-264 and I-664 at Bowers Hill in Chesapeake, Virginia. As I-64 is concurrent with...
  
  
• Indiana State Road 37
  Indiana State Road 37
  State Road 37 in the U.S. State of Indiana is a major route in Indiana, running as a 4-lane divided highway for 110 miles of its course....
  
  
• Indiana State Road 62
  Indiana State Road 62
  State Road 62 in the U.S. State of Indiana is an east–west route that runs from the Illinois state line in the southwest corner of Indiana to the Louisville, Kentucky area, then northeast toward the Cincinnati, Ohio area.-Route description:...
  
  
• Indiana State Road 64
  Indiana State Road 64
  State Road 64 in the U.S. State of Indiana is an east–west highway that crosses most of the southern portion of the state, covering a distance of about .-Route description:...
  
  
• Indiana State Road 66
  Indiana State Road 66
  State Road 66 is an east–west highway in six counties in the southernmost portion of the U.S. state of Indiana.-Route description:State Road 66 begins at the eastern end of a toll bridge over the Wabash River in New Harmony and ends at U.S. Route 150 east of Hardinsburg...
  
  
• Indiana State Road 145
  Indiana State Road 145
  State Road 145 is a north–south road in the southwest portion of the U.S. State of Indiana.-Route description:State Road 145 begins at State Road 37 about to the northeast of Tell City, near the Perry County Municipal Airport. It runs north through the small towns of Bristow and Sassafras,...
  
  

Adjacent counties

• Orange County
  Orange County, Indiana
  As of the census of 2000, there were 19,306 people, 7,621 households, and 5,342 families residing in the county. The population density was 48 people per square mile . There were 8,348 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...
  
    (north)
• Washington County
  Washington County, Indiana
  Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 28,262. The county seat is Salem.Washington County is part of the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY–IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Early settlers:...
  
    (northeast)
• Harrison County
  Harrison County, Indiana
  Harrison County is a county located in the far southern part of the U.S. state of Indiana along the Ohio River. It is divided into twelve townships, and the county seat is Corydon, the former capital of Indiana. The county is part of the larger Louisville/Jefferson County, KY–IN Metropolitan...
  
    (east)
• Meade County
  Meade County, Kentucky
  As of the census of 2000, there were 26,349 people, 9,470 households, and 7,396 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 10,293 housing units at an average density of...
  
  , Kentucky
  Kentucky
  The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
  
    (south)
• Perry County
  Perry County, Indiana
  Perry County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 19,338. The county seat is Tell City. It is the hilliest county as well as one of the most forested counties of in Indiana as it features more than of Hoosier National Forest...
  
   (southwest)
• Dubois County
  Dubois County, Indiana
  Dubois County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. The county seat is Jasper. As of 2010, the population was 41,889.Dubois County is part of the Jasper Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
  
   (west)

History

Crawford County was formed in 1818. Some say it was named for William H. Crawford

William H. Crawford

William Harris Crawford was an American politician and judge during the early 19th century. He served as United States Secretary of War from 1815 to 1816 and United States Secretary of the Treasury from 1816 to 1825, and was a candidate for President of the United States in 1824.-Political...

, who was U.S. Treasury Secretary in 1818. Others say it was named for Col. William Crawford

William Crawford (soldier)

William Crawford was an American soldier and surveyor who worked as a western land agent for George Washington. Crawford fought in the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War...

, who fought in the French and Indian War

French and Indian War

The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...

 and Revolutionary War, and who was burned and scalped by Indians

Native Americans in the United States

Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...

 in 1782 in what is now Wyandot County

Wyandot County, Ohio

As of the census of 2000, there were 22,908 people, 8,882 households, and 6,270 families residing in the county. The population density was 56 people per square mile . There were 9,324 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile...

, Ohio

Ohio

Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...

. The county seat was in Leavenworth for several decades but eventually moved to English.

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in English have ranged from a low of 21 °F (-6.1 °C) in January to a high of 88 °F (31.1 °C) in July, although a record low of -31 °F was recorded in January 1977 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded in July 1983. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 3.13 inches (8 cm) in October to 5.06 inches (12.9 cm) in May.

Government

The county government is a constitutional body, and is granted specific powers by the Constitution of Indiana

Constitution of Indiana

There have been two Constitutions of the State of Indiana. The first constitution was created when the Territory of Indiana sent forty-three delegates to a constitutional convention on June 10, 1816 to establish a constitution for the proposed State of Indiana after the United States Congress had...

, and by the Indiana Code

Indiana Code

The Indiana Code is the code of laws for the US State of Indiana. The contents are the codification of the all the laws currently in effect within Indiana...

.

County Council: The county council is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all the spending and revenue collection in the county. Representatives are elected from county districts. 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.

Court: The county maintains a small claims court

Small claims court

Small-claims courts have limited jurisdiction to hear civil cases between private litigants. Courts authorized to try small claims may also have other judicial functions, and the name by which such a court is known varies by jurisdiction; it may be known as a county or magistrate's court...

 that can handle some civil cases. The judge on the court is elected to a term of four years and must be a member of the Indiana Bar Association. The judge is assisted by a constable who is also elected to a four-year term. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level circuit court

Circuit court

Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...

.

County Officials: The county has several other elected offices, including sheriff

Sheriff

A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....

, coroner

Coroner

A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...

, auditor, treasurer

Treasurer

A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...

, recorder

Recorder of deeds

Recorder of deeds is a government office tasked with maintaining public records and documents, especially records relating to real estate ownership that provide persons other than the owner of a property with real rights over that property.-Background:...

, surveyor

Surveying

See Also: Public Land Survey SystemSurveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them...

, and circuit court clerk

Court clerk

A court clerk is an officer of the court whose responsibilities include maintaining the records of a court. Another duty is to administer oaths to witnesses, jurors, and grand jurors...

. Each of these elected officers serves a term of four years and oversees a different part of county government. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare a party

Political party

A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...

 affiliation and to be residents of the county.

Crawford County is part of Indiana's 9th congressional district

Indiana's 9th congressional district

Indiana's 9th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Indiana. Located in south-central and southeastern Indiana, the district is based in Bloomington....

 and is represented in Congress by Republican Todd Young

Todd Young

Todd Christopher Young is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party.- Early life:Young was born was born August 24, 1972, the second of three children of Bruce and Nancy Young. He lived in Marion County for several years before settling in Hamilton County, where he...

. It is also part of Indiana Senate

Indiana Senate

The Indiana Senate is the upper house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The Senate is composed of 50 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. Senators serve four-year terms without term limits...

 district 47 and Indiana House of Representatives

Indiana House of Representatives

The Indiana House of Representatives is the lower house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The House is composed of 100 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. House members serve two-year terms without term limits...

 district 73.

External links

• Crawford County Economic Development Office
• Official Crawford County Tourism Site
• CCCN.net The Homepage for Crawford County Indiana
• Indiana State Library County Names List

Sources