Delaware County, Indiana

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Delaware County, Indiana
Seal of Delaware County, Indiana
Map of Indiana highlighting Delaware County
Location in the state of Indiana
Map of the United States highlighting Indiana
Indiana's location in the U.S.
Founded 1827
Seat Muncie
Largest city Muncie
 • Total 395.91 sq mi (1,025 km2)
 • Land 392.12 sq mi (1,016 km2)
 • Water 3.78 sq mi (10 km2), 0.95%
 • (2010) 117,671
 • Density 299/sq mi (115.48/km²)
Congressional district 6th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Footnotes: Indiana county number 18

Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 117,671.[1] The county seat is Muncie.[2]

Delaware County is part of the Muncie, IN metropolitan statistical area.


Muncie from the northwest.

Delaware County was formed in 1827. It was named for the Delaware, a Native American people who then still inhabited the area. The Delaware were moved to new lands west of the Mississippi River in the 1840s. The county was once home to The Prophet, a brother of Tecumseh who instigated a major Indian uprising in 1811. David Conner was the first white settler, arriving in the early 1810s.[3]

Following the American Civil War the county experienced an economic boom caused by the discovery of natural gas, which spurred rapid industrial growth in the surrounding area.

The first discovery of natural gas in Indiana occurred in 1876 in the town of Eaton. A company was drilling in search of coal, and when they had reaching a depth of six-hundred feet, there was a loud noise and foul smelling fumes began coming from the well. After a brief investigation, it was decided they had breached the ceiling of Hell, and the hole was quickly filled in. In 1884, when natural gas was discovered in nearby Ohio, people recalled the incident. They returned to the spot and opened Indiana's first natural gas well. The gas was so abundant and strong that when the well was lit, the flames could be see from Muncie.[4]


According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 395.91 square miles (1,025.4 km2), of which 392.12 square miles (1,015.6 km2) (or 99.04%) is land and 3.78 square miles (9.8 km2) (or 0.95%) is water.[5] The county is drained by White and Mississinewa rivers. The surface is level, and the soil fertile.[6]

Cities and towns[edit]


Major highways[edit]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Climate and weather[edit]

Muncie, Indiana
Climate chart (explanation)
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[7]

In recent years, average temperatures in Muncie have ranged from a low of 16 °F (−9 °C) in January to a high of 85 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −29 °F (−34 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 102 °F (39 °C) was recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.06 inches (52 mm) in January to 4.28 inches (109 mm) in June.[7]







Delaware County is part of Indiana's 6th congressional district; Indiana Senate district 26;[10] and Indiana House of Representatives districts 33, 34 and 35.[11]


Historical population
Census Pop.
1820 3,677
1830 2,374 −35.4%
1840 8,843 272.5%
1850 10,843 22.6%
1860 15,753 45.3%
1870 19,030 20.8%
1880 22,926 20.5%
1890 30,131 31.4%
1900 49,624 64.7%
1910 51,414 3.6%
1920 56,377 9.7%
1930 67,270 19.3%
1940 74,963 11.4%
1950 90,252 20.4%
1960 110,938 22.9%
1970 129,219 16.5%
1980 128,587 −0.5%
1990 119,659 −6.9%
2000 118,769 −0.7%
2010 117,671 −0.9%
Est. 2012 117,364 −0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
2012 Estimate[13]

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 118,769 people, 47,131 households, and 29,692 families residing in the county. The population density was 302 people per square mile (117/km²). There were 51,032 housing units at an average density of 130 per square mile (50/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.73% White, 6.72% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. 1.10% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 22.7% were of American, 20.9% German, 12.2% English and 9.8% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 47,131 households out of which 27.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.50% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.00% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the county the population was spread out with 22.10% under the age of 18, 16.90% from 18 to 24, 25.60% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 13.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 92.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,659, and the median income for a family was $45,394. Males had a median income of $36,155 versus $23,268 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,233. About 9.00% of families and 15.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.70% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.

See also[edit]


  1. ^ "Delaware County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-09-17. 
  4. ^ Gray, Ralph (1995). Indiana History: A Book of Readings. Indiana University Press. p. 187. ISBN 0-253-32629-X. 
  6. ^ Wikisource-logo.svg "Delaware, the name of five counties in the United States. IV. An E. county of Indiana". The American Cyclopædia. 1879. 
  7. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Muncie, Indiana". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2011-01-27. 
  12. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". Retrieved July 29, 2013. 
  13. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Retrieved July 29, 2013. 

External links[edit]

Coordinates: 40°14′N 85°24′W﻿ / ﻿40.23°N 85.40°W﻿ / 40.23; -85.40