Crawford County
County
Crawford County Courthouse in English
Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
Indiana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°17′N 86°28′W / 38.29°N 86.46°W / 38.29; -86.46
Country	United States
State	Indiana
Founded	January 5, 1818
Named for	William H. Crawford
Seat	English
Largest town	Marengo
Area
• Total	308.72 sq mi (799.6 km2)
• Land	305.64 sq mi (791.6 km2)
• Water	3.08 sq mi (8.0 km2)  1.00%
Population  (2020)
• Total	10,526
• Estimate  (2023)	10,438
• Density	34/sq mi (13/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts	8th, 9th
Website	www.crawfordcounty.in.gov
Indiana county number 13

Crawford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2020, the population was 10,526.^[1] The county seat is English.^[2]

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 (8.0 km²) (or 1.00%) is water.^[3] Much like the rest of South Central Indiana, the terrain of Crawford County is primarily made up of wooded hills, many of them steep.

Cities and towns

• Alton
• English
• Leavenworth
• Marengo
• Milltown

Unincorporated areas

• Beechwood
• Carefree
• Curby
• Eckerty
• Fredonia
• Grantsburg
• Mifflin
• Riceville
• Riddle
• Sulphur
• Taswell
• West Fork
• Wickliffe

Townships

• Boone
• Jennings
• Johnson
• Liberty
• Ohio
• Patoka
• Sterling
• Union
• Whiskey Run

Transit

• Southern Indiana Transit System

Major highways

• Interstate 64
• Indiana State Road 37
• Indiana State Road 62
• Indiana State Road 64
• Indiana State Road 66
• Indiana State Road 145
• Indiana State Road 164
• Indiana State Road 237

Adjacent counties

• Orange County (north)
• Washington County (northeast)
• Harrison County (east)
• Meade County, Kentucky (south)
• Perry County (southwest/CT Boundary)
• Dubois County (west)

National protected area

• Hoosier National Forest (part)

History

Crawford County was formed on January 5, 1818, from land in the Harrison, Orange, and Perry counties, prompted by a petition of what would become of Crawford County's population.^[4] Some say it was named for William H. Crawford, who was U.S. Treasury Secretary in 1818. Others say it was named for Col. William Crawford,^[5] who fought in the French and Indian War and Revolutionary War, and who was burned and scalped by Indians in 1782 in what is now Wyandot County, Ohio. The county seat was in Leavenworth for several decades but eventually moved to English.^[6]

Bands of "White Caps" terrorized the county in the late 1880s, according to a report by Attorney General Louis T. Michener. Blacks and others they disliked were forced out; victims, both male and female, were severely whipped.^[7]

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in English have ranged from a low of 21 °F (−6 °C) in January to a high of 88 °F (31 °C) in July. Although, a record low of −31 °F (−35 °C) 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 (80 mm) in October to 5.06 inches (129 mm) in May.^[8]

Government

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

County Council: The county council is the fiscal 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.^[9][10]

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.^[9][10]

Court: The county maintains a small claims 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.^[10]

County Officials: The county has several other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor, and circuit court clerk. 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 affiliation and to be residents of the county.^[10]

Crawford County is part of Indiana's 8th congressional district and is represented in Congress by Republican Larry Bucshon. It is also part of Indiana Senate district 47^[11] and Indiana House of Representatives district 73.^[12]