Ohio County
County
Ohio County Courthouse in Rising Sun
Location within the U.S. state of Indiana
Indiana's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°57′N 84°58′W / 38.95°N 84.97°W / 38.95; -84.97
Country	United States
State	Indiana
Founded	1844
Named for	Ohio River
Seat	Rising Sun
Largest city	Rising Sun
Area
• Total	87.43 sq mi (226.4 km2)
• Land	86.14 sq mi (223.1 km2)
• Water	1.29 sq mi (3.3 km2)  1.48%
Population  (2020)
• Total	5,940
• Estimate  (2023)	6,004
• Density	68/sq mi (26/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	6th
Indiana county number 58 FIPS County Code 115 Smallest county in Indiana in area Least populated county in Indiana

Ohio County is a county located in southeastern Indiana. With a 2020 population of 5,940, and an area of just 87 square miles, Ohio County is the smallest county in Indiana by area and the least populous.^[1] The county seat and only incorporated municipality is Rising Sun.^[2][3] The county was officially established in 1844 and was one of the last Indiana counties to be created. Ohio County borders the state of Kentucky across the Ohio River for which it was named. It is part of the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county is divided into four townships which provide local services.^[4][5] Three state roads pass through or into the county.^[6]

History

Dearborn County was formed from Indiana Territory in 1803, and its borders were modified several times, both before and after the creation of the state of Indiana in 1816. Ohio County was created out of Dearborn County, authorized by legislative action effective January 4, 1844, to resolve a dispute of county seat between Rising Sun and Lawrenceburg.^[7] It was named for the Ohio River, which defines its eastern border.^[8]

The Ohio County courthouse was built in the county seat of Rising Sun in 1845. It is a two-story Greek Revival brick building measuring about 60 feet (18 m) by 40 feet (12 m), including the portico supported by Doric pillars.^[9] This courthouse is still in use and is the oldest continuously used courthouse in the state.^[10]

Geography

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 87.43 square miles (226.4 km²), of which 86.14 square miles (223.1 km²) (or 98.52%) is land and 1.29 square miles (3.3 km²) (or 1.48%) is water.^[11]

Adjacent counties

• Boone County, Kentucky – east
• Dearborn County – north
• Ripley County – northwest
• Switzerland County – south

Communities

Incorporated communities

• Rising Sun – on the banks of the Ohio River

Unincorporated communities

Townships

• Cass
• Pike
• Randolph
• Union

Transportation

Highways

• US Route 50 in Dearborn County passes within 2 miles (3.2 km) of Ohio County's northern border.^[12]
• State Road 56 enters from Switzerland County to the south and passes east along the southern border, then north through Rising Sun and along the river, continuing north to Dearborn county.^[13]
• State Road 156 runs along the Ohio River in Switzerland County, and enters the far southeast part of Ohio County, continuing NW and north to its intersection with State Road 56, 1.5 miles inside Ohio County.^[14]
• State Road 262 enters from Dillsboro and crosses the county in a general eastern direction, ending in Rising Sun.^[15]

Railroads

There are no active railroad lines in the county.^[16]

Education

Ohio County has two schools managed by a single school corporation.^[17] The Ohio County Elementary–Middle School served a total of 636 students during the 2009–2010 school year.^[18] Rising Sun High School served a total of 264 students during the same period.^[19]

Ohio County residents are served by the Ohio County Public Library with a single branch in Rising Sun.^[20]

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in Rising Sun have ranged from a low of 21 °F (−6 °C) in January to a high of 87 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −23 °F (−31 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded in July 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.92 inches (74 mm) in October to 4.83 inches (123 mm) in June.^[21]

Government

The county government is a constitutional body granted specific powers by the Constitution of Indiana and the Indiana Code. The county council is the legislative branch of the county government and controls all spending and revenue collection. Representatives are elected from county districts. The council members serve four-year terms and 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.^[22][23]

A board of commissioners serves as the county's executive body. The commissioners are elected county–wide to staggered four–year terms. One commissioner serves as board president. The board executes the acts legislated by the council, collects revenue, and manages day-to-day functions of the county government.^[22][23]

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 elected to a four-year term. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level circuit court which is shared with neighboring Dearborn County.^[23][24]

The county has several other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor and circuit court clerk; they are elected to four–year terms. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare party affiliations and be residents of the county.^[23]

Each of the townships has a trustee who administers rural fire protection and ambulance service, provides poor relief and manages cemetery care, among other duties.^[5] The trustee is assisted in these duties by a three-member township board. The trustees and board members are elected to four-year terms.^[25]

Ohio County is part of Indiana's 6th congressional district; Indiana Senate district 43;^[26] and Indiana House of Representatives district 68.^[27]