1. GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 3 (2006) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes 1 GIS in Prevention County Profiles Series, No. 3 Adams County, Indiana Barbara Seitz de Martinez, PhD, MLS, CPP The Indiana Prevention Resource Center at Indiana University is funded, in part, by a contract with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, financially supported through HHS/Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant. The IPRC is operated by the Department of Applied Health Science and The School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. THE INDIANA PREVENTION RESOURCE CENTER

2. GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 3 (2006) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes GIS in Prevention County Profile Series, No. 3 Adams County, Indiana Barbara Seitz de Martinez, PhD, MLS, CPP Project Staff: Indiana Prevention Resource Center Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors, and not necessarily those of the Trustees of Indiana University or the Division of Mental Health and Addiction. Indiana University accepts full Responsibility for the content of this publication. ©2005 The Trustees of Indiana University. Permission is extended to reproduce this County Profile for non-profit educational purposes. All other rights reserved. Ritika Bhawal, MPH Solomon Briggs Kyoungsun Heo, MPA Srinivasa Konchada

3. GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 3 (2006) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Adams County is located in northeastern Indiana on the Ohio border, south of Allen County, north of Jay County, and east of Wells County. Adams County crossed by U.S. Highways 27 and 244. Adams County is part of the Indiana and Ohio Till Plain resource area. The area is characterized by hardwood forest vegetation. Major tree species are oak, ash, elm, hickory, and cottonwood. The landscape of Adams County is nearly level except in the north along St. Mary’s River and in the south along the Wabash River. This County is in the Eastern Time Zone and observes DST. Temperatures range from about 17 ٥ - 33 ٥ in January and from about 63 ٥ - 85 ٥ in July. Average annual precipitation is 36-38 inches and snowfall from 30-35 inches. The first freeze of the season typically is around October 5-10 and the last freeze around May 5-10 th, so there are around 148-158 growing days. Main crops include corn for grain, hay, soybeans, winter wheat and oats. Main vegetables are Irish potatoes, sweet corn and tomatoes. The County is important in Indiana for milk and milk products. Main natural resources include construction sand and gravel, crushed stone, and petroleum. Cities include the county seat, Decatur, and Berne. Townships include Blue Creek, French, Harford, Jefferson, Kirkland, Monroe, Preble, Root, St. Marys, Union, Wabash, and Washington. 3. Location and Historical Notes Sources: Map from PCensus for MapInfo; Notes from Indiana Facts: Flying the Colors by John Clements, 1995.

4. GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 3 (2006) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Adams County The maps and tables in this publication were prepared using PCensus 7.06 for MapInfo and MapInfo Professional 7.0.

5. GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 3 (2006) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes A famous son of Adams County is movie director David Anspaugh (1946-) of Decatur, whose films include Hoosiers, Rudy, and Moonlight and Valentino, and Fresh Horses. Though during high school he was a member of the high school basketball team, David was better known as a successful quarterback on the varsity football team. He was also a record setting pole vaulter. A graduate of Indiana University, he won two Emmys for episodes of Hill Street Blues. David says he was inspired by his father, Lawrence Anspaugh, of Decatur, who is a past president of the Professional Photographers of America. (Nelson Price, Indiana Legends, Carmel: Guild Press of Indiana, Inc., 1997, p. 195) Adams County is not a tobacco-producing county, according to the Strategic Development Group’s “Alternative Agricultural Strategy” (Bloomington, March 15, 2001) report, which is part of Governor Joseph E. Kernan’s “Recipient Final Reports for Office of the Commissioner of Agriculture Grant Programs” (http://www.in.gov/oca/grants/valueadd/VAFinalReports.html):http://www.in.gov/oca/grants/valueadd/VAFinalReports.html 3. Location and Historical Notes

6. GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 3 (2006) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Don’t Know Your Block Group Number? You can find it easily at the American Factfinder Web Site (www.census.gov)www.census.gov 3. Adams County Block Group Maps

7. GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 3 (2006) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Adams County Block Groups