GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes 1 Indiana Prevention Resource Center GIS in Prevention County Profiles Series, No. 4 Jennings County, Indiana Barbara Seitz de Martinez, PhD, MLS, CPP, Project Director 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.

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes GIS in Prevention County Profile Series, No. 4 Jennings County, Indiana Barbara Seitz de Martinez, PhD, MLS, CPP Project Director 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 Ryan Chopra, MPH Kyoungsun Heo, MPA Tuba M. Pervin Altay, MPH

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Jennings County Map The maps and tables in this publication were prepared using PCensus for MapInfo and MapInfo Professional.

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Jennings County is located in southeastern Indiana. It is also bordered by the following counties: Ripley to the east, Jefferson to the south/southeast, Scott to the south, Jackson to the west, Bartholomew to the northwest, and Decatur to the north. U.S. Highway 50 and State Highways 7 and 3 cross the county. Elevation is feet. The terrain is varied with slightly sloping, moderate to steeply sloping, and nearly level land near creeks. The landscape features birch, beech, oak, maple, and hickory trees. The county pertains mainly to the Southern Illinois and Indiana Loess and Till Plain land resource area, except in the northwest corner, which is in the Indiana and Ohio Till Plain land resource area. Jennings county is in the Eastern Time Zone and observes DST. Average daily temperatures are 21٥/39٥ in January and 64٥/87٥ in July. Annual precipitation is about 44 and snowfall about 15 inches. Dividing the county in halves, the first freeze of the season typically occurs October in the west and October in the east. The last freeze varies from April 25-30, except in the far southwest (April 20-25). The growing season lasts about days. Agricultural activity is diversified and mainly in livestock and corn for grain. About half of the land is farmland and over half of that land is in cash crops. Additional main crops are soybeans, hay, and winter wheat. Sweet corn is an important vegetable crop. Tobacco is a special crop. Livestock include cattle/calves and hogs/pigs. Besides forestland, other natural resources include crushed stone and petroleum. Water resources include Broomsage Ranch Lake, Brush Creek Lake, Country Squire Lake, Crosley Lake, and Wilson Smart Lake; and the East Fork of the Muscatatuck River. Communities include the city of North Vernon and the town of Vernon (the county seat). 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Sources: Map from PCensus for MapInfo; Geographic Notes from Indiana Facts: Flying the Colors by John Clements, 1995.

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Jennings County The maps and tables in this publication were prepared using PCensus 7.06 for MapInfo and MapInfo Professional 7.0.

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Jennings County Tobacco Production & Revenue: Source: 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” ( According to the above-named source, Jennings County is 15 th in the State for acres (117) devoted to tobacco production and 12 th for the number of farms (48) producing tobacco. Jennings ranked 13 th in the percentage of farms (7.9%) producing tobacco. Jennings ranked 10 th for tobacco income as a percent of the average household income; average tobacco income for each farm producing tobacco ($12,059), represented 40% of the figure for average household income ($32,121) in the county that year (1997). Latest figures (from 1997 USDA Census): Rank for acres in tobacco production: 15th Acres in tobacco production: 117 Number of farms producing tobacco: 48 As a Percent of all farms: 7.9% Rank in IN for percent of all farms: 13th Tobacco income per farm producing: $12,059 Percent of County’s Ave. Household Income: 40% [See appendices for more information.] Famous Daughters and Sons of Jennings County: A famous daughter of Jennings County is Jessamyn West, author of novels like The Friendly Persuasion (1945) and The Massacre at Fall Creek (1975), was born in rural Jennings County and always considered herself a Hoosier as well as English. Her family moved to England before she turned seven. (Nelson Price, Indiana Legends (Carmel, IN: Guild Press, 1997): Location and Historical Notes

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Don’t Know Your Block Group Number? You can find it easily at the American Factfinder Web Site ( 3. Jennings County Block Group Maps

GIS in Prevention, County Profiles, Series 4 (2007) 3. Geographic and Historical Notes Jennings County Block Groups