Sullivan County, Indiana

Sullivan County, Indiana is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana, and is part of the Terre Haute metropolitan area, which also includes Vigo County, Clay County, and Vermillion County. The county is bordered by Illinois to the west, Greene County to the south, Clay County to the north, and Vigo County to the east, and is near the Wabash River. The county seat is Sullivan, which is also the largest city in the county, and is home to the Sullivan County Courthouse, a historic building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

Sullivan County is located in the western part of Indiana, and is part of the Wabash Valley region, which also includes Vigo County, Clay County, and Parke County. The county is bordered by the Wabash River to the west, and is near the Illinois-Indiana border. The county has a total area of 454 square miles, of which 447 square miles is land and 7 square miles is water, and is home to Merom, a town located on the Wabash River. The county is also home to Shakamak State Park, a state park that features several lakes, including Lake Shakamak and Lake Kickapoo, and is near the Hoosier National Forest.

History

Sullivan County was established in 1816, and was named after Daniel Sullivan, a Revolutionary War veteran, and is part of the Indiana Territory, which was established in 1800. The county was formed from parts of Knox County and Clark County, and is near the Vincennes area, which was a major French settlement. The county has a rich history, and is home to several historic sites, including the Sullivan County Courthouse, which was built in 1866, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, along with the Merom Historic District, which features several historic buildings, including the Merom Methodist Church.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, the population of Sullivan County was 20,921, and the county has a population density of 46.8 people per square mile, and is part of the Terre Haute metropolitan area, which has a population of over 170,000 people, and includes Vigo County, Clay County, and Vermillion County. The county is also home to several Indiana University campuses, including Indiana University Bloomington and Indiana State University, which are both located in nearby Bloomington and Terre Haute. The county has a diverse economy, with major industries including manufacturing, agriculture, and healthcare, and is near the Crawfordsville area, which is home to Wabash College.

Communities

Sullivan County is home to several communities, including Sullivan, Merom, Carlisle, and Shelburn, and is near the Greene County area, which includes Linton and Bloomfield. The county is also home to several townships, including Cass Township, Curry Township, and Gill Township, and is part of the Southwestern Indiana region, which includes Evansville and Vincennes. The county has several parks and recreation areas, including Shakamak State Park and Merom Bluff Park, which offer opportunities for hiking, fishing, and boating on Lake Sullivan.

Education

Sullivan County is served by several school districts, including the Sullivan County School Corporation and the North Central Parke Community School Corporation, and is near the Indiana State University campus, which is located in Terre Haute. The county is also home to several libraries, including the Sullivan County Public Library and the Merom Public Library, which offer a wide range of books, media, and programs for children and adults. The county has a strong commitment to education, with several schools and universities in the area, including Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, which are both located in nearby Terre Haute.

Transportation

Sullivan County is located near several major highways, including U.S. Route 41 and Indiana State Road 54, and is served by the Indiana Rail Road and the CSX Transportation railroad, which offer freight and passenger service to the area. The county is also home to the Sullivan County Airport, which offers general aviation services, and is near the Terre Haute International Airport, which offers commercial airline service to several destinations, including Chicago and Indianapolis. The county has a well-developed transportation system, with several roads, highways, and railroads that connect the area to the rest of Indiana and the United States.