Adams County Jail

Adams County, located in northeastern Indiana, USA, shares its eastern border with Ohio. The county was officially established in 1836, with Decatur serving as its county seat. As per the 2020 census, the population of Adams County was recorded as 35,809, indicating a 4.1% increase from 2010 when it was 34,387. The county encompasses four incorporated cities and towns, boasting a collective population exceeding 15,000, in addition to several smaller unincorporated communities.

To facilitate local services, the county is divided into 12 townships. Transportation within the county is supported by four Indiana state roads, three U.S. routes, and a railroad line. Notably, in 2017, an estimated 8,600 people, roughly a quarter of the county’s population, were Swiss Amish settlers who established their presence in the southern region around Berne. Adams County was named in honor of John Quincy Adams, the sixth President of the United States. The county’s formation was mandated by a statute passed on February 7, 1835, and officially authorized on March 1, 1836. The selection of the county seat was finalized on May 18 of the same year.

The first non-Native settlers arrived in Adams County in 1835, drawn by the prospects presented by the newly constructed Erie Canal and the conclusion of the Black Hawk War. These settlers originated primarily from New England and were commonly referred to as “Yankees.” Their lineage can be traced back to the English Puritans who colonized New England during the colonial era. Most of them were members of the Congregational Church, although some had converted to Methodism or Baptism due to the influence of the Second Great Awakening before migrating to Adams County. Over time, the Congregational Church underwent various divisions, with certain factions now recognized as the Church of Christ and the United Church of Christ. Upon their arrival, the settlers encountered dense forests and untamed prairies in the area.