1. Indiana Prevention Resource Center GIS in Prevention County Profiles Series, No. 4
Ripley 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.

2. GIS in Prevention County Profile Series, No. 4
Ripley County, Indiana
Barbara Seitz de Martinez, PhD, MLS, CPP
Project Director
Project Staff:
Ritika Bhawal, MPH
Ryan Chopra, MPH
Kyoungsun Heo, MPA
Tuba M. Pervin Altay, MPH
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.

3. Ripley County Map
The maps and tables in this publication were prepared using PCensus
for MapInfo and MapInfo Professional.

4. 3. Geographic and Historical Notes
Ripley County is located in Southern Indiana. It is bordered by the counties of Franklin to the north and northeast, Dearborn to the east, Ohio to the southeast, Switzerland to the southeast, Jefferson to the south, Jennings to the west and Decatur to the northwest. U.S. Highways 50 and 421 and Interstate 74 cross the county. Elevation is 800 to 1,050 feet.
The landscape is mostly moderately to steeply sloping with intervals of slightly sloping land, except for areas in the southeast near the Laughey Creek where there are steep slopes descending to nearly flat land. The landscape features hickory, oak, maple, birch and beech trees. The county pertains mainly to the Southern Illinois and Indiana Thin Loess and Till Plain land resource area; except the northernmost tip, which is in the Kentucky Bluegrass land resource area.
Ripley county is in the Eastern Time Zone and observes DST. Average daily temperatures are 18٥/41٥ in January and 61٥/88٥ in July. Annual precipitation is and snowfall about inches. The first freeze occurs usually October in the northeast half and a little later, October in the southwestern half. The last freeze occurs April 20-25, except a little later in the far northwest. The growing season lasts about days.
Agricultural is mainly in corn for grain, tobacco, and livestock. Main crops are hay, corn for grain, soybeans, and winter wheat. Apples and strawberries are a primary fruit. Livestock include cattle/calves, milk cows, and hogs/pigs. Over half of the land is in farms and about three-fifths of that is in cash crops. About three-fifths of cash income is from crops. Important natural resources include crushed stone, dimension limestone, and forestland. Water resources include lakes/reservoirs (Bishoff, Liberty Park, Mollenkramer, and Oser Reservoirs; and LaSarre, Old Timbers, Tall Oak, Versailles, and Woodand Lakes, and the Milan Pond) and streams (the Otter, Laughery, Caesar, Graham, Indian Kentuck and Little Graham Creeks).
Communities include the city of Batesville (which extends into Franklin county); and the towns of Versailles (which is the county seat), Holton, Milan, Osgood, and Sunman.
Sources: Map from PCensus for MapInfo; Geographic Notes from Indiana Facts: Flying the Colors by John Clements, 1995.

5. Ripley County
The maps and tables in this publication were prepared using PCensus
7.06 for MapInfo and MapInfo Professional 7.0.

6. 3. Location and Historical Notes
Ripley 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 most recent data available, Ripley County ranks 10th in the State for the percent of all farms that produce tobacco (12.8%). As of 1997, a total of 407 acres in Ripley County were devoted to tobacco production on 105 farms. For those 105 farms, tobacco income per farm ($13,974) expressed as a percentage of the Average Household Income for the county ($36,854) was 37.9% in 1997.
Latest figures (from 1997 USDA Census):
Rank for acres in tobacco production: 8th
Acres in tobacco production: 407
Number of farms producing tobacco: 105
As a Percent of all farms: 12.8%
Rank in IN for percent of all farms: 10th
Tobacco income per farm producing: $13,974
Percent of County’s Ave. Household Income: 37.9%
[See appendices for more information.]

7. Don’t Know Your Block Group Number?
3. Ripley County Block Group Maps
Don’t Know Your Block Group Number?
You can find it easily at the American Factfinder Web Site (

8. Ripley County
Block Groups