Geography
Jeffersonville is located at 38°17'44" North, 85°43'53" West (38.295669, -85.731485)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 35.2 km² (13.6 mi²). 35.2 km² (13.6 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 27,362 people, 11,643 households, and 7,241 families residing in the city. The population density is 777.9/km² (2,014.7/mi²). There are 12,402 housing units at an average density of 352.6/km² (913.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 82.50% White, 13.68% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.65% from other races, and 1.97% from two or more races. 1.80% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 11,643 households out of which 28.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.3% are married couples living together, 14.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% are non-families. 32.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.30 and the average family size is 2.90.
In the city the population is spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 88.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $37,234, and the median income for a family is $45,264. Males have a median income of $32,491 versus $24,738 for females. The per capita income for the city is $19,656. 10.1% of the population and 6.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 13.9% are under the age of 18 and 7.2% are 65 or older.
History
Jeffersonville has the largest exposed fossil beds from the Devonian period and the state has built an education center and declared the area, alongside the Ohio River and bordering Kentucky, the Falls of the Ohio state park. These fossils include plant and marine life from a pre-historic coral reef. The Falls is also where John James Audubon did many of his bird fieldbook sketches.
Local historians say that Jeffersonville is also known as the starting point of Lewis and Clark's west expedition (though other sources say St. Louis was the origin of their tour).
The local economy is supported by JeffBoat (currently owned by American Commercial Barge Line), a shipbuilding and repair company with the largest inland shipyard in the United States.
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