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As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 27,401 people, 10,937 households, and 7,798 families residing in the county. The population density was 60 people per square mile (23/km²). There were 11,775 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.06% White, 0.26% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.59% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. 1.22% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.3% were of American, 25.6% German, 11.5% English and 9.2% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 10,937 households out of which 31.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.20% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,544, and the median income for a family was $40,855. Males had a median income of $30,951 versus $20,634 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,954. About 8.30% of families and 11.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.70% of those under age 18 and 8.30% of those age 65 or over.

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Randolph County was formed in 1818. There is a dispute as to the origin of the name. Some say that the County was named for Randolph County, North Carolina. That County was named for Peyton Randolph, the first President of the Continental Congress under the Articles of Confederation

Another version is that the County was named for President Thomas Jefferson’s first cousin, Thomas Randolph, who was Attorney General for the Indiana Territory, and who was killed in the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. One problem with this story is whether Thomas Randolph was killed at Tippecanoe. There was a Thomas Randolph listed in Capt. Benjamin Parke’s Troop of Light Dragoons, but this Randolph is not shown as killed.

The obvious namesake would be Gov. Edmund Randolph of Virginia, who signed the law transferring the Northwest Territory from Virginia to the United States, allowing for the formation of the Indiana Territory. Edmund was the nephew of Peyton Randolph, and the executor of his estate. Historians have, however, studied this and rejected the obvious conclusion.

All of the above Randolphs were related, so that one can safely conclude that the County was named for this important, early colonial family.

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