The mecca of this observation is Dubois County, Indiana. Dubois County was never French despite the name but was settled by Anglo cultures from the early 1800s. In the 1830s German Catholics came in force to farm and get into the abundant woods for wood working. They settled in the area that looks much like the Bavarian countryside they came from. By the 1850s Germans had populated the County in almost all parts while still living in places named by the predecessor Anglos. Jasper, Ireland, Haysville, Huntingburg, are predominantly German towns in this county.

So what is special about the place? The County is one of the richest in Indiana with more millionaires per capita than anywhere else in Indiana. The public high school sends nearly 95 percent of its students to some secondary education, and the other 5 percent are working in successful family businesses out of high school or leave for good.

Jasper the County seat has had two murders tried, one in the 1850s and one in the 1990s with it being family strife not robbery etc. Its local bank, the German American Bank, has one of the best ratings with the state bond bank.

Outsiders comment that the streets are cleaner than anywhere. The kids are well behaved, no rap music, baggy trousers etc. Community institutions are vibrant and flush with cash for various improvements. It has an arts center privately funded in a town of 10,000.

It however has no colleges (besides a satellite of Vincennes University) nor is it near any major interstates, airports, or rail ( the usual suspects in economic development studies for why places fail) It has the lowest teen pregnancy rate in the state and lowest welfare numbers. It’s only two drawbacks are that it has a higher than average suicide rate and some alcoholism issues (Germans like beer).

So what? Well, its neighboring Anglo counties are some of the poorest outside of our black inner cities. In almost all categories that Dubois County exceeds state averages in, their neighbors merely miles away exceed the state averages but in the opposite direction.

My hypothesis has been that Germanness matters. Is this cultural standards long developed that accept certain people and turn out others? Is it genetic, truly they have better genes, does Germanmess matter? Is it because they are homogenous in religion, ethnicity, and values? My guess is a delightful combination. I have always thought it was worth a deep study but I wouldn’t know who might want to even try it, or where to start. A relative recently became mayor of Jasper. He is only the second protestant mayor since 1835 and he is very German but Lutheran. I shared with him my thoughts and some of the work of you and your colleagues.

The interesting thing is that this is a difference of cultures within a small area and all white with very, very few minorities of any type in the area. This study would not involve race but ethnic background, homogeneity, and success vs. failure in people living in similar geographic and meteorological conditions.

Ultimately, I suggest that rural development and economic development dollars spent are many times wasted simply because of the ethnic background of the people. All over Indiana places where German ancestry is a higher percentage of the population the better the money is spent. Dubois County happens to be an oasis in a large desert, which would enhance the study’s efficacy, yes? The other key is that other rich predominantly white and European ethnically mixed areas of Indiana attract talent who search out the particular places, but Dubois continues success with very few move ins but with people cultivated from long family ties. Kids go to college but many come back unlike other dying rural areas where the smart kids move to Indianapolis or out of state.

What are your thoughts? Is there a study here? Would this be worth a look. I am certain of controversy but could the numbers speak for themselves?