List of counties in Indiana

Counties of Indiana
Location State of Indiana
Number 92
Populations 6,128 (Ohio) –
903,393 (Marion)
Areas 86 square miles (220 km2) (Ohio) –
657 square miles (1,700 km2) (Allen)
Government County government
Subdivisions 1,008 Townships

The U.S. state of Indiana has 92 counties. Each county serves as the local level of government within its borders. Although Indiana was organized into the United States since the Northwest Ordinance in 1787, its land was not always available for settlement. Eventually, land was purchased from Native Americans by treaties and Indian removals. The oldest counties are generally in the south near the Ohio River, whereas newer ones were in the north in territory acquired later. The oldest and newest counties in Indiana are Knox County, created in 1790, and Newton County, created in 1859.

As of the 2000 United States Census, the population of Indiana was 6,045,485, the average population of Indiana's 92 counties is 65,712, with Marion County as the most populous (903,393), and Ohio County (5,623) the least. 54 counties have 30,000 or more people; 16 counties have populations exceeding 100,000, five of which exceed 250,000; and only five counties have fewer than 10,000 people. The average land area is 396 square miles (1,030 km2). The largest county is Allen (657 sq. mi., 1,702 km²) and the smallest is Ohio (86 sq. mi., 223 km²).[1] According to the Constitution of Indiana, no county may be created of less than 400 square miles (1,000 km2), nor may any county smaller than this be further reduced in size.[2]

County government in Indiana consists of two bodies, the county council and the commissioners.

Many Indiana counties are named for United States Founding Fathers and personalities of the American Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and Battle of Tippecanoe; early leaders of Indiana Territory and Indiana, as well as surrounding states like Michigan and Kentucky; plus Native American tribes and geographical features.

The Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code, which is used by the United States government to uniquely identify states and counties, is provided with each entry. Indiana's code is 18, which when combined with any county code would be written as 18XXX. The FIPS code for each county links to census data for that county.[3]

In Indiana, the most commonly seen number associated with counties is the state county code, which is a sequential number based on the alphabetical order of the county. It has been used on automobile license plates since 1963. It first held a prominent place on the left side of the plates as part of the license plate number until the year 2008 when it was moved above the serial number and 2012 when it was moved to the lower right corner. On license plate numbers, county codes 93, 95, and 97-99 were also used for Marion County in addition to 49. 94 and 96 were used for Lake County in addition to 45. [4]

List of counties

County
FIPS County Code
[5]
County seat
[1][6]
Established
[1][6]
Origin
Etymology
[7]
BMV Number
[8]
Population
[1][9]
Area
(Land only) [1]
Map
Adams County 001 Decatur February 7, 1836 Adams New Purchase U.S. President John Quincy Adams 1 33,625 339 sq mi
(878 km2)
State map highlighting Adams County
Allen County 003 Fort Wayne December 12, 1823 Delaware New Purchase Col. John Allen, Kentucky state senator[10] 2 355,329 657 sq mi
(1,702 km2)
State map highlighting Allen County
Bartholomew County 005 Columbus January 8, 1821 Jackson County and Delaware New Purchases Lt. Col. Joseph Bartholomew, a hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe[10] 3 71,435 407 sq mi
(1,054 km2)
State map highlighting Bartholomew County
Benton County 007 Fowler February 18, 1840 Jasper County Thomas H. Benton, U.S. Senator from Missouri 4 8,854 406 sq mi
(1,052 km2)
State map highlighting Benton County
Blackford County 009 Hartford City February 15, 1838 Jay County Judge Isaac Blackford, Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives and Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court 5 14,048 165 sq mi
(427 km2)
State map highlighting Blackford County
Boone County 011 Lebanon January 29, 1830 Adams and Wabash New Purchases Frontiersman Daniel Boone 6 56,640 423 sq mi
(1,096 km2)
State map highlighting Boone County
Brown County 013 Nashville February 3, 1836 Bartholomew County
Jackson County
Monroe County
General Jacob Brown, hero of the War of 1812[10] 7 14,957 312 sq mi
(808 km2)
State map highlighting Brown County
Carroll County 015 Delphi January 17, 1828 Adams and Wabash New Purchases Charles Carroll, signer of the Declaration of Independence 8 20,165 372 sq mi
(963 km2)
State map highlighting Carroll County
Cass County 017 Logansport December 18, 1828 Non-county Area Gen. Lewis Cass, Governor of Michigan Territory and U.S. Secretary of State 9 40,930 412 sq mi
(1,067 km2)
State map highlighting Cass County
Clark County 019 Jeffersonville February 3, 1801 Knox County General George Rogers Clark, American Revolutionary War hero 10 96,472 373 sq mi
(966 km2)
State map highlighting Clark County
Clay County 021 Brazil February 12, 1825 Owen County
Putnam County
Sullivan County
Vigo County
U.S. Speaker of the House Henry Clay 11 26,556 358 sq mi
(927 km2)
State map highlighting Clay County
Clinton County 023 Frankfort January 29, 1830 Adams and Wabash New Purchases DeWitt Clinton, Governor of New York 12 33,866 405 sq mi
(1,049 km2)
State map highlighting Clinton County
Crawford County 025 English January 29, 1818 Orange County
Harrison County
Perry County
Col. William Crawford, surveyor of the Midwest and hero of the Indian Wars 13 10,743 306 sq mi
(793 km2)
State map highlighting Crawford County
Daviess County 027 Washington February 2, 1818 Knox County Col. Joseph Hamilton Daveiss,[10] hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe 14 30,820 429 sq mi
(1,111 km2)
State map highlighting Daviess County
Dearborn County 029 Lawrenceburg March 7, 1803 Clark County, IN; Hamilton County, OH U.S. Secretary of War Henry Dearborn 15 50,047 305 sq mi
(790 km2)
State map highlighting Dearborn County
Decatur County 031 Greensburg December 12, 1821 Delaware New Purchase Commodore Stephen Decatur, hero of the War of 1812 16 24,555 373 sq mi
(966 km2)
State map highlighting Decatur County
DeKalb County 033 Auburn February 7, 1835 Non-county Area Johann de Kalb, German noble who trained colonial soldiers for the American Revolutionary War 17 40,285 363 sq mi
(940 km2)
State map highlighting DeKalb County
Delaware County 035 Muncie January 26, 1827[11] Delaware New Purchase Delaware Native American people 18 118,769 392 sq mi
(1,015 km2)
State map highlighting Delaware County
Dubois County 037 Jasper December 20, 1817 Perry County
Pike County
Toussaint Dubois,[10] hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe 19 39,674 427 sq mi
(1,106 km2)
State map highlighting Dubois County
Elkhart County 039 Goshen January 29, 1830 Non-county Area Disputed, but possibly the Elkhart Native American people 20 182,791 463 sq mi
(1,199 km2)
State map highlighting Elkhart County
Fayette County 041 Connersville January 29, 1818 Franklin Wayne County and Non-county Area Marquis de la Fayette, French noble who trained colonial soldiers in the American Revolutionary War 21 25,588 215 sq mi
(557 km2)
State map highlighting Fayette County
Floyd County 043 New Albany January 2, 1819 Clark and Harrison Counties Col. Either John Floyd, a War of 1812 hero and Governor of Virginia, or early settler and state legislator Davis Floyd[10] 22 78,823 148 sq mi
(383 km2)
State map highlighting Floyd County
Fountain County 045 Covington December 20, 1825 Montgomery County and Wabash New Purchase Major James Fontaine, a hero of the American Revolutionary War 23 17,954 396 sq mi
(1,026 km2)
State map highlighting Fountain County
Franklin County 047 Brookville February 1, 1811 Clark County
Dearborn County
Knox County
Writer, orator, scholar, and founding father Benjamin Franklin 24 22,151 384 sq mi
(995 km2)
State map highlighting Franklin County
Fulton County 049 Rochester February 7, 1836 Non-county Area Robert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat 25 20,511 368 sq mi
(953 km2)
State map highlighting Fulton County
Gibson County 051 Princeton April 1, 1813 Knox County John Gibson, secretary of the Indiana Territory[10] 26 33,503 487 sq mi
(1,261 km2)
State map highlighting Gibson County
Grant County 053 Marion February 10, 1831 Formed from Madison County, Adams New Purchase and un-organized Captains Samuel and Moses Grant, former American soldiers and early settlers 27 70,061 414 sq mi
(1,072 km2)
State map highlighting Grant County
Greene County 055 Bloomfield January 5, 1821 Sullivan County
Non-county Area
Gen. Nathanael Greene, hero of the American Revolutionary War 28 32,157 543 sq mi
(1,406 km2)
State map highlighting Greene County
Hamilton County 057 Noblesville January 8, 1823 Formed from Delaware New Purchase Alexander Hamilton, first Secretary of the Treasury and founding father 29 274,569 394 sq mi
(1,020 km2)
State map highlighting Hamilton County
Hancock County 059 Greenfield March 1, 1828 Formed from Madison County John Hancock, first signer of the Declaration of Independence 30 70,002 306 sq mi
(793 km2)
State map highlighting Hancock County
Harrison County 061 Corydon December 1, 1808 Formed from Clark and Knox County William Henry Harrison, governor of Indiana Territory and U.S. President 31 34,325 485 sq mi
(1,256 km2)
State map highlighting Harrison County
Hendricks County 063 Danville December 20, 1824 Formed from Delaware and Wabash New Purchase Governor of Indiana William Hendricks[10] 32 145,488 407 sq mi
(1,054 km2)
State map highlighting Hendricks County
Henry County 065 New Castle December 31, 1821 Formed from Delaware New Purchase Patrick Henry, attorney, orator, and founding father 33 48,508 392 sq mi
(1,015 km2)
State map highlighting Henry County
Howard County 067 Kokomo January 15, 1844[12] Formed from un-organized Gen. Tilghman Howard, a U.S. Representative from Indiana 34 84,964 293 sq mi
(759 km2)
State map highlighting Howard County
Huntington County 069 Huntington February 2, 1832 Formed from Adams New Purchase and un-organized Samuel Huntington, signer the Declaration of Independence 35 38,075 383 sq mi
(992 km2)
State map highlighting Huntington County
Jackson County 071 Brownstown January 1, 1816 Formed from Clark, Jefferson and Washington U.S. President Andrew Jackson 36 41,335 509 sq mi
(1,318 km2)
State map highlighting Jackson County
Jasper County 073 Rensselaer February 7, 1835 Formed from Wabash New Purchase Sgt. William Jasper, hero of the American Revolutionary War 37 30,043 560 sq mi
(1,450 km2)
State map highlighting Jasper County
Jay County 075 Portland February 7, 1835 Formed from Adams New Purchase John Jay, first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court 38 21,806 384 sq mi
(995 km2)
State map highlighting Jay County
Jefferson County 077 Madison November 23, 1810 Formed from Clark, Dearborn and Knox County U.S. President Thomas Jefferson 39 31,705 361 sq mi
(935 km2)
State map highlighting Jefferson County
Jennings County 079 Vernon December 27, 1816 Formed from Jackson and Jefferson Counties Jonathan Jennings, the first Governor of Indiana 40 27,554 377 sq mi
(976 km2)
State map highlighting Jennings County
Johnson County 081 Franklin December 31, 1823 Formed from Delaware New Purchase John Johnson, first Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court 41 139,654 320 sq mi
(829 km2)
State map highlighting Johnson County
Knox County 083 Vincennes June 6, 1790 Original County U.S. Secretary of War Henry Knox 42 39,256 516 sq mi
(1,336 km2)
State map highlighting Knox County
Kosciusko County 085 Warsaw February 7, 1835 Formed from un-organized Tadeusz Kościuszko, Polish-born hero of the American Revolutionary War and leader of a Polish nationalistic revolt against Russia 43 74,057 531 sq mi
(1,375 km2)
State map highlighting Kosciusko County
LaGrange County 087 LaGrange February 2, 1832 Formed from un-organized The ancestral estate of the Marquis de la Fayette, the French-born hero of the American Revolutionary War 44 34,909 380 sq mi
(984 km2)
State map highlighting LaGrange County
Lake County 089 Crown Point January 28, 1837 Formed from Newton and Porter Counties Its location on Lake Michigan 45, 94, 96 496,004 499 sq mi
(1,292 km2)
State map highlighting Lake County
LaPorte County 091 LaPorte January 29, 1832 Formed from St. Joseph and un-organized Means the door in French, which refers to the city of LaPorte 46 111,467 598 sq mi
(1,549 km2)
State map highlighting LaPorte County
Lawrence County 093 Bedford January 7, 1818 Formed from Orange Capt. James Lawrence,[10] hero of the War of 1812 47 45,922 449 sq mi
(1,163 km2)
State map highlighting Lawrence County
Madison County 095 Anderson January 4, 1823 Formed from Delaware New Purchase U.S. President James Madison 48 133,358 452 sq mi
(1,171 km2)
State map highlighting Madison County
Marion County 097 Indianapolis December 31, 1821 Formed from Delaware New Purchase Gen. Francis Marion, American Revolutionary War hero 49, 93-99 903,393 396 sq mi
(1,026 km2)
State map highlighting Marion County
Marshall County 099 Plymouth February 7, 1835 Formed from St. Joseph County U.S. Chief Justice John Marshall 50 45,128 444 sq mi
(1,150 km2)
State map highlighting Marshall County
Martin County 101 Shoals January 17, 1820 Formed from Daviess and Dubois Counties Major John T. Martin, hero of the War of 1812 51 10,369 336 sq mi
(870 km2)
State map highlighting Martin County
Miami County 103 Peru January 30, 1833 Formed from Cass County and un-organized Miami Native American people 52 36,082 374 sq mi
(969 km2)
State map highlighting Miami County
Monroe County 105 Bloomington January 14, 1818 Formed from Orange County U.S. President James Monroe 53 137,974 395 sq mi
(1,023 km2)
State map highlighting Monroe County
Montgomery County 107 Crawfordsville December 21, 1822 Formed from Wabash New Purchase Gen. Richard Montgomery, hero of the American Revolutionary War 54 37,629 505 sq mi
(1,308 km2)
State map highlighting Montgomery County
Morgan County 109 Martinsville December 31, 1822 Formed from Delaware and Wabash New Purchase Gen. Daniel Morgan, hero of the American Revolutionary War 55 68,894 404 sq mi
(1,046 km2)
State map highlighting Morgan County
Newton County 111 Kentland December 8, 1859[13] Formed from Jasper County Sgt. John Newton, hero of the American Revolutionary War 56 14,566 402 sq mi
(1,041 km2)
State map highlighting Newton County
Noble County 113 Albion February 7, 1835 Formed from un-organized U.S. Senator James Noble or Governor of Indiana Noah Noble, brothers 57 46,275 411 sq mi
(1,064 km2)
State map highlighting Noble County
Ohio County 115 Rising Sun January 4, 1844 Formed from Dearborn County The Ohio River 58 6,128 86 sq mi
(223 km2)
State map highlighting Ohio County
Orange County 117 Paoli February 1, 1816 Formed from Gibson, Knox and Washington Orange County, North Carolina, in turn named for the Dutch Protestant House of Orange 59 19,306 398 sq mi
(1,031 km2)
State map highlighting Orange County
Owen County 119 Spencer December 21, 1818 Formed from Daviess and Sullivan County Abraham Owen,[10] hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe 60 21,786 385 sq mi
(997 km2)
State map highlighting Owen County
Parke County 121 Rockville January 9, 1821 Formed from Vigo County Benjamin Parke, a delegate of Indiana Territory to the U.S. Congress[10] 61 17,241 445 sq mi
(1,153 km2)
State map highlighting Parke County
Perry County 123 Tell City November 1, 1814 Formed from Gibson and Warrick Counties Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, hero of the War of 1812 62 18,899 382 sq mi
(989 km2)
State map highlighting Perry County
Pike County 125 Petersburg December 21, 1816 Formed from Gibson and Perry County Zebulon M. Pike, explorer of the American West 63 12,837 334 sq mi
(865 km2)
State map highlighting Pike County
Porter County 127 Valparaiso February 7, 1835 Formed from un-organized Capt. David Porter, hero of the War of 1812 64 146,798 418 sq mi
(1,083 km2)
State map highlighting Porter County
Posey County 129 Mount Vernon November 11, 1814 Gibson County Warrick County Thomas Posey, governor of Indiana Territory 65 27,061 410 sq mi
(1,062 km2)
State map highlighting Posey County
Pulaski County 131 Winamac February 7, 1835 Formed from un-organized Kazimierz Pułaski, Polish-born noble who led the colonial cavalry in the American Revolutionary War 66 13,755 434 sq mi
(1,124 km2)
State map highlighting Pulaski County
Putnam County 133 Greencastle December 31, 1822 Formed from Owen County and Wabash New Purchase Gen. Israel Putnam, hero of the American Revolutionary War 67 36,019 481 sq mi
(1,246 km2)
State map highlighting Putnam County
Randolph County 135 Winchester January 10, 1818 Formed from Wayne County Randolph County, North Carolina, which is itself named for first President of the Continental Congress Peyton Randolph 68 27,401 452 sq mi
(1,171 km2)
State map highlighting Randolph County
Ripley County 137 Versailles December 27, 1816 Formed from Dearborn and Jefferson County Gen. Eleazer Wheelock Ripley, hero of the War of 1812 69 26,523 446 sq mi
(1,155 km2)
State map highlighting Ripley County
Rush County 139 Rushville December 31, 1821 Formed from Delaware New Purchase Dr. Benjamin Rush, signer the Declaration of Independence 70 18,261 408 sq mi
(1,057 km2)
State map highlighting Rush County
St. Joseph County 141 South Bend January 29, 1830 Formed from un-organized St. Joseph River, which flows through it toward Lake Michigan 71 266,931 458 sq mi
(1,186 km2)
State map highlighting St. Joseph County
Scott County 143 Scottsburg January 12, 1820 Formed from Clark, Jefferson, Jennings and Washington Counties Charles Scott, Governor of Kentucky 72 22,960 190 sq mi
(492 km2)
State map highlighting Scott County
Shelby County 145 Shelbyville December 31, 1821 Formed from Delaware New Purchase Gen. Isaac Shelby, Governor of Kentucky 73 44,436 411 sq mi
(1,064 km2)
State map highlighting Shelby County
Spencer County 147 Rockport January 10, 1818 Formed from Perry and Warrick Counties Capt. Spier Spencer,[10] hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe 74 20,391 397 sq mi
(1,028 km2)
State map highlighting Spencer County
Starke County 149 Knox February 7, 1835 Formed from St. Joseph County and un-organized Gen. John Stark, hero of the American Revolutionary War 75 23,556 309 sq mi
(800 km2)
State map highlighting Starke County
Steuben County 151 Angola February 7, 1837 Formed from un-organized Baron Frederick von Steuben, Prussian-born noble who trained colonial soldiers during the American Revolutionary War 76 33,214 309 sq mi
(800 km2)
State map highlighting Steuben County
Sullivan County 153 Sullivan December 30, 1816 Formed from Knox General Daniel Sullivan, American Revolutionary War hero 77 21,751 447 sq mi
(1,158 km2)
State map highlighting Sullivan County
Switzerland County 155 Vevay October 1, 1814 Formed from Dearborn and Jefferson County The home country of many of the early settlers, Switzerland 78 10,613 221 sq mi
(572 km2)
State map highlighting Switzerland County
Tippecanoe County 157 Lafayette January 20, 1826 Formed from Wabash New Purchase and un-organized The Tippecanoe River and the Battle of Tippecanoe 79 172,780 500 sq mi
(1,295 km2)
State map highlighting Tippecanoe County
Tipton County 159 Tipton January 15, 1844 Formed from Adams New Purchase and un-organized John Tipton,[10] U.S. Senator 80 16,577 261 sq mi
(676 km2)
State map highlighting Tipton County
Union County 161 Liberty January 5, 1821 Parts of Fayette, Franklin and Wayne counties Named because it united sections of three adjacent counties into one new entity 81 7,516 161 sq mi
(417 km2)
State map highlighting Union County
Vanderburgh County 163 Evansville January 7, 1818 Gibson, Posey, and Warrick Counties Henry Vanderburgh, a judge for Indiana Territory 82 188,922 233 sq mi
(603 km2)
State map highlighting Vanderburgh County
Vermillion County 165 Newport January 2, 1824 Formed from Parke County and Wasbash New Purchase The Vermillion River 83 16,788 257 sq mi
(666 km2)
State map highlighting Vermillion County
Vigo County 167 Terre Haute January 21, 1818 Formed from Sullivan County Francis Vigo, Italian-born colonial spy during the American Revolutionary War 84 105,848 403 sq mi
(1,044 km2)
State map highlighting Vigo County
Wabash County 169 Wabash January 30, 1833[14] Formed from Adams New Purchase and un-organized The Wabash River 85 34,960 412 sq mi
(1,067 km2)
State map highlighting Wabash County
Warren County 171 Williamsport January 19, 1827 Formed from Wabash New Purchase and un-organized Dr. Joseph Warren, American Revolutionary War hero 86 8,508 365 sq mi
(945 km2)
State map highlighting Warren County
Warrick County 173 Boonville April 30, 1813 Gibson and Knox Counties Capt. Jacob Warrick,[10] hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe 87 60,010 385 sq mi
(997 km2)
State map highlighting Warrick County
Washington County 175 Salem December 21, 1813 Clark, Harrison and Knox Counties U.S. President George Washington 88 27,223 514 sq mi
(1,331 km2)
State map highlighting Washington County
Wayne County 177 Richmond November 27, 1810 Formed from Clark, Dearborn and Knox Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne, hero of the American Revolutionary War 89 71,097 402 sq mi
(1,041 km2)
State map highlighting Wayne County
Wells County 179 Bluffton February 7, 1837 Formed from Adams New Purchase Capt. William A. Wells, Native American who became a hero in the War of 1812 90 27,600 368 sq mi
(953 km2)
State map highlighting Wells County
White County 181 Monticello February 1, 1834 Formed from Wabash New Purchase and un-organized Capt. Isaac White,[10] hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe 91 25,267 505 sq mi
(1,308 km2)
State map highlighting White County
Whitley County 183 Columbia City February 7, 1835 Formed from un-organized Col. William Whitley,[10] hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe 92 30,707 336 sq mi
(870 km2)
State map highlighting Whitley County

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 National Association of Counties. "NACo - Find a county". Retrieved 2014-06-01.
  2. "IN Const. art. XV, § 7". Indiana Legislature. 1851. pp. Constitution of the State of Indiana, as amended. Retrieved 2008-12-28.
  3. "FIPS Publish 6-4". National Institute of Standards and Technology. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  4. "Indiana License Plates, 1969-Present". 2016-02-28.
  5. "EPA County FIPS Code Listing". EPA.gov. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
  6. 1 2 "Origin of Indiana County Names". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  7. "Origin of Indiana County Names". 2009-01-04.
  8. "Indiana BMV website". 2016-02-28.
  9. "Indiana -- County". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Fought in the Battle of Tippecanoe
  11. Delaware County was originally formed on January 1, 1820, but for lack of population it was dissolved shortly thereafter. (Funk, p. 192)
  12. Originally named Richardville County for Chief Richardville, but renamed in 1872 (Funk, p. 193)
  13. Originally organized February 7, 1835 but merged with Jasper County in 1839 and recreated later. (Funk, p. 193)
  14. Originally formed January 20, 1820 but soon dissolved for lack of population. (Funk, p. 194)
Sources
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/22/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.