List of counties in Indiana

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. The Vincennes Tract, Clark's Grant and an area known as "The Gore" in southeastern Indiana (resulting from the Treaty of Greenville 1795) existed during the Northwest Territory. The remainder of Indiana land was acquired by Indian Removal Acts and purchases by treaty between 1804 and 1840. The largest purchase (called "Delaware New Purchase" or just "New Purchase") resulted from the Treaty of St. Mary's (1818) which acquired about 1/3 of the state in the central portion. All or most of 35 counties were eventually carved from the area. The oldest counties are generally in the south near the Ohio River, whereas newer ones were in the north in territory acquired later. Many of the final counties were formed subsequent to the acquisition and break up of the Big Miami Reserve (encompassing present day Howard County and parts of surrounding counties) between 1834 and 1840. The oldest and newest counties in Indiana are Knox County, created in 1790, and Newton County, created in 1859.[1]

For former counties, see List of former United States counties § Indiana.

Counties of Indiana
LocationState of Indiana
Number92
Populations6,128 (Ohio) – 903,393 (Marion)
Areas86 square miles (220 km2) (Ohio) – 657 square miles (1,700 km2) (Allen)
GovernmentCounty government
Subdivisions1,008 Townships

As of the 2010 United States Census, the population of Indiana was 6,483,802, the average population of Indiana's 92 counties is 70,476, with Marion County as the most populous (903,393), and Ohio County (6,128) the least. 54 counties have 30,000 or more people; 17 counties have populations exceeding 100,000, five of which exceed 250,000; and only four counties have fewer than 10,000 people. The average land area is 396 square miles (1,030 km2).[2] The largest county is Allen (657 sq. mi., 1,702 km²) and the smallest is Ohio (86 sq. mi., 223 km²).[3] 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, which precludes any new counties.[4]

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.[5]

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 plates, 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. These additional numbers ceased to be used as of 2008.[6] In addition these codes are also used by INDOT for structure IDs on objects such as bridges and overpasses.

List of counties
County
 FIPS code[7] County seat[3][8] Est.[3][8] Origin Etymology[9]BMV Number
[10]		 Population[2] Area(Land only) [3][11] Map
Adams County 001 DecaturFeb 7, 1836Adams New PurchaseU.S. President John Quincy Adams1 34,387 339 sq mi
(878 km2)
Allen County 003 Fort WayneDec 12, 1823Delaware New PurchaseCol. John Allen, Kentucky state senator[12]2 355,329 657 sq mi
(1,702 km2)
Bartholomew County 005 ColumbusJan 8, 1821Jackson County and Delaware New PurchasesLt. Col. Joseph Bartholomew, a hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe[12]3 76,794 407 sq mi
(1,054 km2)
Benton County 007 FowlerFeb 18, 1840Jasper CountyThomas H. Benton, U.S. Senator from Missouri4 8,854 406 sq mi
(1,052 km2)
Blackford County 009 Hartford CityFeb 15, 1838Jay CountyJudge Isaac Blackford, Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives and Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court5 12,766 165 sq mi
(427 km2)
Boone County 011 LebanonJan 29, 1830Adams and Wabash New PurchasesFrontiersman Daniel Boone6 56,640 423 sq mi
(1,096 km2)
Brown County 013 NashvilleFeb 3, 1836Bartholomew County
Jackson County
Monroe County		General Jacob Brown, hero of the War of 1812[12]7 15,242 312 sq mi
(808 km2)
Carroll County 015 DelphiJan 17, 1828Adams and Wabash New PurchasesCharles Carroll, signer of the Declaration of Independence8 20,165 372 sq mi
(963 km2)
Cass County 017 LogansportDec 18, 1828Non-county AreaGen. Lewis Cass, Governor of Michigan Territory and U.S. Secretary of State9 38,966 412 sq mi
(1,067 km2)
Clark County 019 JeffersonvilleFeb 3, 1801Knox CountyGeneral George Rogers Clark, American Revolutionary War hero10 110,232 373 sq mi
(966 km2)
Clay County 021 BrazilFeb 12, 1825Owen County
Putnam County
Sullivan County
Vigo County		U.S. Speaker of the House Henry Clay11 26,890 358 sq mi
(927 km2)
Clinton County 023 FrankfortJan 29, 1830Adams and Wabash New PurchasesDeWitt Clinton, Governor of New York12 33,224 405 sq mi
(1,049 km2)
Crawford County 025 EnglishJan 29, 1818Orange County
Harrison County
Perry County		Col. William Crawford, surveyor of the Midwest and hero of the Indian Wars13 10,713 306 sq mi
(793 km2)
Daviess County 027 WashingtonFeb 2, 1818Knox CountyCol. Joseph Hamilton Daveiss,[12] hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe14 31,648 429 sq mi
(1,111 km2)
Dearborn County 029 LawrenceburgMar 7, 1803Clark County, IN; Hamilton County, OHU.S. Secretary of War Henry Dearborn15 50,047 305 sq mi
(790 km2)
Decatur County 031 GreensburgDec 12, 1821Delaware New PurchaseCommodore Stephen Decatur, hero of the War of 181216 25,740 373 sq mi
(966 km2)
DeKalb County 033 AuburnFeb 7, 1835Non-county AreaJohann de Kalb, German noble who trained colonial soldiers for the American Revolutionary War17 40,285 363 sq mi
(940 km2)
Delaware County 035 MuncieJan 26, 1827[13]Delaware New PurchaseDelaware Native American people18 117,671 392 sq mi
(1,015 km2)
Dubois County 037 JasperDec 20, 1817Perry County
Pike County		Toussaint Dubois,[12] hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe19 41,889 427 sq mi
(1,106 km2)
Elkhart County 039 GoshenJan 29, 1830Non-county AreaDisputed, but possibly the Elkhart Native American people20 197,559 463 sq mi
(1,199 km2)
Fayette County 041 ConnersvilleJan 29, 1818Franklin Wayne County and Non-county AreaMarquis de la Fayette, French noble who trained colonial soldiers in the American Revolutionary War21 24,277 215 sq mi
(557 km2)
Floyd County 043 New AlbanyJan 2, 1819Clark and Harrison CountiesEither John Floyd, a War of 1812 hero and Governor of Virginia, or early settler and state legislator Davis Floyd[12]22 74,578 148 sq mi
(383 km2)
Fountain County 045 CovingtonDec 20, 1825Montgomery County and Wabash New PurchaseMajor James Fontaine, a hero of the American Revolutionary War23 17,240 396 sq mi
(1,026 km2)
Franklin County 047 BrookvilleFeb 1, 1811Clark County
Dearborn County
Knox County		Writer, orator, scholar, and founding father Benjamin Franklin24 23,087 384 sq mi
(995 km2)
Fulton County 049 RochesterFeb 7, 1836Non-county AreaRobert Fulton, developer of the steamboat25 20,836 368 sq mi
(953 km2)
Gibson County 051 PrincetonApr 1, 1813Knox CountyJohn Gibson, secretary of the Indiana Territory[12]26 33,503 487 sq mi
(1,261 km2)
Grant County 053 MarionFeb 10, 1831Madison County, Adams New Purchase and un-organizedCaptains Samuel and Moses Grant, former American soldiers and early settlers27 70,061 414 sq mi
(1,072 km2)
Greene County 055 BloomfieldJan 5, 1821Sullivan County
Non-county Area		Gen. Nathanael Greene, hero of the American Revolutionary War28 33,165 543 sq mi
(1,406 km2)
Hamilton County 057 NoblesvilleJan 8, 1823Delaware New PurchaseAlexander Hamilton, first Secretary of the Treasury and founding father29 274,569 394 sq mi
(1,020 km2)
Hancock County 059 GreenfieldMar 1, 1828Madison CountyJohn Hancock, first signer of the Declaration of Independence30 70,002 306 sq mi
(793 km2)
Harrison County 061 CorydonDec 1, 1808Clark and Knox CountyWilliam Henry Harrison, governor of Indiana Territory and U.S. President31 39,364 485 sq mi
(1,256 km2)
Hendricks County 063 DanvilleDec 20, 1824Delaware and Wabash New PurchaseGovernor of Indiana William Hendricks[12]32 145,488 407 sq mi
(1,054 km2)
Henry County 065 New CastleDec 31, 1821Delaware New PurchasePatrick Henry, attorney, orator, and founding father33 49,462 392 sq mi
(1,015 km2)
Howard County 067 KokomoJan 15, 1844[14]un-organizedGen. Tilghman Howard, a U.S. Representative from Indiana34 82,752 293 sq mi
(759 km2)
Huntington County 069 HuntingtonFeb 2, 1832Adams New Purchase and un-organizedSamuel Huntington, signer the Declaration of Independence35 37,124 383 sq mi
(992 km2)
Jackson County 071 BrownstownJan 1, 1816Clark, Jefferson and WashingtonU.S. President Andrew Jackson36 42,367 509 sq mi
(1,318 km2)
Jasper County 073 RensselaerFeb 7, 1835Wabash New PurchaseSgt. William Jasper, hero of the American Revolutionary War37 33,478 560 sq mi
(1,450 km2)
Jay County 075 PortlandFeb 7, 1835Adams New PurchaseJohn Jay, first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court38 21,253 384 sq mi
(995 km2)
Jefferson County 077 MadisonNov 23, 1810Clark, Dearborn and Knox CountyU.S. President Thomas Jefferson39 32,428 361 sq mi
(935 km2)
Jennings County 079 VernonDec 27, 1816Jackson and Jefferson CountiesJonathan Jennings, first Governor of Indiana40 28,525 377 sq mi
(976 km2)
Johnson County 081 FranklinDec 31, 1823Delaware New PurchaseJohn Johnson, first Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court41 139,654 320 sq mi
(829 km2)
Knox County 083 VincennesJun 6, 1790Original CountyU.S. Secretary of War Henry Knox42 38,440 516 sq mi
(1,336 km2)
Kosciusko County 085 WarsawFeb 7, 1835un-organizedTadeusz Kościuszko, Polish-born hero of the American Revolutionary War43 77,358 531 sq mi
(1,375 km2)
LaGrange County 087 LaGrangeFeb 2, 1832un-organizedThe ancestral estate of the Marquis de la Fayette, the French-born hero of the American Revolutionary War44 37,128 380 sq mi
(984 km2)
Lake County 089 Crown PointJan 28, 1837Newton and Porter CountiesIts location on Lake Michigan45, 94, 96 496,005 499 sq mi
(1,292 km2)
LaPorte County 091 LaPorteJan 29, 1832St. Joseph and un-organizedMeans the door in French, which refers to the city of LaPorte46 111,467 598 sq mi
(1,549 km2)
Lawrence County 093 BedfordJan 7, 1818OrangeCapt. James Lawrence,[12] hero of the War of 181247 46,134 449 sq mi
(1,163 km2)
Madison County 095 AndersonJan 4, 1823Delaware New PurchaseU.S. President James Madison48 131,636 452 sq mi
(1,171 km2)
Marion County 097 IndianapolisDec 31, 1821Delaware New PurchaseGen. Francis Marion, American Revolutionary War hero49, 93-99 903,393 396 sq mi
(1,026 km2)
Marshall County 099 PlymouthFeb 7, 1835St. Joseph CountyU.S. Chief Justice John Marshall50 47,051 444 sq mi
(1,150 km2)
Martin County 101 ShoalsJan 17, 1820Daviess and Dubois CountiesMajor John T. Martin, hero of the War of 181251 10,334 336 sq mi
(870 km2)
Miami County 103 PeruJan 30, 1833Cass County and un-organizedMiami Native American people52 36,903 374 sq mi
(969 km2)
Monroe County 105 BloomingtonJan 14, 1818Orange CountyU.S. President James Monroe53 137,974 395 sq mi
(1,023 km2)
Montgomery County 107 CrawfordsvilleDec 21, 1822Wabash New PurchaseGen. Richard Montgomery, hero of the American Revolutionary War54 38,124 505 sq mi
(1,308 km2)
Morgan County 109 MartinsvilleDec 31, 1822Delaware and Wabash New PurchaseGen. Daniel Morgan, hero of the American Revolutionary War55 68,894 404 sq mi
(1,046 km2)
Newton County 111 KentlandDec 8, 1859[15]Jasper CountySgt. John Newton, hero of the American Revolutionary War56 14,244 402 sq mi
(1,041 km2)
Noble County 113 AlbionFeb 7, 1835un-organizedU.S. Senator James Noble or Governor of Indiana Noah Noble, brothers57 47,536 411 sq mi
(1,064 km2)
Ohio County 115 Rising SunJan 4, 1844Dearborn CountyThe Ohio River forms its east boundary58 6,128 86 sq mi
(223 km2)
Orange County 117 PaoliFeb 1, 1816Gibson, Knox and WashingtonOrange County, North Carolina, in turn named for the Dutch Protestant House of Orange59 19,840 398 sq mi
(1,031 km2)
Owen County 119 SpencerDec 21, 1818Daviess and Sullivan CountyAbraham Owen,[12] hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe60 21,575 385 sq mi
(997 km2)
Parke County 121 RockvilleJan 9, 1821Vigo CountyBenjamin Parke, a delegate of Indiana Territory to the U.S. Congress[12]61 17,339 445 sq mi
(1,153 km2)
Perry County 123 Tell CityNov 1, 1814Gibson and Warrick CountiesCommodore Oliver Hazard Perry, hero of the War of 181262 19,338 382 sq mi
(989 km2)
Pike County 125 PetersburgDec 21, 1816Gibson and Perry CountyZebulon M. Pike, explorer of the American West63 12,845 334 sq mi
(865 km2)
Porter County 127 ValparaisoFeb 7, 1835un-organizedCapt. David Porter, hero of the War of 181264 164,343 418 sq mi
(1,083 km2)
Posey County 129 Mount VernonNov 11, 1814Gibson County Warrick CountyThomas Posey, governor of Indiana Territory65 25,910 410 sq mi
(1,062 km2)
Pulaski County 131 WinamacFeb 7, 1835un-organizedKazimierz Pułaski, Polish-born noble who led the colonial cavalry in the American Revolutionary War66 13,402 434 sq mi
(1,124 km2)
Putnam County 133 GreencastleDec 31, 1822Owen County and Wabash New PurchaseGen. Israel Putnam, hero of the American Revolutionary War67 36,019 481 sq mi
(1,246 km2)
Randolph County 135 WinchesterJan 10, 1818Wayne CountyRandolph County, North Carolina, which is named for first President of the Continental Congress Peyton Randolph68 26,171 452 sq mi
(1,171 km2)
Ripley County 137 VersaillesDec 27, 1816Dearborn and Jefferson CountyGen. Eleazer Wheelock Ripley, hero of the War of 181269 28,818 446 sq mi
(1,155 km2)
Rush County 139 RushvilleDec 31, 1821Delaware New PurchaseDr. Benjamin Rush, signer the Declaration of Independence70 17,392 408 sq mi
(1,057 km2)
St. Joseph County 141 South BendJan 29, 1830un-organizedSt. Joseph River, which flows through it toward Lake Michigan71 266,931 458 sq mi
(1,186 km2)
Scott County 143 ScottsburgJan 12, 1820Clark, Jefferson, Jennings and Washington CountiesCharles Scott, Governor of Kentucky72 24,181 190 sq mi
(492 km2)
Shelby County 145 ShelbyvilleDec 31, 1821Delaware New PurchaseGen. Isaac Shelby, Governor of Kentucky73 44,436 411 sq mi
(1,064 km2)
Spencer County 147 RockportJan 10, 1818Perry and Warrick CountiesCapt. Spier Spencer,[12] hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe74 20,952 397 sq mi
(1,028 km2)
Starke County 149 KnoxFeb 7, 1835St. Joseph County and un-organizedGen. John Stark, hero of the American Revolutionary War75 23,363 309 sq mi
(800 km2)
Steuben County 151 AngolaFeb 7, 1837un-organizedBaron Frederick von Steuben, Prussian-born noble who trained colonial soldiers during the American Revolutionary War76 34,185 309 sq mi
(800 km2)
Sullivan County 153 SullivanDec 30, 1816KnoxGeneral Daniel Sullivan, American Revolutionary War hero77 21,745 447 sq mi
(1,158 km2)
Switzerland County 155 VevayOct 1, 1814Dearborn and Jefferson CountyThe home country of many of the early settlers, Switzerland78 10,613 221 sq mi
(572 km2)
Tippecanoe County 157 LafayetteJan 20, 1826Wabash New Purchase and un-organizedThe Tippecanoe River and the Battle of Tippecanoe79 172,780 500 sq mi
(1,295 km2)
Tipton County 159 TiptonJan 15, 1844Adams New Purchase and un-organizedJohn Tipton,[12] U.S. Senator80 15,936 261 sq mi
(676 km2)
Union County 161 LibertyJan 5, 1821Parts of Fayette, Franklin and Wayne countiesNamed because it united sections of three adjacent counties into one new entity81 7,516 161 sq mi
(417 km2)
Vanderburgh County 163 EvansvilleJan 7, 1818Gibson, Posey, and Warrick CountiesHenry Vanderburgh, a judge for Indiana Territory82 179,703 233 sq mi
(603 km2)
Vermillion County 165 NewportJan 2, 1824Parke County and Wasbash New PurchaseThe Vermillion River83 16,212 257 sq mi
(666 km2)
Vigo County 167 Terre HauteJan 21, 1818Sullivan CountyFrancis Vigo, Italian-born colonial spy during the American Revolutionary War84 107,818 403 sq mi
(1,044 km2)
Wabash County 169 WabashJan 30, 1833[16]Adams New Purchase and un-organizedThe Wabash River85 32,888 412 sq mi
(1,067 km2)
Warren County 171 WilliamsportJan 19, 1827Wabash New Purchase and un-organizedDr. Joseph Warren, American Revolutionary War hero86 8,508 365 sq mi
(945 km2)
Warrick County 173 BoonvilleApr 30, 1813Gibson and Knox CountiesCapt. Jacob Warrick,[12] hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe87 59,689 385 sq mi
(997 km2)
Washington County 175 SalemDec 21, 1813Clark, Harrison and Knox CountiesU.S. President George Washington88 28,262 514 sq mi
(1,331 km2)
Wayne County 177 RichmondNov 27, 1810Clark, Dearborn and KnoxGen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne, hero of the American Revolutionary War89 68,917 402 sq mi
(1,041 km2)
Wells County 179 BlufftonFeb 7, 1837Adams New PurchaseCapt. William A. Wells, Native American who became a hero in the War of 181290 27,636 368 sq mi
(953 km2)
White County 181 MonticelloFeb 1, 1834Wabash New Purchase and un-organizedCapt. Isaac White,[12] hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe91 24,643 505 sq mi
(1,308 km2)
Whitley County 183 Columbia CityFeb 7, 1835un-organizedCol. William Whitley,[12] hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe92 33,292 336 sq mi
(870 km2)

See also

References
  1. though Newton County was first formed in 1835
  2. "Population Estimates for Indiana Counties, 2010-2017". StatsIndiana. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  3. National Association of Counties. "NACo - Find a county". Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  4. "IN Const. art. XV, § 7 - Constitution of the State of Indiana, as amended". Indiana Legislature. 1851. Retrieved December 28, 2008.
  5. "FIPS Publication 6-4". National Institute of Standards and Technology. Archived from the original on September 29, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2007.
  6. "Indiana License Plates, 1969-Present". February 28, 2016.
  7. "EPA County FIPS Code Listing". EPA.gov. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
  8. "Origin of Indiana County Names". Indiana Historical Bureau. Retrieved January 4, 2009.
  9. "Origin of Indiana County Names". January 4, 2009.
  10. "Indiana BMV website". February 28, 2016.
  11. "Indiana -- County". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 10, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2009.
  12. Fought in the Battle of Tippecanoe
  13. Delaware County was originally formed on January 1, 1820, but for lack of population it was dissolved shortly thereafter. (Funk, p. 192)
  14. Originally named Richardville County for Chief Richardville, but renamed in 1872 (Funk, p. 193)
  15. Originally organized February 7, 1835 but merged with Jasper County in 1839 and recreated later. (Funk, p. 193)
  16. Originally formed January 20, 1820 but soon dissolved for lack of population. (Funk, p. 194)
Sources
  • Funk, Arville (1983) [1969]. A Sketchbook of Indiana History. Rochester, Indiana: Christian Book Press. pp. 192–194.
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