Hancock County, Indiana

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Hancock County

| state = Indiana

| flag = Flag of Hancock County, Indiana.svg

| seal =

| founded = March 1, 1828

| seat wl = Greenfield

| largest city = Greenfield

| area_total_sq_mi = 307.02

| area_land_sq_mi = 306.02

| area_water_sq_mi = 1.01

| area percentage = 0.33%

| census yr = 2020

| pop = 79840

| density_sq_mi =

| density_km2 = auto

| time zone = Eastern

| web = https://www.hancockin.gov/

| named for = John Hancock

| ex image = Hancock Courthouse 8387.JPG

| ex image cap = Hancock County courthouse in Greenfield

| district = 6th

| footnotes = Indiana county number 30

}}

Hancock County is a county in the U.S. state of Indiana. The 2020 United States census recorded a population of 79,840.{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Hancock County, Indiana; Hamilton County, Indiana; Hamilton County, Florida; United States |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/hancockcountyindiana,hamiltoncountyindiana,hamiltoncountyflorida,US/PST045221 |access-date=July 27, 2022 |website=www.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |language=en}} The county seat is Greenfield.{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}

Hancock County is included in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

The terrain of Hancock County is low rolling hills, sloping to the south and southwest, carved by drainages. All available area is devoted to agriculture or urban development.[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hancock+County,+IN/@39.7269981,-85.8367082,45774m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x886b2ded63129b45:0x85afb163a2f2d992!8m2!3d39.8249915!4d-85.8486236 "Hancock County IN" (Google Maps - accessed 27 December 2019)] The highest point is a small prominence in NW Shirley, at {{convert|1,040|ft|m|abbr=on}} ASL.[https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=22971 "Hancock County IN" (peakbagger.com - accessed 27 December 2019)]

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of {{convert|307.02|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|306.02|sqmi}} (or 99.67%) is land and {{convert|1.01|sqmi}} (or 0.33%) is water.

=Adjacent counties=

Madison County - north
Henry County - east
Rush County - southeast
Shelby County - south
Marion County - west
Hamilton County - northwest

=Major highways=

=Airport=

KMQJ - Indianapolis Regional Airport

History

Indiana was admitted as a state to the United States on December 11, 1816, although much of its territory was still disputed or held by native peoples at that time. These indigenous claims were quickly reduced and removed by various treaties. The 1818 Treaty with the Delaware Indians brought most of central Indiana into state control, and Madison County was organized on a portion of that area. The lower portion of Madison County was quickly settled, and by the late 1820s the inhabitants were petitioning for a separate county government. Accordingly, a portion of the county was partitioned on March 1, 1828, to form Hancock County. Greenfield was named as the county seat on April 11. The county name recognized John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress, who had signed his name prominently to the Declaration of Independence in 1776.{{cite book|author=De Witt Clinton Goodrich & Charles Richard Tuttle|publisher=R. S. Peale & co.|year=1875|location=Indiana|title=An Illustrated History of the State of Indiana|url=https://archive.org/details/anillustratedhi02tuttgoog| pages=[https://archive.org/details/anillustratedhi02tuttgoog/page/n566 561]}}{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ|title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States|publisher=Govt. Print. Off.|author=Gannett, Henry|year=1905|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n147 148]}} The county has retained its original borders since its 1828 creation.

Climate and weather

{{climate chart

|Greenfield, Indiana

|17|34|2.47

|20|39|2.37

|30|50|3.33

|40|62|4.07

|51|73|4.69

|61|82|4.48

|64|85|4.85

|62|84|4.01

|55|78|3.16

|43|65|3.05

|33|51|3.88

|23|39|3.07

|float=right

|units=imperial

|clear=both

|source=The Weather Channel{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIN0252|title=Monthly Averages for Greenfield IN|access-date=January 27, 2011|publisher=The Weather Channel}}}}

In recent years, average temperatures in Greenfield have ranged from a low of {{convert|17|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|85|°F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-29|°F}} was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of {{convert|103|°F}} was recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|2.37|in}} in February to {{convert|4.85|in}} in July.

Government

{{Infobox law enforcement agency

|agencyname = Hancock County Sheriff's Department

|subdivtype = County (United States)

|subdivname = Hancock County, Indiana

|divtype = State

|divname = Indiana

|country = United States

|legaljuris = opsjuris

|police = yes

|local = yes

|stations =

|lockuptype = Jail

|chief1name = Michael Shepherd

|chief1position = Sheriff

|chief2name =

|chief2position =

}}

The county government is a constitutional body, and is granted specific powers by the Constitution of Indiana, and by the Indiana Code.

County Council: The legislative branch of the county government; controls the county's spending and revenue collection. Representatives are elected from county districts. The council members serve staggered four-year terms. They are responsible for setting salaries, the annual budget, and special spending. The council also has limited authority to impose local taxes, in the form of an income and property tax that is subject to state level approval, excise taxes, and service taxes.{{cite web|author=Indiana Code|author-link=Indiana Code|url=http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title36/ar2/ch3.html|title=Title 36, Article 2, Section 3|access-date=September 16, 2008|publisher=IN.gov}}{{cite web|author=Indiana Code|url=http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title3/ar10/ch2.pdf|title=Title 2, Article 10, Section 2|access-date=September 16, 2008|publisher=IN.gov}}

Board of Commissioners: The executive body of the county. The commissioners are elected county-wide, in staggered four-year terms. One commissioner serves as president. The commissioners carry out the acts legislated by the council, collecting revenue, and managing the day-to-day functions of the county government.

Court: The county maintains a small claims court that can handle some civil cases. The judge on the court is elected to a term of four years and must be a member of the Indiana Bar Association. The judge is assisted by a constable who is also elected to a four-year term. In some cases, court decisions can be appealed to the state level circuit court.

County Officials: The county has several other elected offices, including sheriff, coroner, auditor, treasurer, recorder, surveyor, and circuit court clerk. They are elected to four-year terms. Members elected to county government positions are required to declare party affiliations and to be residents of the county.

Hancock County is part of Indiana's 5th congressional district; Indiana Senate district 28;{{cite web|url=http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3006.htm|title=Indiana Senate Districts|publisher=State of Indiana|access-date=July 14, 2011}} and Indiana House of Representatives districts 29 and 53.{{cite web|url=http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/3005.htm|title=Indiana House Districts|publisher=State of Indiana|access-date=July 14, 2011}}

{{PresHead|place=Hancock County, Indiana|source={{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=May 17, 2018}}}}

Education

Hancock County is served by two library systems, the Fortville-Vernon Township Public Library and Hancock County Public Library.{{cite web|url=https://www.in.gov/library/files/countyindex13.pdf|title=Indiana public library directory|publisher=Indiana State Library|access-date=March 7, 2018|archive-date=February 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218220414/http://in.gov/library/files/countyindex13.pdf|url-status=dead}}

The county's school districts include:{{Cite web |last= |title="2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Hancock County, IN" (PDF). |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st18_in/schooldistrict_maps/c18059_hancock/DC20SD_C18059.pdf |access-date=July 25, 2022 |website= |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}

Eastern Hancock County Community School Corporation
Greenfield-Central Community Schools
Mount Vernon Community School Corporation
Southern Hancock County Community School Corporation

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1830= 1436

|1840= 7535

|1850= 9698

|1860= 12802

|1870= 15123

|1880= 17123

|1890= 17829

|1900= 19189

|1910= 19030

|1920= 17210

|1930= 16605

|1940= 17302

|1950= 20332

|1960= 26665

|1970= 35096

|1980= 43939

|1990= 45527

|2000= 55391

|2010= 70002

|2020= 79840

|estyear=2023

|estimate=86166

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 2, 2024}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=US Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=US Decennial Census|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=July 10, 2014}}
1790-1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=July 10, 2014}} 1900-1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/in190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=July 10, 2014}}
1990-2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=July 10, 2014}} 2010-2013{{cite web|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/18/18059.html|title=Hancock County QuickFacts|access-date=September 17, 2011|publisher=US Census Bureau|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607082110/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/18/18059.html|archive-date=June 7, 2011}}

}}

=2020 census=

As of the 2020 United States census the population of Hancock County was 79,840.

class="wikitable"

|+Hancock County Racial Composition{{Cite web|title =P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Hancock County, Indiana|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Hancock%20County,%20Indiana&t=Race%20and%20Ethnicity&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2}}

!Race

!Num.

!Perc.

White (NH)

|71,106

|89%

Black or African American (NH)

|2,346

|3%

Native American (NH)

|121

|0.15%

Asian (NH)

|734

|0.9%

Pacific Islander (NH)

|42

|0.05%

Other/Mixed (NH)

|3,289

|4.1%

Hispanic or Latino

|2,202

|2.75%

=2010 census=

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 70,002 people, 26,304 households, and 19,792 families in the county.{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US18059|title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data|access-date=July 10, 2015|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213010454/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US18059|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}} The population density was {{convert|228.8|PD/sqmi}}. There were 28,125 housing units at an average density of {{convert|91.9|/sqmi}}.{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18059|access-date=July 10, 2015|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212200928/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US18059|archive-date=February 12, 2020|url-status=dead}} The racial makeup of the county was 95.2% white, 2.1% black or African American, 0.8% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 26.2% were German, 13.9% were Irish, 11.8% were English, and 11.8% were American.{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0400000US18%7c0500000US18059|title=Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|access-date=July 10, 2015|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200214003319/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0400000US18%7C0500000US18059|archive-date=February 14, 2020|url-status=dead}}

Of the 26,304 households, 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.0% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 24.8% were non-families, and 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.03. The median age was 39.1 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,697 and the median income for a family was $69,734. Males had a median income of $53,565 versus $38,042 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,017. About 5.9% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0400000US18%7c0500000US18059|title=Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|access-date=July 10, 2015|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200214002238/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0400000US18%7C0500000US18059|archive-date=February 14, 2020|url-status=dead}}